EVIDENCE.— FROM NEW ZEALAND PUBLICATIONS 357 



doing so, because lie knew they were completely at the mercy of their neighbors, no 

 matter what they did and how much money they spent. This year he had noticed 

 the Sparrows in larger swarms than before. That very morning when coming to 

 town he had seen some hundreds of thousands of them in a paddock, and was simply 

 astonished at the multitude. Iu Ms own garden the birds this year had congregated 

 iu many thousands and he had shot them, but those which, escaped went to other 

 people's property where they were undisturbed. He was quite satisfied that not only 

 the fruit industry but also that of the farmers would suffer unless some steps were 

 taken iu the matter. Along the Magill road last year there was a slip of wheat 

 which had been left in a paddock by one of the farmers who wished to save some 

 seed, but before the wheat was fairly ripe or fit for the Ridley reaper or common 

 reaper the Sparrows attacked it, and more than half of the crop was eaten by them. 

 Besides that he also observed that the birds quickly lodged ou the ears, which conse- 

 quently bent down and broke the straws, so that of course it could not be reaped. 

 He would be able to favorably recommend the proposal of the deputation to his col- 

 leagues, but whether it would be dealt with in the district councils bill or put into a 

 small separate bill which could be easily amended he could not then say. For his 

 own part he was convinced the Government would have to do something. There was 

 one method for the destruction of the birds which could be effectively adopted if 

 done properly. At a certain time of the year, when there was no fruit and the birds 

 had to live upon seed, a little judicious management of poisonous grain would de- 

 stroy large numbers. But the Sparrow was cunning and people must be equally 

 cunning in dealing with him. The way in which the work was accomplished at a 

 place near Melbourne was as follows : A piece of ground was fixed upon where Spar- 

 rows were numerous, and they were fed regularly for, say a month, so that they 

 looked for their meals like fowls in a yard. On a certain day poisoned grain was 

 slipped iu, and the result was a wholesale destruction. 



He would not detain the deputation, and might say he hoped to be able to persuade 

 his colleagues that some action required to be taken. The best course in his opinion 

 was to allow a small rate to be levied as suggested. 



The deputation then withdrew. 



[From the Taranaki (Xew Zealand) Herald, 183G. 1 



Farmers who are putting in crops are experiencing much difficulty in protecting 

 their seed from the Sparrows, which begin their ravages at daybreak, and need 

 watching until dark. A member of the laud board informs us that as he was driv- 

 ing into town to attend the special meeting of the board, ou Monday, his curiosity 

 was aroused by hearing the continual cracking of a whip in a field close to the road. 

 On making inquiries he ascertained that it was a farmer with a stock whip, and he 

 was adoptiug this method of frightening the birds. He said he had been at this work 

 about a week, aud had to be on the field from early morning until night, or the 

 Sparrows would be down in thousands. The field was about 7 acres in extent, and 

 as his full time was required in watching it, the crop, it would be thought, would 

 not be very profitable. However, people who follow dairy farming have to get straw 

 for winter use, aud can not abandon cropping altogether simply because the Sparrows 

 make it expensive. 



