This increase has already become bo great that the farmers in the older settled portions of Northern Canterbury have had their grain at seed time and harvest des troyed to a very large extent, necessitating n the opinion of the majority of the farmers the necessity for legis lative action to compel all holders of land to take combined action for destroying a large portion of these birds with a view keeping them within reasonable limits. 2nd. The sub-committee are of opinion that the Government should be asked to pass a short Act empowering the existing Boad Boards to take out of their ordinary revenue a sufficient sum not to exceed Id in the £ on the assessable value of the district for the purpose of carrying out the Act. 3rd. The sub-committee consider that such an Act should be optional en the part ef the Boad Board to bring it into force, but that it should be compulsory for a Boad Board to bring it into force, if at the annual meeting of such Board the majority of ratepayers present shall by their votes decide to have the Act carried out. Andbbw Duncan, President. He would now move the reception of the re port of the sub-committee as read. It would be for the Boad Boards to put this expendi ture together with the ordinary rate. It had been mentioned that the landowners should combine to poison the sparrows; but the meeting could not make it compulsory on them to do so. Mr Bailey said that the people would only be too glad to lay poisoned wheat on their land if the Boad Boards' would give them it. He had pleasure in seconding Mr Duncan's motion for the reception of the report. Mr Mann suggested. that a narrow strip should be ploughed, and the birds fed for a few days, and then poisoned wheat be put down. The motion was put and agreed to. Mr Bailey moved—"That the report be adopted." Mr Donald seconded the motion, whioh was agreed to. Mr Bailey moved—"That the letters of Captain Willis and Mr A. M. Johnson be acknowledged, with thanks, and that the latter be informed that the subjects mentioned in his letter will be brought before the dele gates." Mr Mann seconded the motion, which was agreed to. 