ACCLIMATISATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1935, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION.

AUCKLAND SOCIETY. MEETING HELD AT WAIHI. INTERESTS OF SPORTSMEN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAIHT, Sunday. A meeting- of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society was held in the lecture room of the Wailii School of Mines last evening, Mr. F. C. McKenzie presiding over a good attendance. Those present included the following: Messrs. C. M. Gordon, secretary; W. H. Johnston, president; and G. H. Xesbet, secretary, Waihi sub-society; J. Cochrane, president, and F. W. Wilde, Te Aroha sub-society; A. E. Missen, president, W. Nicholson, D. D. Wilson and A. A. McLean, secretary, Hamilton subsociety; and J. Dobson, chief ranger, Auckland Province. The meeting lasted until a little after eleven o'clock, a wide range of subjects coming up for consideration, and at times the discussion was of a lively nature. A hearty welcome was extended to the visitors by Mr. Johnston. The chairman said that as the result of a conversation which he had had with Mr. Johnston he had ascertained that affairs in connection with the Waihi sub-society had not been as prosperous as usual and that support had not been forthcoming to the extent he had wished for. The chairman added that lie hoped the result of the present meeting would lead to a better understanding.

A statement dealing with the financial position of the society was read by the secretary to the effect that the balance , to credit at the bank was £256 8/9, but revenue to the extent of £17 10/ had since been received. Accounts passed for payment amounted to £257 3/. The chairman, referring to the financial position, pointed out that the society had an amount of £1500 placed « on fixed deposit. The secretary said that the estimated revenue for the current year was £3289 > and the expenditure £2899, leaving an estimated credit of £390. Close Season Question. Touching on the question of close season the chairman said that in his opinion the North Island was not unanimous in that it wanted a close season. The Government ap,."iared to , want the whole of the Nor.h Island closed and was not in favour of having a close season for certain parts. Per- - sonally, he thought that, in view of the : marvellously good breeding during tiie j last three years, it was hardly necessary to observe a close season. He thought that a greater liberation of pheasants should.be made and that 300 or 400 more should be procured; 300 cocks had been ordered from Canterbury. Keferring to the destruction of vermin the secretary said that it was expected this year to secure 10,000 hawks' feet and 0000 stoats and weasels. Replying to a question by Mr. E. H. Payze, the chairman said that most of the vermin came from the Wiikato and Waiuku districts; there was very little from the Thames, Paeroa and Waihi districts. Honorary Rangers. The question of honorary rangers was next discussed. The chairman said ; that in his opinion honorary rangers j should be appointed for a term of five j years, and at the end c f that term it j could be ascertained whetner reappoint- j ment was advisable. He urged that 1 sub-societies should i.iove in the matter | of securing all information thereto, i Little was known about the rangers i generally and, according to the records, some of them would now have reached the age of 100 years. (Laughter.) Mr. Cochrane thought that the parent body should notify honorary rangers that co-operation with their own respective districts was essential and that! thev should report to and attend meet- I i"gß. The chairman said they wanted more ranging carried out, and by efficient men. If more honorary rangers were obtained there would be increased funds available for more liberations. Each district should see that there was efficiency in such direction. The question of the illegal taking of opossums was raised by Mr. A. H. Sparke (Waihi), who said that more j rangers were required for the bush districts. Such depredation had taken place in. the Waitawheta district. It was evident that the skins were taken not by genuine trappers but by new chums. This was not fair to those taking out licenses. The chairman asked Mr. Dobson to look into the matter, and pointed out there was a reward up to £5 for securing a conviction. St. John's Lake Sanctuary. Revocation of St. John's Lake (Auckland suburbs) as a sanctuary, by the Department, was announced by the chairman. There was, he said, no water for ducks. On the motion of Mr. Missen it was decided that the society send two delegates to the conference of northern societies to be held at Kawakawa on October 23. The president, or the Jatter's nominee, and the secretary were appointed delegates. Some discussion took place in connection with an application by the Waihi sub-society on behalf of Mr. A. Patterson for a breeding permit for pheasants. The chairman thought it time that this matter should bo governed by regulation, and pointed out that 99 out of every 100 persons carrying on this practice were liable for prosecution. Waihi's application would be granted under certain conditions as set out, and a motion in this direction was carried. During the discission Mr. McKenzie remarked that birds were bred for sport and not for commercial purposes. Mr. J. Weedon (Waihi): To whom do the pheasants belong? The Chairman; To the society. On the motion of the chairman it was decided that the provisions in brief of section 38 of the Act referring to trespassing on land in pursuit of game without a license should be attached to the back of the next shooting licenses issued. Restriction of Shooting. Criticism w.afe forthcoming in connection with the practice of those who accepted birds foe stocking and who only permitted a select few to shnot over their properties. ; Some discussion ensued on the ques- : tion of method adopted in consigning 1 birds. Mr. Dobson pointed out that five pheasants in a benzine case was quite ] in order and did not constitute over- ] packing and had always proved satis- ] factory. 1 Referring to birds a little too young ; and feeble, who, when liberated, had not 1 turned out too well, Mr. Cochrane s pointed out that such birds would do ;

well if put on heavy cover —gorse and blackberry—instead of being released in open places. With reference to the private breeding of pheasants, the secretary pointed out that efforts were being made to seeme legislation permitting the selling ol birds to the society. This season, he said, 400 birds were procured from Mr. Wise (Te Eapa), 598 from all round the district, and 200 from Canterbury. Liberation of Birds. . - Considerable discussion took place in the matter of the selection of localities for the liberation of birds. Mr. Nicholson considered that liberation for breeding purposes only should take place for one season at least. Mr. Missen briefly detailed a scheme dealing with the cpicstion of liberation, and suggested that a committee be formed to decide where liberation should take place. Mr. Cochrane opposed, and considered that each sub-society knew its own district best. The chairman suggested that the question be considered by each subsociety, the findings to be forwarded for the November meeting in Auckland. The meeting terminated with q, vote of thanks to the chairman. The visitors were subsequently entertained at supper by the local _ subsocicty.