CORRESPONDENCE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 3836, 19 April 1899, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[The Editor is desirous of affording every reasonable facility for the discussion of publi« subjects, bat it must be < distinctly understood that he is in no way responsible for £h« opinion* expressed by oorregpondftnt*.] ACCLIMATISATION MATTERS.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sib, — Will y«u kindly allo* me a little space in your columns for the purpose of calling attention to a subject vitally affecting the interest of the district, I refer to the wholesale destruction of imported game that goes on out of season. This district is without doubt rather peculiarly constituted ; as a field for settlement, for the object of amassing the ' almighty dollar,' it might be de sigoated a failure but tts a health, pleasure and sporting resort it would be indeed hard to equal anywhere, its glorious climate, fruit growing ability and proximity to the Hot Springs are a host in it* favour, together with the beauty and "safety of its harbour, its abundance of fish and tho large tracts of country eminently suited for the rearing and fostering of all kinds of game makes it a veritable sportsman's paradise. It must be admitted that such inducements as these are a great attraction to a certain class of people ; for in* stance, there are a number of persons who would no more think of settling in a district where sport was unattainable than they would of emigrating to Tierra del Fuego. The fishing alone in the South Island is attracting numerous votaries of the rod from the Old Country whilst the sporting facilities of Rangitikei are responsible j in a great measure for its prosperity. If the sporting interests of this district were attended to there could be no better field for those on the look out for cheap amusement than Tauranga and its district and a splendid advertisement for the place, but, under existing circumstances, the shooting, at least, is anything but what it ought to be. For those who are sportsmen enough to wait till the season commences they have literally to contend with birds that have been hunted for a month past and wild as the proverbial hawk. There was some talk of the Society attempting the introduction of new game birds but I hold thai such expenditure at present would be useless, persons who systematically shoot out of season would be just as likely to kill newly imported birds as anything else and I should strongly advise the Bociety to utilise their available funds for the purpose of procuring a conviction and making an example of those whose only claim to the name of sportsman consists in spoiling the shooting of those who prefer to respect the law, besides materially damaging the reputation of the district as a field for this class of recreation. As against persona shooting birds on their own property that are doing damage, etc., I have nothing to say, I hold that a man is as much entitled to them as he is to his own fowls, but what we, as sportsmen, take exception to, is persons shooting over lands, waste or otherwise, over which they have not the slightest right, a month before the opening day. — I am, etc., /? F. SOUTHEY.