ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 826, 26 May 1910, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

■ : " REMARKS BY THE CHAIRMAN, POSITION AS TO PHEASANTS. That keen interest continues to bo taken in regard to acclimatisation matters was shown by the largo attendance at the annual meeting of the local society last night. In moving the adoption of the Tenort and balance-sheet (which have already* appeared in TrtE Dominion), the chairman congratulated the members on the improved financial position of the society. Two years ago (ho said) there was a debit balance of M2S, last year there was a debit balance of .£123, whilst at the end of this year thore was a credit balance of £\6. On the working of the gamo farm a profit was shown, but ho thought that the expenditure in connection therewith should be reduced, especially in regard to tho breeding of pheasants. If the expenditure were' reduced as he suggested, it would mean that moro money would bo available to provide for the engagement of rangers. In ' the herd at the deer park, the society had a valuable asset, for there was a very largo,demand for deer in all parts of the Dominion. As a result of the short period that the shooting season would be open this year, the revenue to the society from that source would be much smaller this year. '■ Touching upon tho fishing season, Mr. Tripp said that it was to Iμ regretted that tho fish wero not now as largo as was formerly tho case. The society was taking steps to secure an improvement in tho size of the fish. It was his opinion that tho Wairarapa deer herd was overstocked. A ranger should bo employed to eliminate animals with poor "heads." Thcro could bo no doubt that tho reason why good "heads" wero secured in the past was that better and more suitable feed was obtainable than appeared to be now tho case. Mr. Brassall thought tho society were about to study the deerstalkers and anglers moro than tho shootists. Was it intended to give' up breeding pheasants altogether? Mr. Tripp: Oh, .no, a large number of . pheasants and ducks will bo bred; but ; perhaps not so many as hitherto. Mr. Brassal! then expressed tho opinion that shootists, by paying something extra, should bo allowed, under their license, to shoot not only in the Wellington district but in the whole of the North Island. Mr. Low replied that the Act would . have to be amended to giro. effect to such • a proposal. * : Mr. R. C. Bruce: said that in tho Rangitikei district pheasants wero increas- ' ing rapidly. Ducks, too, appeared to bo : numerous. Tho pukeko and the wood- ] hen wero also holding their own. Pigeons • seemed to be pretty numerous, but this I bird must of necessity be a diminishing i quantity. Ho was beginning to fear, I however, that an owl which had of late i years been imported would play sad havoc ] "with the, small native bird. As far as i he could gather, good fishing was ob- 1 tainccl in his district last year. ( Tho motion to adopt tho report and ] balance-sheet was then carried. I Tho election of office-bearers resulted ( as under:—President, His Excellency the , new Govewiov (Lord Islington); vice- | presidents, Messrs. W. H. Beetham, Goo. i Denton, A. .T. Rutherford, and L. G. ( Reid; council (country members), Messrs. , W. Barton (Wairarapa South), W. J. ] Birch (Rangitikei South), R. C. Bruce j (Kan"itil:ei North), D- M'Grpgor (Wai- • rirapa North), T. G. Stockwc-11 (Palmcr- , ston North), C. IC. Wilson (Levin) F. C. \ Turner (Eketahuna), and U. Wakeman (Pahiatua); (town), Messrs Tripp, Lowe, Wilson, Ostler, Devino, whitley, Hume, Trimnell, and Wakelin. j It was resolved that the police and ' rabbit and stock inspectors should bo < asked to assist the society's officials in I putting down pouching. {