OUR GAME PRESERVES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1137, 26 May 1911, Page 8

OUR GAME PRESERVES.

AN INTERESTING REPORT. WEUJNGTON ACCLIMATISATION .SOCIETY. All things considered, the "Wellington AccliniatiVatioii Society, according to its ■Jlith annual report, has had a very good year. N(it«ill).~laiiding the ios r of revenue eaii.-od by Ihe restricted game-shooting season during the pa-t year, the council, by the exercise of strict economy, has succeeded in wiping out liabilities to the amount of .S2!)G -Is. 10d., and leaving the society in a satisfactory position. On account of (lie nece-sily for the economy above mentioned, the council has not been able lo introduce any new forms of animal or bird life, but has maintained the I'ish Halehory at Masierton, and the Game.Breeding Station at Paraparaumu, in full working order, from which the usual quantities of lish and birds have been liberated in the society's district, or sold to kindred societies.

Good work has been done by the various sub-committees, and a new and energetic one established at Maiigaweka.

Finances Satisfactory. The statements of accounts attached show n considerable improvement in tho financial position of the society as compared with last year. The total receipts for the year were MW,<I -J.-. 3d., and tho expenditure .£IOO7 Ifls. lid., leaving a credit balance at bank of 0:52 Js. 10(1. The liabilities on March 31, 1011, amounted to .£261 1.".'. Hd., nndthe cash asFel.s to X'2oß (is. Id., leaving an excess of liabilities over cash assets of -£G 7s. Sd. Additional assets include: Birds unsold at Game Farm, J:30; deer at Deer Park. £•107; buikiiiifr, fencing, and sundries at ]3?cr l'ark, .SJJ3 IDs.; plant at Mastcrton p-i'ids, £US>; land at Trentham, .£200; office effects, J;20; total, ,1:103!) 10s. The excess of liabilities over cash assets on March 31, 1010, was =£302 12s. fid. This has been reduced to M 7s. Sd., in the face of the loss of revenue under "ame licenses, l-'ishins license roventic has been fairly well maintained, but decrshootim; licenses produced slightly less than for the two previous years. The statement of accounts for the- Game Farm and Deer Park as at March 31, 1011, -how that the sum of .687 13s. was expended from the general account in execs of receipts, and a further sum of Xlfl Is. 10d. is owing for sundry accounts, but against this total of JJI,% 17s. 10(1. there are cash as«ts amounting to £ l< 17s lid., leaving a credit of £n os. Id. ]n addition the sum at £U Cs. 7d., being, balance of liabilities over assets brought forward from last year, has been paid off, the total credit on the year s working being £m 05. Bil. There are also assets in tho shape of birds,, deer, and sundries at Game Farm, valued at .OwO Field and Stream. Owin" to the season last year being restricted to one month, few licenses were taken out, the total being about 104. This year a good season is anticipated— CalifoVniaii quail are reported to he mi-nifi-aiis in many parts of. the district. During the early part of the season fishing was fairly good, particularly in the Wairarapa. hut the exceedingly clij summer militated very much against the latter portion. , , Five hundred and fifty thousand, brown trout ova were obtained from the Government Hatchery ■ at llakataramca, and 1-'5,000' Rainbow ova from Rotorua. Ilio nvi arrived in good condition, and hatcli- ",; commenced about June IS, resulting in°t7o 500 brown, and 110,000 rainbow fry. The brown fry, with tho exception of those retained for yearlings, were liberated in the society's district, as also were 3320 oariWs-from Masterton, and 1100 from Akaiarawa. The rainbow, fry vrns sent to the Hawke's Bay Society, with the exception of 3000 to Mangaweka. Broun vea'-lincs now at the Masterton ponds number'about 5000, and are doing well. Those at Akatarawa have been liberated, but, unlike the previous lot, were not a success, numbering only about 300 out ot about 500/1 fry put in. Fish do well in. this pond, but need more attention than can be bestowed upon them under present cond ThTiea=e of the Masterton Fish Ponds expires in July, 1013. and at the request of tl'o council the Government have agreed to allow the. Inspector of Fisheries (Mr. •VvsoiO to visit and report upon various sites for a new hatchery, which should bo initiated (luring the coming year.

" ' With the Deer. Owin- to the deer being so numerous on the°liaurangi Reserve, the whole o the rc-ervo was, on the recommendation of : tho" council, thrown open to stalkers for one year. Prom reports to hand it would appear that the heads obtained foi the current year are on the average better than- those obtained last year. Dmin" the vear a considerable number of sta"S with deformed heads, and hinds have been killed, and the new council will have to consider the question of authorising a competent man to kill sags with deformed heads and old hinds dniin« the winter months. The herds established at Paraparaumu. Wamui and o'i the Tararuas are all reported to be increasing. There are not so many deer this veai- in the immediate vicinity ot Paraparaumu,'which seems to prove that the deer are going back into the ranges and spreading. The red deer at the Game Farm continue to do well and now number 48. The three stags presented by Mr. Lucas, of Warnham Park, arrived in good condition, and, alter a period of quarantine on Somes Island, were sent to the deerpark at Paraparaumu. In February last four hinds were sent from the V, airarapa herds to Jlr. Lucas, two by the Government through the Tourist Department, and two bv'tho society. Advice has just be"ii received that they arrived sately and in good condition. Two stags were also presented to Mr. Chirnside. After having given the question careful consideration, the council decided not to recommend the openiug of the reserves at Paraparaumu and Wainui-o-mata this season, but is of opinion that next season thev might bo opened to a limited number'of stalkers. The ncwly-ostabhsh-ed herds were supplemented this year as follow:—Tanhcrinikau (3 hinds); Waingawa (2 stags); Ekctahuiia (2 stags); 3launsatarcre (2 stags); Wainui-o-mata (1 sta") Three stags and two hinds were al*o liberated near the Ohau River. For the. just season the revenue derived from deer stalking licenses was £210 25., and tin's will probably be exceeded during the present season. There were 15 calves within the enclosure of the game farm this season.

Thr> YVarnham Park lnntls calved about (he samp limn as fho others, showing that I hey had become acclimatised. The two English slags have now good heads of II points. Now that the deer in the p.rk are doing so well the society will nave doer to turn out bred from the Warnham Park herd each year, and so lie able lo supply to. the other herds a change of blood. Obituary. Dill-inn (he year the society sustained severe loss by the death, first of Mr. .T. .1. Devine, an old and valued member nf the council, then of llr. George Dcnlon, a vice-president of the society, and one of (he fathers of the acclimatisation movement' in Wellington and, sineo I he dosing of I lie financial year, of .Mr. Henry Holmes, who has always taken an active interest in the sociely. Devolutions of sympathy were sent to the relatives of the deceased gentlemen. Thanks. The thanks of the society are due lo the Railway Department, and the shipping companies, for the great assistance rendered by the granting of free carriage of animals, birds, and fish during the year.