HOROWHENUA LAKE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 20, 18 October 1917, Page 9

HOROWHENUA LAKE

MiOBI AND PAKEHA FISHING RIGHTS. Tho' Horowhenua Lake is a beautiful stretch of fairly shallow water which almost touches the fringe of levin township, and which is a fine scenic and sports asset to that flourishing little town. For some renson or other there has always been a little difficulty about the fishing rights over this sheet of water, the Natives attempting to exercise a proprietary right, which-thoy do not put forth to -other streams or lakes in the Wellington distriot. Under the Treaty of Wailangi, the Maoris were given fishing rights over all inland waters, as far as fishing and fish as they then existed wore known. There were then no imported fish at all in New Zealand, and it is held that the Maoris, in order to fish legally for trout or perch, must purchase a licence tho same as anyone else. It came to the knowledge of the Wellington Acclimatisation 'Society not so long: ago that the Maoris had actually ordered fishermen (with licences) off the lake, telling them that they had no right to fish in Lake Horowhenua. Tho society took the occasion to write to tho Lake Domain Board. Tho board replied to the effect that the Horowhenua Lake Act gave the Maoris full and free rights to fish the lake, but not to the hindrance of the full and free sports and pleasure of the public. When Minister of Internal Affairs, Sir Francis 801 l had interpreted the clause in the Act mentioned to mean that "sports and pleasures" included fishing, which, iu brief, means that anyone taking out a licence- may fish in Lake Horowhenua. The board also intimated that it was, on tho recommendation of Mr. Aj6on, liberating some 400 perch fry in the lake. The sooiety, which in tho past had stocked the lake with Jsro-wn' trout, and had placed 10,000 rainbow fry in the Weraroa holding pond this season for liberation in the lake next year, believes that by doing so a. mistake will be made, as the perch, a strong voracious fish,, are vory destructive of trout ova in the spawning season, and their presence will spoil the lake for trout-fishing. In connection with Lake Horowhenua. it should be mentioned that a chain of land has been reserved round its edge in order that the public shall always have access to the water. When Levin gets . its beautifying scheme going tho lakeside will be one of tho first public reserves to benefit.