ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 16050, 29 February 1916, Page 7

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

The monthly meeting of the council of the Otago AccjlmatisAtlon Society, held last night, was attended by Mr G. W. MTntosh (chairman), Messrs A. Cowie, A. E. Jenkins, 0. A. Wilson, R. Brinsley, S. Cousins, R. Rutherford, G. B. Ogilvie, J. R. Wilson, —Mr Steven’s ReportMr Jas. Steven reported to the effect that there were still a number of small lots of fry to be sent out, chiefly for streams in Central Otago. He had forwarded 15 of/the young mallard ducks to Mr Rutherford, 10 for himself and five . for Mr Cowie, these gentlemen to arrange for the subdivision xxf the bixvis. twelve youm? mallards had been sent to Waikouaiti, but the stoats had accounted for three. These were to bo forwarded, to Mr Faulks, at Pembroke. —Game Committee.— The Game Committee reported thus; Resolved to recommend tue council to authorise Mr Beal, Waikouaiti, to catch or shoot any Indian Runner ducks that may be on the lagoon.—Resolved to recommend tlie council to discontine the breeding of mallard ducks at Clinton.—Resolved that five stock ducks ba given to Mr 11. Rutherford.; that two pair's be offered to the LaJclutha Council Council ; and that an inquiry bo sent to Wyndham to ask whether they wanted any mallards. —Recommended that a letter be written to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking him, if it were possible, to delay making a declaration regarding tlie Rongnhere country in the Blue Mountains until the council have had time to consider the report, communicate with the Tapanui Society, and furnish a reply.—Also recommend that a letter be written to the Minister of Internal -Affairs stating that we desire an open season for the following birds for the periods named:—Pukeko and Paradise ducks for 14 days; grey ducks for a full season. Imported game and mallard for a full season, subject to the following limits of brace: —Paradise dudes, six brace per day; Californian quail, 20 brace per day ; mallard ducks, six trace per day.—Recommend that a letter be written to Mr J. S. Yarcqe thanking him for Ids help in destroying snags on Lake Hawea,—Recommend that a letter be sent to Mr Coker to get sight of the rifle from Mr Smith and return same.—Recommend that the matter of replying to the settler at Tawanui be left in the hands of the president and the chairman.—Recommend that a letter be written to the Whangarei Society that, in the opinion of this council, the time is inopportune to look to the Government for any assistance with regard to the proposal to import swallows, "but that it is our intention that the cost of this project should be borne by tlie societies in the Dominion. Further, that it was not intended that this society commit themselves to any expenditure until they were satisfied that there is a reasonable chance of success attending tbe experiment and swallows becoming domiciled in the Dominion.—Recommend that permission he granted to Mr J. Craig, of Owaka, to procure two opossums for the domain.— Recommend that the following applications for blocks ba granted : —C. F, Oliver, block 10; Jas. Bayley, block 17; E. W, Cooper and James Burrows, blocks 18 and 19. —Resolved to recommend that a pahof young Cape Barren geese be presented to the Zoo at Wellington.—Also recommend that the regulation for deerstalking bo the same as last year.—Resolved to recommend that a letter ba written to the Under-Secretary of the Department of Interna! Affairs, asking him to be good enough to' have the regulations for the protection of opossums passed and brought into force, as opossums are. still being killed in our district. Tiie report was discussed and adopted. —Angling Committee.— The Angling Committee reported as follow.*Mr btoven’s report; KecOmmend that Mr Steven be informed that, ae Mr Roberts's place at Ranfuriy is Government property, no fisherman has a right to fish on the place without first obtaining permission from Mr Robert® or the person in charge.—Mr Pellett’s report: Recommend that a number of two-year-old trout and fish up to Alb- be put in the Tomahawk Lagoon; that members of the committee inspect Lake Logan to see if it would be possible to increase the depth of water; tliat Mr Steven be asked regarding ihe proposal to put a trap for ova iu the Maramii Creek, -near Wyndham.— Jibe Minister of Marine wrote that inquiries were being made into the position with regard to netting in the Shag, Waikouaiti, and Waitati Rivers.—The Town Clerk, Dunedin, wrote that notice had been given to Messrs Steven and Co. of the termination of the arrangement with the council for taking water from the Leith —The Secretary of the Southland Society wrote that his society would not issue sim/le river licenses for the Matnura River next season. This was noted with satisfaction. —Mr J. S. Varcoe, Cromwell, reported that he and a party had shot 22 shags off Oliver Island, Hake Hawea. Mr Varcce to be thanked for his good work.—Recommend that a letter be written to Mr Grav, of the Bruce Woollen Mills, asking him to advise us when trout are likely to bo stranded in the pools, and we would send the ranger out.—The manager of the Mosgiel Woollen Mills- wrote under date February 8 that no liquid from the mills had entered the Silverstream lor six weeks - Recommended that ho be thanked for letter,—Recommend that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr L. S. Dyer, Mosgie], for his promise to avoid putting intoAhe Silversteream liquid which would be injurious to fish.—Mary C. Macpherson, Berwick, reported that she had caught 200 eels with the eelpot we sent.—Recommend that eelpots be sent to Air W. T. May, Lindis Crossing, and Mr John Rose) Waitahuna. In tlie course of the discussion on this report the chairman said that some anglers had been getting fish out of Lake Logan, and Mr Pellett suggested that the Haiboi hom'd be usk-ed to put up another board e,o as to keep more water in the lake.—Resolved that the Angling Committee have a look at the lake before dome anything. hj The report was adopted. —Hawks.— Tlie Auckland Society wrote intimating that they Were protesting against the protection of hawks, which all sportsmen rogardecl as a pest, and for tiio destruction ot which the societies had paid great sums oi money. Itosob cd to write to tlie Minister .supporting the Auckland protest and point out that hawks were very destiuctive to native game. —General.— Resolved to write' to the Mataura Society that it was proposed to remove the Otaiiti hut, and asking them to got* a. pric© for the removal and name a suitable site T{m Minister of Internal Affairs intimated that Mr T. A. Douglas, of Waipiuta, had been appointed a ranger under Lie Animals’ Protection Act.—Resolved that Mr Douglas be also a. ranger for fisheries. As there had been no meeting of the Finance Committee the council passed the accounts, and the chairman made a statement as to money affairs, showing that if everything was paid there would be a. debit of £26 15s fid. _ Resolved to ask the Westport Society if they wanted Any deer this year.