ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 28 April 1925, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. A GOOD YEAR’S WORK. A report and balance sheet showing a very satisfactory year’s working was placed before the annual meeting ol the Hawera Acclimatisation Society on Friday cevning, when there was a good attendance of members Mr. \\ . A. Spragg presiding. Apologies tor absence were received from Messrs, T. Vincent and R. .J. -Knuckey, or EitlihinV "and. Mr. J. Slvvester or Manaia. The president's annual report referred to the following matters “For many years your council has licit been satisfied with results at the hatcheries; The high percentage ot loss between the fry and yearling stage has caiised us considerable worry and investigation, blit during the.past years operations we feel sure we have found iiie trouble, which has been a fungus growth on the fry at a certain stage, which killed them in thousands. It) remedy this and prevent a recurrence the curator has burnt all the old paint off the fry trays and 'boxes, and is intending filtering all . water before entering tlie kntchiiig shed. With regard to plieasfint rearing, we have pleasure in reporting that Mr. Button and his wife, who deserves special mention, has had a very successful year and our liberations are considerably above any other year, the stock birds laid well, numerous enthusiasts were supplied with eggs, and report successful hatchings and rearings of chicks. At the hatcheries the curator reared 148 birds, the best ol which will be retained for stock and the remainder liberated throughout the district. Shootists will see that we have made a creditable effort to cuter lor their sport, and with the year’s experience gained and additional pens built we feel hopeful of doubling this year’s result next ybar. “Those of you who have visited the hatcheries lately will know of the work the council has had doiie there. the curator’s. house lias beeil renovated inside and ‘ out, and . .tlie old toi-tqi hedges which onlv harbqhred vermin have been prilled, out, the front section drained with the idea ol beautifying or making uise, of it, and the old wooden fluming whicli ljas done yeoman, service since the society’s inception and was .completely done for, has been replaced with a ghlvaiiised .iron race, which carries every available drop of water to the poitds. These improvements have cost money anu the balance sheet lias suffered accordingly, but the money was spent . judicially, and the council led sure that their action lias hearty approval. “During the past season the streams and dams in our district have had the usual liberal liberations of fry and yearlings. This otherwise arduous work is made a pleasure by the number of willing helpers coming forward aiid,-assisting, ant] I desire to convey them to the council’s heaVty appreciation. At the last Wiiiteir show the society again made a, display', and I l'eel sure you will all agre'e that the exhibit excelled all previous ones and. indeed ivas a special feature of the show. To those who assisted and tjr> those who So 'kindly lent specimens we tender our most sincere thanks. In conclusion I wish to ith'ank the council, especially the secretary, for the loyal support ajld..assistance, they have given me during my terin office.” The report was adopted. Mr. C. Goodson said there had been a suggestion that the ponds should be moved to some site where there was more, water. He iyhs.. wondering whether it would not be wiser to make some endeavour to. movie the hatcheries to soflie' such place wliefe they would be able to rear more fish. He was of the opinion that Before inorie money was spent at the present hatcheries the society should go, in for a larger scheme. <

The chairman in reply said that at present the society’s finances would not allow of the launching out on a bigg'-r scheme: lii tlie past the society bad been compelled to sell too many fish in order to keep right financially, although of late years not nearly so many have been sold, with.’ the result, that more fish had beep liberated. Mr. B. C. Bennett said that the society had- always been very much alive ” to the. proposal to move tlie present hatcheries. Years ago they had conceived the idea of making a move to a fine site on the Kapuni, and with that end in view they bad asked' the Government for a £ for £ subsidy. but the Department tumid not see" its way' to give' the support asked for. At present the society could not see its way to move for' some yours, but in the meantime it was not spendin<r any money on the present hatchcries that was not absolutely necessary. The four retiring councillors — Messrs R. J. Knuckey, 13. C. Gibson, T. Struthci’N and W. A. Spragg—-were re-elected, and two further vacancies wore, filled .by the appointment of Messrs*. P. Jenkins! and E. A. Drake. Mr. C. Silt sited was elected lion, secretary for the ensuing \ear. . . It, was decided to write to My. V. . Lahiliie expressing the society’s appreciation of his services on the council. • A vote Of appreciation was- also accorded tlie.iß'ess.