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Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 808, 8 June 1903, Page 4

(Continued from page 2.)

prairie chicken. If the situation should change we will not forget you." There is no doubt tjiiat pheasants Shave become very scarce, a«d it will be a great pity if tjhey cannot be supplemented by other ' feathered game. Still, your Committee have clone all that they could in ■ this direction. The scarcity of birds will greatly allect the Society's ro- , venue lor qurrent year and probpfcly } years to come. Doubtless poachers abound, but, although rangers h£jve ( been employed, convictions have not | followed. We endeavored to obtain 1 some Mallard duck eggs from the Wellington Association, but they were., not received. „ j Big game. — As- our feathered game I has become so limited, and the probabilities of adding to it being remote, \ your Committee begi to turn your attention again' to the question of uniting with the New Zealand' Acclimatisation Association, and arrapiging for the importation of big game suitable to this district. For the information of tlbe meeting, the correspondence - from Mr Ayson upon, this sutyjoct is annexed here.to, as also is an extract from the Otago Witness of last month, containing letter to the Otago Acclimatisation Society from Mr St. George Littledale. This letter will be found of interest.

Opossums.— lt is expected; that 10 pairs of niixed opossums will arrive from InvercargiJl during next m,onbh. These should do well in this district if given a fair show. Mr Aysofn states that the opossum skins obtainable in ►Southland are far superior to those from Hobgrt. Fish.— Supplies have been received as usual from the Masterton hatcheries, the number being 40,000 brown, and 10,000 .Rainbow fry. These arrived in good condition, and were distributed throughout the district. In this connection we may mention that Messrs Wrigley and 0. Goodson have rendered yeomen's services. One of the special matters to como before to-day's meeting is the establishment, of fish hatcheries. To this end we have had the invaluable assistance of Mr Ayson. His report and full particulars will be submitted by a sub-com-mittee.

New Zealand Acclimatisation Association. — Steps were taken in November last to establish a New Zealand Acclimatisation Association, a preliminary meeting of delegates being; held in Christchurch in that month, and a subsequent meeting in Wellington in January last. This society was not represented, hut your committee strongly recommend affiliatian. Combination in acclimatisation matters must necessarily mean the saving of a vast amount of money, and infinitely better results than can be achioved by each society acting on its own. .

The balance-sheet showed credit balance at 31st March, 1902, £734 16s lid, fishing; licenses £75 10s, shootin licenses £145 6s. The total receipts (including credit balance from previous year) were £969 17s Bd. The expenditire was about £60 (the chief items being £48 for rangers, and £10 bonus to secretary). The credit balance is £900 9b Bd.

Mr Ayson wrote, suggesting the combination of societies in regard to the importation of, bigi game on a large scale, and enumerated the animals ho thought would be suitable. Most of the animals are mountain ones, and not likely to become a nuisance to sottlers.

From the Otago Witness, the secretary read an article from the Otago Witness, written by Mr Littledale, an English sportsman, urging the benefits that would accrue to the colony from tbe importation Ol ~t>lQ game. The article referred to the bigness of the " heads" obtainable in New Zealand, and urged strenuous endeavours to put down poaching. He suggested as remedy the prohibition of tho selling of heads, the issue of licenses only to persons of good character, and making it penal to shoot anything under twelve points.

In answer to Mr McLean, The secretary said that nothiiig definite had yet been done by the Government. He brought the matter of big game forward, in view of the probability of the Society affiliatingi with the New Zealand Acclimatisation Society.

Mr Day moved the adoption of the balance-sheet and report, and said members --would bo satisfied with the finances of the Society. He would' have liked information as to how fishing and shooting licenses . compared with the previous year. The secretary said for the last five years the receipts were, roughly shooting £830, fishing £340, and the expenditure £170 and £120 respectively. •

Mr Day said, although shooting- licenses had not increased greatly, fishiug licenses had done so. He referred to the excellent work done by Mr McLean (the father of fishing) and Mr Budge (the secretary). Tho former was one of five who had originally contributed £25 towards the introduction of fish, and they had to thank him for the sport now available. JHha way the funda of the Society had been conserved was excellent.

Mr McLean thanked Mr Day for the encomiums passed upon him, but said what he had done had been a labour of love. He was glad to see more interest was being taken in the Society. Mr Wrigley seconded tho motion; which wag carried.

Mr Wrigley said the following quantities of fry had been distributed :— Waihi 2000 rainbow, Waingongoro a remedy the prohibition of the selling 8000, Tawhiti 2000, Mangatoki 2000, 5000, Kaupokonu'i 2000, Mangawlteroiti 2000, Dunn's Creek near Kapong-a 2000, Manga whero-iti, Eltham Road 2000, Otakeho 3000, Oeo 4000, Ouri 4000, Punehu 2000, Taung-atara 2000, Mr Blair's stream at Otakeho 1000, tributary of Mangawhoro 1000.

Mr McLean said the thanks of tho Socioty was due to Messrs Wrigley a-id Goodson fur the work of dintribuiion. Mr Day moved a hearty vote of thanks to the, gentlemen named for the work they had carried out in all sorts of weather.

Mr McLean seconded ; he knew the vast amount of work required to properly distribute the fish.

Mr Wrigley returned thanks on behalf of himself and Mr Goodson ; the hitler had done the greater part of the work.

FISil PONDS.

Mr Ayson's report (already published in the Star) on the matter of establishing hatcheries was read.

The sub-committee recommended thst fish ponds and a small ha'cbery shed be constructed on the site on the Waihi stream, near Glover road. Including land, caretaker's cottage, fencing, e(c, the estimated cost is £425, and the annual up-keep (including wages, coat of fry, or eyed ova.fand fish food) at £144. The site is within a mile of the borough, and the Committee expect the revenue from the ponds will be considerable. The Chairman said that Mr Twigg bad* gone into the estimates, and thought) the work could be done for less. j

Mr Twigg said the site proposed was' an exoallent oue. Mr Day and the President said that. Mr Ayson's scheme only provided for 150.000 fry, and out of that quantity (hey could not sell any. The latter said that if the borough site ' was Relected the Society would not be able to enlarge its operations. Mr C. E. Bayley thought at proßcnt breeding ponds would Jbe sufficient. Mr Twigg said (he cost of upkeep would be less than estimated. Mr Day was sorry to sky in a measure he had to take a different view from tbas of the sub-oonufafttee. While the

acclimatisation side of tha question should be tmfegunrded, the pubiic interest should also bo considered. He felt m t-taiting v, work of this kind it would be better to havo the ponds ii-i a place where the public could walk lo them and be induced, from what thfcy saw, to take a sympathetic interest in the society. From a purely fish point of \iew tho site propose-! by the Committee wai on-? of the bes* in Taranaki, but he did nut thiuk it would be advisable to go s.i Lr from tho town. If the town water supply was to fail because of the amount tha'* would be required for the ponds the soon'.r tho borough looked for a new system the better. However, he beiievrd ihero was enough water for fifteen or twenty years. Ho pointed out that by planting etc. (and :hat wm one of tne woks of the Seciety which bad been overlooked) the borough s-ite could be mads a beautiful plac?. The up-kcep of a hatchery was 1 kely to be mvva than was anucfpa'ed, and ho therefore favoured the (-stablishuuent at tho pie^enl; ihne of r«aiing ponds, ihn up keep of which woulii be covered by r«.vtnue. He would liko the socitfty to approach the Borough Couicil Hiid fi'^d out what ptpperc.-rn rental would be requirtd, whnt repervaiions wou'd be necessary, and what lease [iio Council would be willing to give. In connnctijn viiih the* ponds there could be an aviary and o'her attractions. Mr "Wiigley, as ouo of the Committee, had given the matter much thought. All the arguments u^cd by Mr Day in favor of ;ho btrough Biie he agreed with, except in leg.ird to the water. Tho Council was willing to give a 42yeais' lenso, the tem'.nt> could be bought out for £10, and the Council was agrecabJe to meet. tho yoeie'.y in evety w.»y. In view, however, of the report i»i the paper of the decreased water pressure, and th« fact ilia 1 ; Mr Ay.-on said that a liboa! supply of water wns necessity, hefavovi-d the site on the \Wihi The distance from town constituted a nice walk, and tlio road would be nienlied si.oi'ily. As to the borough icservi', L niighi be u?ed a^a " side show," in addni.,n to the niairi one. The posiiion to b.^ faced was tha 1 ; in ton or even twont.y years tihc Council might say to tbe Society. '• Wn are very B">riy, but we cannot let you hate so much water."

Mr Twig* eaid tho ponds at Waihi coukl be made for about j£l4, while m the b-.rough sit* they would cost j£2oo.

The President said the site, at Wa.bi was an excellent one ; the water w;<s in every way suit" bio

Mr McLean said he had been somewhat favorubld to the borough site, but hid since considered tbo question of water. Tho Council, whilo prepared to give a long lume, could net give a guarantee ih^t they would always give tha Society the qi:anti*y of water requivtd. The pn-seut Council could not bind fii use occ-s. Further, bo did not think tho Society would be justified in going ogftiusi tho opinion of an expert. The Waihi watei- wi s better adapted for reaiing fish th^n wtis tbe water from the Kfipani.

Mr Day said there was a vtry good spring in oho borough rastrve.

Mr Barley auiil if tho v/oter supply wtiic down, townspeope would grumble, and insurance latea, c"c, would go up agiin. ' The President said if the Society went in for tho Wftihi file they intended g.?ing in for far more than 150,000 fry ; it whs propostd to sell fry m d yearlings.

Mr B*\lfy st-rang nt Waihi in a small wuy — havr. i\ aring pt,nds, soy— at d see bow things got on. He would vote against a proposal to es'abiiesh hatcheries. If tho Society joined the Association there might be demands on theii fun<is for b ; g gmne, and, further, shooting men should be considered — they had isaJe else Society.

Mr McLean moved, That (he Jeport of tho Committee be adopted. The cut a 1 or would have plenty of time to grow birds and do ibe work of the shooting as well as the fishing men.

Tho president said the first cost would be about £325.

Mr Bayley seconded * tha motfon, which waß #orrifd.

Mr F. V. Lysagbt was re-elected prrsident (Mr McL:an declined nomination), Mt F. J. Wriglpy vice-president, Mr r.ud^e hon. secretary, and Messrs Da\, Twigg, C. Goodfon, H. Lyeaghfc, Me Loan," Bayley, and Axiarason working committee. Mr J, W. Hirst was appointed auditor.

Mr McLean said tho Socioty wns forlunato in having a man like Mr Twigg to plan the carrying out of ponds, etc.

APPLICATION.

On Mr Day's motion, seconded by Mr Twigg, ir was decided to umiiate with the New Zenl&nd ' Acclimatisation Society's Association. The qscsiion of uniformity of licenses would c mo up. and be thought the Society ohould send a delega<e to the meeting of the Association.

Mr Lysoght (president) was, on Mr Bhv ley's inotior:, appo'ntcd delegate.

BONUS

A bonus of £10 vvns voled the secretary.

DEER.

Mr Wrigluy said Mr Ayßon said the mount un was a lovely place for deer, and suggested that the New . Plyinou'b, Stratford, and Han-era bocietios ehould combine in the purchase of eight calve*, which he believed would do remarkably wtll. Each society in turn would each year far three yeais liberate eight animals, and in the fourth year ho believed there would bo sliGOiing. He moved, That the secrttary wriio to tho New Plymouth and Stratford eccioiies nsking yf they will combine in the purchase and liberation of deer in tho forest reserve, and also write to tho Wellington Society nsking as to tho prico of ricor. Seconded by Mr Adimson, aud carried.