ACCLIMATISATION CONFERENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 548, 8 March 1913, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION CONFERENCE.

DELEGATES AT TE KUITI. AUCKLAND SOCIETIES' EFFORTS The annual conference of the Acclimatisation Societies under the jurisdiction of the Auckland Acclimatise- ( tion Societv was held at the Te Kuiti -; Borough Chambers on Friday even- j ing. Colonel Hazard, president, oc- } cupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs Noakes and Stewart (sceretary), Auckland; Captain Elliott and Messrs Stauer and Little- % proud, Huntly. There was a good at- r tendance of members of the King Country Society, including Messrs j> F. P. Moorhouse (president), and H. c A. Mussen (secretary). The > fact r that the conference clashed with the E Cambridge Show prevented a number rf of Waikato delegates attending. g The president in his opening ad- g dress commented on the disagreement they had with portion of Waikato and the fact that they had defeated the objects of certain dissentients. It had been decided to hold half yearly meetings alternately in the city and in the country. This was a fine idea. The work of the society was all in the g countrv and they looked to country people'to assist them. Dealing with fc the operation for the past season the ]# president said he had just visited the hatcheries and game farm. Some trouble had been occasioned through a c change of curators but he was pleased ft to state everything was in an excellent state. There were 80,000 rainbow c and 3000 brown trout yearlings which c were looking very healthy. There were also a number of frontinalis but they were so old that the intention ■ was to liberate them in the neighbourhood. A total of 425 young pheasants were on hand. This was fairly satisfactory. The site near Okoroire was not a good one and everything con- t] sidered results were good. Expetiments with pheasants and partridges were being carried out, the introduction of Mongolian cocks was in every sense satisfactory. The partridges g( had not been successful. As far as the King Country was concerned a £ great many more birds would be sent • to the district than had been the case in the past. Some mallard duck had also been bred, and the district could have some of these. Referring to the boundaries of the district, he said there was trouble due to the fact that the Auckland district stopped at J Taumarunui. Just beyond that centre was a large fishing district governed by the Tourist Department, and the Waimarino Society. The latter so- v ciety opened its season in October, and trouble was inevitable. Tho question of an alteration in boundaries was now being considered by the Government. The president referred to the necessity of approaching Parliament with the object of having a license for native game institated. The matter had been brought up on several occasions, and all the societies were unanimous on the point. £ However, the late Minister of Internal Affairs was quite out of sympathy with the project, holding that it was the thin end of the wedge for a gun license. The Dresent Minister had v been approached, and he was hopeful that the matter would be adjusted. The societies were very keen on the subject, and there was no doubt action should be taken. - The societies had requested that the question of open or close seasons should be left to the societies, and he was hopeful that good results would be had, . Mr Moorhouse in referring to the work of the Auckland Society said they were all agreed that the King Country had been well treated. However he woufd like to see an at- i tempt made to acclimatise Austra- i lian game such as snipe . He also { trusted the society would take action ' in respect to the pollution of streams, i The chairman assured the meeting £ that action had been taken concern- t ing the pollution of streams, and in- | stanced cases at Ngaruawahia and | Mercer in which good had been accom- , plished They had to remember it was ( not the policy of the society to ham- t per industry or to antagonise any sec- : tion of the communitv. They weie | doing as much good work as psosible consistent with the interests of the j general public. _ ' Mr Cochrane advocated the stocking of our trout streams rather than paying attention to the importation of game birds at present. In a few years the conditions Would be much more suitable for pheasants. The chairman said they had followed that policy at the request of the King Country Society, and the local streams would be well attended to. They could have as many yearling trout as they could take this year. On the motion of Messrs Cochrane and Dransfield it was decided to recommend that the Mangaokewa stream from the Government quarry to Wilson's lime works be reserved solely for flv fishing. At the conclusion of the business the visitors were entertained at a supper in the Municipal Hall, his 1 Worship the Mayor presiding. During the evening theh following toasts t were honoured:—"Auckland Acclima ] tisation Society," the chairman—i Messrs Hazard and Noakes; "Visitors," Mr Hargreaveß Messrs - Elliott, Starr and Littleproud; " Agricultural and Pastoral Interb ests " Mr Mussen—Messrs Gadsby, - Somerville and Francis; "The King! - Country Society," Mr Hazard—Messrs - Moorhouse, Cochrane, Morgan and ;- Dransfield; "The Secretaries," Mr e Mora —Messrs Stewart, Mussen and Robinson: "Local Bodies," Mr H. e Matthew—Messrs Berry and Jones; e "The Ladies," Mr Gadsby Mr Moorhouse. ■t The majority of the visitors left by the two o'clock train, but Colonel Hazard is remaining in the district 3 t for a day or two.