Acclimatisation Society Display at Show

Northern Advocate, 27 June 1939, Page 3

Acclimatisation Society Display at Show

A composite exposition of the work of the society in miniature, tiro Whangarci Acclimatisation Society’s display attracted considerable interest when the Whangarei Winter Exhibition opened to-day. The property of Mr. E. Wakelin, an array of deer heads and other trophies of the chase mounted on the wall, forms tire most conspicuous feature, the public being puzzled to name the identity of a strange head which boars resemblance to a pig, a calf and a hippotamus rolled into one.

Underneath is ranged an impressive collection of trophies of the Whangarei Kennel Club, most of these being for sporting dogs. There is also a handsome Acclimatisation Society Cup.

Of an array of stuffed game birds, including pheasants, pukekoes, Californian quail and ducks, an‘interesting feature is the black teal, the taking of which is absolutely prohibited in New Zealand.

This bird is sometimes confused with the brown teal, a specimen of which appears in a glass case of New Zealand birds loaned by the Whangarei Harbour Board. The case of birds loaned by the Whangarei Borough Council from the municipal museum also provides a beautiful display.

In the foreground appears the model fish hatchery made by Onerahi school children, stocked with live trout from the Society’s hatchery at Onerahi, while also on exhibition are embryo trout in various stages of development from the ova to the fry.

Guns, trout and big-game fishing tackle provide a prominent feature, together with jaws of mako sharks and other big-game fish.