ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8583, 3 June 1891, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The mrathly meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday afternoon.. Present: Mr. Burtt (president), Colonel Carre", Rev. W. Beatty, Messrs. Shakespear, Aneenne, Bull, and Waneborough. Finance. — The balance-sheet showed that there was a sum of £162 11s 3d deposited in the Savings Bank to the credit of the Society. Accounts amounting to £5 2s 7d were passed for payment. Successful Prosecution.—The secretary read a memo, from Inspector Broham containing a letter from Constable Mackay, who applied for the Society's reward of £2 for having obtained a conviction against a man named Christie Muller on May 22, for disposing of game without a license. Two convictions had been obtained, and in each case a fine of 203 and costs had been imposed. The Society decided to pay the amount. A similar amount was paid to the ranger who was instrumental in obtaining a conviction againt John Schischka who was recently fined £2 for disposing of game without a license. Preservation of Game. — During the past month two rangers had been employed kjy the Society, one of whom had been round the Waikato, bub had not succeeded in bringing a single case into the Waikato ; another had been sent up as far as Whangnrei, and had got two cases pending. It was decided to send a letter to a certain party who was in the habit of shooting in the protected district of Lake Takapuna. Distribution of Pish.—The secretary stated that 100 rainbow .trout had been liberated in Lake Takapuna on Friday last. The Society hud some five; or six thousand young trout in their ponds. 1 The fish were strong and healthy, and had attained a size bfnearlysixinches. , ■ ; , * • . Destruction-of Beatty said that he would like- to;- bring before the Society 'the question; ! of protection of pheasants. ' He thought that the Society wouid not be able to keep up the supply of pheasants unless they made some attempt to gain the co-operation of the settlers. He thought that settlers could be induced to preserve their shoo tingsstrictly during the closed season, and then let them to Auckland sportsmen during the shooting season, if they were made to understand that the birds would hecome a source of profit to them. He moved, "That the secretary be requested to get information from the farmers' clubs in the district as to whether settlers would be willing to preserve their game during the close .season, with a view to letting the shooting during the season." Several members of the Society pointed out objections to the scheme, and the motion was withdrawn. It was agreed that the secretary should write to certain of the farraers' clubs asking their opinion as to the practicability of the scheme.