LAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12546, 13 April 1904, Page 3

LAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Thk first meeting of the new council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society was held at the Museum Buildings yesterday. There were present: Messrs. Rurtt- (in tne cnair), Whitney, Reynolds, Gillies, Kusabs, Dr.Lewis, and Mr. Cheeseman (secretary). Financial: The secretary presented a statement showing estimated receipts and expenditure from March, 1904, to March, 190j. From this it appeared that there was a balance of £165 12s lOd in the Bank of New Zealand, and the following receipts were anticipated:—Game licenses, £ZSO; fishing licenses, £300; sale of fish and ova, £S0; fines, £40; subscriptions, £5 ss; interest on investments, £12; miscellaneous receipts, £20 total, £362 17s lOd. This showed an estimated decrease of £50 in respect of game licenses, and a falling oh" in other directions, so that whilst the probable balance at the end of the year was set down at £59 17s l'Jd, this was some £30 less than the balance with which the year opened. Mr. Wliitnoy remarked that with a little extra expenditure they could obtain much larger results. The Wellington Society,'at a cost of £250 mare than that which enabled the Auckland Society to collect and distribute 200,000 ova. collected and distributed 1,500,000 ova and fry Mr. Cheeseman said this was only whatoorn r would expect, seeing that the initial cost was the same, whether the business done was small oi large. -Mr. frillies pointed, out that they had kept the expenditure down to a minimum for years past. What was tutting at their vitals was that the Government had stepped in with the small licenses. Eventually it was resolved, on tha motion of Mr. Gillies, seconded bv Dr Lswis. "That a committee, consisting of Messrs. Whitney, Dr. Lewis, the president, and Mr. Gillies, bo appointed to consider the question of shifting the hatchery to Rotorua, and to draw up a scheme for submission to the Government, the committee to report to a special meeting of tho council. Poaching: Several complaints were received from country districts of the prevalently of poaching in respect of wild ducks. It was resolved to take action in the matter, but if was pointed out that the society derives no revenue whatevei from native game, and the means of the society were very limited ; indeed, insufficient to carry out the necessary work. Ravages by Hawks: Mr. Reynolds referred to the ravages caused by hawks, and moved, "That the society pay 3d each foi hawks heads." The destruction of hawks was, he said, necessary ioi the protection of the domestic birds. The motion was carried. Red Deer: Mi. Kusabs stated that 12 . rod deer, which had been presented by Mr. Chirnside to the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club, had been safely received and liberated at Lake Okarewa, near Rotorua.