AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13031, 23 November 1905, Page 3

AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The ordinary meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society was held last evening at the Museum Buildings. Mr.

Fred. Earl, president, was in the chair, and there were also present : Messrs. J. Burtt, C. A. Whitney, and E. Horton.

Resignation: Mr. T. T. Masefield, a member 'of the council, wrote intimating that lie was unable to attend evening 'meetings, and therefore found -it necessary to resign his seat. The writer intimated - that if , the council returned at any future time to the

old system of afternoon meetings he might seek re-election. The resignation was accepted with regret. Reserve for. Game: A letter was received from the Colonial Secretary's Office acknowledging the 1 society's recommendation that the lands recently acquired ; by the i Auckland City Council for waterworks purposes, in the parish, of Waitakerei, and also the adjoining State .forest- reserve, be proclaimedas closed against the shooting ]} of all game, whether native or introduced, under the Animals' Protection Act. • In reply, it was stated that the matter would receive "consideration. , ■ ;

Importation of Game: Mr. A. E. D'Arcy informed the society that he had been making inquiries as to the prospect of securing stubble quail for the Auckland, acclimatisation district. He believes that the . birds could be obtained at a cost of about 2s per brace, but not until after the laying season. Mr. i D'Arcy also thought that spur-wing plover could be obtained at. a. cost of about 5s per brace. It was decided to thank Mr.. D'Arcy for moving in the matter in the interests of the society, and to leave it to him to proceed further. . I Sale of Trout: The president; reported. that further representations had been made to Sir Joseph Ward with a view to obtaining pel-mission for the sale of trout at the proposed depot at Rotorua for consumption in Auckland, but beyond the intimation that the . matter was receiving j consideration nothing further had been received. In the circumstances it appeared to him that it would be useless to provide a depot at Rotorua as with, the sale limited 4 to-the county of Rotorua the society would contract a loss by so doing. > Boys' fishing licenses. were so cheap" that numbers of them fished at Rotorua and supplied the boardinghouses with all: fish. required. Had permission been given the ' society to sell fish at Rotorua for consumption in Auckland the moneys received would. have been expended on tiie fisheries, and other matters > controlled by the society and greatly to the benefit of . the district.

Distribution, of ; Fry: The ; curator (Mr. Smailejr reported that over 500,000 rainbow trout fry had been liberated so far, and that 70,000 remained for distribution. The only places ; remaining ; where : large quantities were to be liberated were the Hoteo River and Kawhia. - The report was received. : Trolling sin . Prohibited Waters: ; Mr. Spratt (ranger) reported that on two occasions ■he had observed a party in : a rowing boat trolling unprohibited waters on Lake Rotorifa. It was decided to authorise the ranger to proceed against the offenders if he considered the case one for. action. • V;

Hamilton Anglers' Club: Mr. W. H. Hall wrote that an anglers' club had been, formed at Hamilton, and asking that the society liberate a further consignment of fry into the streams between Hamilton and Cambridge. It was decided to obtain further information concerning the suitability of the streams in the locality for trout before '} further considering the application. The general opinion of members of the society was that the waters were not suitable, being mostly swamps.

Pollution of Rivers: A letter was read from a resident of Hamilton stating that his attention had been drawn to the fact that the Hamilton Borough Council proposed carrying borough drainage into the Waikato River. The society decided to thank the writer for the information, and instructed the secretary to bring under the notify of the Hamilton Council the penalties for the pollution of rivers, provided by the fishing regulations.