GAME FOR SHOOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 15

GAME FOR SHOOTING.

WOODCOCK FROM IRELAND:

AN EXPERIMENTAL SHIPMENT.

THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PAEROA, Friday. At the quarterly meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society the Taumarunui Society was permitted to close part of the Wanganui River for a term as llio fish in tho locality were mostly undersized. The Putaruru Club reported that dynamite had been used by the Public Works Department in the Waimakariri Stream for blasting purposes, and many fish had been killed. On being approached, the officer in charge had given an assurance that no , further blasting would take placo. Mr. C. A. Whitney intimated his intention of securing a consignment of woodcock from Ireland, which country ho proposed to visit in the course of a world tour. Ho had no doubt that woodcock could be transported safely to New Zealand. • A sum of £25 was voted for the purpose. The Opossum Problem. Matamata delegates reported that the 200 partridges liberated in their district were difficult to trace, although birds were in evidence on adjacent hills. Mr. Whitney stated that 80 partridges liberated at Helensville were doing remarkably well. Mr. Johnson suggested the stocking of the hill country between Waihi and Whangamata with opossums. The president, Mr. F. McKenzie, said Professor Kirk was at present investigating the effect of tho opossum on native bird life, and would prepare a report for submission to the Department of Internal Affairs. In tho meantime, the various societies were prohibited from liberating opossums. When the Government's intentions were made known the matter would bo considered. /

It was pointed out that tho opossum trapping season commenced on June 15 and extended to July 31. Tho Auckland society received 4d a skin on all catches, and the price of opossum skins to-day was from 10s to 17s 6d each. Mr. Leach said opossums had been liberated in the Mangakino Valley, behind Karangahake, 16 years ago, and it was thought that they were in sufficient numbers to justify trapping. ' The Menace of Deer. The Waihi society asked for information regarding tho obtaining of a stoek of red doer. Tho secretary, Mr. Gordon, said tho Government considered deer a menace to farmers, and was taking steps to reduce the present surplus. Farmers were now allowed to shoot red deer out of season, and further liberations were prohibited. The president stated the matter would be submitted for discussion at the annual conference. Tho meeting recommended that the pegging out of stands, with tho name of the shooter and the number of the licence, should give exclusive right of use for the first three days of the season only. It was decided to maintain the present shooting season dates. The To Aroha society complained of lack of ranging on the To Tapu block, near To Aroha. Shooting of fallow deer went on in and out of season, and parties ostensibly in quest of pigs were known to have shot and removed deer openly. Tho club, in conjunction with the Matamata Club, : desired the Auckland society to give attention to this matter. It was decided to take steps to assist the society in this direction.