WAITAKI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10519, 29 July 1910, Page 1

WAITAKI ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

; . THE ANNUAL DINNER. Bartrum's tea-rooms wore crowded last evening by sportsmen of various denominations on the occasion of the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society's banquet .and social —a function which is yearly looked forward to with some anticipation. With* the assistance of members of the Society the host had provided a capital menu, mainly composed of game—all captured, it might be stated, within the strictest limit of tiie law. The repast was enjoyed with many visible manifestations that bespoke its excellence, and had the effect of putting the large company in good sportive humor for the feast of reason and the flow of soul which was to follow. Mr J. Mitchell (Vice-President) presided, and whilst welcoming the guests, apologised for the absence of the President, Mr G. Glen. Apologies were read from Messrs W. H. Murcott (Hampden), C. L. Ayson (Hakataramca), the. President and Secretary of the Waimate Society, and from Mr A. Familton. Dinner over, and the loyal toast duly honored, Mr Nelson proposed the Parliament of New Zealand. Notwithstanding, he said, that there may be shades of political opinion, yet in a gathering of this sort differences of opinion were sunk, and all looked -upon our Parliament as one of the best. All must, admit-that although Parliament had 'made some mistakes, it was working for the good of the Dominion, and it had passed some very wise legislation for the good of the people. We thought our country was "God's own country," and it was evident that .others thought so too, for they came here to study our laws. While making laws for other people, .Parliament had- not forgotten the fishermen, and everything asked for within reason had been granted. j!r J. Duncan responded. He thought Parliament had passed some wise laws in the interests cf acclimatisation.

Mr Walter Sumpter proposed '' The License Holders/' As a!! knew, Mr Sumpter said, the license holders were. the finest body of men that could be met with anywhere, and especially on the river. They would share everything they had. If a fisherman had a bad day they would .sympathise- with him, and would willingly share with him aiivihing they had in their bag; and if he had a good day they would' willingly .share with anything he had in his bag also.—(Laughter.) 'The Society recognised what the license holders wore to it, for without the license holders there would be no society. That night they had enjoyed a dinner which without the license holders would have been impossible. The Society had tried to U-gi-late in the direction of givug all license holders a voice in the election of the Council, but the powers that he had so far made it impossible. Mr Dobson 'and -Mr Goodnll replied. The former said he thought the license holders were breve men and had great patience to stand at the river during the past season, which bar! not been a good one. Mr Coodall said that since he had been a licence holder he had got Ids money's worth. Some had complained that during the past season there had been w-rv few iish in the Waitaki, hut he had had the pleasure of landing over sixty, -ted had good sport. He had the pleasure also of landing a nine-pounder for a lady license holder. "Kindred Societies''' was proposed bv Mr Swiuard, who said that the Waitaki Society appreciated the good work being done by other societies. On the southern boundary was the Otago Society, doing excellent work in rearing and liberating a large number of fish. Another society was the f'ortoiiello Marine Hatchery Board, doing a work which deserved the assistance of every society in the countrv. On the northern boundary was the Waimate Society, which was doing its best in the interests of legislation, as indeed were all the other societies throughout the Dominion. Mr K. Smith, of the Waimate Society, icsponded to the toast. He returned thanks for the kind invitation and for the hearty manner in which the toast had been honored, lie expressed his sorrow that he was the only representative from 'Waimate, but assured those present that others would have attended had they not been detained by business reasons. The Waimate Society would always assist and support the Waitaki branch. The former had now a very enthusiastic. Council, and was doing all it could to further the interests of acclimatisation. It had been fairly successful in the batching of pheasants, and had also done good work with the mallard clucks, lie congratulated the local Society on the steps taken to secure ova from the Ivakauui river.

Mr T. Jones proposed "The Landowners." As all knew tlierc were a number of landowners who granted sportsmen the right to enter their land, and there wore others who were not prepared to grant permission, and the toast applied to the former. ]-le thought it was to the interests of, landowners to deal fairly with sportsmen, because tiie latter were- not an ungrateful crowd.

Mr I. Cuthbcrtson (Glcnavy) and Mr J. Bowdon (Kakamii) replied, b'oth expressing the pleasure it gave them personally to assist the license holders. Mr Bowdcn said that he had vet to meet the. landowner who refused « fisherman permission to enter his land.

Mr -J. Wilson, jtin. (Papakaio), proposed the Waitaki Acclimatisation ■Society. He said the Society had a lot of work to perform, with no hope of reward except adverse comment. If it did not succeed he was sure it was for want of opportunity and not owing to lack of enthusiasm. He hoped the Society would continue to prosper as ithad done in the past. "With the toast were associated the names of Mr H. Mackintosh and Mr W. Duncan.

Keplying, Mr Mackintosh claimed. 35 years' connection with the -Society. The Society had devoted much attention to the introduction of acquatic birds. On' account of the poisoning of rabbits and the introduction of weasels', ground game seemed to him to be somewhat of a failure. The rivers were all well stocked,, and the bad season experienced by fishermen-could not be accounted for. The Society had done a. lot of good work .aud would continue to do good work in stocking the rivers. With regard to the deer forests, a good deal had been said and written about malformation, but so far as the Society knew there was nothing of that sort oil its own ground. The Society could offer splendid sport and had -reduced the fees. Mr Mackintosh strongly advocated the erection of huts cm the reserves for the accommodation of outsiders. Mr W.. Duncan endorsed' Mr Mackintosh's remarks. Hejletailed the efforts made bv the Society to secure ova from the Ka'kanui river. About 30,000 had 'been taken, but since then _a rise had taken place in the river and the boxes had been washed to sea. ' There were on order about""l2s,ooo..ova from Haka-tai-aioca, and these would be liberated. More "ova had been liberated than in tlfe. past, ?,il4 the. would eon-