WAIMATE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12253, 1 June 1914, Page 1

WAIMATE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual meeting of the WaimateIcclimatisation Society was held_ on Friday evenintr. Mr A. Keen presided over an attendance of about '2O members- , ... Tun report- was read as hollows : The credit balance at 31st "March, 1914 was £73 lis lOd as against a 'balance of £62 3s Id at the beginning of the year, an increase of £ll 8s M. The revenue from fishing licenses shows an increase of £2O. Considerable expense had been incurred in erecting a shelter shed at- Waitaki Reserve, surveying, fencing, and hut to' reserve at. the mouth of YYaimato Creek. The Society's huts, punts, and other property are m good order. Twentv-one thousand fish were liberated 'during the year, thanks hemg due to Mr A.--Walker for work m this connection. The angling season had been a. good one, both in the WaitaiCi and Yvaihao. All kinds of feathered •>-anie are plentiful. Thanks to Mr H. 5. S. Johnston, the Society-had acquired a sanctuary comprising 93 acres of swamp at the Hook end .of Lake Yvainono." The effort to obtain an open season for paradise ducks had not been successful. Poaching had decreased. Two'convictions were obtained for tms offence during the year. Shags are still" numerous, and during the year £2O 6s had been naicr for heads and eggs, while a smaller amount had been pa'id for hawk's feet. The Society's specimens were now housed, in better j quarters, and the Council wotild like to see the collection added to. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. . Fifteen nominations were receivedfor the Council and the following twelve tvere elected :—Messrs C. Hodges, Reynolds. T. Manchester, W. E. Evans, J. Jamieson, Cousins. A. Dellow. E. J. Atwill. A. Keen, G. Park, J. Atwill, and H. Jackson. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring Council. At a meeting of the Council, held afterwards, the following officers were elected: —President, Mi- C. --Hodges; Vice-President, Messrs Jackson and Keen; Secretary, Mr F. T. B. Walker; Treasurer. Mr E. J. Atwill.