OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13432, 4 November 1905, Page 4

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The usual monthly meeting of tho above society was held yesterday afternoon. The members present were Messrs T. Brown (chairman), Forrest, Chisholm, Marshall, Edgar, and M'Donald. Apologies wore received from Messrs Farciuharj Sinclair Thomson, and tlip Hon. T. Fergus. Mr Uhisholm, on entering the room, was welcomed by all tho members of th» sneiotr. that being his first attendance at tho meetings since his return from Home. The Chairman congratulated Mr Chisholm on his return, and was sure nil would to pleased to see amongst, them again ono who had done so much for their society. Boforo dealing with the business the Chairman said he would like to correct an error that had crept into tho report nt their last meeting* published in tho -Times, in which ho was reported to have stated that their society had done a great deal in improving tbo Botanical Gardens, l-y building aviaries, and in other ways, and had_ been lot into a good deal of expense during the time Mr Chisholm was chuirninn. What he (Mm chairman) bad s< id was that while Mr Chisholm was Mayor ho had managed to induce, the society to ilc ii great deal for the gardens in the way of improving them. He was glad Mr Chish ilm was present to hear thn explanation. • Mr Chisholm thanked tho members for their welcome, and said that from what he had seen during his travols he was impressed with the very great necessity of doing their utmost in their now country to preserve their valuable native gamo :>nd birds. He had travelled many hundred miles in Canada, and found that there wero no native animals left. At ono place where they had halted in the forest, and naturally expected to find gamo, there was not a vestige of a bird or native animal to be seen. He referred to his visit to the fish ponds at ITowieton, which wero considered among tho best in tho United Kingdom, and presented a pamphlet that sho.wed their construction., This would no doubt be read with interest by the members. Mr T. Deans's report for October., was ns follows:—Tho''hatch this year has ssrain bnen very successful; and-the fry arc looking strong and healthy. A considerable number.are now ready'for distribution, and .arrangements will haro'ib bo'made to got this work in hand as soon as possible. .The total number of 'fry at both hatcheries is about 1.130,000. Most, of tho eclpots have been allotted to the various rivers on which it was decided, to operate. Ranger M'Lay is making the shags scarce on (ho Shag anrl Waikouaiti Rivers, and wo would bo glnd to hear from any of the public who may hiivo observed sbaggorios on any secluded parts of the rivers. An exchange of yearling trout was made with the Canterbury society, but a number died in transit both ways; but the Canterbury society practically lost theirs after lining placed in the artesian water. I would recommend that, another trial bo made* and that wo send them a few nioro yearlings or. what would be better, send fry, as they would travel better, and be more likely to succeed in the warmer water. The horso at the Clinton hatchery dropued dead in, the buggy tbo other day. It will be necessary to get another as soon as possiblo for the distribution of the fry. In tho meantime Mr Stevens has arranged for one on hire. —Received, Mr Edgar said ho had recently visited tho hatcheries at Opoho in company with some lads, who were very much interested in all they saw, and they v.'ero quite a surprise to them. Tie thought it would be very instructive if lads old enough to appreciate the visit wero invited to" see tho hatcheries.— Mr Deans said ho had had visits from some of tho High School scholars.—lt was resolved that the secretary of the Education Board bo written to inviting visits from the older boys attending the public schools, if accompanied by their teachers; Mr Deans to bo notified boforo visits wero made.—A letter was read from tho secretary of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society reporting tho loss of yearlings sent. Those, the secretary suit), woro not allowed by the railway authorities to travel by expresses from Clinton, consequently they wero 18 hours on the way instead of 12. Sir Joseph Ward had been written to on the subject, and no doubt such delay would not take placo in future. It was resolved to offer tho Canterbury society 300 yearlings to replace those lost; or, if preferred, to soncl 2000 fry and 100 yearlings. Mr Dean was authorised to purchase another horse to replace tho one that died. Mr _ Steven, reporting from (ho hatcheries, Clinton, under dato October 31, notified that during the past month the principal work had been attending to the hatching of the young fish. With the exception of a few thousand rainbow ova the work was completed for the season. A fairly satisfactory'percentage had been procured from tho different varieties, and about 800,000 fry will be available for distribution. As a largo number of tho fry are being fed, and some of the earlier lots have been feeding for some time, seme of the boxes wero becoming overcrowded, and Mr Stevens suggested that a start lie mado with distributing as soon as possible. During the month a consignment of 300 rainbow yearlings was brought from Chrislchurch, but on arrival a good many were dead and a largo number had since died. In return, 200 rainbow and 100 Loch Leven had been sent to Christchurch. He estimated that 4000 rainbow were available for distribution, and as only 2000 had been allotted, Mr Steven asked what was to be done with the remainder.—Received. APPLICATION'S FOR HUTS AXD Ett-FCTS. Mr E. A. Jolly wrote slating that at a meeting of the Cromwell Sporting Club it was decided to ask tho society to erect' two huts and furnish some eel-pots in the Cromwell district. The suggested localities for the huts, tho writer slated, wero one ontho/Lindis .'River ad one on the Clutha Riy'crabout 10 or 12 miles from Cromwell. ' The cost of tho huts was estimated at £20 each, and it was stated that the eel-pots wero for use in the. Clutha River, where tho eels were numerous and attained a large size.—A general opinion was expressed that tho erection of h'tifs wherever applied for would necessitate a large expenditure, and after discussion it was resolved to supply three eel-pots and to hold over for future consideration the question of tho erection o£ huts. ■ ■• MD-KOOED PARTRIDGE. The Nelson Society wrote asking if the experiment in importing and acclimatising redlcgßod partridge had been successful, and if the birds had multiplied.—During a discussion on-the matter it was stated that poisoned grain, stoats,' and weasels had militated against the experiment, and it u-as resolved to reply to the Nelson Society to that effect. SIOATS-AXD WEASELS AN'I) NATIVE BIRDS AND GUtn. During the discussion on tho Nelson Society's letter re red-legged partridgo Mr.Chisholm. remarked that it. was no use trying to preserve native birds and game if the present restrictive law for tho protection, of stoats and weasels was

allowed to remain inlorce; and 'anothor member of tho council expressed tho opinion that stoats, weasels, and similar vermin would yet prove a great curso to the country and to the farmers. Itwas. also slated that the- yormin referred to wont up trees in pursuit of tho birds, and it was resolved,,: on the motion Of Mr Chisholm—"That, in view of the depredations .caused Uy stoats and weaseh and the_ desiro of the society to protect our ' native birds,' a strong recommendation to made to tho Government to remove tho restrictions against killing these vermin." Mr E. A'. Mac Gibbon, of Gore, who has rrcently 'returned from a visit to New South Wales and' Queensland, wrote suggesting- that the 'society should import a number of Australian native bears for distribution in'the back country o f tlio west coast of the island.' The writer pointed cut that tha skins of tho' animals wore valuable, that the bears wero quite harmless, and thtt they were gradually being exterminated by Australian huntors.--.lt was resolved to thank Mr Macpibbon for his_ letter, and to inform him that the society could. not sec its way to comply with liis suggestion.