ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16315, 23 February 1915, Page 10

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Council of the Ota-go Acclimatisation Society was held last nigiit in tnu oliice ot the secretary, imperial Buildings; present—Messrs G W"' M-intosh (president), U. S. Jenkins, A Cowio, A. E. Jenkms, li. Rutherford, C 1 • M. BuUerworth, S. Pedcn, C. A. Baker O. A. Wilson, arid W. T. Pattison. ' Before the business was proceeded with a motion was carried: expressing deep sympathy with the family ot the latu Air* Deans in tlie irreparable loss they had sustained. Mr Steven reported that the last of the yearling Jish were liberated some time ago, but there were still a good manv thousand try to be iiberakd. chietly in Otago Central. During the £ast month 17 pneasants were sent to Beaumont tor distribution in I that district, ami six were sent to Danedin, leaving iour young birds and one jungle cock at Clinton. The last clutch of nine young pheasants to hatch out all disappeared m one night. He had iittlo doubt that this was the work of stoats, which were very numerous. The following birds were in stock at present:—Mallard thicks—lo ducks, 6 drakes, and 6 young birds; Canadian geese—l - old birds, 4 young birds; Capo Barren geese—s old birds, 6 young birds. Four young common pheasants, 1 jungle cock, and the 6 young mallard ducks would be ready to liberate before the end of March.—lt was decided , , on the recommendation of tho' Game Committee, to sond the 6 mallard ducks to Mr Hamel at Mataura. The Game Committee recommended that a letter be sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs stating tliat the societv was anxiously waiting tor o reply to its application for a Government grant for deer stalking It also recommended that the Government bo requested to grant a renewal of the regulations for the shooting of deer without licenses over a block of country in the Lindis and Morven Hills district" between the Ist March and the 31st July.—The report was adopted. The Angling Committee recommended that the words " this license must bo carried by the holder whenever fishing " be printed on all licenses, as suggested by the Department of Internal Affairs. It was also recommended that the committee- endeavour to get cgiTS for next season from the Loch Leven and . Rainbow trout in Lake Hawea. — The report was adopted. The Under-Secrctary of the Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, forwarded an application by Mr Overton, of Macfarlano Downs, Wharetoa, that permission be granted to a party to shoot fallow deer in I the Blue Mountain- for a week, and that the carcases bo frozen and sent to tho Belgians.—ln his letter of application Mr Overton pointed out that the herd of fallow deer was becoming a source of danger to the settlers round tho foot of the mountains, and asked if a party could have a week about the beginning of April in which to shoot as many bucks as possible and have the moat frozen and sent to the Belgians. He suggested that all those, who had taken out licenses to shoot rfrer on these mountains for tho last six years bo allowed to ask a friend, and, in conjunction with tho settlors on tho mountain, should bo told off into parties, with a certain area of country to shoot over, each party to be in charge of an oxporieneed man. A letter was read from tho South Otago Freezing Company agreeing to handle tho meat for shipment Homo, provided l the number of door was not too groat. The same company wrote that it; was agreeable to convey the carcases to its works, provided the number was not too great. —It was suggested by several metmVrs that as bucks are- scarce in this district doos might bo ahot instead. —It was resolved to writ;- to (ho Tapanui Sooioty asking; it for a report is soon .-is posfiblo nmr for suggestions :is to how to carry out the proposal. It was also resolvwJ to write to tho Ministor roqueting permission to shoot for a month for the object stated in Mr Overton's letter.