OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18158, 1 February 1921, Page 6

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held last night at Mr R. Hanning’s .office; present—Messrs i G. W. M‘lntosh (president), Rutherford, T. Long, R Conn, H. King, C. Wilson, W. J. Robinson, A. E. Jenkins, E. S. Jenkins, S. Cousins, R. Rutledge, and A. Cowie. Curator Pcllett reported that since the previous meeting 432,000 trout fry had been liberated in the various streams, and 725,000 brown and 200,000 rainbow trout sold. The water supply was a bedrock, no more coming in than would run from a water-pipe. (The curator reported that since the present rain there was an improvement.) There were four Cape Barren geese, one gander having died. There were three Canadian geese of the society’s own stock, and six from Christchurch. There were'numerous, dragon flies about.—Received. Mr Ogilvie wrote stating that Mr Freeman, of Minaret Station, advised that the Canadian geese on his property had two clutches of young ones—six and three respectively. , . ,T Mr F. H. P. Rogers wrote from Hawea Flat, reporting that up 'to date (17th December, 1920) 325 deer bad been shot on blocks 21 to 25 - m Angling Committee Report.—The ranger s report was received, stating that the Department of Internal Affairs notified the appointment as . rangers of Messrs _ James Campbell Whitelaw, George Currie, and John D. Collins. secretary of the Southland Acclimatisation Society wrote saying that the society did not intend to issue any more 10s licenses after this season. The committee recommended that the application of W. S. J>. Trotter, Hillgrove, for some perch be noted in the meantime. —Adopted. Game Committee Report.—lt was decided to recommend that the cullingfshould finish on January 31. Letters were received from the Department of Internal Affairs advising that the Minister will not object to the Indian Chikor being liberated; advising that hawks, keas, black, white, and sea shags are not protected for 1921; asking for deer-shooting regulations for next season. It was recommended that the season for the xiawea and Pomahaka herds be the same as last year; that the license fees be increased to £6 for three heads for Hawea, and. £4 for two heads for-Pomahaka, and that only license-holders be allowed to carry rifles; and that 18 licenses be issued for Pomahaka herd; notification of the appointment as rangers of J. D. Collins, of Hawea, Geo. Currie, of Hyde, and J. C. Whitelaw, of Roslyn; enclosing conies of Animals Protection Act, 1920. Recommend that the copy of regulations re taking and killing of opossums as amended at a meeting held recently be approved, and that they be confirmed by the council.—The committee recommended that half the fine in the case against James MTvor for killing opossums be sent to Constable Jones. Mr J. C. Milligan, Oamaru, wrote saying that he cannot go stalking on block 26.—1 t was recommended that the block ' - offered to Mathias and party; also, that James Buckley, Hawea Flat, be offered block 23 for two rifles or 13 for one rifle. The committee recommended that steps be taken to gazette as a sanctuary the dams on the property of Begg and Co., Romahapa.—Mr Conn remarked that Mr Mclntosh had doqp very valuable work in connection with the close season for opossums, and he moved that the council pass a special vote of thanks to that gentleman. Mr MTntosh had had to work against an unsympathetic Minister, and his arguments had carried conviction.—The motion was carried.- Mr MTntosh, in returning thanks, said the opossums had been sadly depleted through indiscriminate slaughter. They could not look for any great profit for a little time, but the regulations, if they were properly observed* should raise the opossum skin trade to a valuable industry. A notification was received from an Accident Insurance Society that it would be advisable to increase the cover of employees in consequence of the increase in wages, and pointing out that an increased premium would be necessary for this.—The Finance -ommittce recommended that the increased premium be paid, and this was adopted. The Chairman reported that the three chikor which had survived were still doing y/ell, but had not shown any sign of nesting vet.—Mr Conn_ stated that it was impossible for more birds to have been saved, owing to the disease from which they were suffering, and the three were saved only by extreme care.—lt was agreed to wait before importing any more to see if some better means of transit could not be devised, and whether the proper season was observed 'n getting them out. It was resolved that 16 deer-shnnling licenses be allotted to the Pomahaka-Whit-co:nb district, and these were ballotterl for among 22 applicants, those who were unsuccessful last year receiving preference.