BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2027, 29 December 1892, Page 31

BANK NOTES.

The decision of the Acclimatisation Society at its monthly meeting last week to remove the manager, Mr Deans, from Opoho to Clinton was arrived at after strong opposition from Mr Clifford. That gentleman's enthusiasm in the cause of acclimatisation has been beyond praise. In season and out of season he has made the subject his continual care, and has rendered on innumerable occasions invaluable service. His opinion is therefore entitled to consideration, and it is for the reason that we feel confident the other members of the council would not have resisted his protest had there not been good grounds that wo are disposed to think the decision a wise one. The Clinton grounds and buildings are now equal to anything the society may require of them, and the death of Mr Bout has lett a vacancy there hard to fill. It is manifestly better that the manager should be located at the most important station, which the Clinton property has now become. Distribution can be more easily effected from there, and the manager can more easily reach almost any part of the .district from Clinton than from Opoho. The former is in the heart of the fishing country : in fact, its suitability in every respect has caused ifc steadily- to almost supersede Opoho. The removal of the manager does not, however, necessitate the breaking up of the Opohb property, which may still be maintained as one of the mo3t useful and interesting objects to be seen about Dunedin. We regret to observe, from the report of the same meeting, that little or nothing has been done towards providing a sanctuary for the preservation of indigenous fauna. It may be true that pre-existing rights impeded the appropriation of Barrier Island for the purpose, and the selfishness of the occupiers has considerably diminished its value since the proclamation was made by the cutting of timber. But no such exeouse can be alleged with respf ct to Rf solution Island. The council agreed some time ago to vote a sum of money to erect a house for a curahor, but nothing further has been heard of the matter. We were under the impression that the Hinemoahad orders to leave the timber for a curator's house at Resolution Island, but that does not Beem to have been done, and no steps at all appear to have been taken towards establishing a depot there for native birds. It is to be feared that, in Mr Clifford's words, the poor wingless birds will have to go, as the matter has been postponed so long that almosb every day is valuable. Will not the deabh of Professor Owen, reported this week, whose name is so indissolubly connected with the winglees birds of New Zealand, rouse the Government to action ? Mr Clifi*ord's complaint of the disregard of the close season by the visiting Governor of a neighbouring colony and his staff illustrates the havoc played among tbe birds by thoughtless people. It is to be regretted that Mr Clifford confined his action to mere remonstrance on that occasion. The prosecution of a Governor would have done a world of good. — Daily Times.

A gentleman living on the upper reaches of the Waipahi 6ends me some interesting particulars of the trout and their wayward ways in this now famous stream. He says:— "l sometimes try all the stauclarcl flie3 for the Waipahi without getting a fish to ii.se, the trout at times being remarkably shy. We have had thunder storms the last few days which has cleaned the river of weeds and put it in fine fishing trim- " The Waipahi is swarmiDg with fine trout this year, but owitig to the water being so low, sport has not been so good for the first month or 80 as it was in former years, a grt at many anglers coming from a distacce and going away fiisgustecF with empty, bags. As for myself, I have never ca-t a line on any other stream, sd if an empty bag is the result of a day's iiihing I just say better luck next time ; but if one is iv the gorge above here with a suitable wind blowing and [a clear sky, then the trout rise freely and a good creelful can be got ia a few hours. " The middle of the day I find the best time —the best kind of weather a good strong north or north-east breeze with the sun shining brightly, and the water jumping and sparkling in the sunshine with mimll patches of froth gatlur'ng on the edge f tin- ripples. Augleis who have the opporu '-tv shuiiiil \"fiifc this efcream in October and Uk liist two weeks of November, and if they hap|u , to gel th< re when the fish are taking the fly tl- 'r fWiim would not be in vain, as a imskefc o- lis-b. from dlb to 51b would be their reward. I mudr some splendid, bags during {h<; Mfc weets of October

with a black fly with gold stripes in the body, known here as the Pomahaka fly. During the month of October I have never found this ily to fail rite."

The late rains south have put the Waipahi and Waiwera in fine fishiDg trim, good baskets should therefore be made at the ADglers and Acclimatisation Societies' competition this week.