OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 7

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held on Monday evening, and was attended by Messrs C. Baker (president), Stewart, Aburn. Rutherford, C. A. Wilspn, Cowie, Howes, Williams, Reid, Smith, Turner," and Cousins. GAME COMMITTEE. The Game Committee recommended that the society should pay a bonus of 3d per pair for hawks’ feet sent in within the next two months, the birds to be killed in the society’s district: that the shipment of chikkor to arrive by the Sussex next month be put out in the same place as the others; that David Al'Donald should be informed that the society was not appointing any more honorary rangers in the meantime. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote asking for evidence regarding the opossums and bird life. Authority was asked to sell certain forfeited opossum skins and traps. Information regarding red deer heads required by Professor Huxley, London, was solicited. The department sent a list of persons who had taken out brokers’ licenses under the opossum regulations. A further communication was received regarding the issue of a broker’s license to Mr A. 8. Rose. For this case it was recommended that if Mr Rose were given a broker’s license he should not get a trapper’s license. A cablegram had been received from the Zoological Gardens, Calcutta, that 46 chikkor had been shipped by the Sussex. Messrs J. K. Mooney and Co. had offered to purchase 1000 deer skins at 5s 6d each for all sun dried well-cared-for skins.—lt was decided to send a copy to the society’s cullers. The ballot for blacks for the red deer stalking season, 1929, resulted as follows: —Block 16, Charles Templeton and friend; block 26, S. W. Knight and friend; block 35, W. A. Benfell and W. A. Dickinson; block 35a, W. W. Livingstone and D. B. Livingtone; block 36, A. D. Kitto and friend.—lt was recommended that the blocks not already allotted be offered to those unsuccessful in the ballot, in priority of application; also that in future applicants should give the names of those who were stalking with them and pay the full deposit.—The recommendation was adopted. ANGLING COMMITTEE. The Angling Committee reported having received a letter from Mr W. Ford (Pembroke) stating that 743,000 brown trout eggs had been collected from Pembroke Creek to date.—lt was recommended that 25,000 eggs (mixed lots) v. should be hatched and put into Pembroke Creek. Mr T. Gillespie (Hawea) ■wrote reporting on the work he had done for the society at the fish trap in Timaru Creek. •—Received. The secretary, Marine - Department, wrote advising that the forfeited fishing rod (Hammers) could be sold by the society.—Received. The secretary, Ballarat Acclimatisation Society, wrote increasing the society’s order for rainbow eyed ova to 70,000. — Received. Mr A. J. Boydell (Heriot) wrote asking if the society granted free licenses for angling to rangers under the Animals Protection Act.—lt was decided to reply that the society regretted it could not see its way to grant him a complimentary license. The report was adopted. GENERAL. Mr C. A. Wilson’s offer to have a sample of the water of the Waitati stream analysed was accepted, with thanks. It was decided that sawmillers at Tahakopa should be warned against allowing sawdust to flow into local streams. Consideration as to making arrangements for the culling of the red deer herd was postponed for a month. Messrs Wilson and Smith reported that they had inspected the fish hatcheries at Christchurch and Temuka and had received valuable information on the subject. In both places they had been given every assistance.—lt was resolved that letters of thanks should be sent to the two societies, and the society’s thanks accorded to Messrs Wilson and Smith. In connection with the erection of the proposed hatchery at Waitati, a building committee consisting of Messrs Baker, Aburn, and Stewart was set up to report to the next meeting. Mr C. Baker was appointed the society’s delegate to the conference to be held at Wellington early in September,