FIFTH DINNER

Southland Times, Issue 25305, 7 June 1935, Page 4

FIFTH DINNER

SOUTHLAND STALKERS ' LARGE GATHERING The fifth annual deerstalkers’ dinner was held in the Federal banquet hall last evening, there being an attendance of some sixty stalkers from various parts of Southland. Among the guests were his Worship the Mayor (Mr John Miller), the president of the Southland Acclimatization Society (Mr; James Robertson), and the Conservator of State Forests (Mr N. J. Dolamore). As in previous years, the dinner was an unqualified success, not only by reason of the camraderie displayed, but by the serious contributions made by speakers to the betterment of the sport. Mr W. R. Mabson was in the chair. > In extending a welcome to all the chairman said that so far as he knew the Southland deerstalkers’ dinner was the only function of its kind held in New Zealand. So wide was the following of the sport that the time had come when the formation of a deerstalkers’ society might well be considered. Mr Mabson spoke of the many advantages of the sport to the individual and to New Zealand from the tourist point of view. The first toast, that of “The Southland Acclimatization Society,” was proposed by Dr E. Orbell who said he was convinced that in stalking, fishing and duck-shooting Southland ranked second to no district in New Zealand. He agreed that it vzas a good idea to form such a body as a deerstalkers’ protection society and spoke of the need of having wapiti shooting put on a proper basis. Mr James Robertson, in reply, mentioned that deer were first introduced to Southland by the society in 1900. It could therefore be said that to the society was due the sport obtained in Southland to-day. He traced the change in the Government’s attitude towards deer, which from being viewed as an asset came to be regarded as an evil. He expressed regret that the Government had not seen fit to assist the society in properly conserving the wapiti herd. He referred to the perpetual attacks being made on acclimatization societies through the Press. The societies were blamed for much for which they could not be held responsible. Mr Robertson concluded by extolling the virtues of deerstalking as a manly sport. Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford, who also replied on behalf of the society, said that acclimatization societies were certainly blamed for much which they did not do. For instance, it was commonly thought that the societies were responsible for the introduction of all deer into New Zealand; but Captain E. T. Don, who was attached to the High Commissioner’s Office, had recently written a book in which he prided himself on introducing deer to Stewart Island.

The toast of “The Deerstalkers” was proposed by his Worship the Mayor and responded to by Messrs P. Hamilton (Tuatapere), J. Cowie (Balfour), H. H. Twemlow (Waikiwi), and that of “The Wapiti Shooters”by Mr W. E. Hunt and responded to by Messrs Arthur Hamilton, D. McDonald and T. Buchanan.

The remaining toasts were: “Our Forests” (proposed by Mr H. K. Sumpter and responded to by Mr N. J. Dolamore); “The Performers” (Mr W. R. Mabson); “The Chairman” (his Worship the Mayor). Items by Harvey’s orchestra and topical skits enlivened the evening.