NELSON ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8245, 11 May 1895, Page 2

NELSON ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

| The annual general meeting of the membars of this Sooiety was held at the Masonio I Hovel laet evening wh«=n Dt Gibba was voted to the obair, thore being a fair attendance. One new member was elected. ! The Hon. Secretary, Mr R. W. W. Kiogdon read the annual Keport, in which the membsrs were eoegratolated npon the sneoees which bad aitendsd the operations of the Society dating the ye&r. It was also mentioned that the Eooi^ty was in a healthy oonj diticn financially. From repot to received it was state! hat tfce red dier are increasing in nambera, and spreading in the outlying dsstrio.s, a larger number of youog stags tban a ual hadb?en shot this [year, and it was join led out that the Wellington Society was urging th it no s ag with leas tnan eight points on his antlers, and no larger number than tbree ehouldbe shot by any one licansee. It was suygeatei thai a similar rale might ba adopted. It had been reported that certain lioenßees had killed saoh a quantity of deer as to almost amount to a general fc laughter, a fact to be regretted as there was a danger that the increase woald be f topped for some years. A latter bad been s> nt to the Agent-General in London, enquiring as to the possibility of puroba«iag more red dee?, but it was feared that the provisions of the Siook Aot would p-event any further importation, it was 'Uggaated chat a pair of deer shouli ba liberated near Ca'liugwood. Mention wan msda of a eommunioetion from the Marboroagh Society prooosiag Bteps to prevens poaohiag and the

Commit' ee recommended that hereafter the reason for ahootiog stags should not extend bayond the 3lßt March. It was said that the fallow deer did not appear to be spreading maoh, and nothing had been heard recently of th 9 opoEsnnn while applications had been made that more mi.bt be pnrobased and liberated. Regret was expressed that quail and pheasants were nearly extinot in many localities, a faoi largely due, it was affirmed, to many settlers haviog trapped large nombers, and it waa pointed out that all possible efforts shonld be nude to preserve these birds. Some, it was eaid, sttribued the disappear* anoe of the imports i birds to the presence of the weasel, but othor causes had a'eo been at 9. orb. In 1894 the Society resolved tbat the export of game should be stepped, end thu3 had largely protested the birds and an opinion waa expres-ei that a Ike provision ebonld be ncsde stooping the exportation of fi 4 h and dser. Efforts had been made to obtain from India the ohiokor partridge, bat without avail* As to Native game it was said that pigeons aad Kakas were nor more numerous, and though ducks were repot t6d numerous in the Lake, Boiler, and Wairau districts, there were, however, p tactically none in this district. Relative to fish culture, great credit was given t j the curator, Mr Nalder, who had turned oat so many young fiah, and also to the Messrs Nalder, Poll' ok, Sherwood, Hounsell, and others for their services in netting fiah for stripping purposs Some 400 fish had, upon the advice of Mr Nalder, been turned out into the lake In the Queen's Gardens, and expense would thus be saved. Trout fry had been liberated in the upper waters of the Wairoa, in the Montere river, and in a stream near Colliogwood. while in various Btreams a- number of naturally raised fry had been eeen. It was stated tbat the Buller was now one of the beat stoaked of the 100 4 rivers. Relative to the prawns obtained by Captain Wheeler and liberated in the Bay, it was said tbat they were occasionally Eeen, but it could hardly be expeoted that they would be found in numbers yet, a'thoagh the prawn was a most prolific fish. When a Bpeo men oould be obtained for Dr Hector it Was intended to ask for pioteotion. In respect to rangers, ii was said that although no convictions had been secured, the appointment of Mr J. logram waa calculated to have beneficial results. The report elicited much dieeuesion, in (he course of whioh the Chairman expressed the view that the deer could not be allowed to increase further ; already may se tiers were complaining of the damage done by thesa animals. The ranger bore out this view, and added that he believed tbat the repotted number of deer killed waa in excess of the actual number. The report was adopted. Mr Walker remarked thtt the fallow deer were increasing, and were now to be met with in the Wangamoa and Maungatapu districts. The report of the ranger waa then read, whioh showed that hs had visited the various localities Mr Ingram said that many ssttiers had expre Bed a desire to proteoi th 6 birds and to give him assistance in his duties. The Chairman epoke in complimentary teims of tbe work done by Mr logram, And on the motion of Mr Walker, aeoonied by dr Taiton, it was tesolved to reoutd the appreciation o( the (Society of the work done by the ranger. Mr Ingram Eaid be was very grateful for their appreciation of his services. Mr B. S. B oth then read the balance sheet, whioh showed tbat tbe year waa commenced with a oredit balance of £43 9s, |in addition to £100 on fixed deposit. Their receipts, inoluding trout license fees f.r two jears, amounted to £191 lOe. Their expenditure during the year left them with £35 163 in hand in add tion to the £100 on fixed deposit. After tome remarks thereon (he balance sheet was adopted. The eleotion of officers was next prooeeded with, when Mr R. W. W. Eingdon was unanimously le-elected hon. Secretary and Mr B. S. Booth was similarly elected bon. Treasurer, both gentlemen being accorded votes of tbanks lor their services. Tha following gentlemen were elected bb tbe Committee :— Dr Gibba. and Messrs Walker, Bannehr, Tattot, Giblin and Pollock. On ihe motion of Mr Walker the question of procuring mure animals and birds was left to the Committee. Mr Dundas alluded to the question of acclimatisation of the salmon, and urged that they should support the attempt being made by tbe Otago and Southland Societies to stock a southern river, bo that theie might be concentrated efforts to establish the Silmn in New Zealand. In the course of tbe discussion it was stipulated thut such support should be on oondition that the Southern Society should thereafter assist the Nelson Society, and the proposal was on that onderatanding adopted. Mr Walker gave notice to move at a epaotal meeting tbat licensees for phesßant and quail EhooUng should have ten chilling returned them out of the fee of £1, and it was agreed to bold a special meeting at an early date to oonßider this proposal. It wbb retolved tnat the Suoreiary and Treasurer should have the right of fishing and shooting without payment of fee. and that the Banger shonld be permitted to fish for trout. A vote of tbankß to the Ohairm n terminated the proceediegs.