STREAM POLLUTION

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1935, Page 9

STREAM POLLUTION

ACCLIMATISATION MATTERS. TARANAKI COMMITTEE MEETING. The question of stream pollution was discussed on Monday night at the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society. There were present Messrs. W. H. Moyes (chairman), A. Little, G. F. Bertrand, T. Wilson, C. Rawlinson and R. B. Fleming. Concerning pollution the chairman said there had been no losses at the hatchery in January. The property owners had been approached to secure co-opera-tion in clearing the water and they had proved amenable. The position was now less serious. Though 100,000 ova had been lost it was feared at one time that no fish at all could be reared. Letters had been written to attempt to obviate pollution of the hatchery water. The Inglewood County Council wrote to say it was unaware that clay was being deposited in Ngatoro stream but would investigate the matter. A farmer when informed that the overflow from his pigyard in spite of his endeavours was still polluting the

stream expressed his willingness to help the society. He had arranged with the chairman to carry out certain improvements which would remedy the position. A firm of specialists had submitted a report upon a scheme for the purification of the water. It was deferred for consideration. The Stratford society had agreed to the committee’s suggestion that £5O be advanced on loan to the Taranaki society for the purpose of building a holding pond, provided the hatching and rearing of the Stratford society’s ova to six month fish were arranged. Up to 25,000 ova were to be catered for each year. The chairman mentioned that the arrangement was satisfactory from the point of view of both societies. At a meeting of licensed opossum trappers last year resolutions had been passed requesting the introduction of a better class of opossum into the district and seeking the reduction of the royalty on skins. On account of the poor class oz opossums the duty was considered excessive. The resolutions had been forwarded to the Department of Internal Affairs, which replied promising consideration of the remit. An order for 5000 brown trout yearlings was received from the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society. The secretary advised that the caretaker at the hatcheries had been told to reserve the number. Two applications for ranger’s warrants were considered.