ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14002, 10 September 1909, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The Council of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society met at the Grosvenor Hotel, Timaru, yesterday. Present—Messrs. J. S. Rutherford (president), A. C. Pringle, P. Coira, P. G. Allen, F. Palliser, W. H. Brown, Dr. Hayes P. Foster, C. E. Hassell, and -W."G. Asoinall (secretary). Apology was made for Messrs Ward and Finlay. The correspondence and proceedings since last meeting.were as follows: — The Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs had been written to expressing the surprise of this society that they irere not ijiven nermission to shoot Paradise duck, while shooting was allowed in Otago, where Paradise duck were said to be scarce, whereas they were too numerous and a. nuisance in the Mackenzie Country. It was further asked that as next year is a close season, the following year should be onen in this di=trirt.—A reply was received that the Society's reriresentations had been noted, for consideration. The Wellington Society had been asked if they had any widgeon, and they replied that they had none, and did not know anyone who had. As a result of correspondence with the Canterbury Society, 250 yearling rainbow trout had been purchased for £2, and liberated in Lake Alexandria. . Letters of thanks had been written to Mr R. Smith, Winchester, for a gift of two Paradise ducks; and to Mr Pringle for two cock pheasants. Mr W. E. Jones, Kimbell, Silverstream, had applied for .500 brown trout, and these had been supplied. Two thousand had also been got from the Temuka and liberated in the Pareora, and 1000 in the Waihi at Geraldine. To obtain these a net was borrowed from Mr Ayson, Hakateramea, and it Jwas resolved "to .get a suitable net for the ranger. Three Goodwit (the Siberian immigrant shot at Milford Lagoon) had been staffed and added to the Society's museum, and were three handsome birds. The question bad been raised as to whether the Milford Lagoon and reserves were still protected, a sanctuary for birds, the Colonial Secretary was written to, and he replied that it is. - An application had been received for permission to erect a hut "above Grassy Road." A reply had been sent that the society has no jurisdiction over the road and therefore could not give permission. The Secretary to the Societies' Association acknowledged receipt of the annual subscription. Mr J. Winter, of White Rock, asked for a mallard drake, as he had two docks. A drake was sent, but this was lost, and another was sent him. Mr H.'M. Bailey, of Stratford, asked if he could be supplied with a brace of Paradise duck and some Canadian geese. A reply had been sent that the ducks would be supplied if they could be got.. The Canadian geese were all • liberated on Lake Alexandrina, and it was out of the question to get any of these at present. A mallard drake and two ducks had been, sent to the Christchnrch Society. They had been down here for some' years and had not bred. Perhaps they would breed at Christchnrch, and- if they did, this Society.was to get some of the progeny. : The Invercargill Cycling Club wrote that they were thinking of forming an A«gli«g Club, to work in Co-operation with the Acclimatisation Society, and asked for rules and any other assistance possible.—The Secretary said he 'would look for rules of the Old Angling: Society of Temuka, and forward them..

: Mr ?Cotteir ejve notice that 1 " he had purchased Mr Kernick's hut on the Temuka reserve. A letter was received from Mr Frank Brown, giving the - Society authority to prosecute trespassers on his Grange Farm, Temuka.—The Secretary explained that some of the Society's ducks -were in the habit of nesting in fthe 'rough growth'on the banks-of a' creek running through the farm. The Golf Club had links on the farm, and boys followed them and hunted the creek for lost golf balls.. They- had burned the flat in the creek and destroyed .three broods of ducks. Mr Brown's letter would enable the Society to prosecute such trespassers. Dr Hayes said the golf players did not employ caddies, and did not want the boys there.—A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Brown for the assistance this letter gave the Society. -'■■■- A sub-committee of Temuka members, authorised to deal with the ranger's cottage reported that they were advised to poll down the old rear portion and make the four newer rooms more habittfble. They had called for tenders for taking down the old rooms for removal, but no tender was received.— Mr Pringle strongly recommended selling house and section together as the Society bad land' enough without the half-acre of freehold. Messrs Foster and Palliser approved of this, and the suggestion was referred to the sub-com-mittee for consideration. The ranger's' diary was passed round the table, and his report was read. He asked for a grit-crusher, and an outdoor brooder.—There were ordered to be obtained, and it was remarked that the diary showed that the ranger had been well over the district. A letter was read from Mr R.-Guth-rie, .burse's raas, UatfcU August iuvU, aifK'"E tnat'toe prosecution iristiiuteu against wo rantto Ooys tor snooting Jrarauise ducjes'ouc or'season be wuuurawn. ilir uutunri urged mat -xuere .Were special circunisxaikesiu the case or one ut tne aeieuaanta, a cuuut. in me post ornoe, and also special circumstances in the case of tue uuc-ks. vn this point he said that tne close season for Jfaraaise ducKs nnd not been looKea upon by people up- there very lavouraoly, as in a good luany places the ducks had been increasing so fast tor tne last few years that they had become a positive pest. linaer the circumstances he suggested that if the boy was. made a scape-goat it would not raise the society in the estimation ot the better class of the public of the Mackenzie country, who sympathised with the society in its efforts to protect game, prevent illegal fishing, maintain sanctuaries, etc. He therefore begged the society to waive the prosecution. The secretary explained that a settler in the Fairlie district—one of the "better class" alluded to by 3fr Guthrie—had complained to the society of the shooting of Paradise ducks, and on this action was taken. The executive considered Mr Guthrie's letter, and concluded that, as hitherto, they could be no respecter of persons, and the lawmust take its course. The boy specially refered to pleaded guilty; his companion, who said he was a, new chum unacquainted with the law, pleaded not guilty. Both were convicted and fined, the minimum, £5, the Magistrate letting them off costs. Apropos of this case, tho president mentioned that some carpenters who came up to his Misctake station were suspected of shooting a. Paradise duck, a number of which were tame on a pond at the homestead. A dead duck was found in the woolshed, but no one would admit that he knew how it came The secretary also reported the conviction of a man for shooting trout in the Tengawai at Pleasant Point with at ' Mr Aspinall reoorted the bank balance ns-£l2B 12s Bd. and accounts were passed for £2l 7s lOd. The question of netting the Macken-

zie lakes came up, and it was agreed that Alexandria cannot be let for netting, since young rainbow trout and ducks iiave been liberated there; but Tekapo and half of Pukaki could be let. Mr Allen gave notice to move at next meeting that the resolution asking the Goverenment to remove the protection from Milford lagoon and reserve as a sanctuary for wild birds, be rescinded. His reason was that if this was done, the Government would certainlv make the Wnshdyke lagoon a sanctuary, and this would be unfair to southern sportsmen. The secretary was asked to leave the room, and in his absence Mr Brown moved that the salary of the secretary be increased, the £25 now paid being quite inadequate to the work done. Many secretaries receive thrice or four times that amount for no more or even for much less work. Messrs lalliser, Hassall and Foster warmly supported the motion; the president seconded it and moved that the salary be increased to £SO. This was carried unanimously, with further expression .of approval of Mr Aspinall's energy in the interests of the society. Mr Asoinall, recalled, thanked the Council for this mark of their appreciation of his services. . It was also resolved that Mr Aspinall represent this society at the annual conference ut Wellington, and that his expenses bo paid for visits to the hatcheries at Masterton and the development ponds at New Plymouth. _ At the latter, it "was explained, "eyed" ova were purchased from hatcheries and developed into strong fry for distribution, and this was' considered a good plan for the society toadopt at its reserve at Temuka. It wag said hat there would be no difficulty in getting hatched ova from Hakataramea, in return for the stripping of fish in the Opihi. • Mr Hassall recommended the construction of ponds on the"reserve at Temuka, and it was agreed that the Council meeting next at Temuka, should inspect the reserve, in , this connection. (This was the foundation of the decision above given, that the secretary visit Masterton and New Plymouth.)