ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18636, 4 August 1930, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. A meeting of the Council of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held in Temuka on Saturday afternoon. Present—Messrs T. R. Mackay (chairman). J. Macdonald, J. Steven, W. E. Boys, F. Palliser, W. Drummond-Sharp, W. S. Grant, and C. S. Young. The chairman said that at last meeting a mistake had been made in the election of a committeeman to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of Mr W. G. Aspinall. It had been found since that Mr T. Harrison, Winchester, who had been elected, was not a member, so that another election would be necessary. Mr Grant inquired if it would not be possible to appoint the other . nominee of last meeting. The chairman said the rules would not permit of this. A further election would be required. Extension of Membership. The secretary (Mr B. Hughes) gave a report on the suggested extension of membership from the viewpoint of cost of distribution of the annual report. Mr Hughes said that at present there were printed and distributed about 450 copies of the report at a cost of approximately £24. Under the altered scheme 1050 copies would be required if fishing license-holders were brought in. Inclusion of the shooting license-holders would increase the number to approximately 1150 copies. It had been suggested that the position could be met by advertising the report and accounts in the “Timaru Herald.” This would not, however, comply with the requirements of Rule No. 25, which reads, inter alia, “Copies thereof shall (whether pubj lished in such newspaper or not) be i sent to members, etc.” The cost of the increased number of the present style of report would be approximately £l2 extra, without taking into consideration the extra labour involved. Mr Young said he could see no reason why the Society should deviate from their present policy. Mr Steven said the Society would yearly save £6 by altering the rule referred to. He thought the matter should not be lost sight of. Mr Boys inquired if it was necessary to publish in the balance sheet the names of all license-holders. Mr Young thought it would be sufficient to publish only the names of members. The chairman said that the list of names, while not actually required, was a handy record to hold. It was decided to leave the matter as it was in the meantime. Correspondence. Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., wrote from : Wellington to say that the Lands ! Department would be communicating ] with the Society’s Executive shortly on i the subject of setting aside domain j reserves on the shores of Lake Alexandrina. A sketch plan of the lake I \ypuld be forwarded, on which the > Society would be asked to mark off 1 two domains of 25 acres each. Similar I communications would be forwarded I to the Mackenzie County Council and ! to the two run-holders interested. A covering letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, enclosing a plan and asking the Society to mark the approximate positions of two camping sites. The chairman said there would be no cost to the Society over the deal, but they would require to have representation at the Mackenzie County Council.

The plan was perused by members, and it was decided that a committee consisting of Messrs E. Macdonald, J. Macdonald, Drummond-Sharpe and j Hunter-Weston be set up as a deputation to wait on the Mackenzie County Council to make a choice, details of which would be forwarded to Mr Burnett. The honorary secretary of the New Zealand Freshwater Research Committee (Mr D. F. Hobbs) asknowledged a letter from the Society suggesting that the various schools in its district should take water temperature readings. The writer, considered the suggestion an excellent one, and enclosed copies of letters giving the uses for which temperature readings could be carried out, and explaining the steps necessary for taking the readings. The writer said that interruptions during school holidays would detract somewhat from the value of the readings, but the readings for the rest of the year would prove of considerable value to his Committee. It was decided that arrangements be left in the hands of the secretary (Mr B. Hughes). Mr G. T. Adkins, Timaru, wrote asking the Society’s permission to erect a hut on the Pareora Reserve.— Left to the Reserves Committee. A lengthy letter was received from Mr L. B. James (Timaru), asking if the fishing season at Lake Alexlandrina could not be extended a month, until the end of May. Mr James considered this would be the means of bringing more fishermen to the lake, and stated that fishing was allowed on both Lakes Taupo and Hawera during May. He asked if the matter might not be re-opened. Mr Macdonald doubted if fishing on Lake Alexandrina in the coming season would be as profitable as in the past year. He* said that two years ap/> an unusually large number of fish had been taken from the lake. It was decided not to re-open the question. Finance. The report of the treasurer (Mr Boys) showed the bank overdraft to be £2B/15/11. Against this there was a credit balance in the Post Office of £SOO, leaving a total credit of £471/4/1. Accounts amounting to £55/0/11 were passed for payment. Ranger’s Report. Innis report. Mr F. W. Pellett said that since last month’s report 62,000 alevins had hatched out, and were healthy and strong. 20,000 of these were in a forward state, and would be ready to hand over to the Ashburton Society for liberation in that district. This 20,000 fry was only part of the 100,000 fry ordered by the Ashburton Society. 25,000 brown trout eyed ova were despatched by rail to the Hakataramea hatchery on account of the Waimate Society. A good deal of time had had to be given to hatchery work on account of excessive dirt in the water, and all ova had to be moved once each day to ensure strong fish hatching out. During the month 415 fish had been shifted, 300 from Dobb’s Creek at Orari to the Waihi river, and 115 from the Pareora to the Opihi river at Temuka. These last lot averaged a pound in weight, and were in the process of spawning. A case of poaching was set down at the Timaru Court for August 7. Rainbow fish were reported in the creek at Lake Heron by the Ashburton Society, and arrangements were being made to proceed there to spawn these fish when word was received that the road was impassable owing to snow, and nothing was done in the matter. A visit to Scott’s Creek at Lake Alexandrina was made on July 26, and only 1 two rainbow fish were seen in the creek. Mr G. Murray would report

when the fish go up-stream. A rifle which was forfeited would be sold. Mr Pellett further stated that there had been a good deal of new work done i about the hatchery. He would like to 1 plant out some privet trees as a hedge j on the roadline, also some at the rear oi the hatchery. The old gorse hedge had been removed on the boundary line between the creek and the boardroom. The Temuka Borough Council had made a good road into the hatchery, and a cyclone gate and good posts were now erected, and it only needed a hedge planted there and a good hatchery entrance completed. A good deal of discussion took place regarding the ever-growing menace of shags, and the best method by which they might be exterminated, but no decision was arrived at. The report was adopted. Powers of Ranger. In his report the ranger replied to a question raised as to whether or not the Council had any jurisdiction over a ranger in the matter of breaches of the fish or game laws. “In Section 35 of the Animals Protection Act,” Mr Pellett said, “it is stated that a Minister may appoint such persons as he thinks fit to be rangers; therefore a ranger is in the first place appointed by the Government, and becomes an officer of the law. Section 36 says that every ranger appointed by the Minister should have, and may exercise, all the powers of a constable, etc. That being so puts a ranger beyond interference of any outside influence. Again, Regulation No. 19 of the 1930 regulations, Sub-Clause 2, says it shall be the duty of every ranger or constable who has seized any game, firearms, animals, etc., to forward immediate notification thereof to the Minister. (Note—Not the Society.) That clause clearly defines the position. The Department holds the ranger responsible, and not the Society. But there is the moral and the physical aspect to be considered, and under this head the Society has jurisdiction over the ranger, and such ranger is responsible for any such moral or physical acts. I think, taking on the one hand the legal aspect, your Society cannot therefore interfere in the matter of any breaches of the Acts, but must trust to the good reasoning and common sense of your ranger, and if he does anything that is not in your judgment good reasoning and on common sense lines, then you can act by dismissing him, and asking that his warrant be revoked.” The meeting decided to rescind a motion on the books, directing the ranger to refer all doubtful cases, before prosecuting, to the Society. Election of Member. An election of a committeeman to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of Mr W. G. Aspinall was then taken. Mr Grant again expressed himself as being unable to see why the second man nominated at the previous election could not be appointed, the chairman again having to remind him that the rules would not permit of such a procedure. Mr Young moved that Mr F. C. May be appointed. This was seconded by Mr Boys. Mr Grant: “I see, that makes three from the Co-op.” The chairman: “Excuse me, Mr Grant, but I object to that sort of thing. Leave out personalities altogether.” Mr Grant: “I've seen the result in the last few years. I’ll nominate Mr Leslie Trumper.” This was seconded by Mr Macdonald. On a ballot being taken. Mr Trumper was elected by five votes to three. General. Professor Percival and Mr A. W. Parrott, of the Fish Research Committee, paid a visit during the afternoon, and were shown over the hatchery and outbuildings, expressing ! pleasure with what was to be seen. The secretary stated that some earlier minute books of the Society were missing. The oldest he had dated back only to 1915. He had, however, recently noticed an article in the “Herald,” and inquired if it might not be possible to trace some of the past books by a visit to that newspaper.