ACCLIMATISATION IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18992, 11 February 1930, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

The monthly meeting of the council of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held at Temuka; present— Messrs T. R. Mackay (chairman), W. G.. Aspinall, C. S. Young, R. Hunter Weston, J. Stevens, G. G. Lewis, G. G. Rich, E. Macdonald, T. Twigg, W. S. Grant and M. J. M’Donald. A letter was received from the Department of Internal Affairs requesting the society to consider the question of an open game season, and to submit, at an early date, such recommendations as the society desired to make. The secretary of the Waimate Society advised that he had decided to recommend an open season for the months of May and June. It was decided that the society recommend an open season for two months, pukeko to be included for the first week. A letter was received from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, stating that all the chukor imported by them

had been liberated. The chairman said the order had been given. The birds would be landed for about 80s a brace. Mr R. L. Shillito made application for permission to erect a hut at Rangitata. The application was granted, subject to the approval of the Reserves Committee. The chairman said that some discussion had taken place recently in regard to the prevalence of quinnat salmon in the Opihi. In view of the approaching salmon run, the society would have to consider the means of preventing the fish from going up the river to spawn. They could possibly set nets and thus prevent many of the big fish from making up the river. Mr Young said that he had hooked a salmon which had taken tackle and all. The chairman stated that exaggerated reports had been circulated that there were thousands of salmon in the Opihi. These reports were not true, the ranger having estimated the salmon at about 300. It was decided to confer with the new ranger with a view to deciding on a course of action. Sixty-three applications from all over New Zealand were received for the position of curator-ranger to the society. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Aspinall, seconded by Mr Stevens, that Mr F. W. Pellett, of Dunedin, be appointed. The new ranger, who is ranger to the Otago Society, has been with that body for sixteen years, and is fully experienced in fish culture and ranging work. The treasurer reported that there was a bank balance of £4l 12s 9d and a credit in the Post Office Savings Bank of £lOl6 8s lOd. Receipts during the month, including bank balance, £65 11s, and licenses and hut rents, £7B 10s, amounted to £144 Is. Accounts totalled £lO2 8s 3d, principal in which were wages £9l. Accounts amounting to £59 2s Id were passed for payment. In reply to a question by Mr Aspinall, the secretary stated that last season the running expenses and repairs to the ranger’s motor-cycle totalled £77 12s 6d. The ranger’s report stated that during the past two months fishing in the district had been very poor, owing to the condition of the rivers. A succession of floods had kept the rivers high and in an impossible condition for fishing. There were some good fish landed in the lower waters of the Opihi. The best fish, which weighed over 131 b, were caught on live bait. Owing to the weather conditions, fishing in the lakes in the Mackenzie Country had been only fair. The lock on the Glenmore Hut had been smashed, but he had put on a new lock. He had investigated s . u PP° Be d shooting of a pheasant at Fairlie, but had found nothing to indicate that a pheasant was shot there. RANGER’S RESIGNATION. During the discussion of the resignation of the ranger, Mr J. s. Main who has been appointed Government nsh culturist and inspector of freshwater fisheries at Hakataramea, Mr M J. Macdonald contended that when the resignation was received the council should have been called together to consider it. Some might have felt inclined to ask Mr Main to reconsider his decision. It was not a very nice way of letting him go, and in a sense some of the members had been ignored and treated with contempt. Under the circumstances the whole council should have been called together. “Acclimatisation work should be done by the counSiV* °, n , e or tvro members,” said Mr Macdonald. R. .Mackay) said that Mr Main had given the council no h ?, d for the ! nnd the first Intimation he f the chairman) had of Mr Main’s resignation was from the newsnaners The secretary said that he had receiv*d Mam’s written resignation on SSS ?v y 7 1, bUt W3S told sho'u'id >ll given S^wr tt ten ' rI 6 „7 hairm f n knew on January 7* that " as 11,1(1 should have called the council together. W iS?il er^ l members thought that the v hole council ought to have been sum!r,„ deal wltll the matter instead ° ( _the Emergency Committee. hJr, * h * ,, ;T an ,;\ aicl that this should have been brought up at the time. After further discussion the resignation was accepted. ♦ * n the meeting it was agreed that Mr Main be granted the sum of f. 20 f'foosmfion of his services, and _ a,so decided to grant the sum of to us to Mrs Main as a token of appreciation.