ACCLIMATISATION AFFAIRS

Waipa Post, Volume 37, Issue 2217, 2 October 1928, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION AFFAIRS

TB AWAMUTU SOCIETY MEETS. MR C. A. REILLY ELECTED PRESIDENT. The annual general meeting of the Te Awamutu Acclimatisation Society was held in Gibson’s Garage on Saturday evening, a good attendance of members being presided over by Mr J. Taylor, last year’s president. An apology for absence was received from Mr J. S. Garner. The secretary, Mr C. A. Reilly, reported that last year the restrictions on bait to be used in the Waipa River were lifted. The parent society decided not to procure for distribution any wild rice seed, as the first importation had proved unsatisfactory. The (flection of officers for the current year was proceeded with, and resulted as follows: President, Mr C. A. Reilly, vice-presidents, Messrs J. Tayior and R. W. Gibson; committee, Messrs W. H. Holmes, G. Reynolds, W. F. Woodward, and W. Boys; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Oliphant. It was stated that the Auckland Acclimatisation Society would not accede to the Te Awamutu recommendation in favour of issuing day and half-sea-son licenses for trout fishing. Nothing had been done by the parent society to stock the small lakes between Te Awamutu and Hamilton with perch, owing to the expense, but the matter would again be considered. Mr Reilly said members of the Auckland council would co-operate with district sportsmen in the destruction of shags on Arapuni Lake, suggesting November as the best month for united action.

The secretary read a circular from the parent society dealing with the liberation of pheasants, and asking for approved properties in Te, Awamutu districts. He had interviewed the owners of territory extending to about 25,000 acres, and all were agreieable to restricting their properties against olf,ooting, and, where there were no rabbits, there would be no poison laid. Mr Woodward considered it waste of money to liberate pheasants anywhere in Te Awamutu district. . He would, if the Society wished, be quite willing to dlose his property if the Crown Lands Department would also close the adjoining block. Weasels would get all the young pheasants. Mr Rqilly said the pheasants’ worst enemies were weasels, ferrets, cats, and Hawks. Lukeko would also take eggs, and, he was informed, young duck.

Mr Woodward agreed, and cited instances that had come under his personal notice. It was. decided to recommend the Wairaka 25,000 acres block as suitable for the liberation of pheasants; also Mr Woodward’s property beyond PuJieatua, if thq Crown land adjoining could also be proscribed. The opinion was exprfisesd that the number of pheasants in Te Awamutu district was increasing rapidly. The matter of representation for Te Awamutu at the meeting of the council on 11th October was then considered, and Messrs Holmeseand Woodward were appointed. It was decided to apply for the liberation of mallard duck in Te Awamutu district.

•Mr Woodward intimated that he intended to liberate two broods of geese on Arapuni Lake this'summer. He hoped shootists would refrain from disturbing them, so that they could multiply. If left alone for five years there would be enough geese to providj excellent sport for all licenseholders. It was decided to recommend that puiieko be removed from the list of protected birds, the opinion being general that they are destructive to farmers’ crops and to wild fowl, especially young birds and eggs.