Fishing and Shooting Rights.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1692, 10 June 1885, Page 2

Fishing and Shooting Rights.

To the Editor of the Slumianl. Sir. Referring to the letters ' vhi,,, ‘ appeared in your newspaper w tiding right of persons to Hdi and shoot on tho Wairarana Lake, we now seize the opportunity of defending our can-e. This occupation lure appears to he considered a criminal ollence. Is it •' L- the fust place, it is ,|n expensive occupaii„;i, having to lit out with gear for a short season in the shape of boats, guns, net?, ammunition, stores, Ac, in. order to supply the Wellington market with lish and game, and as tin i-iofes-ioaal, mercantile, nod elite of Wellington City, are tho principal consumers of choice fish and game procured from the Lake, it follows that they are the piiucipal supporters ol those who supply the market therefrom. We have always been guided in fixing oar camp witbiu the average flood marks, and also deprived ourselves of the use of dogs, in order not to annoy people, and are nearly always alloat on the water, where we consider no one is a trespasser. Still, we have been pounced upon by a portion of the community sunoundmg the lake. Whenever they see the smoke from a camp tire, they come down aud warn you oil, which is more a want of humanity and liosnitality, “ Live and let live ” is our motto —we have troubled no one in our way—but pimply wish to defend ourselves. The game arc protected during a season, and there is also a season for shooting them. It appears they want to monopolize not only their own rights to tho land surrounding tho lake, but the Government reserves and tho water ; arm wo buliavo they have only been making a cat 8 paw of the Maoris to try and prevent us from shooting and fishing. The Maoris have sold their rights of the lake to the Government, on three different occasions, one payment being £BOO. It is remarked in the letters that they do not like the professional shooters but do not object to people coming to shoot for pleasure. No doubt they like tho game preserved for them and to make a good wholesale slaughter with their double barrelled choke-bore breechloaders. The principal causes of destruction to tho wild fowl are by draining the swamps, burning off, and mustering stock, crushing down the young birds and their eggs during the breeding season and in turning out weasels aud tame cats. We are tho persons who have tho right to complain, being interfered with season after season, and we b>ok to justice for our rights. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, when wo remarked the want of humanity and hospitality, as it is the cockatoo portion of the community who have been objectionable to our avocation. We quote, “ Tho pen is mightier than tho sword/' although wc are able to stand by our arms if required in self defence, and also to ’ ; assist the complainants should the Russians A j at any time pat in an appearance. Yours, Ac , Tin; Uonoiubm-. Dock Shooters, Waiuahapa Lake.