RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 3

RAETIHI

GENERAL In the theatre ou Monday night, Mr H. W. B. Littlewood, the unsuccessful candidate at the last Mayo..J election, gave an address lasting for about a couple of hours. Mr Littlewood criticised a number of residents and gave his explanation why he, as Mayor and chairman of the Unemployment Committee, did not take advantage of the Unemployment Board’s grant for Christmas cheer of £B. Mr L. Baird occupied the chair, and on one occasion, had to request the speaker to desist in his criticism. It was reported at the meeting of the council of the Waimarino Acclimatisation Society that a cock pheasant was recently seen near the Karioi School. Ducks seem to bo fairly plentiful, but the opening day of die season was cold, and the ducks did not seem to bo flying very much. Quail are scarce at Karioi at present. The Community Welfare Committee has secured ooms for a depot next the miniature golf nearly opposite the Bank of New Zealand. These are more convenient than an upstairs room. Members of the committee will be in attendance every Tuesday, Frid: ’ and Saturday to rccive goods. A list has also been opened fdr cash donations. The Mayor, Mr W. Harris, has given a donation £2, and will make regular payments of 5s per week. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY The monthly meeting of the council of the Waimarino Acclimatis. ion Society was held on Tuesday night, when there were present Messrs Tom Shout (in the chair), J. Dauphin, J. Dawson, P. Proud, and the secretary, A. C. Henderson.

The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, notified that it had been decided to red”' i the royalty payable on opossum skins from Is to 6d per skin as from June 1. The president of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies’ Association, Mr L. O. H. Tripp, enclosed a copy of a letter he had received from the Minister of Internal Affairs. He forwarded a copy of a statement made at the meeting of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. It was shown that the Government has decided + hat societies are to get a portion of the opossum revenue for last year. With regard to the future the Department of Internal Affairs is quite alive to the position that some one has to do the ranging. He knew that the Department appreciated the work that the societies had done in the past. The matter is still under consideration by Cabinet. The Government had decided to repeal sub-section 2 of section 26 of the Animals Protection ind Game Act relating to the opossum revenue. The object of repealing the Act was to deprice societies of any right to the revenue from the opossums and of the fines in connection with prosecutions unless voted by Parliament. The Wellington Acclimatisation Society forwarded a refund of a license fee paid by a settler to that Society instead of the Waimarino Society. The secretary of the Tongariro National Park Board notified that enquiries were being made regarding the trapping of opossums within the bouT'daries of the National Park. Notice was received amending the regulation under the Fisheries Act. No person is allowed to use t iy wire of gimp trace of a greater guage than 21 standard of a rod consisting c" only one piece of a greater length than 11 feet. Order-in-Council showed how the sum of £2877 13s 7d payable to various Acclimatisation Societies for opossums had been allocated. Wellington received £9BO ami Wanganui £45. Waimarino received £5 8s 6d. Twenty-seven officers have been authorised to stamp opossum skins, and receive the royalty theron. Constable Chcstn ft has been appointed for the Waimarino district. Accounts amounting to £23 4s were passed for payment.