WHAKATANE ROD & GUN CLUB

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 70, 4 May 1945, Page 4

WHAKATANE ROD & GUN CLUB

conferences re~fisli ? game, etc. The first, conference was held at Rotorua whose club entertained all delegates royally. The services of a'wellknown angler were secured and he addressed the meeting on rearing of and diseases of trout. The clubs which were represented gained much by this address which lasted one hour.. One of the leading lights at the conference, was the well-known sportsman the late Mr Frank Reynolds. The next conference was held twelve months later at Opotiki where the discussions were carried along on the same lines, as in Rotorua. They decided to hold the next conference in Taneatua but the outbreak of war necessitated the cancelling of these plans. However we hope to hoUl it in the near future. Rangers: About two years ago at the request of Mr Fred Burt the club asked for a ranger to be appointed to assist him- in protecting the lagoons at Matata. The authorities granted our request and I understand from Mr Burt that the new ranger is doing good work. On this club's recommendation the authorities have appointed rangers in other parts of the district. I would like to now say a few words about the formation of this club. Some 34 years ago I came to Taneatua from Waihi where. I had been secretary for some years to their Rod and Gun Club. I organised a shoot in Mr Joe Moody's- paddock and there was such interest taken in it that a few sportsmen banded together and we formed the Whakatane Club. That was in 1909 and this club is still going strong and likely to do so. Then I hear from "'the man in the street" that there is no activity in this club. If the new club shows half the activity that tliis club has shown they will have nothing to be ashamed of. I might, state I have only touched on the activities of this club—space will not permit me to go into a more detailed account. The object of this club was to kindle an interest in all men for fishing and shooting. We allowed no gambling whatsoever at the shoots which we held pre-war. Yours etc., W. H. SEMMENS , ....

Sir —Referring to the statements ma,de on April 10 and April 13 at the meeting to discuss the formation of a new Whakatane Rod and Gun Club I wish to state that two of the leading members of the new club asked me to call a meeting of the old club but I told them that out •3 of rcspect to our members fighting overseas, there would be no more activity in our club until peace wsis declare*]. Our club made this resolution at the beginning of this war in keeping with the resolution they made at the beginning of the last war. The new club's acting secretary then wrote a letter to a gentleman in Whakatane whom he thought, was the secretary asking him to call a meeting of the old club. Our secretary has paid the supreme sacrifice overseas so the gentleman mentioned above asked me to deal with tlje letter. I again wrote and told them our decision. T feel sure sure that all the local clubs namely Opotiki, Te Tauranga and Rotorua will' support this club in the matter and I have no fear in stating that every club in the Dominion would support it.

I wish to state some of the activities of the old Rod and Guni Club. Fish: The new club stated that there was an acute lack of small fish in tlie various streams, but I would like to say that two well known fishermen had three days' fishing in the county and they found it necessary to throw back over forty undersized fish. Several other fishermen have said the streams are teeming with good trout an.d some good catches were made during the Eastre holidays. The fishermen mentioned are willing to back up these statements. I will admit this season has not been so good owing to the many floods which hiave made the water discoloured for days ) but now the water is lo,w again_ some good; fishing may be had. Game: During the last two years 887 pheasants and 369 ducks have been liberated in the Whaltatane County by the Conservator of Fish and Game and we coiisider that J with the shortage of feed for rearing petrol an,d labour difficulties they have done a marvellous job. Vermin: The neAV club at their meeting stressed the necessity for i shooting vermin, but this is what the old club had been doing since its formation. We purchased 36 rabbit traps and delivered them in lots to various farmers for the purpose of destruction of hawks etc. A large number of hawks were caught; tlie late Mr Gobie in particular caught 75 in 18 with one trap 5 averaging about one each week. We also gave 700 round! of ammunition for a Shag Drive. The shooters spread themselves out in various streams and a fair number of shags were secured. I have myself on behalf of the Department of Internal Affairs paid out large sums to adults and children for the. destruction of vermin.

Sanctuaries: The old club is very fortunate in having the following gentlemen close their properties: Messrs Sisam and Sons, B. Sladden, J. G. Cliff McCulloch J. Rae and J the late T. Mitchell whose son is now keeping the property closed. Some of these sanctuaries have streams; and large lagoons giving both pheas- | ants and ducks a chance to breed without being disturbed. These gentlemen have had their properties closed for many years and all sportsmen owe to them a debt 6f gratis tude. I know of several good bags; which have been taken from the boundaries of these properties. Clay Bird Shooting: The advantages of clay bird shooting are many. Airmen get practice for gunnery in this sport. Wing Commander Wells the well-known New Zealand ace was an able shot at the clay birds. Before the war we had trophies which were competed for by all the local clubs for over 30 years. I hope it won't be long before We can begin competing for them again. We have also six new trophies'promised us for competition at the cessation, of hostilities. Conferences: About two years prior to the outbreak of the war the clubs of the district decided to holti