The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1878.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 190, 1 March 1878, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1878.

We daresay our readers will agree that bur few Societies in the Colony have been so energetically, disinterestedly, and successfully, conducted as has been the Acclimatisation Society of Otago. By the sustained exertions of a comparatively limited number pf gentlemen a very large portion of the country has already been well stocked'with pheasants, hares/ partridges,: California n quail, and other kinds of game. At the same" time, many of the, rivers and streams have been stocked with fish, and the bush and plains with the choicest singing birds. The benefit^ the Society has conferred upon the country are as yet neither fully felt nor appreciated, but in succeeding years these will be

acKnowledged. Wo observe that at the meeting- of tbe Society on Monday last open seasons were arranged, and license fee 3 fixed for shooting various classes of game, and no doubt a large number of licenses will be applied for, tbis sea-son. We think- that, before issuing licenses the Society should adopt a code of regulations to prevent a wanton destruction of game, and to guard 'against unworthy 'persons being, allowed the privilege of shooting, llis notorious that many licenses were last, year, much ab v u--ed. The Society has not gone to the enormous expanse it has done to euable » few individuals to make a living by destroying game. Yet individuals have been known virtually to give up their ordinary occupa-. tions during the open season and make considerable sums of money by killing and selling game. As we understand it, licenses t*re issued for sport, not to enable anyone to make money by them. Again, others have abused their privileges by killing whatever game within i their reach — hen pheasants, partridges, | etc., included. We hear also of individuals, who, notwithstanding severe warnings, have for sometime past, and still are frequently to be met within; pursuit of dusks. No doubt numerous rany-ers have been appointed, and we believe that in this district the duties of the office have beeu honestly performed, but we could point to other districts where some of the rangers are believed to be the most successful poachers, and that they have obtained their appointments simply the better to avoid detection. With a view to a remedy for all this, we would suggest that the Society should appoint a Board ot respectable gentlemen in each district, the Board to have the appointment; of rangers and the issuing of licenses. The members of the Board being resident on the spot would see whether rangers did their duty, and they would also see that the license to shoot was only given to worthy individuals. In the case of the slightest abuse of the license the Board should have the power to cancel it. Were the Acclimatisation Society to pass a code of regulations, and appoint, local Boards tn see these carried out and issue licenses, \ye are sure that "many of the abuses complained of last year, would he avoided With reference to the permission to be given to shoot; hares, we think the Society should have, confined this to certain defined districts. But. very few localities are as yet anything like fully stocked with hares, but twos and .threes have been taken to other districts. as. a commencement, and now by the universal license tp be issued these may, and very, likely will, be destroyed.- ft would have been a simple matter for the Society to have made the licenses available only for districts already -.fully stocked. This would have allowed of equally good sport, and would not have prevented the spread of the game. We. trust. these. matters .will, yet receive the attention ot the .mem hers .of the Society.