DEER STALKERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 525, 4 June 1909, Page 9

DEER STALKERS' CONFERENCE.

HELD IN DUNEDIN.

■ . (BT ASSOCIATION.) " ™ . ' „ Duncdln, Juno 2. •' _ the conference of . deerstalkers of the south Island arranged by tho Council of the' Otago Acclimatisation Society, was licld this morning, tho following, being • present:— Messrs. R. ; Chisholm, C. Turnbull, R. Forrest, C.P. Butterwortli (Otago Council): E. Hardcastle, It.Hay, Rev. :W. 0. Oliver Major Blewitt, Hon. .H; AVigram •church) ; Messrs. )H., M'lntosh,'. J. ■ Glenn (Oamaru) ; J. Faulks: (Makarora); J. Begg' ,(Clinton)and A. Cowio (Dunedin). ' _Mr. Chisholm (president, of the Council of tho Otago: Society) said that. tho questions to be considered were tho. outting up of deer districts into small areas sufficient,' ■ say,; for two stalkers, and"tho. method -.of culling herds.-' What was wanted more particularly was' advico is to tho best method of and the. extent; to, which the society would be', warranted in proceeding With culling. It was exceedingly gratifying to find that, this year, most of the stalkers had been eminently successful in' securing good heads, and a fair number of them.' Twenty-one) stalkers 'had succeeded in 'getting throe' 15-pointers, five 14ipoihtcrs,i eight l&pointers, twenty-three . royals, liino 11pointers,. and! two 10-pointcrs. r That, he thought, was probably a record. Tho question of culling having been dis-' cussed, Mr. - Hardcastle moved: ••' 'That it bo a recommendation to the; Otago Society that tenders bo invited from' competent' l men for culling \thj6'.i red deer . herds oil -; the v blocks, docided upon' at the.' conference tyjld in December, ■ between Dinglo River and TimaruCreokj Hawea district; that, tenderers should bo : asked to at ato (1) for what prico per, head : they will do shooting; and (2) for what price they will do shooting 1 and bring out skins and antlers.". " •" The Bev. 7W. .0. Oliver seconded the motion,, which'.was carried. . )> Mr. Hardcastle moved: "That it be a: recommendation to the society to. appoint a "ranger to. take charge of the fleer herd in North Otago." .. ■ . . This was seconded by Mr. Turnbull and carried. ; v. A long discussion took place upon tho method of allotting blocks,'"several methods being proposed and rejected. .An amend- : ment that- the first 'stalker on - the ground be deemed to be in,possession of tho block was:) defeated by 9 votes to 8, it being fin-ally'agreed--that the matter be left , to tho society, for'decision. . ■ It .was resolved that stalkers bo author-, ised'to: shoot not,only malformed stags, but; also weedy hinds; and. that it he 'a :recommendation to the. society-.to make the license fee £5 instead of £4. :