ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1140, 30 May 1911, Page 7

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

« ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-sixth annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society ,was held last evening at the Chamber *of Commerce. Mr. L. O. 11. Tripp presided. In moving the aUoptionof the report and balance-sheet, which have already appeared, the chairman said that a letter had been sent to the Government' with reference to taking protection off stoats and weasels. This was agreed to, but the power was retained to reimpose the protection in any agricultural district that- tho Department of Agriculture thought proper. With reference io deer and game licenses being fixed at ,£5 to persons resident outside the Dominion, ho had fought very hard for that at a meeting of the associated societies, but he was sorry to say that his motion was defeated. The society had "sustained a great loss in tho deaths of Messrs. Holmes, Devine, Denton, and James Gear. Owing to the shooting season last year being only open for a month, the society's revenue had fallen off very considerably. The council had had to go in for strict economy, with most sati>factory results, as the balance-sheet showed. They had wiped off liabilities amounting to ' M%, and there was a credit balance of =£52 Is. lOd. There 'would "prhbably L b%' ; ji considerable increase in the revenue from shooting an'J deer-stalking licenses this year. Last season was a very dry one, and fishing, although good in some parts,' had been bad in others. Gulls and shags had accounted for the destruction of a considerable number of fish. This year they had purchased 535,000 ova, which had been successfully hatched at Masterton and turned out in our streams. They had some 5000 yearlings in the Masterton ponds, ar,';l 5000 fry had been put in the Kahutarawa pond. Tho Palmerston North sub-committee had been very successful in rearing iish. They had now some '2000 yearlings there. Their special thanks were duo to Mr. Mortonsen for what had been done at Palmerston. Tho lcaso of the Masterton property would expire in a couple of years, and "inquiries were now being made as to the most suitable place to establish a new hatchery.

It was suggested by several members of the society that it would be a gcod thing to increase the number of deer in the neighbourhood of Karioi. It was stated that there is a large tract of country there which is suitable for a deer park. The. report ar.'.l balance-sheet were adopted.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, his Excellency the Governor; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. H. Beetham, R. C,Bruce, A. .T. Rutherfnrd, L. G. Reidj council, Messrs. W. Barton (Wairarapa South), W. J. Birch (Rangitikei South), Dr. Turnbull (Rangitikei North), Major J. Hume, A. F. Lowe, D. M'Gregor (Wairarapa North), 11. 11. Ostler, A. J. Sladden, T. G. Stockwcll (Palmerston North), C. B. Trimnell, L. O. H. Tripp. F. C. Tumor (Eketahuna), F.- G. Wakelin, W. Wakeman (Pahiatua), F. Whitley, C. K. Wilson, L. 11. B. Wilson, F. Rowe (Levin); auditor, Mr. G. B. Hull.