TROUT AND HISTORY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 8

TROUT AND HISTORY.

IN THE WAIRARAPA.

OPENING OF NEW HATCHERY.

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Masterton, September 21. The now fish hatchery at Masterton recently erected by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society on a site leased from the Trust Lands Trust was officially opened yesterday by the Mayor. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, chairman of tho council, in an interesting speech, traced the history of acclimatisation matters in -the Wellington province. He stated that, in 1874,. Messi's. W. H. Beetham and A. J. Rutherford . purchased fifty trout from the Canterbury Society which they liberated in the Waipoua River. In 1876 Messrs. Beetham Bros, obtained, through tho Into Rev. J. C. Andrew, about 3000 trout ova which were hatched out at Brancepeth, and liberated in the streams of the district. Later, the Rev. J. C. Andrew, Mr. Henry Jackson, Mr. Pharazyn, 'and Messrs. Beotham Bros, liberated further trout. In July, 1882, the Wairaj.apa Acclimatisation Society was formed, and hatchery houses were erected at Masterton, 10,000 trout ova being obtained from Canterbury. In 1883_ a consignment of 15,000 ova was received from Otago, but the majority of the fish hatched out were stolen at night. In 1884 the Wellington and Wairarapa Societies amalgamated and a considerable amount of money was spent in holding ponds, etc. Since 1882 110 fewer than 20,000,000 trout fry had-been sent aw,iy from Masterton, some going as far as Auckland. The new hatcheries, when completed, would cost about £1600. Mr. Tripp mentioned that an enthusiast in tho district, whose name he Ivas not permitted to mention, had donated £400 towards tho cost. He also paid a warm tribute to Messrs. W. H. Beotham, C. A. J. Rutherford, L. G. Reid, Barton Bros., and the late Messrs. D. M'Gregor and H. H. Holmes for the work which they had done for acclimatisation in tho district.

Mr. W. H. Beetham, in a short address, referred to tho splendid work done by Mr. L. F. Ayson when in charge of the Masterton hatcheries, and to Mr. A. J. Rutherford.

Mr. L. G. Roid, S.M., spoko of the early history of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. Ho mentioned tho good work done by the late Mr. Travers and Mr. G. Denton. The latter had, he. said, hatched the firßt trout in his own garden, and liberated shem in the Hutt River.

The Ma.ror, in declaring the hatcheries open, expressed pleasure that the Acclimatisation Socioty had seen its way to securo a site in Masterton. The fish ponds had for years been an attraction to Masterton, and he had no doubt that the new ponds would prove equally attractive.