The Fielding Star. SATURDAY. APRIL 21, 1883. The Acclimatization Society.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 94, 21 April 1883, Page 2

The Fielding Star. SATURDAY. APRIL 21, 1883. The Acclimatization Society.

Ai.THour.n an Ace i-MPz.oionSoc'et,*---is in existence for the Manawatu, and some revenue is collected from tbis part of the district, yet it is a fact that no ranger is appointed, or if such an appointment does exist, be does not attempt to perform any of his duties on the properties su-'roiidd-ing llie Borough of Folding, or in .he outlying* parts wiihin the proclaimed boundaries. Tnere are -• c real sportsmen among us, w;- . > ioot game lor the sake of the sport, ami willingly pay for the privilege, and naturally enoug*h e.vpect to receive some pro f ec:ion from the Acc'iui.uiz ation Society. As the matter now stands they really experience no advantage for complying- with tiie law by buying a license, because 'be majority of so-called sportsmen are men who have not taken out 'he necessary license, and not only, therefore, tho-.t gume illegally, but tre -pa-"s over Ihe property of lsrmers aod .sheep owners In the coolest manner po.v^ibie, wi hout attempiing to obtain ppr-i*.;--siou from the persons oa whom ihov are intruding. Generally tbey have in their following* a number ot mongrel dogs which aie started in the pursuit of hares. These dogs generally rush the stock about, and i.l.imrte'y acquire the habit of bu ■n\n->---nnd killing --beep. To such an cxi* *-v* has the evil extended, that the iur.n**i*.*> and settlers are now combining to effect''ally stamp out what is necessary a growing evil. We are i-i.Oiii.c<* that in all cases where a per on o. persons are caught trespn'-'siiig o • private property ia the pursuit of game with dog or gun, they will be p-oceeded .'gainst, and no expen-e will be spared, not only to punish the offenders, but to put a stop to the practice altogether. The only exceptions to be made will be in favor of persons who can produce a license and a written permission from the owner or agent of the proper ty over which he may be following ga-ne. Tbe holders of licenses have also a duty to perform —if only lor self-pro-tection. In every case that comes under their notice they should at once lay an information against the offender. They should put aside all feeling of false sympathy with a poacher. If there is a ranger appoi ited we would urge upon the Secretary of tbe Acclimatization Society to compel biui io do his duty, and extend his visdi* to all parts of the disn-ic — .bus a good deal of henrt-hurniug would be prevented. Arrangements should also be mode lor issuing licenses in Feilding as well as in Palmerston, a* was the rule last year. Although rhi- mtght entail a little ex;»-n clerical labor on some official, we are sure that the increase^ fees from tue numbr of persons who would take out licenses would add considerably to the income of the society. The trouble that is now t'iven before a sportsman can obtain a license often deters him from doing so a"* all ; and he i>- induced to break the law wben his

I^M : &S2XXXZaCBCr&t^•I^ X J^£Ml!i,XklLl."•''*'^ .»iJ.i«i-iW!n«.giwr-pi inclinai'ons are all towards fulfil.ingits conditions. We hope that out warning- will have the effect of keeping some well-known and hig-uiy respected citizens clear of the meshe< of tbe law, and prevent gratuitous iniury to the flocks and herds of our stock farmers. gg__UJM_^_J_Ml_L- lU*_*B