ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 401, 28 April 1902, Page 1

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the East Coast Acclimatisation Society was held on Saturday, Mr W. Acland Hood presiding. The report road by tho Secretary (Mr M. Stopford) stated that 114 shooting licenses had been taken out during the past shooting season, The Secretary stated that about 900 hawks were killed last year. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts amounted to £62, and the expenditure to £l2B. With the balance from last year (£B6 Os 7d) there was left a credit balance of £l9 7s 3d. The items of expenditure were!; Purchase of trout, £34 7s 3d ; purchase of quail, £3B 9s Id ; purchase of hawks’ feet destroyed, £2l ; secretary, £l7 ; advertising, £10.5s 6d ; other items made up the balance. The liabilities are £l3 2s 3d and the assets (cash in the bank) £l9 7s 3d, leaving a surplus of £6 ss. The Chairman said that the position was very satisfactory, the Society improving its position every year. In regard to the appointment of ranger the members of the Terawhiti Maori Council wero appointed, on the motion of Mr C. Ferris.

(The following officers were elected: — President, Mr Acland Hood; vice-presi-dents, Messrs A. Dewing and P. Kenway ; council, Messrs J. R. Redstone, C. H. W. Dixon, Hansen, J. Clark (re-elected), Monckton, J.' McLean, Lucas, Sinclair, and Ed. Williams.

A long discussion ensued as to how the revenue for the ensuing year was to be expended. The Chairman and Mr DesBarresi were in favor of giving the preference to hares, while Mr Kenway thought the available funds should be spent on trout. i

The following reply from the Hon. J, Carroll to a letter from the President was read; — " Re Mr Acland Hood’s communication to you on the subject of stocking the rivers in the Gisborne district with trout, Mr Leonard Reid had addressed a memorandum to you on this subject, in which he states that in his opinion the better way to stock these rivers would be by placing each year a certain number of brown and rainbow trout fry in those most suited. This plan has worked well with the local society for years past. By taking ova more could be carried, but better results would probably be obtained with fry. The Society’s usual prices for fry are ten shillings per thousand for brown trout and forty shillings per thousand for rainbow ; the latter’ is recommended as being more suitable for the warm streams in the Gisborne district. Mr Reid would be glad to know the quantity required as early as possible, in order that arrangements may be made for hatching. Mr Reid is not aware who the expert was who made the report for the Gisborne Society.” _ The President favored a limited expenditure on trout, but thought it would be more beneficial to spend most on hares, which would provide hunting, shooting, and in time coursing. Eventually the matter was tested, A motion by the President, seconded by M r C. Ferris, was that £ls he spent on hares and £25 on fry on the funds being available. An amendment by Mr Kenway that all the available funds be spent on fry was first put to the meeting. The motion was c arried by a substantial majority.