Trout Fishing.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 May 1915, Page 4

Trout Fishing.

• IN HOUOWH'ENUA LA~KE.

Some eighteen months ago the Chronicle published the text of a letter sent to the Hon. H. D. Bell by tho Crown Law 'Solicitor on the subject of trout-fishing rights as applied to Horowheima Lake. Thi a made clear the Crown Solicitor's opinion that Europeans had aright to such fishing as well as natives. Lately the subject has been discussed in Levin, and on the matter being mentioned to the Hon. Mr Bell, by Mr Gardener, Mayor of Levin, the 'Minister undertook to send along the Solicitor-Gen-eral's opinion. This is dated 4th June,

1914, and though not in the exact terms of the solicitor's opinion, published in the Chronicle some months earlier, it nevertheless proceeds in similar phrase and to liEe effect. The later note rune:—

TROUT-FISHING LICENSES IN RE SPECT OF HOROWHENUA LAKE.

(Opinion by the Solicitor-General, da

Ed 4th June, 1914.)

The Horowhenua Lake is conetituted by the Horowhenua Lake Act 1915 a recreation reserve under the control of a statutory Board. Section 2 (a) clearly indicates that the Lake is to be available to the public fully and freely for aquatic sports and pleaeuree Fishing must be taken to be one of the "aquatic sports and pleasures so indicated. Whatever the precise scopes may be of the saving clause providing that native owners shall have the free and unrestricted use of the Lake and of their felling rigTrte over thetake I do not think that is can be bo interpreted as to confer upon the natives the exclusive right of fishing tor trout and the right of preventing the puOTc from enjoying this particular "aquatic sport' ano* pleasure."