Westland Acclimatisation and Tourist Society.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1927, Page 4

Westland Acclimatisation and Tourist Society.

ANNUAL -MEETING

The annual meeting of the above Society was held at the County Cham-

hors at " o’clock last evening, there

being an attendance of about thirty. Dr Teichelmann (.Vice-President) presided.

The minutes of the previous general meeting at which last year’s Council was elected, were read and confirmed. ■Jho following annual report from the Executive was read :

Gentlemen-.. Pleasure must he expressed at the uut-et at the marker! revival in local interest in the lortuuos of the society. In July last a general meeting resulted in a trosh Council being set up, and during the financial period since, some nine meetings hate been helrl, all well attended. Othci developments have occurred in the work of the Society which give promise of excellent results for acclimatisation in this district. ! At the meeting in July, Mr G. H. Blank was elected President. An unfortunate illness undertook that gentleman shortly alter, and alter a prolonged period he was carried off, to the great regret of the community. Mr'Blank performed much valuable citizen work, while as an enthusiastic fisherman and follower ol game, he was ■ very active in the work of the Society. His demise was a distinct loss, and was regretted very generally on all sides. Dr Teiehelmann, who was elected | Vice-President, and who had perlormI ed yeoman servile as a past President ' of till* Society, was absent most ol the year on a well-earned holiday trip to the northern hemisphere. We are glad to chronicle his sale return and trust to have liis useful services on behalf of the Society, in which lie has taken such personal interest, for many years to cume: lu the absence of the President and Vice-President, .Jr A. (’. Armstrong '■ was elected ( hairman. and has given M special attention to the duties and i taken an enthusiastic interest in the 1 workings of the Society, being responj sihle in the main for bringing about ! unity of action with the neighbouring | Society in the joint operations to he 1 I undertaken regarding the re-opening ! of the hatchery. ’file finance of the Society, as will ho disclosed by the balance sheet, is most satisfactory. It was never stronger, and will enable the Society to launch out very markedlv in regard to general acclimatisation work-. An important conference was help in November last regarding opossum trapping, and the fish hatchery. Representatives of the Grey Society, the Forest Service, and the opossum trappers were present. It was resolved to as!; lor an open season for opossum trapping, the dates to be uniform lor the district of Westland, Grey and Buller. Advice has been received that the season will he an open one. hut it is not known if the dates .submitted, 12th July to 12th September, will be approved. The revenue from opossum trapping is the principal source of inI come. La-l scn-in i 1 was found much j illi.it trapping was going on. and an outside ranger brought over hy the I Grey .Society, was made available. The | Ranger's services, together with (lie I ;u tivites of ill • poling resulted in good i financial results. 1 here aa- an inI crease of J", la, Uses, anil (he fines ill!-I j p sod for dibit inking of opossums. 1 I ni. i ■ i liau covered He . n.-t of the j pros' lit ion-.. ITo trade was placed on I a nine!) letter footing, and with the amendments suggested to the regulnti :ns for dealing with wrong doers, the Society should derive greater advantage still from the trapping. A recommendation to introduce new blood and to liberate opossums in certain soittti areas, was not entertained by the Government. This rehisni, however, should not he accepted as final, and further recommendation should he made to the same effect again. The deer herd in South Westland is considered the best in New Zealand, and the locality is well patronised by the leading stalkers of tin* Dominion and front oversells. Substantial leij ent'.e is derived from that simree which |is being expended (together with a . Government subsidy) in deer culling dining Hie oil season. ('. 1 lodgkinson, an experienced stalker of llawea Hat. • lias bad a contract for the culling of the deer, and will account for about 800 this year. Mr J. Forbes, of ChristI church, has been of groat help in ns-

sisting in the control of the deer country in the south through the Society, and his advice Inis been much sought after, he being familiar with the high country favoured by the royal heads. The hatchery at Lake Kanieri, is to be re-opened this year, .1. Cantrick,

having been appointed to the charge of same. The Grey Society will join in sharing the cost of management, etc. A Hatchery Committee is to lie set up.

, j three members from each Society, and I matters should run smoothly. On the , occasion of a recent joint visit, when Messrs Hraddon and Holland gave geii- , oral advice as to the conduct of liatching. the building, Hume, plant, etc. were found in satisfactory order. There , will be facilities to import quantities of ova so that a busy season may bo anticipated, limited only by the cnpac- , ity of the hatchery. The question ot t securing yearling fish may also ho I taken up with confidence now, as funds , permit of this being done. As regards the past fishing season a general report compiled by the Chairman for the in- , formation of the New Zealand Tourist Department, is attached hereto. During the year J. Foote (Hokitika), i Erie James (Okuru), and Arthur Lyes (Kokatahi) were appointed rangers. The question of appointing roving rangers in regard to the fishing, shooting and trapping seasons should he gone into by the new committee. It is unfortunate for the work of the Society that a good deal of illicit flsli- , ing and shooting is indulged in without any recompense for the Society, and steps should he taken to cope with this infringement on the funds and work- of the Society. At the same time appreciation muf*t he expressed for what the police did last year in assisting to cope with the menace and it is to he hoped the energies in 'that direction will he sustained in the future. The Society assisted with a subsidy tiie three months’ advertising campaign carried on in the Christchurch I daily papers respecting the holiday attractions of the district. It is satisfactory to note there was a considerable influx of visitors, while the attendance at the recent picnic excursion shows public interest in Westland lias been greatly stimulated, and no doubt the advertising campaign contributed in some measure to that pleasing result.

Flax-cutting rights were granted for the Mahinapun area under the jurisdiction of the Society at current rates of royalties, with a deposit of £5, on account, in advance. Conditions were laid down to protect the flora and fauna in the cutting operatin ns.

During the year the Society kept in touch with the Inspector of Fisheries and the Fisheries’ Expert of the Marine Department, both of whom visited the district. Valuable advice was received and is being acted upon generally. including increased activities in fish hatching. The sawdust menace came up as a result of a visit of the

[Tv > ■ officers, and there have been several prosecutions. As far as can be gleaned the menace is being minimised with generally satisfactory results.

it is a recommendation from the Council that Messrs J. King, W. Braddon, E. J. Lloyd and S. W. Ridland be appointed life honorary members of the Society. There is also a notice of motion for consideration at this meeting, that the name ol the Society be “ ’Westland Acclimatisation Society,’’ and that the activities ol the Tourist Branch he discontinued for the future.

THE FISHING SEASON. |'Report supplied hy Chairman.] The l<>2<;-27 fishing season in the Westland Acclimatisation Society s district. taken generally, has been as good a season as any in the past few years. There do not seem to have been any outstanding ditches, hut most fishermen are of the opinion that the fishing is improving. '1 he condition of the fish and their sporting qualities are usually of a very high standard, due no doubt, to the piosonee in the early part of the season of a plentiful supply of feed ill the shape of whitebait that enters the livers on the West Coast during September. October and November, thus giving the trout a quick recovery from the rigours of the spawning season. Although both Rainbow and Brown trout have been liberated in large i numbers ill tbo streams of tliis distiiot the Brown is the more plentiful, while tho Rainbow seem to have retired to the upper reaches of the streams, pmtieidarly in the Hokitika and Arahurn. where good catches have been reported. The two best streams in the district are the Aralmra and the La Fon- , taine. both of which are ideal trout streams. The Hokitika River also provides some good fishing, while .Lake Kanieri, with its land-locked quinnat salmon and its Rainbow and Rrown trout, is a favourite resort ol most ol , the West Coast sportsmen. South , ’Westland is plentifully -supplied with I streams, there being the ’Jotara, Mil»o- ---| nui. Big Wnitaha, Big Wanganui. La Fontaine. Wataroa, and Wnit'angi. all of which are crossed on the trip to the Glaciers, and splendid fishing can he obtained in practically all of them, while the percentage of large fish caught in these streams, is much greater than on the rivers adjacent to j Hokitika, due no doubt to (lieir not being fished to the saint* extent. A\itb the exception of Lake Kanieri. the remaining lakes. Mahinapiui. lanthe. Waihapo and Manoiirikn seem io he unknown quantities, as the fishing in these lakes does not seem to have been thoroughly tested. Efforts are being made in the near future to extensively stock them with rainbow trout. The visitor to 'Westland cm he assured that the fishing of the mountain streams and lakes, combined with the* scenic gems so bountifully siipplieil throughout the district, _will provide one of the most enjoyable of holidays. —Received. The balance shed showing a cash credit balance >f L'VJO 17s fid. with additional funds in sight, was read and reieived. The net receipts lor the year were tail.'! P- 7,d and the expenditure 22 Hi I- 7(5. Mr A. C. Armstrong iChairman ol . ouneih moved th • adoption of the re--1,.;i i and i.-alau-e sheet , commenting on the very satisfaelory financial positi n. The Council <unie into being rather line |a-t year, but this m'lisiiii everything would be ready ta I cliew liatiiiing operations. ibe Society bad ordered ion.ooo brown eyed ova from Southland Society. The Grey District Society was joining up and would hear hall the cost of conducting the hatchery lor mutual benefit. It was hoped fo hate the -services of Mr Ridland during ihe vital time of hatching, the I revenue from the opossum trade had put the Society in a good positon, wil l which they (oitld all he very pleased. Mr Barry seconded the motion. He desired to say, however, he did not favour the Society abolishing its tourist branch, which was most necessary in helping towards the general welfare of the district.

Mr Mclntosh said it was the first lime in liis thirty years connection with the Society that he had heard s> good a report. It was customary in the past to he continually struggling In keep things doing. They owed it to the Chairman and Secretary, who had both done such good work that the Society had been kept afloat. The larger attendance that evening showed also a live interest in the affairs ot the Society. The report and balance sheet wore then adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. President.—Mr G. A. Perry. 0.8. K., was declared elected on a ballot. Vice-President.—Dr Teiehel matin, re-elected unopposed. Hon. Secretary.—Mr T>. J. Evans reelected unopposed, and a vote of thanks passed for his very efficient services In the interests of the Society. At this stage sixteen new members were elected. Mr Armstrong entering a protest at the mode of procedure. Council of Twelve.—Fourteen nominations were received and a ballot resulted in the election of Messrs Braddon. Parry. Peck, If. Wells, Paterson, Mclntosh, Garnet Perry, R. Wells, R. Stuart, R. Appleton. Rcrendt, Nancckivell.

! Hatchery Committee (to work in eon--5 junction with the representatives from ’ Grey Society).—Messrs Peck, Braddon • and Armstrong. Messrs J. King. E. J. Lloyd, W. ' Braddon. and S. W. Ridland were elected life honorary members of the , Society in appreciation of past, services i in the interests of acclimatisation work. Mr Armstrong, in view of the opposi ; tion expressed, withdrew the notice of motion with regard to the abolition of tourist work by the Society. , It was resolved that tile Counci meet on the first Thursday in eacl month for the despatch of ordinary business. Mr Armstrong thought rewards ’ should he offered to the rangers and police in connection with any successful prosecutions regarding breaches of game, fishing of opossum regulations. He moved it be a recommendation to the Council to offer a reward for poaching. Mr Rcrendt seconded. Carried. Mr Parry enquired as to the possibility of extending the motor road by j way of Dorothy Falls track, to react! more open ground and give better facilities to picnic parties remote from the landing where bathing was now prohibited. The Secretary read a letter to the Tourist Department enquiring if there was any reading scheme for Lake t Kanieri. and stated that on receipt ot ' the reply it would he possible to take definite action. j ft was stated oil was now to lie seen on fh.e surface of the lake, and that dead bodies of beasts were found on the shores. Dr TeicTielmnnn said as the n lake was the source of the town’s water supply it was necessary for health reasons to enforce certain restrietions. This would he done with- j out harm to the lake as a tourist resort. The meeting concluded at 9.20 p.m.

COUNCIL MEETING. Prior to the annual meeting of the above Society the Council met to deal with ordinary business, commencing at 7.30. Present: —Messrs Armstrong (chair), Peck. Parry, Wells, Foote,

lleremlt, Paterson. and Dr !oirlielniiiim. Tim Chairman to.;!; otrasiris to welcome Dr Tri •lu’lmaim back to the Council table, < x|>rt-~.siii;; the hope his uiluahle services would still he at their disposal. They trusted he had had a pleasant holiday ami were pleased to see him looking so well. (Hear, hear.) The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. The outward correspondence was read and approved. INWARD ( 01111KSPOXDKXC K. From Tourist Department intimating a period had boon granted to the lessee for the repairs to Tourist Cotta tie and ennuirimi. ..if. the Socit

re< I to Hatchery Committee. From Otago Society quoting for brown trout and rainbow ova.—Received and referred io Hatchery Committee. Front Internal Aflairs Department quoting for supplies of trout and fry. —Received and referred to Hatchery Committee. From Director of Forestry, Wellington, stating lie was discussing matters relating to the opossum season with the Department of Internal Affairs.— Received with thanks. From Department of Internal Affairs advising the opossum season would he open this year, and notifying some amendment- to the regulations.—Received. From Grey District Society stating Messrs P. Reck, T. Bennington, and ,T. \V. Stubbs had been appointed representatives on the Hatchery Committee. and that Monday evening next at'Hokitika would he a suitable time and place f or meeting.—Received and agreed to. Front Inspector of Fisheries advising the Society to go in strongly for rainbow trout for the next two or three years.—Received and referred to Hatclierv Committee,

From Department of Internal Affairs notifying shooting season as follows: May 2nd to .July 31st, cock pheasants, quail, mallard and grey dlicit, black swan; May 2nd to .\l,ay 31st, pukeko; May 2ml to May Sth, paradise duck fVintaroa, Cooks’ and Karangarua I'hits only); license fee £l. obtainable from Postmasters at Ross, Kumara, Okarito. ami Hokitika. The usual conditions as to the number of game to betaken were also supplied.—Received The meeting concluded at 7.50 o'clock.