Westland Acclimatisation and Tourist Society.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1928, Page 1

Westland Acclimatisation and Tourist Society.

THURSDAY, APRIL 5. COMMITTEE MEETING. The retiring Committee of the above Society met at the County Chambers at 7.30 p.m. Present:—Messrs G. A. Perry (President), Garnet I’erry. AV. Brnddon, H. T. Parry, R. Stuart, R. ,T. Appleton, J. J. .Mclntosh, H. AYells, AV. Peek, P. AA'ells. Apologies were made for the absence of Dr Teichelnmnn, and Mr P. Paterson.

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.

The outward correspondence was approved. INAVAPD COP 11ESPONDKNCE.

From Treasury forwarding £l7 10s fees and fines collected under the Animals Protection Act, 1021-22. Peceived with thanks.

From Department of Internal Affairs forwarding copy of Gazette notice in respect to the shooting season, and stating that there was not an open season this year for the taking or killing of paradise duck. The season for flic AA'csCland district was: May Ist to July 31st open for following imported and native game: cock pheasants, Californian and Australian quail, mallard duck, grey duck and black swan; May Ist to May 31sfc pukeko. The Postal Department would issue licenses at Hokitika, Kmnarn, lioss and Okarito, fee £l. Received.

From Grey District Society agreeing to contribute up to £25 for repairs to Lake Kanieri hatchery, the hatchery to he run on the same conditions as last year, but it was not agreed to assist in any enlargement of the hatchery.—Received and left to Hatchery Committee to attend to. From Otago Society stating a recommendation had been sent to the Department asking for an open season for opossums in June in Otago district.—Received. From North Canterbury Society offering brown trout eyed ova at 2s (id per 1000 for Christchurch.—-Receiv-ed and referred to 'the Hatchery Committee.

From J. Forbes, Landsliorough, reporting on opening of deer stalking season successfully, and urging attention to Haast Pass track; also indicating a culling contract should lie entered into ns soon as convenient.— Received, and agreed to renew the culling contract with C. Hodgkinson with a total of SOI) head.

From \A\ .1. Salkeld, Papanui, asking for names and addresses of deer stalking parties.—Received and supplied. From'AV. L. Donaldson. Waikato, asking particulars of opossum trapping season.—Received and supplied. From Jas. King supplying partieu-

lars of cost of full page advertisement in Christmas number of AVeekly Press.—Received and consideration deferred. GENERAL. It was resolved to have the approach to the Hatchery gravelled, and the ‘ Caretaker requested to keep same in order. A discussion ensued regarding road works about Lake Kanieri. It was stated tlie Dorothy road works were being continued at present indefinitely. A suggestion was made to have the Styx route opened from Upper Kokatahi road. It was stated the Styx river afforded the best Rainbow fishing on the Coast. The matter of an alternative route to avoid bridges was mentioned, and it was decided further enquiry be made on the subject.

Tlie mooting concluded at 7.55 p.m

ANNUAL MEETING-,

Tlie annual meeting took place at 8 o’clock, when considerable interest was evinced in tlie proceedings. Mr G. A. Perry (President) occupied tlie Chair, and there was a total attendance of 48. several of whom joined tlio Society at the commencement of the proceedings. The minutes of the previous annual meeting were read and confirmed.

REPORTS AND BALANCE SHEET. The following reports were read : EXECUTIVE REPORT'.

On behalf of the General Committee, votir Executive lias the honour to report, that tlie Society had an active voar.

A Hatchery Committee was set up aB tlie outset of the financial year, and by co-operation with tlie Grey District Acclimatisation Society very useful work was done. A record of the successful season is supplied by a special report from the Hatchery Committee.

In connection with the acclimatisation work a study was attempted of the growth ol whitebait at the Hatchery, but the result was not satisfactory. However, an excellent season was experienced and general satisiaetion expressed at the run of whitebait last season. Tlie rights of members to fish in the Arahurn river were protected also, when an attempt was made hv legislation to charge a lee. The thanks of the Society and of the fishermen generally are due to Air feeddon. M.P., for safeguarding fishermen’s rights under their ordinary licenses to fish in the Arahurn river.

The opossum season was a success!ill one. The total skins accounted for in the district were 12.980, which was an increase on the previous year. Tlie authorities have again been urged to permit tlie liberation of oposssunis in South AA’esthmd. a request which has been supported by the State Forest Service. So far permission is withheld, in the meantime tlie Society lias set aside £2OO for the introduction of new blood into the district as soon as permission can he obtained. The Department lias been requested also to declare an open season lor the dsitrict in I he coming season.

In regard to deer stalking, all blocks in the Haast district were taken up. but few licenses issued lor the Ara-hura-Kokatahi territory. The season is now in full swing in the Haast region where 25 stalkers with guides, packers, etc. are operating. There is tlie promise of a good season, tlie weather being a contributing factor ibis year. Tlie fame of the Haast herd lias gone abroad, and oversea visitors may b&jjxpected annually judging by the satisfaction derived by recent visitors. It is proposed to revise tlie blocks or shooting areas after this year’s experience. and it would lie well to have a map of tlie deer district reproduced for sale at a price to recoup the cost of publication. Deer culling bus boon carried out in accordance with the year's programme, authority being given to kill up to 800, and this total was approximated. Similar authority could he given tin's year.

The Society on the Tourist side, assisted with a subsidy in regard to small road works at Lake Kanieri. and also

with respect, to publicity efforts through tlie Progress League. It is certainly of value to have the tourist interests of the district looked to, and tlie Society might do more in that respect than in the past. A special plea for more attention to AVestland is more than justified by tbo lack of attention compared .»*?11i favoured places elsewhere in tlio Dominion. The Society offered to assist with road work in extending a vehicle road to the round route to Upper Kokatahi. To facilitate access to Lake Mahinapua some help might be preferred also with regard to tlie completion of the road from Ruatapu, while generally tlie Society should pursue an active attention to the development of the tourist resorts of the district. The funds permit of some special attention to urgent roads or tracks to ensure a definite roading programme at tlie two lake resorts. REPORT OF HATCHERY COMMITTEE. Sir and Gentlemen, —

The Hatchery Committee beg to report that Mr Midland commenced bis duties at tlie Kanieri Lake Hatchery on tlie 17th August and had everything in readiness to receive tlie first consignment of ova which arrived on the 19th August. Your Committee ordered 400,000 Brown trout eyed ova and 200,000 Rainbow. Tlie whole of the Brown trout ova was supplied in several consignments, all of which arrived in first rate condition. Unfortunately we only received 80,000 Rainbow eyed ova, the first consignment of 60,000 arriving in excellent condition, but tlie second consignment of 30,000 was not so satisfactory. In all probability that was due to the lateness of the season, it being the 14th October when this consignment arrived. Mr Ridland considers that of the total amount of eggs received 95 per cent of the Brown and about 90 per cent of tlie Rainbow were hatched out. This is considered a very high percentage and reflects great credit on the packing of the eggs for transport, and also on the excellent attention given to his duties by Air Ridland. The condition of the fry at liberation was everything that could be desired.

The Grey Society’s share of the fry. viz.. 190,000 Brown and 40,000 Rainhow were delivered in three consignments and arrived tliei"? in a very satisfactory condition. The AVestland’s Society’s share of the fry was liberated as follows:—-

BROWN TROUT. Araliura River 70,000 Duck Creek 10,000 Harris Creek 40,000 Shenandoah 20.000 Lake Kanieri 20,000 ILUNBOW TROUT. Lake Kanieri 40,000

It was tlie intention of the Hatchery Committee to liberate the Rainbow in compliance with the expressed wish of the late Air L. F. Avson in Lake lantho ami Alapourika. but owing to the small amount available, it was thought that the expense of the transport would be too great for such a small quantity of fry. It was therefore decided to liberate tlie whole amount in Lake Kanieri. Air Ridland relinquished bis duties for the season on the bill Nov. Tlie hatchery building requires a good deal of renovation before effective hatching can lie done in the coming season and the work has been entrusted to -Mr Stevenson under the superintendence of Air Ridland. The Grey Society which have again decided to co-operate in the hatching, has agreed to meet their half of the repairs up to the amount of £SO. It is hoped to put the work in hand immediately so that everything will be in readiness to commence operations.

Your Committee recommend that the same method of procuring the ova be adopted next season, viz., purchasing from the Southland Society. This method has proved very satisfactory and in addition to the advantages of introducing fresh blood, the fry themselves were of a very vigorous and healthy species.

Your Committee have been fortunate in again securin''; the service of Milt iillaud for the coming season. It is recommended that eliorts he made tliis season to get a supply of quinnat ova to replenish Lake Kanieri. good sport was obtained there in the early part of the season and it is considered a wise move to concentrate on quinnat lor this lake.

The fishing season generally seems to have improved both in quantity and quality of the fish, the Aralmra river being the outstanding stream in our district. .

M,i- J. Cnntrick lias carried out Ills duties as caretaker very satisfactorily. (Signed) A. C. ARMSTRONG, Chairman. The balance sheet disclosed a very satisfactory position. The credit balance at the beginning of the year was £029 17s Gd. The receipts for the year were £1255 2s 9d. The expenditure for the year was £598 7s lid, leaving a credit balance of £llß6 12s (id. £IOOO of which was interest bearing. The reports and balance sheet were received and adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. President:—Mr Perry, retiring President, and Dr Teichelniann were nominated, and on a ballot the hitler was elected by a small majority. Vice-President: —Messrs A. @. Armstrong and -J. J. Mclntosh were nominated. The ballot resulted in favour of the latter by a narrow margin.

Hon. Secretary:—Mr H. J. Evans was re-elected unopposed. Committee of Twelve:—The nominations received totalled 21. and a ballot was conducted with Messrs Peck and Parry as scrutineers. The following gentlemen were declared elect-ed-—Messrs IV. Braddon. C. Bevendt, E. J. Lloyd. W. Peck, H. T. Parry, S. Godfrey, A. C. Armstrong, J. King. Tt. Paterson, R. Stuart. G. Howe, Garnet Perry. Tt was resolved the Hatchery Committee be elected by the General Committee. The meeting concluded at 9..10 pm.