Westland Acclimatisation and Tourist Society

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1931, Page 2

Westland Acclimatisation and Tourist Society

THURSDAY, APRIL 10. COUNCIL .MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held at the County Chambers at 7.25 p.m. Present : —Messrs •). King (voted to chair), A. N. Baker, R. Stuart, R. Paterson, H. Wells, Garnet Perry, S. Godfrey, AY. Braddon, and T). J. Evans. Apologies were made for Dr. Teichelmann. Messrs Mclntosh, Armstrong and Lloyd. The minutrs of the previous meeting were confirmed. The outward correspondence was approved. INWARD COR R ESPONDENCE, From Department of Internal Affairs notifying that an Order-in-Council amending the Animals Protection Act, has been issued preventing the use of any cartridge exceeding in. length, 2iJ inches.—Receive d. From same explaining charges by Carrying Coy. Ltd., on ova sent by ferry steamer. Received and 11s passed for payment. From same forwarded copy of the Gazette notice with respect to open season for native game from Ist. May. —Received. Licenses are being issued from several post offices in the district including South Westland. From same accepting order for supply of ammuntion for deer ruling.—Received.

From same warrant appointing J. T Timpson a Ranger under Animals Pro toetion Act.—Received.

From same withdrawing bonus on doer tails secured by Society’s culler in South AVostland.— Received, "ft was pointed out it was unfair to withdraw the bonus on. tails before the current contract was up. The culler had gone to considerable expense in packing supplies and ammunition into the hack country on the strength, of the bonus. Its withdrawal was therefore a breach of the usual arrangement. In any case the results on the cost to the Department must be very satisfactory, and ft was resolved to ask that the arrangement Ik?i continued for the balance of the season.

From Buller Acclimatisation Society agreeing to apply for an open season for'opossums in June, similar to AVostland.—Received. From Grey District Society forwarding cheque for £64 18s sd, half cost of hatchery upkeep to date.—Received with thanks. Fi'om. Otago Society accepting order for 250,000 brown trout eyed ova.— Received.

From Southland Society to similar effect with regard to a like supply.— Received. From' Conservator of Fish, Rotorua, offering ova at 6s per 100,000. fry 10s per 1,030, —-Receved and referred to tlie Hatchery Committee. From Postmaster notifying «jx deer stalking licenses, March,—Received. Froiq N-JL -Associated Acclimatisation. Societies, asking contribution to research work ju respect to fresh waters, jin order to obtain the benefit of ,ad vice on fish problems.—Received and no notion taken, From .1. R. Hunt, Pembroke, asking for refund of deer stalking fey lodged owing to inability to go out. —Received and agreed to refund the deposit. From J. T, Timpson accepting terms for appointment as Ranger,—Received. From \A 7 , Hayward and E, E, Dundas, Ruatapu, suggesting the stocking of Lake Mahinapua with trout fry. —Received. Mr Braddon pointed out thorp was a lack of spawning beds at the lake, which was also badly infested with eels which would prey on fry. Lake Afahinapua also was a natural breeding ground for whitebait. It was decided to refer the letter to the Hatchery Committee for such action as was thought advisable. general. Accounts to the amount of £33 2s 3d wore passed for payment, It was resolved to enquire when the pheasant chickens would arrive, and also in respect to overdue opossum revenue,

The meeting concluded at 7.50 p,m

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the Society was held at 8.5 p.m., Present:—Dr. Teichelmann (President), Mr J. ,J. McIntosh (Vice-President) and the members of t)]e Council present at the preceding Cquqcj] jppetjng. The absence of Messrs Armstrong and Lloyd was apologised for, The minutes of the previous annual meeting vypre confirmed,

REPORTS AND BALANCE SHEET, The Executive Report was read as follows.. To the President and Members. Sir and Gtmtlem??l; YOhr Executive Council has the honor to report that the activities of the Society were well maintained during the year. Eleven meetings of the Council were held for the period find regular despatch given to the budnoss, The audited statement of accounts before the meeting reveals tlmt tlm year opened with a credit- balance of £1.534 10s lid and closed with - credit balance reduced to £l. rtM 1 - 0 b Id. The Grey Society was associated again in the Hatchery work, and with this support it was possible t 0 increase the activities considerably. Particulars of the work will be supplied by the Hatellerv Committee. The revenue dors not show any receipts from opossum returns for the past year, the Government Department not having supplied the credit 3S yet. There has been a marked

falling off in dee,- license fees for this season, the returns having fallen to £65, the hulk of which is forthcoming from British visitors, who it is pleasing to learn, hove been fortunate in securing several good Loud--. The net fees last year for d<-Vi i-oliih ; were £1)1 l-Is. Substantial expenditure on account of deer culling was incurred, the total for the year being £146 14s for royalty payments on tails and free ammunition to cullers. AA’itfi regard to opossum trapping, it should be noted that of the money at deposit. £6OO is earmarked l»r increasing the industry in the district, but so fa,- permission is not obtainable to procure good stock and liberate it. At tlie outset (owing to the comparative failure of last sea c on and the drop in price for skins) it was contemplated having a close season this year, hut several Societies applied for an open season again, and it was thought best to fall in line and the trapping season will he confined now to the month of June.

During the year 200 pheasant chickens were ordered for liberation in suitable localities, but so far no advice Ims been received when they may be expected.

The Society has appointed a Rancor foe the district, and he is to assist with tlie deer culling:. There are Sf *id to be considerable deer in the high country, finding their way over the ranges from Canterbury. Tlie localities where they are said to abound in large herds are remote and difficult of access. A good deal of additional ishodting has boon accounting for many stray bond in the ArnhurnKokatnhi district, the free ammunition being an incentive to sportsmen to range the mqro adjacent country at week ends in search qf the invading deer, hut the number accounted for is not notably large. In South AVestland, ltaijgei Hodgkinson continues to account for a good tally season hv season and this year had authority to take up to 1,000 head for royalty payment. The cost to the Society for deer culling in the past season was more than double the leys received by the Society. This liability was incurred at the request of the Government Department which wished the fullest possible co-opera-tion in the attempt to keep down the menace of the deer to the country infested. The Hatchery Committee with the help of several auxiliary members, had a large amount, of work to carry out during the year, particularly in connection with the transport of the ova and the liberation of the fry. As was usual, those onerous duties were discharged with marked enthusiasm, a great amount of special work being discharged without cost to tlie Society, excellent, results being obtained from all the ova handled at the Hatchery. A visit was paid r e centlv by Captain Raves who was making investigation into the spawning ol whitebait in this locality, a matter which was brought no by Aft' Baker

in December last. ' several of the local n

■»s met u.d in-

speeded different local itU *" n ° doubt his report and c >nclu- .ms «» this interesting matter will he available ]ater,

HATCHERY COMMITTEE’S REPORT

The Hatcherv Committee’s report was read as follows,

The Hatchery Committee has much pleasure in reporting another excellent season for 1930. Mr Ridland, our worthy Curator, commenced his duties on the Ist May, when the new cottage was in readiness. The heavy expenditure entailed in the erection of the cottage was a severe drain on the lesources of the Society, but as well as being a substantial asset to the Society, it has given the Curator some degree of comfort for the time that he is employed at Lake Ivanieri. During the year the Society lias had numerous aP- | plications for the tenancy of the oot- , tago during the summer months hut | it was considered undesirable to lot it. M r e recommend that a similar practice be adopted in the future, It is regretted that we were unable to he supplied with any quinnnt ova during the season and efforts should again be made to procure a further supply for 1931 season, The distribution of the quinnat fry in the rivers, has been a decided disappointment as far as results are concerned, hut Lake Kanieri has in some measure offset tiffs by the splpmffd sport obtained there. Thp early part of th e Ashing season was not up to the usual standard in the Lake, owing, no doubt, to tbe very unseasonable weather, but the quinnat caught, were such splendid fish, as well as being much larger in size Riap three usuajly take!], that they quite compensated for the lack of numbers. The committee was successful ip obtaining full supplies of brown and rainhow pva, 500.000 pf each kind being received and laid down in ttip Hatchery. The additions that were previously made to the Hatchery were fully justified, as even with the extra space pro. yidpd, at times the capacity of the boxes ya.S f|ffly t axpd. It wag found necessarv at one part of the season, to provide some assistance to Mr Ridland and accordingly, Miss Ridland was engaged for about one month to assist. The arrival of several consignments of ova in quick succession was responsible for the congestion, but this is a matter tlmt is very difficult to regulate, Tt is pleasing to report that the ova. generally. was in good condition, and everything was done to ensure its delivery in good order. The Railway Department as far as the local office is concerned.'did evervthing possible to ensure the prompt delivery both of the ova and the frv. 'The Grey District Society again joined with this Society in the expense and product of *h-. V Miing season. Six consignments .T fry v. -t. sent to Greymouth comprising __*j,ooj brown

and 250.000 Rainbow, and all arrived there in good condition. Also one consignment of 50,000 Brown fry was sent to Kumara for liberation, in the tributaries of the. Tereniakau. We have to express our thanks to Messrs Lloyd Bros, who voluntarily offered to take delivery of the fry at Kumara station and distribute them free of charge. The fry liberated in the Tereniakau was drawn from the quotas of both .Societies. 25.000 being supplied by each. The fry for the Westland Society was distributed as follows:

Rainbow Brown Lake Kanieri 40,000 Hokitika Tributaries 05,000 185.000 Arahura River 40,000 40,000 Little Waitaha 35,000 Mikonui 35,000 To tarn 35,(XX1 Tereniakau 35,000 50,000 Totals 250,000 275,000 The work of transport was carried out by the Westland Dairy Coy. and was in every way satisfactory. In this connection we must express appreciation of the services of the driver, Mr G. Kelly, who did everything possible to facilitate prompt delivery of the ova and fry. Mr Rutland gave his usual care and attention to his duties as curator, and the results obtained are largely due to the skill and ability with which he performs his work,

The Hatchery Committee wish to thank all those gentlemen who so kindly assisted in the work of distribution of the fry. This work is of considerable magnitude and it may he found necessary at times, to employ some responsible poison to do this work, Owing to several severe Hoods 'last season the bridge for the box across file Kanieri River was seyprely damaged and it was found necessary to pave flie repairs effected and some now boxes made. The footbridge also was carried away, and this will also pepd to he replaced. This work is in the hands ol Mr |). Stevenson who will have this work completed at an early date. It is fitting that wo should mention the kindness of the Kanieri Electric Coy., from whose water race the water supply of the Hatchery is drawn free of charge. The attitude of the Company is in keeping with their usual kindness in assisting community effoit. and is very commendable.

1 he fishing season has been quite up to the standard of previous years, the Arahura River still being the most popular among the fishermen. The liberations of Rainbow fry in the Totara Mikonui and Little Waitaha will be watched with considerable interest, ns tin's is the first time that this species has been liberated in those streams. The heavy stocking of our streams should in the near future have very beneficial results.

The balance sheet showed that the year opened with a credit balance of £1,534 10s lid, and the receipts for the year were £542 13s sd. The expeuditure was £1035 12s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £lO4l 18s Id, The principal expenditure was for the caretaker s cottage, while ova procured cost £272 7s 3d, and deer culling £I4Q 14s —Rocoivod,

The reports and balance sheet were received and adopted on the motion of 51 r King, seconded by Mr Braddon. The following Officers and Council, duly nominated, were declared elected without opposition ; _ President: Dr. Teiohclmnnn. Vice-President: Mr ,T. J. Mclntosh. Secretary and Treasurer: Mr D, J, Eva ns. Council of twelve: Messrs A. C. Armstrong, A. N. Baker, W. Braddon, S. Godfrey, B. Kelly, J. King, B, J. TJoyd, H. T. Parry, R. Paterson, Garnet Perry, Robt. Stuart, and H, Wells, Mr Baker referred to the work of the Secretary, and a vote of £25 was passed for clerical assistance. The meeting discussed the visit of Captain H/iyos and the investigations regarding the life of the whitebait. Mr Braddon supplied interesting particulars regarding a discussion with Captain Haves, and Mr Mclntosh showed a number of photographs (enlarged) showing the whitebait ova in the Hokitika river bed, including some oronounced samples deposited in the scrub on the inside of the north training wall.

The meeting concluded at 8.45 o’clock.