ACCLIMATISATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4715, 23 June 1924, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION.

MEETING OF SOCIETY. A general meeting of the Ohinejnuri Acclimatisation Society was held hi the Returned Soldiers’ Club, Paeroa, on Friday last, the president, Mr J. Hamilton, presiding over an attendance of about 30, many ofi whom were members from Karangahake. The president explained that the meeting had been called with the object of stimulating interest in the affairs of the society. Similar meetings would be held at Netherton and Hikutaia. A resume of the work done in recent years was given, and the proposals for the future were biiefly outlined. Mr Hamilton stated that it would be a difficult matter to carry on with anything like success unless more support was forthcoming. So far as Paeroa was concerned, the thanks of the society were due in large measure to Mr Arch. White, who had been an indefatigable worker in . the interests of the society, but speaking generally very little support had been received from the sportsmen of the town. PROPOSED GAME SANCTUARY The secretary, Mr D. Leach, outlined the proposals to obtain an area of land in the vicinity of the junction of the Waihou and Ohinemari rivers. A plan was produced showing the area, and Mr Leach stated that the two of the largest area owners had consented to the plan, but there were several more owners, including a number of natives, to be interviewed and their consent obtained before the area could be gazetted as a game sanctuary. It was believed to be an ideal area for ducks, and could be made suitable for pheasants also. Mr E. Edwards suggested that an area of Government swamp land nt Tirohia should be otbained for the purpose, Messrs Remington and Leach spoke against the suggestion, saying that the aiea had been inspected and was not considered suitable. Mr Leach contended that a sanctuary at the Junction would have a tendency to draw the birds to Paeroa, whereas at present as soon as the season opened and the birds became frightened they made for Cambridge, and so were a loss to the district. Mr Angle contended that the proposed area would be ideal for a sanctuary on account of its natural facilities. In reply to Mr Marshall the president said that the boundaries of the society were the old Ohinemuri County boundaries. Mr Edwards said it appeared to him to be a pity to close the only available shooting locality near Paeroa. Mr Remington stated that Messrs Keys’ and Gerrand’s properties had only been open to two or three Paeroa men to shoot over. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to endorse the action of the special committee set up to go into the matter of arranging for a sanctuary at the junction. It was agreed that the time had arrived when the .society should have a gazetted sanctuary, in view of the enormous drainage operations that were going on in various parts .of the district. Mr Leach spoke of the generous treatment and help accorded the l*cal society by the parent body in Auckland. and said that it was up to local sportsmen to do all in their power to put the sport in this district on a good footing. Finance was necessary to enable suitable pens for pheasant to be built and maintained, and many other expenses in connection with the liberation of trout fry were incurred. The license fees went to the Auckland body, and the .better the finances of that body the more help would be forthcoming for Ohinemuri. In reply to Mr Edwards the chairman said that Paeroa had not been forsaken in acclimatisation matters, and the reason why the headquarters of the society had been transferred to Karangahake—it originally, started there 15 years ago—was because of lack of interest in its affairs in Paeroa. MINE TAILINGS. Mr Nicholls asked if the society had any power to prohibit the various mining concerns in the district from depositing the mine tailings in the rivers and creeks, thereby destroying the trout. He was of. the opinion that the practice should be stopped. Mr J. W. T, Jones said he thought it was unreasonable to expect to hamper so important an industry as mining in any way for the sake of any class of sport. The chairman thought that the sos'ety had no redress in the mattei, and he agreed with the last speaker that it would be folly to attempt to hamper the mining industry. Mr Leach was of opinion that the mining companies should come under the same category as sawmills and flaxmills in the matter of depositing debris in the rivers and streams. He Mould write to the Auckland .society and see what could be done in the matter. In answer to Mr G. H. Taylor the president said that the cyanide from the mines was too weak to kill the fish. The silt getting in behind the gills was what caused the mortalities. LIBERATION OF BIRDS. Mr Leach said that it was desirable to keep pheasants in pens for a month or so before liberating them. It was hoped to obtain at least 100 birds from the parent body this year for liberation throughout the district. To do this pens would have to oe built and general supervision of the birds exercised, and he asked for support and co-operation in the work. In answer to Mr Nicholls Mr Leach said that sittings of eggs could be obtained from the Auckland society. Mr Marshall stated that although he had seen a number of hen pheasants on his property he had only noticed one male bird. Mr Leach said that such was valuable information to the members, because the society could then correct the preponderance of one sex in that locality by the introduction of the opposite sex. Mr Marshall offered his property

as a sanctuary in the event of the society wishing to set pheasants’ eggs there, am l the offer was gratefully accepted In answer to Mr Nicholls the president said that suitable seed for pheasants could be obtained through the society, but the difficulty was to know where to distribute it. ATLANTIC SALMON. Mr Leach intimated that the Auckland society was arranging for the hatching of Atlantic salmon fry, which had been found to thrive better than the quinnat salmon in New Zealand. CANVASS FOR MEMBERS. On the suggestion of Mr Jones, Messrs Leach, D. McKee, and Edwards were appointed to canvass for new members in Paeroa and Netherton. GUN CLUB. Mr Angle asked if a gun club could not be established and matches arranged. The president replied tint there had been a very enthusiastic gun club in Karangahake some years ago, and he would be pleased to bring the suggestion before the committee. Mr Dare favoured waiting until the society built up its membership before the project was seriously considered. Mr Jones suggested that a miniature rifle range should be erected if a gun club could be formed. The secretary thought it a good idea, and one that could be successfully worked up later on. It would be a splendid way to encourage the boys of the district to take an interest in the society. Mr Taylor said that so far as the boys in the upper standards at the school were concerned, he felt sure that they would take a keen interest in acclimatisation matters if an officer of the society spoke to them, and he suggested that the boys might be allowed to accompany and assist the officers in the liberation of trout fry and other similar duties. By such means the aims and objects of the society would become more widely known. Mr Jones endorsed the remarks made by Mr Taylor, and stated that he would do all he could at the Karangahake school to get the lads to take an intelligent interest in the society’s affairs. After some minor matters were discussed the meeting closed, the president remarking that it was one of the most enthusiastic meetings the society had held in Paeroa for years.