ACCLIMATISATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4824, 24 April 1925, Page 1

ACCLIMATISATION.

OHINEMURI SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING. Irlie annual meeting of the Ohineniuri Acclimatisation Society was held in Bain’s Rooms, Paeroa, on Saturday evening, the . president (Mr J. Hamilton) presiding over an attendance of about twenty members. REPORT. The following annual report was read by the secretary (Mr D. Leach) and adopted:— "During the past year the society has continued its work of steadily acclimatising fish and game. Fifty thousand trout, fry were received and liberated in the Komata, Hikutaia, Tarariki, Waitoa, and Waitawheta streams. A number of high school, boys from Paeroa and Karangahake assisted in the liberation, and we hope to get the boys in the district still further interested in our work, if this society can obtain a similar quantity of ■ fry each year our streams should produce larger numbers of fish. It is gratifying to record the issue of a greater number of fishing licenses during the past season, which show's that fishing in this district is attracting more attention. "The society had occasion to institute proceedings against a timber company working near Hikutaia for polluting the stream with sawdust. The practice has been stopped, and we hope that, the publicity given to tin 1 case will deter othere from violating the provisions of the Fisheries Act.

"Regarding pheasants, so far fifty birdis have been liberated at Komata and Hikutaia. We hope to receive a furtelir consignment any day now, and these will probably be liberated on the Wirihana estate, as suitable arrangements have been made with the owners of the land. •‘Meetings of the society have been held at Karamgahake, Paeroa, Hikutaia, and Netherton, and the result has shown itself in an increase in membership. Local committees have been formed in each place to supervise the game in each locality. “Poaching of ducks and pheasants lials been much in evidence during tne season, and although the Auckland ranger has paid several visits to the district no conviction has so far been obtained. It is the duty of every sportsman to keep an eye open for poachers, otherwise their number will increase and our efforts to build up the supply of game will be in vain. Sportsmen are also urged to destroy the hawk on every occasion, as this bird causes the loss of large numbers of young pheasants.

"The question of a sanctuary for ducks is still under consideration, an? we hope to obtain the consent of the several property-owners and have the area duly gazetted.

“The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £4 6s 3d.

“The society hopep to have the active support of every member during the coming year, in order that sport in Ohinemuri may progress. The society wishes to thank those members who have freely given their time and conveyances when liberating fry and pheasants. Our thanks in large measure are also due to Mr A. H. Holnide’i. our Auckland delegate, who has attended all meetings of the parent body and kept our affairs actively before the Auckland Council.” ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as’ follows: — Patron, Mr J. W. T. Jones; president, Mr J.- Hamilton ; vice-presidents, Messrs G. Buchanan (Paeroa), J. A. Reid (Netherton), A. R. Robinson (Hikutaia), D. McKee (Komata), J. B. Morris (Karangahake); general committee, Messrs C. A. Stembridge, W. .Watsbii (Netherton) ; J. Elliot, A. B. Capper (Hikutaia) ; J. Rackham, M. J. Remington (Karangahake) ; S. -1. Nicholls, S. Benson (Paeroa) ; P. Angle and F. Dare (Komata). Mr I). Leach was re-elected secretary and treasurer. PHEASANTS. I’he Auckland society wrote advising' that twenty pheasants would be forwarded for liberation at an early date. It was at first suggested that the birds should be liberated at Netherton, but in view of the lateness of the season and the possibility of flooding in that locality it was resolved to liberate the consignment on higher country, and the offer of Mr G. Buchanan to place the birds on his property was accepted with thanks.

it was agreed that the first consignment of pheasants to be received next season would be liberated on the Wrihana estate, Netlierton, in lieu of the twenty birds promised. On the suggestion of the secretary it was resolved to write and request the Auckland society that pheasants for liberation be forwarded earlier each year. It was considered that if tli is could be arranged feed for the birds would be more abundant, and generally better results would obtain. WAITAWHETA DAM. It was decided to forward £2 2s to Mr A. H. Holmden for legal work done for the society in its objection to the granting of a license to the Waitawhata Timber Co. for the construction and tripping of dams oir the Waitawheta stream. If Was also resolved to record the appreciation of the members to Mr Holmden for his efforts in the matter. PROTECTION OF DUCKS. The secretary drew attention to the increasing number of land-owners who were reserving thir holdings for personal friends only to fehoot over

for ducks. As a result there had been a decrease in the number of licenses issued because good shooting grounds were becoming scarce. He considered that the matter was one of grave concern to tire society. The president concurred, and said that much as the action of certain land-ownrs was to be regretted, he was agraid the society could take no action, PUKEKO. It was resolved to write to the Auckland society- and again point out the steady increase of pukeko in the district, and to ask that steps be takne to declare an open season for the shooting of the birds on the Hauraki Plains. POACHING. The secretary stressed the need for members to exercise greater vigilance in bringing poachers to book. A considerable amount of both game and fish poaching was going on, but the difficulty was to obtain a conviction, he urged members to obtain the goodwill ,and co-operation of land-owners and others with a view to assisting the society to put down the practice.

The district was a very extensive one for sport, and it was a difficult matter foi the members to work it without the co-operation of the farmers.

The president said that one of the. chief difficulties was to'get a person to inform on a poacher. Any person, giving information to a society member would never be regarded as a sneak, but rather as a true sportsman. He thought that when members met. a person or party with a rod or gun the members should ask to sec the other person’s license, and if no. license could be produced the matter (should at once be reported. Mi' P. Angle said that during the summer he had seen three trout, weighing between and 2Ei l.b, dead in the Komata stream, and was of the opinion that an explosive, had been used.

Mr Nicholls said that he also had suspicions that poaching was going on in his district, but had failed to gain definite proof.

The secretary said that the Auckland society was now offering a reward of £2O for the conviction of poachers of trout. GAME SANCTUARY.

In answer to a member the secretary said that the matter of obtaining an area of land near the'Junction, Paeroa, for a game, sanctuary was

held up pending the consent of one of the owners. Up to the present that owner had refused to give permission. The area was an ideal, one for birds, especial y in view of the fact that ducks had no resting place once the season opened, and as a consequence many of the birds lost to the district.

Mr Buchanan suggested that a lagoon on Mr J. Strange’s property at Mangaiti might be obtained. He thought that there would be little difficulty in obtaining permission, and the area would make an ideal sanctuary. It was resolve,d to approach Mi Strange on the matter. CANADIAN GEESE. tl was decided to write to the parent. body for further particulars concerning Canadian geese, and to asceitain the possibility of obtaining some bi: ds for liberation in the district provided a satisfactory area for a sanctuary could be arranged. HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE. After some discussion It was aeclded to take uo action jn obtaining a supply of Hungarian partridge foi the district owing to there being a likelihood of the birds becoming a pest to crops if they throve in the district. TROUT FRY. It was resolved to approach the Auckland society for a supply of OGO trout fry, to be liberated as follows : Hikutaia 30,000, Komata. 12,000, Waitawheta 50,000. Waitoa 6000. Tarariki 2000. Messsr G. H. Taylor, and J. W. T. Jones, Jieadmasters of the Paeroa and Kcrnngahake schools, expressed their willingness to encourage the senior pupils of their respective schools to take an intelligent interest in acclimatisation affairs and to assist the members in the liberation of trout fry A hearty vote of -thanks to the chair, and to Mr; W. Bain for the use of his room, concluded a very satisfactory meeting.