ACCLIMATISATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5415, 24 April 1929, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION.

THE OHINEMURI CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. On Saturday evening at the annual meeting of the Ohinemuri Acclimatisation , Club, held in Mr Bain’s Buildings, Paeroa, Mi' J. Hamilton, president, presided over a fair attenance. The annual report, as published in our last issue, was read and adopted, the secretary, Mr D. Leach being congratulated on presenting a lucid and well-composed report. * Election of Officers. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P.; president, Mr J. Hamilton ; vice-presi-dents,- Messrs D. McKee, A. Maclarn, A. Robinson, C. H. Stembridge, and G. H. Taylor; secretary, Mr D. Leach; auditor, Mr A. North; committee, Messrs F. Dare, J. Dickson, E. Edwards, H. C. Lewer,, C. Mead, C. C. Millar, S. J. Nichols, and K. C. William.s Opossums. On the question of opossums Mr Hamilton was of opinion that the time was not ripe to declare them open. There were plenty behind Karangahake, and if they were not declared open until next year they might be permitted to trap. There was a possibility of obtaining some greys. The matter was left with the president and secretary to discuss with the chief ranger and obtain all possible information. ' ■ ‘ i ; Information was received from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society that they intended forwarding 50 Chukor partridge for liberation on the ranges between Thames and Waihi. Partridge did far better on the uplands than on the plains. Mr Hamilton -said the partridge had not yet arrived, but when they did they would be pooled between Thames, Paeroa, and Waihi. Mallard Duck. : Mr Hamilton said that although shooting of English mallard duck had Been declared open, in his opinion it was rather premature. The society’s ducks released on his property had done comparatively well, but he found that those liberated near human habitation always congregated in the neighbourhood ,qf .the nearest house. Mr Leach read an extract of a paper issued by the Auckland Society showing that, they had arrived at the same conclusion. , Continuing, Mr Hamilton said the breeding of ducks was made difficult by the presence of many enemies. Of the ducks released on his property 20 had fallen victims to eels and 20 to hawks. In order to further pi'Qtect these birds and give them a chance to breed he was closing his ground to shooting, and earnestly appealed to all sportsmen not to shoot them, although declared open game. Sanctuaries. i Considerable discussion centred round the question of sanctuaries. Mr Hamilton observed how much better were - the large ones than the number of small ones here and there which they had had in years gone by. It was decided to declare areas as sanctuaries at Karangahake consisting of parts of properties belonging to Messrs J. Hamilton, W. Marsh, L. Turnbull, H. Wigmore, H. C. Williams, and Mrs M. Johnstone. On the suggestion of Mr Miller the decision was reached that an old sanctuary should not be opened until a new one had been closed for a year, it being left with the., president and secretary to arrange with the owners of the Waitawheta property with a view to that being made a sanctuary twelve months before the opening of the present one. Hooliganism. - Mr J. Dawson mentioned the fact that it was difficult to find a place where one was allowed to shoot these days, nearly every gatepost bearing a notice “No guns or dogs allowed.” Shooting was fast becoming the sport of the rich alone. A bank balance was necessary to secure the shooting for a season over a property. Several members explained that in their experience the majority of farmers had not the slightest objection to shooting taking place over their land, provided permission was asked first and shooters were responsible people and not hooligans. Mr Leach maintained that members of the club holding licenses, and who asked permission to shoot on the strict understanding that they would respect- property, would not find any difficulty. The farmers were only out to protect themselves against hooligans, who shot at anything, left gates open, and generally behaved objectionably. Mr Hamilton asked any member who met with a negative answer to report it to the club. Not that the committee could do anything in the matter, but it would help in finding out how feeling was on the subject. Mr Leach, in furtherance to this, sfaid if any case was brought to him he would endeavour to interview the farmer in question and explain that the club was out to protect the farmers and their interests. Poaching. The difficultly of catching poachers in the act so as to secure evidence to bring them to court was brought; up. Mr Leach, in mentioning how hard it? was for the police or rangers, who were naturally well known, to apprehend the guilty party, said it was up to members to challenge any shooter they saw and ask for his authority. Members must co-operate. Feeding Ponds. Mr Leach spoke at length on the subject of feeding ponds, and explained the whole proposal in a readily understandable manner. His remarks will be published in a later issue.