LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 55

LAND AND WATER.

A Melbourne cablegram states that at the Victoria Coursing Club's Goodwood Cup meeting Good Graham and Great Thought divided for the Cup. Pendcnnis won the St. Leger. The Duller Acclimatisation Society has received 30,000 brown trout ova for distribution in the streams of the district.

CROQUET. LONDON, September- 1. Tho Croquet Association of New Scuth Wales ha 6 become affiliated to the English Association, which has presented gold and silver nuidak for competition at Sjdney. It is fiugigented that the regulations should be mailed in time for the competitions in October. DUNEDIN GUN CLUB. The Dunedin Gun Club held a. match on Satuiday for a trophy presented by Mr J Orlowski. The day was fine, but a strong wind rr.ade matters d-iffieult for shooters. The ma.tch was one of 24 birds. There was a good attendance of members, and some good shooting was -shown. At the finish it was found that Mr R. Martin and Mr W. Scott had tied. Others who shot well", were Messrs J. G. Martin, T. Gillespie, and D. Whalen. A sweep of 12 birds followed, and this was won by Mr D. Whalen. A further sweep competition, being confined to the use of one barr<-i, followed, and was productive of brilliant shoot in-g on the part of Mr J. Orloweki and Mr W. Tcwsley. It was not until 21 biids had been shot at that Mr Oilow c .ki won the sweep. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETIES AND FISHING LICENSES. TO THE EDITOR. Sir — At the meeting of tho Otago Acclimatisation Society it is reported in your paper of the Ist in«t. that a letter was read from the Otago Anglers' Aesociation, which stated: — "Mj' committee would be glad if you can give it, information as to tho reason, or by whose instigation, the new lcgulation in regard to half-yearly licenses only available for the district in which issued." I shall be happy to give the O. A. Association th« informa.tion sought. If the chairman of the Otago Society had studied the acts he could have

supplied what was required at onoe. When "The Fisheries Conservation Act, 1908,". was passed I notice under section 94, last paragraph of sub-section c, "half-sea-* eon licenses and licenses to fish for perch only, available only in some (Jne acclimsutieation district such sums as he may prescribe." I at once wrote t< the Ministerand asked for power to issue half-eeasoa licenses in Ashburton district as from *i December 20 for 12s 6d, «vailable throughout New Zealand, and in reply was-told-that if we wanted a half-season license , we could have one, but it must starL or „ August 16, and be available in Ashburioa - only The Minister added that perhaps I* was not aware fehat the regulations of September 5, 1904, were not repealed, and those regulations gave a half -season'^ license from December 20. availa-bla throughout New Zealand, for 12s cd. To this letter I replied that as I was consulted) before the regulations were made, and they were just what w<- wanted, I did no|j% think it incumbent on me to explain their -J own aot to the department, and perhaps the- Minister was not awaare that the acb; of November 48, 1903, under which the , regula-tions of 1904 were made, contained! ': the clause which was copied into Ihe act of 1908, and when I saw it I really though* they meant it, and therefore I made my J application. 1 had a long interview with' the Minister. The department had overlooked section 94. paragraph c, and th» Minister though' a new act would have to be passed. However, I was advised that Jie law officers were of opinion thai the half-season licenso could be- made to start on December 20, and the charge 12s 6d, as hitherto, but under the aot it must be- available only where issued. I truefc this explanation will be perfectly satisfactory. ; Red Deer.— Theea animals are now com-J intr into our back country. The Canterbury Society wished us to hand the control over to them Of course, we declined. A gentleman who says he is neither a membeir of the society or a' license -holder writes to us: '"We are onJy an aniglinigr club, and that the Deer Committee of the Canterbury. Society are quite' alive as to what is n«oessary to be tloiie— -' i c., take possession of our country — and do not want their work interfered with. The mismanagement of the deer herds irt Otago and Nelson by trout fishermen ha» been the cause of the agitation by etalkew, who have practically taken frbe mana^pement of the cl?er herd out of the hands' of 'the Otaao Society, and the «srae steoa are being taken in Nelson, etc., and if the Waitaki Society does not fall into Una they are to be shut up also, and we donot conn<t. He also sav-5 that no member of out FOfietv preifctends to know anything about <Wr. I think 1 told him we did net pretend, thoutrh we have many oidl chaps who shot deer in Scotland, probably before he was born. — I am, etc., A. H. SHCBT.