ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9074, 14 February 1908, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

REPORT OF MARTON SUBCOMMITTEE. The' annual meeting was lielcV at the Borough Council Chambers last evening. There was a good attendance of members, including Mr W. J. Birch/member of the Council. Mr J. Robson occupied the chair. The following Report was read : Your committee in reporting upon the business of the past year is pleased to say that the seasons have terminated under favourable conditions, so far as shooting ’and fishing were concerned. We cannot report any perceptible increase of game in the district, but, notwithstanding this, some good bags of. ducks were obtained. During the season 20 pheasants was liberated from the game farm at Paraparaumu and are reported to have been seen and doing well. One case of American black ducks were also received from the same source and liberated in favourable surroundings near Marton and we are promised a consignment of English Mallard ducks at an early date. During the year 128 hawks and 13 black shags have been destroyed, the price paid being 3d per pair for hawk’s feet Jand 2s 6d per pair for shags. The fishing season opened under unfavourable weather conditions, the rivers being in heavy flood, but of late the reverse has been the case the rivers being very low and clear.* During the season good bags of fish, have been taken from the Rangitikei river. In September 1000 yearling rainbow trout were received from the Society’s ponds at Masterton and liberated over a stretch of 12 miles of the Rangitikei river, between the mouths of the Tutaeuui below Bulls and the Porewa above Marton, and severaj of these have been landed during the season, all of which were in good condition and have made rapid growth during that time, which proves conclusively that this river is eminently suited for this kind of fish and proves the wisdom of the Society in deciding at the last annual meeting to liberate only yearling fish.

The fish liberated from the Societies fish ponds are as follows: —'1000 yearling rainbows and 50,000 sea run brown trout fry, all of which were placed in the Rangitikei river with the exception of 5000 fry liberated in the Hautapu near Taihape. The licenses issued in the district under tiie control of this committee are as follows:—Shooting 28, whole season fishing 40, half season 3 and boys 4; total 75. Total revenue £7O 17s 6d. Since the last annual meeting the Huuterville subcommittee has been reformed and now controls the northern portion of the county. This accounts for the small number of licenses issued as compared with the last annual report in 1007. Your committee is pleased to report that Rangitikei is now represented on the Council by two members instead of one as formerly. R. C. Bruce, Esq., represents the northern and W. J. Birch, Esq. (the newly-elected member), the southern portion. The visits of the Society’s rangers have been instrumental in checking poaching which has not been so prevalent as in former years. During the year it <has been necessary to report that several sawmillers were polluting the streams by using them as a run away for sawdust, etc., and in spite of repeated efforts by your committee, the rangers’ visits have failed to abate the evil and, we regret to say, from recent advice, that the nuisance still continues. Your chairman attended the last annual meeting in Wellington as your delegate and we are pleased to report that the result was highly successful, and we desire to impress upon the incoming committee the importance of beiug alwaysrepresented at all such meetings in future as it is only by a personal visit to all important meetings that the officers of the Society can accurately ascertain the special requirements of your district.

The statement of accounts showed that the Society had a small credit balance. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. On the motion of Mr H. A. Goodall, seconded by Mr Birch, appreciation of the good work done by Mr Robson during the year vras recorded. The sub committee elected were : Messrs G. T. Avery, H. Sutcliffe, H. A. Goodall, F. Thomas, R. McCullough, A. Cameron and P. Wotton. Mi Goodall was elected chairman of the committee and Mr G. T. Avery, secretary.