ACCLIMATISATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 28 June 1913, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION.

, . ; | : | j 1 1 ' SOCIETY’S ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of th« Stratford Acclimatisation Society was held last night, the President (Hr W. P. Kirkwood) presiding. PRESIDENT’S REMARKS. Mr Kirkwood in moving the adoption of the report said the Society had done as much as it could with the funds available. . It was reported that pheasants were scarce in ■, the clear country, though large numbers were reported from the bush. There was no better district in the colony for sport, and quail this season had been in excellent condition and large in numbers. As to poaching, the Society had been shackled in the past by lack of funds and if they coqld not pay a ranger they would have to cease operations. As to the poaching in,the Mount Egmout reserve, he thought the Government should be urged to take steps to stop the poaching which goes on in sanctuaries, the Mount Egmont one especially. There had been some discussion regarding the endorsing of licenses. The local Society did not desire to withdraw the courtesy, but if other societies did not extend the courtesy he thought the local Society should cease to do so. During the past season the Society paid for 243 pairs of hawks’ and shags’ feet. It was reported that , wild cats were fairly common in the district, and when' sportsmen saw any they would he 'doing a great kindness if they killed tKem. The Society had decided not to get any more rainbow trout,‘and 'the coming year’s ova would be brown trout. Taking it ill'iround, he 'thought they could claim to have a gdod ' sporting district,'.; both for fishing and Shooting." The motion was'sehbhded by’ l Mr‘W. J, i Morrison, who l 'said he wAs’ afraid thatlit would heed ad aerbplan# r.o get the i birds in the back country. '•The hnotkm carried. M(l ( ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: President, Mr W. P. Kirkwood; vicepresidents, Messrs A. W. Budge and W. J. Morrison; treasurer, Mr A. W. Budge; council, Messrs G. D. Hunger, ,L. Rjpra, X, 8.,,L., Stanford, H. Campbell,, ;W.- j Jtr jjDavles, T. A] Nicholson, €., E. Seabright, C; B. Walsh and 0. d'OeWooydugKSh; couptry committee, M easts> McLedd, Stockley, BreWer, SteitK, funnel, ' and J. Oliphant. , ... TROUT'OVA. ; The secretary of the 'Marine Department notified that the'first batch of 51), 000 trout ova had been despatched. -■ '.■ ~. j. THE FISH . PONDS. On the motion of Mr Morrison, it was decided to have a report presented to the next meeting of the council on the cost of the ram in the Gentle Annie stream and as to its, probable efficiency. Mr Morrison said he doubted whether there would be a sufficient fall of water to work the ram.

COUNTRY SOCIETIES., The Hobson Acclimatisation Society wrote asking that the local Society should support its suggestion that country societies should be represented at the annual conference by one of its own members and not by a member of a city society. In the past, the interests of the country societies had suffered by them being represented at the annual conference by members of city societies. REMITS FOR THE CONFERENCE. A number of remits to tho annual conference were forwarded by sister societies asking for support, and were dealt with as follows: That the fixing of an open or close season be left to tho various societies.—Present law to bo supported. That the issue of Dominion licenses is a danger to sport.—To be supported. ; , That each society send only one delegate to the annual conference.—To be supported. That the affiliation fee to the New Zealand Association be three guineat instead of two.—Delegate to exercise his discretion, and to vote for the increase if tho central society’s funds are shown to ba low. The following remits were decided on by the meeting;— That the ryjo of automatic guns be made illegal. That attempts to repeal the law relating to pollution of streams be re-sisted.—-In moving this, Mr Stanford said tbaf it was. tho flaxmillers who desired to repeal the law, and if they were given their way it would be the end of trout fishing. That each society have the discretion of saying what native game should be shot each season. That the Government bo urged to take drastic steps to protect game in the sanctuaries. That the Government be asked to give assistance in payment for rangers for outlying districts.