ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 248, 19 April 1912, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

[ ANNUAL 'MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society was held last evening. Some twenty members attended. The president (Mr. J. E. Wilson) occupied the chair. The report and balance-sheet, as already reported in these columns, was read and adopted. In moving the adoption of the report and ■balance-sheet the president stated that good work had been done during the year at the newly acquired hatcheries. One or two accidents had militated against the whole of the 200,000 ova secured (being grown to maturity. Howover, some 70,000 fine specimens'had been liberated in the various streams. A game hatchery had 'been started, but the best of luck had not attended the Society's efforts. The Society now had a few birds in stock, and expected to rear a good lot of pheasants next season. Touching the question of finance, the Society was not overburdened with lUftf. The president considered that Hie Society was doing good work for I the townspeople, and more honorary j members should be obtainable. Now that the Mountain Hostelry was established h e . felt sure 'that if fishing and game were more plentiful, tourists would be only too pleased to come to the district and spend a few weeks with rod or gun. The fee (Ss) per member, was very small, but he thought that other subscriptions might he obtained to swell the 'Society's funds.

Mr. -Butcher asked why more money was not devoted to game. He considered that too much of the Society's funds were spent on the fish, while the game had received little or no attention. The chairman explained the difficulties j under which the Society worked. Lack of funds was responsible for this department being neglected. The Council had spent available monies in what they considered would give the best return. A hatchery for pheasants had now been established, and the Society hoped next year to do good work in this department. IMr. A. IT. Johnstone said the Council had done more during the past year than any Council for many years past The building and fitting of the hatcheries had taken a good deal of the funds, this, however, would not be a recurrin" expenditure. The limited funds had not allowed of more money being spent on pheasants. iITo felt sure that in the future the 'Society would be in a position to give a fair amount of attention to game, particularly pheasants. ELECTION OF OFItCERS. Officers for the year were appointed as under Mr. J. E. Wilson (re-elected); viee-presidents, Messrs. W. U iNewman and Chas. Young; secretary and treasurer, Mr. O. N. Firth (re-elect-ml); council. Messrs. A. If. Johnstone, r." tr' T - T! - E. Whittle, • M. -Hill ami \Y. Ogier; auditor, Mr. W. I . Aicoll. GENERAL. Mr. iM. O. .Butcher moved that the incoming council endeavor to secure up to -0 pheasants for stock birds, tho proportion to be four hens to each male bird. —Carried. ; lt -was unanimously decided that the speretnry receive an honorarium of £lO 10s. lhc president and members of the <. ouncil spoke in high terms of the energetic and capable work of the secretary during the past year. J Mr L. B. Webster moved that the district >e flit into wards and sub-commit-tees be formed, the chairman of each

committee to be an ex-officio member of the council of management. The matter was discussed at length, ami agreed to, and it will receive the necessary attention at the next annual meeting. The matter of making certain streams available only for fly-fishing was discussed, but no action was taken. The customary vote to the chairman terminated the proceedings.