THE GERALDINE COUNTS ANGLING SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1984, 19 December 1889, Page 2

THE GERALDINE COUNTS ANGLING SOCIETY.

The fishing competition for the cha’lenga cups presented to the above society by Ma&sn A. E, G. and A, H. Rhodes took place on Monday last and was a marked success. Tne weather was good and the fish rose freely, with the .result that the take of fish was a splendid one. The appearance of the fish when they were laid out for inspection after being weighed in was such as would have gladdened the heart of any angler, and would lißTe'convhcad anyone seeing them that the trout streams round Winchester and Terauka are among the finest in the world. The following are the results of the competition : FLY FISHING. Competitor. Fish. lb. oz. W. Binley 33 40 12 J.L. Flint 37 34 0 0. Nicholas 28 31 0 A. E. Hawkins 34 19.4 J. Findlay 13 14 5 W. Mendelson 11 6 0 156 145 5 Mr B'nley took the first prizi of £1 Is, with privilege of having bis name engraved on cup presented by Mr R. H. Rhodes, for heaviest backet; Mr Fliat the second P'izr for best average basket; and A T r N cholas a special prizs presented by Messrs Velvin and Taylor, for the largest number of fish of legal size. MINNOW FISHING. Competitor. Fish. lb. oz. Beck 27 80 0 E. H. Brewer ...* ... 18 52 0 0. Philipson 13 31 0 H. Wdliams ... ... 5 80 8 A. Montgomery 3 12 0 W. G. Aspinall 3 10 8 Total 69 216 0 Gr»nd Total 225 361 5 Mr Beck took first prize of £1 Is with privilege of having name engraved on cup presented by Mr A. E, 0. Rhodes, for heaviest basket ; Mr H. Williams the sacotid priza of 15s for heaviest fish, one weighing 8|Ib; and Mr Montgomery Mr Dsßeozy’s priza for the best average basket. Roughly spoaking the average take by each competitor was 20£ fiah, with an averaga weight of about 331 b per mao, a result that would take a lot of beating in imy part of the world. •

' Fish Dinner. On Tuesday evening! the annual fish dinner of the society was held at Mr J. A. Young's Wolseley Hotel, Winchester. Those who are at all acquainted with this famous resort of anglers will know that the society could not have chosen a more suitable place for holding such a gathering, nor one where the delicious fish would be better served. Unfortunately, however, there were not such a number present as was expected, only about sixteen gentlemen sitting down to dinner, although ample provision had been made by Mr Young for a great many more, Mr \&.E. G. Rhodes, president of the society, occupied the chair, and Mr Guild the ’.ice chair. Ample justice was done to the excellent spread, after which a number of toasts were duly honored as follows: “The Queen,” proposed by the chairman. “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers ” was proposed by the chairman, aod coupled with the names ,of .Major Young ntid Acting-Captain Findlay of the Temuka Rifles, both of whom responded, the latter Stating that he believed the Volunteers would give a very good account ot themselves if called upon to deal with an invader. Their willingness to tike the field was shown by the readiness with which they went to Parihaka a few years ago, when it appeared certain that an engagement would take place. The chairman in proposing “ The £ucr. cessful competitors ” referred to the splendid take of fish, and said he was sure better sport could not be obtained in the world than that provided by the trout streams of Winchester and Temuka, Be was sony the cups were not there to be

christened and presented that evening. He also regretted very much that there v wero not more of the members of the society present. He did not fish himself, bat be often bad fish from the Winchester streams sent to him. Daring the race week, be had bad two fine fish sent to him in Christchurch and had given them to His Excellency the Governor, who bad bad them photographed and considered them the best he bad seen in Hew Zealand. He was sure they wou’d all agree that the fishing competition had been most. sucoassfuL (Applause).—Before the toast was drank Mr A. W. Gaze said be must apologise for the absence of Mr J. L. Flint, the secretary of the society. . He was detained in Ashburton on important business, and would have been present that evening if it was by any means possible He bad the interests of the, society thoroughly at heart. He (Mr G ze) was sorry to see so few of Uio other members presest. He was not going to apologise for them, becanae he believed a great many of them could have been present if they chose, and lie considered they ought to have been (applause), but he begged to tender an apology for Mr Flint, who was detained in Ashburton. (Applause) —The toast was coupled with the names of Messrs W. Binley and Beck, both of whom suitably responded. Song—Mr Gaze. Mr J. Cunningham proposed ‘ The Losers,’ and in doing so said that although they had lost they were by no means disgraced. (Applause.) Messrs A. E. Hawkins and A. White responded, the , absence of so many of the members being regretted, and the hope being expressed that the challenge cups would lead to a greater number of licenses being taken out in future. (Applause.) MrMundell proposed ‘ The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests of New Zetland,’ coupling the toast with the namus of Messrs Guild and Badham, Ho referred at some length to the importance of these interests, and to the fact that although the agricultural interest was a little behind just now the pastoral was• certainly well to the front. Headvised both agriculturists and those interested in pastoral pursuits to lake more interest io their affairs than the members of the angling society did in their fish dinner that night, otherwise they would soon go to the wall. (Laughter and applause,)—Mr Guild, in replying, said no doubt there was an improvement in the pastoral interest now, but during the past six or seven years they bad been in a very bad way—even worse than the fish dinner that evening. (Laughter.) They had been worse than any person not connected with them would suppose. This was not attributable to low prices only, but to many things combined —bad seasons, poor crops, etc,, and the whoie community had felt the lowness of the ebb. Still they were not in a worse position than many other parts of the world, and a change for the belter was now coming about. He hoped this would last, as the agricultural and pastoral industry was the backbone of the country, (Loud applause). Mr. Badham, in a humorous speech, also replied to the toast, and in doing so said that although the pastoral industry might be'looking up the onfo innate cockatoo was still very ‘ down in the mouth.’ He made an amusing reference to the many > evils the cockatoo had to deal with, including bank exchange, the lawyers, and the bank ‘sweating room,’ and concluded, amidst applause, by thanking those present for the manner ia which they had drank the toast, Mr Findlay proposed ‘The Riparian Owners,’ and took occasion to thank the owners of the trout streams for the way in which they had promoted the interests of the society by giving anglers permission to fish in their streams. He regretted the absence of so many ef the members, many of whom he thouaht might have been present there. The secretary was unavoidably absent, and it was owing to this that the cups were not there that evening to be presented, It was very little encouragement to the donors of the cups to have so many members stay away from the dinner. (Applause.) The toast was coupled with the names of Mr Guild and Major J. A. Young. Mr Guild, in reply, said he had given leave to fish in his stream because he had been asked to, but at the same time he always felt anxious while the anglers were there, as they sometimes left his gates open and put him to the necessity of redrafting stock. Only a short time ago he had to draft in the morning 200 head of cattle which he had drafted overnight, and he would like to impress upon the members to shut the gates after them. (Applause). Major Young also replied. Mr G ze proposed “The donors of the Cups.” In doing so he referred to the j introduction of trout to the Winchester S stream by Major Young about 15 years ago, and also the excellent work done by the Acclimatisation and Angling Societies. JJe realised that the presenting of the cups wpuld eventually bring

great many people to Temuka and the district, as the trout streams would thereby become known and famous. People would be induced to visit the place for sport, and when they saw the great natural beauties of the district, and the Alpine scenery of the country, which Mr Rhodes had done a great deal to open up, many would, no doubt, be induced to settle hero permanently. (Applause.) The toast was coupled with the names of Messrs A. E. 6. and R. H. Rhodes, and drank with music d honors. Mr A. E, G, Rhodes said he thought they ought to dunk Mr Flint for having spoken to him about a challenge cup. as that had caused him to offer it. He wou'd always do bis best to bring tourists to the district as hs was certain there was great wealth in it, Until three or four years ago Sou'll Canterbury had apparently made very iilte effort to attract tourists to the district, but he hoped they would make special efforts to do so. The Government, he might siy, bad sent a man to report on making tracks and building huts in ihe vicinity of Mount Cook, so as to make visits to it more easy aod attractive, and he hoped if ever there was an Alpine Club formed io New Zealand South Canterbury would do its very best to take a leading position in the club, and to make the beauty of its scenery as widely known as possible. Whatever position he might occupy in politics or otherwise ho would always do his very best to attract tourists to South Canterbury. (Loud applause.) Mr K. H. Rhodes also replied thanking them for the way in which they had drunk the toast, In proposing “The Banking Inleresi and Local Bodies,” Mr Guild said ha was sure the Bank of New Zealand, having now got rid of its gambling crew, had come out of the oideat through which it had just passed with a batter prospect before it than ever.— Messrs Cunningham and Hawkins replied on behalf of the banking interest, and Mr Mundell on behalf of the local bodies.

“Kindred (Societies,” “The Press,” “The Host and Hostess,” and “The Chairman,” were all duly proposed, honored, and replied to, and a very jovial evening was concluded shortly before twelve o’clock.