GERALDINE COUNTY ACULIMATI SATION SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2017, 8 March 1890, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY ACULIMATI SATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the members of the Geraldine County Acclimatisation Society was held at the Crown> Hotel, Temuka, on Thursday evening. There was only a very small attendance. Dr J. S. Hayes was voted to the chair, in the absence of the president, Mr A.. M. Clark, who wrote apologising for non-attendance. . The secretary then read the following report:— ' ! " The council has pleasure in submitting the report and balance-sheet' for the year ending the 28th February last. The -balance-sheet, after providing for all liabilities-to date, with the exception of £6 for fish purchased from the Canterbury Society, Bhows a credit balance of £IBO 2s 6d. The council have not, seeing that all the streams and rivers were amply stocked with fisher deemed it advisable to expend their income;in procuring fry, but to husband their resources with a view to having a fund by means of which they could protect the fish, and > thus conserve the interest of anglers

and the public generally. The bar at the mouth of the Opibi has during; the past year been a source of mueh

annoyance, and has occasioned the expenditure of £l2 in keeping it open. Your council regret to Bay that tta r

late raager, Mr T. Guunion, had to sever his connection with the society,... owing to serious illness, and his an- ? ~„™j i. i . _.. _ r.

I pointment has never been refilled. It will be necessary for the incoming council to fill the appointment imme-

diatelyl as your council is given to understand i that a very serious amount of poaching is now going on in the river. The appointment of honorary rangers seems in no way to check the

evil, and it is only by having an officer who can devote his whole time to the work that any check will be put to it. The roll of members has not been increased during the. past year. The number of licenses issued was 91, a

slight increase over the previous season. The council report with great pleasure that the waters of the society are becoming well and favorably known to sportsmen in the neighboring colonies, and there has been a considerable influx of visitors in consequence. The takes of fish during the year have been unprecedented, and the council think that there is 'no

occasion to replenish the rivers with young stock, as all the streams in the district are Bimply teeming. During the year the conference of Acclimatisation Societies was he)i at Christchurch, at which the secretary attended by direction of the council It is believed that much good resulted )trom the conference, and it is proposed to make it an annual meeting. The report of the doings of the conference were duly recorded in the daily papers. During the year a petition

was presented to the Government bv the residents of the Mackenzie County praying that their county might be brought within the jurisdiction of the society. Tour council are given to understand that the petition will be acceded to. In the event of this being done, the incoming council will have to consider the advisability of appointing a branch council in the Mackenzie County. The council believe that the inclusion of the Mackenzie County within their boundaries] will exercise beneficial results. The incoming council willalso have to consider how the balance to credit of the society shall be disposed of, and it will be advisable

to take the opinion of the annual meeting oa the subject. A statement ot the assets and liabilities of the society is attached to the balancesheet, and shows a balance of assets over liabilities of £197 2s 6d. Some £23 of these assets is made up of overdue subscriptions, and the council : would ask members not to let them remain further in arrears."

The balance-sheet showed that the total receipts for the year, including a balance of £123 9s brought forward were £235 13s. Of this £5 10s was' received for subscriptions, £9O for licenses, £lO from the 8.0. A. Society as a contribution towards the ranger and £6 14s for costs and witnesses'' expenses recovered. The expenditure was £55 10s, the principal items of which were : Rauger's salary, £ls 5 S • apenmgOpihi bar £ L 2; law costs,' fcb 10s; shags, £2 7s; secretary's axpenses at conference, £5 2s 6d • ind honorarium to secretary, £7 l7a 6d! The chairman, in a few words' noved the adoption ef the report and >alance-sheet, and congratulated the ociety upon its sound financial posilon, and the beneficial results that iad followed its labors. •

The report and balance-sheet were adopted as read, after which it was decided, in view of the small attendance, to adjourn the meeting to a date to be fixed.