GERALDINE COUNTY ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2173, 10 March 1891, Page 2

GERALDINE COUNTY ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the members of the Geraldine County Acclimatisation Society was held at the Star Hotel on Saturday evening. Mr A. M. Clark, president of the society, occupied the chair. There was only a small attendance. An apology for non-attendance was read from Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, M.H.R. The minutes of the previous annual meeting having been read and confirmed, the secretary read the annual report and balance-sheet as follows: —

The Council have pleasure in submitting the report and balance sheet for the year ending 6th March 1891. The balance sheet, after providing tor all liabilities to date shows a credit balance of £163 6s. There are still 12 members’ subscriptions outstanding, only 6 of which we are likely to receive, most of the other members having left the district. The above are not taken to account in the credit balance. The large sum of £96 2s has been paid to rangers employed during the year as against £ls 5a last year, but the Council consider that for the future it will be urmessary to expend such a large sum for this purpose as the work done haa not been adequate, and they think that the standing reward now offered, together with the occasional services of a ranger should be a sufficient protection against poaching. The bar at the mouth of the Opibi has been a source of considerable expense, the sum of £l7 2s 6d having been spent to keep it open. The want of floods in the river and the prevailing southerly galea have no doubt been the cause of its being blocked so often. The South Canterbury Association have been asked to join in the expense of keeping the bar open, sod their reply will be laid before you. The petition of the Mackenzie County praying that they might be brought within the jurisdiction of this Society has been granted. Little or no revenue has yet been derived from that district. Your Council hoped to have been able to lease the lakes for netting, but a delay has taken place in getting the necessary regulations gazetted. Next season your Council, hope to derive a substantial benefit from this source, the revenue derived by the’ Lake District Acclimatisation Society being about £lO9 per annum. The number of licenses issued this year is as follows :—lls men’s at £l, £lls ; 8 Indies’ at ss, £2 ; 7 boys’ at 10s, £3 10s ; 5 visitors’ at 10s, £2 10s ; making a total of £123, being £33 in excess of last year’s receipts from that source. Besides the above no fewer than 66 licenses have been endorsed. This a'ooe is sufficient to show bow popular and widely known to sportsmen both here and abroad the waters of our district are becoming. Your Connell have now under their consideration the advisability of using a portion of their balance for the purpose of introducing useful forage plants, and would like »n expression from the; general meeting re their doing so. Your Council regret that they cannot recommend the introduction of ground gameHitherto they have been a failure, and their enemies are increasing, but would recommend the introduction of game roosting and building in trees.

The chairman congratulated the society upon its financial position, especially considering the very heavy expenditure incurred this season. They would agree with him that the society was in a very flourishing condition, He regretted that so few people supported it. The large landowners received considerable benefit indirectly from its operations. It caused people to come into the district, and a knowledge of their fine country was spread far and wide. He congratulated the society upon having a very hardworking council, and moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Dr Hayes seconded the motion, which was earned. ELECTION OE OEFICEES. The election of officers was then proceeded with,, The vacancies to be filled were those caused by the retirement of Messrs Gray, Hay hurst, and Mann. Messrs Guild, Aspinall, A Beck, A Hope, and N C Nicholas were proposed as members of the council, a ballot being taken Messrs Aspinall, Hope, and Guild were elected. Mr A M Clark was unanimously re-elected president, Dr J S Hayes vice-president, Mr E Pinckney secretary (re-elected), and Dr J 8 Hayes treasurer (re-elected). THE LATE SECEETABT. The chairman drew attention, to the value of the late secretary’s services. He had done a great deal of work during his term of office, and he moved a very hearty vote of thinks to him for his energetic services in the past. The motion was seconded by Mr M Quinn, and carried unanimously. It was resolved, on Ihe motion of Mr Yelvin seconded by Mr J Murray, that Mr Aspinall be voted an honorarium of 10 guineas as a mark of appreciation of ibis valuable services to the society. ’ THE ETJLES. The committee appointed at the last meeting to revise rules submitted their report. Attention was drawn to theregulations for admission, which provided that any subscriber of ten shillings or upwards could become a member of the society. On the motion of Dr Hayes, seconded by Mr Murray, it was resolved to amend the rules and make admission to the society only by ballot of the council, two black balls to exclude, VOTES OE THANKS. Yotes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers and to the chairman, and the meeting terminated.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

A meeting of the council was then held, Present—Messrs A M Clark (in the chair), M Quinn, J Velrin r i Murray, E Cutten, and Dr J S Hayes.

After routine, correspondence was read From the secretary, Lake District Acclimatisation Society, stating that the annual income derived from licenses to net lakes amounted to about £IOO. The regulations appeared in a Gazette of Sept. 27th. A telegram was received from the Marine Department, asking if the regulations above referred to were applicable to the society’s district. The Colonial Secretary forwarded copy of order-in-oouncil fixing the shooting season as from Ist April to 31st July. The Colonial Treasurer drew attention to the regulations for publishing balance-sheet. A fine was incumhle if the balance-sheets were not forwarded to Wellington for inspection. From Mr Perry, secretary to the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, in reference to the opening of the mouth of the Opihi. He reminded members that the Geraldine society had acquired nearly all the best water, and that in consequence the number of licenses issued was now only about 30. The contribution from his society would only, therefore, be small.

From the same, stating that they would be prepared to contribute the sum of £ls towards keeping the mouth of the Opihi open for twelve months. Hia society suggested that a yearly contract be let to Mr A Beck for the purpose. - Some discussion ensued, and it was moved by Mr Murray, seconded by Mr Outten, and carried—“ That the South Canterbury Society be thanked for their liberal offer re keeping the Opihi River bar open. This society, after due consideration, thinks it will be better to open the bar when necessary and possible, and would ask the S.O. Society to contribute £1 for £1 towards the expenses, their contribution not to exceed £ls per annum.” Some desultory conversation followed re prevention of poaching, and the meeting terminated.