FISH DINNER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2296, 22 December 1891, Page 3

FISH DINNER.

I The Geraldine County Anglers' Society's Animal Fish Dinner was held in the Crown Hotel, Geraldine on Friday evening last, when there was a greater attendance of the angling fraternity and their friends than at any of ' their previous dinners. Mr A. M. Clark (President) presided, and Mr A. E. Hawkins, (vice-President), filled the subordinate office. The dinner, served up by Hostess Farrell with considerable gusto, was well appreciated. For the moat part it consisted of boiled trout and Petites truites frites, followed by roast turkey, ham, and greens and desserts. After dinner came the toasts as follows :—" Her Majesty Queen Victoria," the chairman. "Army and Navy," coupled with the name of Mr Findlay ; Mr Mundell. j

I Mr Hawkins proposed" The Gentle Art," and coupled it with the name of the father of the art in the district.—Mr Nicholas. The latter, to get himself out of what he termed a " fix," called on Mr Gaze to respond in his place. Mr Gaze in responding spoke of the Angling Society, which he said was becoming very widespread and popular, gentlemen from all parts of the Geraldine County having joined. It could not be expected that every angler would turn Tip at the dinner, therefore, their number could not be gauged by those present. Angling was an art with an elevating tendency. It was not merely the catching of fish that gavo the angler en joyment,but being so often in touch with the beauties of nature in the morning and evening. The society had now a much larger number of members numerically speaking, and a larger number of active members, and he believed that next year they would be larger in number still. The Society was very much indebted to Mr Nicholas, and also to Mr Hawkins, of Geraldine, the latter being a very enthusiastic member.

Mr Gaze proposed the health of the winners, coupled with the names of Messrs Nicholas, Findlay, Mendelson, and Beck. Song, Mr Cox.

Mr Nicholas in responding said he wished to thank those who had property for the kind way in which they had placed it at the disposal of fishermen during the competition. Mr Beck said although he made a very poor show he did his best, and intended to have another try and if possible put on a larger tally than the present one. Mr Nicholas believed he would have the two cups next year but he (the speaker) would do hisjbest to disturb him. Mr Mendelson said, one of the competitors told a good story about his catch. He had caught a good-sized fish and put it in his basket, but the fish beginning to kick, got away and was lost. With regard to himself Mr Mendelson said he had what he thought a good patch of water, and it was a good patch, but the willows and beetles were so numerous that the fish would not look at an artificial fly. He was glad to see that fly fishing was coming into vogue. At Temuka now it was nearly all fly fishing and scarcely any minnow. He proposed the toast of " Absent friends." Mr Findlay thought that Mr Mendelson seemed to make a song of the fish that got out of his ciasket, but he could assure Mr Mendelson that it was a fact. It was the best fish he had caught in the competition ; that was not the greatest misfortune —the greatest misfortune he had was that he did not win the cup, but he still had a show of winning it and was going to have another try (hear, hear). There were some members, he knew, wished that the cups could be won outright, but for his part he thought the honour of having his name engraved on the cup was greater than winning it right out.

Song, Mr Gaze. The President proposed the toast of " The Angling Society," coupled with the names of Messrs Beck and Nicholas. The President said he was pleased to see that the Geraldine County Anglers' Society was increasing'and becoming more popular every day. Such a meeting as they had that night had never been seen before at their dinners. The father of anglers was Sir Isaac Walton. He died in the house of aDr Hawkins, and he (the speaker) was just wondering if Mr Hawkins,of Geraldine,was any relation of his. (Several voices: " Can't be the slightest doubt about it). He was sure that Mr Hawkins would not have taken so kindly to the rod and line if lie had not been a descendant of Dr Hawkins. Song, Mr Mundell. Mr Beck briefly responded and said he would like to see the cups put up so that they could be won outright. He would willingly replace a cup won by him with another, if the cup he had won could be called his own. He thought it would be a better impetus to anglers if the

cups ccrald be won straight out. Apologies were road from Messrs R. H. Rhodes and A. E. G. Rhodes, M.H.R., for their absence, and Mr Findlay proposed the health of the donors, coupled with the name of Mr Gaze, who responded on behalf of Messrs Rhodes. Song, Mr Mendelson. Mr Mundell proposed "The Geraldine County Acclimatisation Society," coupled with the name of Mr Clark. He considered that the Acclimatisation Society was the father of all their sport, having put the fish into the streams. Song, Mr Coventry. Mr A. M. Clark felt proud at having his name coupled with such a toast. He had been one of the first of those who I were not satisfied with the way they were

treated, and -was one of the agitators for a local sqciety. Fqr a pqnsiderable number of years they had introduced salmon which, however, never again turned up. Recently they had introduced thousands of quail, and intended to introduce a many more this year, as the contract for quail was not yet completed. With regard to, £sl}, they were trymg to inteodufie, the American Brook trout, but he was very doubtful himself whether they would do well. They had been turned out in some creeks, and did remarkably well. They had made arrangements for turning loose 3000, some of which would go in the Opihi and others would be kept in reserve. Their Society had recently been attacked by the Clyristchural} Society, who wished to r.ub them out altogether, and have only two Societies for Otago and Canterbury. The Government had written the,m a letter asking them to. attend a conference with the view of doing away with their Society. There were i\q less than Societies on' the Ea§t Coast of

Zealand. It was therefore preposterous to think that one Society at Ohristchurch could attend to the wants of Canterbury, Another grievance they had was that they were not permitted to fish in the Mackenzie Country waters, and the waters there at present were teeming with fish. He would be pleased to see members of the Geraldine County Anglers' Society become members of their Acclimatisation Society, and he considered that the one subscription should entitle them to become members of both Societies. He hoped they would all join, and protest, strongly against such doings, and stick up for their rights (Applause). Recitation, Mr Beck.

Mr Hawkins proposed the " Riparian Owners," coupled with the names of Messrs Clark, Deßenzie, Lewis, Woodley, Templar, Gill, and Hawke. Messrs Clark and Templar responded. The other toasts were: —" The Press," proposed by Mr F. Wilson Smith, and responded to by Messrs Gaze and Thomas; " The vice-chairman," Mr Hawkes, by Mr Clark; "The visitors," Messrs Corbett and Jones, proposed by Mr Velvin; " Non-fisher men," with the names of Messrs M. C Orbell and Winston, proposed by Mr Hawkins ; " The Host and Hostess," by Mr Clark ; " The President," by Mr Mundell ; "Absent Friends," with the names of Messrs W. G. Aspinall, Badham and J. Cunningham, proposed by Mr Gaze. More songs were sung by Messrs Clark and Jones, and an enjoyable night was brought to a close shortly before twelve o'clock by singing" Auld Lang Syne."