ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3805, 8 May 1891, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY

Tbe following report was presented at the sixth annual meeting oi tbe Wellington Acclimatisation Society, held in Wellington last evening:— Tbe Council express pleasure upon being in a position to congratulate tbe members upon a fairly successful year's operations. The Hon J. W. Fortescue having resigned, his seat bad been filled by tbe election of Mr

T. E. Donne. The receipts from all sources for the year amounted to L71314s 9d—including a balance of L 155 8s lid carried forward from last year—wbilsc the expenditure was L 592 17s Id, Kindred Societies throughout the colony still continue to contribute to the funds of the Association, receiving trout fry in return. During the year the Manchester and Kiwitea Society had been amalgamated with the Wellington Society, and their district had been added to the Wellington district. The Council have been endeavoring to obtain a shipment of Egyptian quail, partridges, etc., but unsuccessfully, owing to not getting proper attention paid the birds on hoard ship. However, as Messrs Cook and Sons' agency had volunteered to assist in the work, the Council thought success would yet attend their efforts in this direction. His Excellency tha Governor had presented the Society with three young English partridges, which had been placed in an aviary on the Masterton grounds. Efforts were being made to induce settlers' and sportsmen to prevent the ex- | terminarion of game, instead of helping on the work of destruction. ilt was to the interest of all sportsmen and colonists generally to assist |in suppressing poaching, and thus | conserve what should be regarded as « valuable colonial asset. Referring to the considerable traffic carried on in stags' heads, the Council desired "to urge upon the settlers not to allow an illicit income to be made out l of their properties by rabbiters and others, who often kill deer of all ages for dogs' meat, and sell any heads worth keeping." The report goes on to say that if these practices are allowed it will be necessary to catch and liberate some more deer in the Wairarapa and on the slopes of the Tararua Range. Hares were fairly numerous in parts of the Hutt Hutt County, but thpir food value would, in the opinion of the Council, prevent hares ever becoming a pest. The report protests against what the Council believe to be a mistake of the Government in opening the shooting season for native game on Ist April. A three months, shooting season is, the Council deems, long enough, considering the manner in which " our ducks, pigeons, and kakas are being destroyed," Where- ■ ever pheasants (English) lwd had peace they have largely increased, especially in parts of the Horowhenua Hutt, Pahiatua, and Wairarapa Counties, besides their spreading oyer new country where rabbit poison has not been laid. The Council, in referring to the transit of fish, ova, arid fry, carried on between the sooiety and the Department of Fisheries of New South Wales, express their thanks to the Union Steam Ship Company and its officers, the Commissioners and employes of Government railways, and the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company for the liberal way in which they have carried , and taken care of consignments sent by this Society iree of charge. The report deals at some length with an interesting description of the improvements effected in the Society's hatching ponds during the year, and alludes at some length to fish oulture.