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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 84

Annual Report of the Otago Acclimatisation Society [31st December, 1885]

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Annual Report of the Otago Acclimatisation Society

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J. Wilkie & Co., Printed and Manufacturing Stationers Dunedin : Princes Street.

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List of Officers of the Otago Acclimatisation Society, for the Year 1886.

Chairman:

  • J. P. Maitland, Esq.

Vice-Chairman:

  • A. C. Begg, Esq.

Council:

  • E. J. Spence, Esq.
  • W. Cuningham Smith, Esq.
  • Thos. Brydone, Esq.
  • P. F. Stoddart. Esq.
  • F. R. Chapman, Esq.
  • P. C. Neill. Esq.
  • R. Campbell. Esq.
  • J. T. Mackerras. Esq.
  • J. R. Danson, Esq.
  • R.Chisholm, Esq.
  • N. Y. A. Wales, Esq.
  • G .M Thomson, Esq., F.L.S.
  • J. R. Sinclair, Esq.
  • Alex. Wilson, Esq., M.A.
  • Rev. R. Waddell, M.A.
  • W. Carlton, Esq.

Country Committee:

  • Jas. Fulton, Esq., M.H.R.
  • John Shaw, Esq.
  • W. S. Pillans, Esq.
  • B. Fullarton, Esq.
  • J. R. Mitchell, Esq.
  • John Strauchon, Esq.
  • W. Shennan, Esq.
  • Jas Arkle, Esq.
  • W. Quin, Esq.
  • A. D. Bell, Esq.
  • W. R. Thornhill, Esq.
  • John Allan, Esq.

Hon. Treasurer:

  • A. C. Begg, Esq.

Hon. Secretary:

  • Jas. Wilkie, Esq.

Manager:

  • Mr. F. Deans.
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Twentieth Annual Report

Twentieth Annual Report

In presenting this, our Twentieth Annual Report, to yon, before passing on to review the work of the past year, we have to record with deep regret the loss of one of our most active and zealous members. Our late secretary, Mr. William Arthur, died on the 3rd of August last, after an illness of but a few days. The interest Mr. Arthur took in acclimatisation matters is well known to us all, and it is in a great part owing to his untiring zeal that so great a measure of success has attended our operations in recent years, and that the work of this Society, especially in regard to pisciculture, has acquired more than a local reputation.

During the past year our operations have as a matter of necessity been almost entirely confined in piscicultural channels; indeed, for many years to come we fear that any attempts at the propagation of winged game will be futile, owing, in the first place, to the poisoned grain spread over the whole face of the country, and in the second place to the increase of the natural enemies of the rabbit, which are, unfortunately, also the natural enemies of the feathered friends we desire so much to see established among our fields and covers. On this account, therefore, our attention must be almost entirely devoted to the stocking of our waters fresh and salt with the inhabitants suitable to them and valuable to the community. In this direction, however, we have accomplished, and there is still ample room for the expenditure of our energies, for, to speak of nothing else, the salmon and the berring have yet to be numbered among the fishes of New Zealand.

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Opoho Grounds.

At our last Annual Meeting we reported the purchase of nearly five acres of ground on Opoho Creek, and the building of a house there for our Manager. Since then the hatching-house and ponds have been constructed, and the place put in a very efficient state by Mr. Deans. He has made it altogether a very charming place, and those of our friends who have not yet visited the grounds would find an hour or two well spent in going over them.

The unusually dry season we have had has taxed our water supply here to the utmost, especially as we had a much greater number of fry of various kinds in our boxes and ponds than ever before, and it is only due to the constant care of Mr. Deans that we did not lose a large number of our young fish. But in future we do not anticipate anything like the anxiety we have had this season. There is plenty of water for hatching purposes at Opoho, and our new grounds at Waiwera will, when completed, give us ample accomodation and water supply for very extensive operations in the way both of hatching and rearing.

Waiwera Grounds.

Since our last meeting the purchase of these grounds, comprising about forty-three acres, has been completed. The place is eminently suited for the stud farm for the various species of salmonidœ we propose constructing there. It is about two miles this side of Clinton, on Marshall's Creek—a small tributary of the Waiwera. At the height of the dry season there was a beautiful run of water in the stream—more than sufficient to keep sweet a large system of ponds.

We have erected a neat five-roomed cottage on the place, immediately overlooking the site for the ponds, and have installed Ranger Burt as Manager there. He is now busily engaged cutting a race from the creek. This race when complete will be about twenty chains long, and will feed a succession of parallel ponds—five or six, or more—each about 100ft long by 8ft or 10ft wide, and running from 2ft to 5ft deep. In these ponds, when completed, we propose keeping separately our breeding stock of salmon, Loch Leven trout, fontinalis, burn trout, etc.

Treasurer's Report.

Our Treasurer's Report is as usual very satisfactory. Our vested funds have, of course, been very considerably reduced, but we have the equivalent in two valuable properties from which we hope to derive yearly increasing revenues.

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Our chief sources of revenue are the sale of ova and of trout fishing licenses; the sale of shooting licenses having for reasons before stated fallen off during the past two years—about fifty were issued last season. As a set oft" to this falling oft in the shooting it is pleasing to note that each year adds some new members to the discipleship of Walton, and it is especially gratifying to see a gradually increasing number of youths taking to this health-giving recreation. The action of the Council in granting 10s. licenses to boys under sixteen has no doubt contributed in a great measure to this effect.

Last year we issued close on 400 fishing licenses; this season we expect to issue thirty or forty more.

For the encouragement of fly fishing the Council have renewed their grant of a gold medal to the Otago Anglers' Association, to be fished for in the Lee Stream by the members of that body.

Birds and Animals.

As indicated above, we have not a very glowing report to make as regards our game birds. The poisoned grain and natural enemies are doing their work of extermination surely, and our native ducks are suffering severely from the same causes.

Of black game and pintail grouse we have had no reports whatever during the year, and the number of pheasants, partridges, and Californian quail, appear to be sadly reduced. The hares also appear to be succumbing to the seductions of phosphorus, considerable numbers having been found poisoned during the year.

The herds of deer, however, at Bushy Park, Horse Range, Tapanui, and Morven Hills appear to be doing well and increasing considerably in numbers. Mr. A. R. Blackwood, of Messrs. Dalgety and Co., having permission from our Chairman, secured two magnificent heads from the Morven Hills herd. Mr. Blackwood showed his appreciation of the sport he had in stalking these by forwarding his cheque for £20 towards the funds of the Society.

In December Mr. C. Bills arrived from England with a large consignment of birds, etc. Among these were eighty English robins and three hedgehogs—the latter being all that survived of about a hundred taken on board. Of these we purchased forty of the robins and the hedgehogs. The robins were liberated on the property of Mr. James Fulton at West Taieri, and as they were all strong and healthy young birds we hope soon to see these useful and interesting little strangers strongly established page 6 and quite familiar objects about our gardens. The hedgehogs were placed under the care of Mr. G. M. Thomson, who took great pains to secure their comfort by preparing a place in his garden specially for them. Notwithstanding this, the female unfortunately died soon after her arrival, and one of the males has since mysteriously disappeared.

We have again to thank Mr. John Bathgate, of Foochow, for a valuable donation to our Society. In July last he sent us by the "Tamsui " four Japanese deer and twenty-one patridges. The partridges, like the lot he previously sent, unfortunately all died on the voyage; but three of the deer—two stags and a hind—arrived safely, and, after being cared for by the Christchurch Society for some time, were liberated on the Otekaike Estate. From last accounts they appear to have taken kindly to their new home, and are likely to do well.

Some correspondence has taken place in reference to the introduction of Australian snipe; but the experiment promises to be so uncertain in its results, and withal so costly, that we have not deemed it advisable to do anything further in the matter in the meantime.

The Council have also had under consideration the desirability of endeavouring to introduce the chamois, and Dr. Von Haast has been commissioned to make enquiries from the German Government on his projected visit to the Continent as to the cost and probabilities of success of such an experiment.

Acclimatised Fish.

Salmo Salar.—We have as yet no report of the reappearance of salmon in any of our rivers, From time to time rumors have reached us of a fish supposed to be a salmon having been caught; but in no case have we been able to find our wish realised—that such rumor might be true. During the year, however, another important venture has been made towards the establishment of this fish in our waters. Towards the end of 1884 five of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies subscribed £250, and this amount was supplemented by the Government by another £250 for the purpose of endeavouring to procure a substantial supply of ova. With this end in view, Mr. Farr, Secretary of the North Canterbury Society, proceeded to England in October of that year. Notwithstanding the lateness of his arrival in England he was successful in procuring about 180,000 eggs. These were packed under Mr. Farr's supervision, and brought out under his personal care in the s.s. " Kaikoura," which arrived here in May, 1885. The following extract from our minutes details the arrival at Dunedin and subsequent bestowal in the Opoho hatching boxes of our portion of this shipment:-" Our box of salmon ova page 7 part of the shipment brought from London in the s.s. " Kaikoura " by Mr. Farr, reached Dunedin by railway from Christchurch on Tuesday night, May 5. Mr. H. Edwards had charge from Christchurch to Oamaru, and Captain Fullarton from Oamaru to Dunedin. Our Chairman. Secretary (Mr. Arthur), and Manager, received the box at the Dunedin railway station, and after seeing that the ova was all right, and had a good supply of ice (the night also being cold), it was deemed best, owing to the darkness, to leave the box in the truck all night. Next morning the box was taken carefully to Opoho, the padlock unlocked, and the trays of ova, which still had an abundance of ice about them, were carefully carried to the old hatching house. The ova were found to be in excellent condition, and looked very healthy, not many bad eggs being present. The Secretary (Mr. Arthur), the Manager, and Mr. Black transferred the eggs to the hatching boxes, about half being laid on glass grills, and the rest on a clean layer of gravel specially prepared. The temperature of the water flowing through the hatching-boxes was 46½ deg, F. On may 7 Mr. Deans reported having counted the ova, and found 3,930 good and 1,171 bad, making a total of 5,101 as our proportion of 180,000 salmon ova reported by Mr. Farr, on February 25, as got by him out of the Tweed. There being five contributing societies, our proportion should have been much larger. So the Secretary wrote to the Christchurch Society, and got a reply from Mr. Farr. This letter states that each box contained when originally packed in the ice-chamber 27,600 ova, and gives the number of bad eggs removed from each during the voyage. Thus our box contained originally 27,648. where of 6,055 died on the voyage, leaving 21,593 good ova in the trays when they left Christchurch for Dunedin." The discrepancy between the number we should have received and the number actually received has never been accounted for and still remains a mystery. Of the 3,930 good eggs reported by Mr. Deans on May 7. nearly all hatched out into strong lively try. In June the Christchurch Society, seeing our disappointment at the small number of ova actually received by us, presented us with 2,500 of the fry which they had hatched out. These reached us safely, but on transportation to our boxes at Opoho, a most alarming mortality prevailed amongst them, probably owing to the quality of our water differing from that in which they had been hatched, and the greater namber of them died. On December 31 we had, altogether, 3,900 healthy try at the ponds, which, with 50 which we had sent to Mr. Pillans, made a total of 3,950 young fish as the result of the " Kaikoura " shipment

As the experiments of Sir James Maitland, at Howietown, and the investigations of Dr. Francis Day appear to point conclusively to the fact that the Salmo salar will breed in confine- page 8 ment—that it is not a physiological necessity that the fish should go to the sea to qualify them for reproduction—we propose keeping a limited number of these in confinement at our ponds in Marshall's Creek. If we succeed in hatching out healthy fry from the ova of these confined parents, the stocking of our waters will be a mere matter of time. With regard to the larger number, however, it is proposed to retain them only until they assume their smolt livery and show signs of desiring to escape to salt water, and then to liberate them under conditions favourable to their reaching the sea. It is thought that if this is done the fish will have a much better chance of escaping their natural enemies, and surviving to return as grilse, than if they were turned into the river while of small size and in the parr state of existence.

Loch Leven Trout.—Of Loch Leven trout on December 31, 1884, we had in our ponds 1,100 healthy yearlings. During the year we have distributed 800, the principal portion going to the Waikawa River. This river was fixed on as there were no trout of any kind in it, and we desired, if possible, to have at least one place where we could be certain of the purity of the stock being maintained. On the 16th June Ranger Burt started with 400 Loch Leven trout from fourteen to sixteen months old to be put in the upper waters of this river near Fortification Station. Owing to the absence of roads during the latter part of the journey, it was late the following night before Mr. Burt, accompanied by Mr. Elliot, reached the homstead. Up to this time only one trout had died. Owing, however, to the absence of any one at the station who in the dark could show the way to the Marinui branch of the Waikawa, and as the fish were getting sickly, it was found necessary to make search for the stream by the aid of a single buggy lamp. This involved so much difficult travelling and the loss Of so much time that 100 trout were lost ere the stream was reached. The balance, about 300 fish, of from three to four inches long, were then all put in. During the recent hot weather three or four of the fish in the Opoho ponds died. Two males, seven and eight inches long repectively were opened by Mr. Deans in the presence of Mr. P. F. Stoddart and the Secretary, and were found to contain milt in a forward state of development. On December 31, 1885, we had 300 fish in the ponds. We propose retaining about fifty of these at Opoho, and sending the rest to the ponds at Marshall's Creek, where, in the spawning season, we confidently expect to get a good supply of ova from them, as by that time many of the fish should be well over a pound in weight.

Salmo Fontinalis.—In September last the Christchurch Society were good enough to present us with 400 young fry of page 9 this hand some Charr (Salmo fontinalis). Ranger Burt brought them down, and arrived at Dunedin Railway Station without the loss of one. On being transferred to the boxes at Opoho a similar mortality to that which had taken place among the salmon set in amongst them—and after two days there were only about twenty left alive, but these are now thriving well. Previously to this we had got fifty fontinalis from Mr. Johnson, of Opawa, in exchange for some Burn trout, and we are pleased to say that these are thriving remarkably well, and in another year they will probably become parent fish.

Burn Trout.—In the belief that the common Scotch burn trout might prove more suitable to some of our streams than the larger variety we already have, we got from Sir James Maitland's Hamilton ponds a box of ova containing about 15,000. These arrived in Wellington on the 20th January, having been brought out under the care of Engineer Purvis, of the s.s. " Ionic." On their arrival in Dunedin they were immediately taken to our hatching boxes, but we regret to say we have not been so successful with them as we could have desired; 1,700 fry were hatched out, but on 31st December we had only 400 left. These, with fifty sent to Mr. Pillans and forty to Mr. Johnson, making in all 490, are all that survived. The principal loss occurred through deficiency in the water supply during the very dry summer. Those we have left are, however, vigorous and healthy, and are sufficient to form a good parent stock, and in the course of a few years we hope to turn out thousands of this game and lively fish into the various streams suitable for their reception.

Brown Trout.—The past year has been one of the most successful we have yet had with our brown trout. During the spawning season Mr. Deans succeeded in collecting, from various streams, about 340,000 ova. This is the largest number yet collected in any one season, and necessitated the making of an additional 90ft of hatching boxes. Of these ova 82,000 have been sent away, chiefly to the Acclimatisation Societies in the North Island. In all cases the shipments reached their destination in the usual satisfactory condition. Mr. Deans has now had so much experience, and exercises so much care in packing, that this satisfactory result is a matter taken for granted. We hatched out about 250,000 fry, of which about 190,000 have been distributed up to the 31st December, and 98,000 are still at the pond awaiting distribution. In addition to those distributed from the Opoho ponds, Mr. Pillans, from his hatchery, liberated 1,000 young trout in the Wash Creek, Clyde vale, near its confluence with the Pomahaka; and 800 in the Kaihiku, below the fall. The additional accommodation we shall now have at Marshall's Creek will put us in a position to supply an almost unlimited demand for ova, as well as to provide most liberally for the requirements of our own streams.

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The fishing season opened as usual on the 1st October, and the fish in the majority of the rivers were in very fair condition and more numerous than in any previous year. The Southern rivers appear still to bear the palm in the production of trout of beautiful shape and fine flavour; the Waipahi, above Arthurton, being, perhaps, in this respect unequalled. During the early part of the season the fishing in all the rivers was exceptionally good, but later the dryness of the season reduced the chances of sport very materially. Many of the smaller streams suffered severely from the drought, and reports reached us of great numbers of trout dying for want of sufficient water. This state of things was also very favourable for the operations of poachers, and we regret to say that poaching is being carried on to a large extent. The Society is desirous, and, indeed, has the right to expect that all anglers and others interested in the stocking of our waters should give their hearty co-operation towards checking the destruction of trout by poachers. It might be well if it were more generally understood that taking fish by illegal means is punishable by a fine which may be as high as £50. Several of the persons indulging in these illegal practices have received a salutary lesson through the watchfulness of our officers, especially of Ranger Burt.

As evidence of the continued success of fish culture in Otago waters, the following, among many other good baskets made during the season, may be worthy of mention:—

In March, last season, Mr. Burt had some capital fishing in the Poma-haka with natural minnow. On the 23rd he killed four fish, weighing 16lb; on the 24th, seven fish, weighing 33lb; on the 26th six fish, weighing 25½lb; on the 30th, eleven fish, weighing 48¾lb; and on the 31st, four fish, weighing 161b.

On the opening day of the current season a number of good baskets were made in the Shag River. Mr. P. Snowden had twenty fish, weighing 221b; Mr. W. Aitken, twentv fish, weighing 20lb; Mr. R. Chisholm. fourteen fish, weighine 16½lb; Mr. W. Carlton eight fish, weighing 12½lb; Mr. J. Wilkie, twenty fish" weighing 301b. On the 2nd Mr. W. Aitken had twenty fish, weighing 25lb; Mr. R. Chisholm. twenty-three fish, weighing 24lb; Mr. Snowden, twenty-two fish, weighing 20½lb: Mr. Wilkie. seventeen fish, weighing 21½lb. In the same river Mr. G. M. Marshall had, on October 8, 9 and 10, fourty-four fish. weighing 58½lb.

On November 11, Mr. J. P. Maitland, in the Waipahi, killed nine fish. weighing 34lb.

On December 8, in the same river, Mr. W. D. Smith killed six fish, 16½lb; Mr. R. Chisholm five fish, 15¼lb; and Mr. W. Carlton, four fish, 10¾lb. On December 7, Mr. W. Carlton, in the same river, killed seven fish weighing 30¼lb, the heaviest being 7¼lb; and Mr. W. You will got four fish, weighing 18lb.

Many other good baskets were made during the season, but these are sufficient to show the capabilities of our waters.

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Sea Fish.

Previous to his death Mr. Arthur liad begun the collection of a series of data from which he hoped to gain some information regarding our sea-fish, and ultimately to arrive at something definite in regard to the nature and habits of some of the most important of them. Since Mr Arthur's death this work has remained in abeyance: but we are pleased to say that Mr. G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., has intimated his intention of continuing the collection and tabulation of these returns and of carrying on these important investigations.

We have again to express our warmest thanks to Sir James Gibson Maitland, of Howietown for the cordial manner in which he has, by gift or otherwise, seconded our efforts in the acclimatisation of salmonidœ to the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Union Steam Shipping Company, for the conveyance of our ova freight free, and for the facilities given towards the proper care of the ova in transit; and also to the railway officials for giving us the same facilities in the distributing season.

The special thanks of the Society are also due to our Manager, Mr Deans, for the active interest be always takes in our work and the success with which he conducts it, and to Rangers Burt and Reilly for their continued efforts to protect our interests.

We have also to thank Mr Job Wain fur the use of his ground for hatching purposes, and Messrs Orbell, Hertslett (of Wai-kouaiti), and Constable M'Kenzie (of Outram) for their kindly assistance in the distribution of young trout.

In conclusion, we desire to say that the state of the law in regard to our acclimatised salmonidœ is not quite what it ought to be, and it is desirable that some joint action by the various societies should be taken to have this somewhat amended.

James Wilkie,

Hon. Secretary.
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Otago Acclimatisation Society.

1885. Jan. 1.—To Balance in Bank Dec 31. To Subscriptions received To Donation (A. R. Black-wood, Esq.) To Licenses

Statement of Receipts & Expenditure from 1st January, 1885, to 31st December, 1885.

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ASSETS. £ s. d Balance in Bank .. .. 98 18 6 Invested in Debentures .. .. 700 0 0 £ s. d 798 18 6 960 10 1Land and Premises at Opoho, cost 768 10 1 Do. Marshall's Creek 192 0 0 1,759 8 7 LIABILITIES.Nill. Audited and found correct. W. W. CUNINGHAM SMITH. Dunedin, 6th April, 1886. ALEX. C. BEGG, Hon. Treasurer.

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Appendix A.

1869 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 Abbot's Creek 200 Aberturf Creek Ahuriri (Waitaki) 300 286 Ahuriri (Glenomaru) 255 Akatore Creek 75 150 500 Awahokoma (Waitaki) 120 Awamoko 101 Argyllburn ack Creek (Clydevale) 700 Balmoral Creek (Hillend) 250 Beaumont 100 Back's Creek (Manuherika) 75 Benger Burn 75 Big Rock Creek 250 Black Burn 300 Blacks 200 Boat Harbour Creek 50 500 520 100 Branch (Waipahi) 200 Braemar Creek (Canterbury) 500 Boundary Creek (Waihola) (Kaitangala) (Oamaru) BO (Hillend) Bullock Creek (Wanaka) Burgon Creek (Rock and Pillar) 50 50 300 200 Cameron's Creek (Waipahi) Catlin's River 270 500 Clifton (Kaihiku) 50 Clutha (Albertown) Clydevale Station Creek 210 650 Craigie Burn (Wanaka) Crookston burn 1000 1000 Creek at Gore Don Deep 3000 3000 Deep Stream

List of Young Trout Distributed Since 1869.

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Doctor's Creek (Waitaki) Dunstan Creek Earnscleugh Eweburn Falconer's Creek (Lawrence) Fall's Creek (Kaitangata) Fell Burn Flagstaff Creek Flag Swamp Creek Flodden (Tapanui) Fortification Creek Fraser's Creek (Tuakitoto) Fruid Fulton's Creek (West Taieri) 76 Garvie Burn Glendermid Glenomaru 500 George Creek (Teviot) Gow's Creek (Waikaia) Grumbling Creek (Lindis) Hastie's Creek (Mataura) Habukanini :: 1 :: Hakateramea Half-way Creek (Rock and Pillar) Harvey's Flat Creek Hawea River Hawkes Bay 109 Heriotburn Hill's Creek Hillend (F, S. Pillans) Island Stream Jack Hall's Creek (Wanaka) Jolly Creek (Canterbury) . Kakanui Kaihiku 250 Kaikorai 200 Kaiwera (Otaraia) Kaitangata Creek Kilmog Creek or Waihemo Kora Creek (Port Molyneux) Carry forward 408 824 1636

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1869 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 Brought forward 408 824 1663 3880 1701 4771 3650 2000 3975 12500 9320 7900 Kuriwao 204 620 100 1000 Kuriwao (Glenham) Tun Kurow Mr, Lake Ohau i-ii 00 Lauder 605 Lawrence Reservoir Lee's Canal Lee Stream avoii 100 MOO KHin i;h) Little Ida Burn KM Lindis River Linn Burn 10 Leithan I.Ill Lovell's Creek Luggate Burn Manor Burn i-ii Manuherikia 500 Marirua Marshall's Creek (Clinton) Matatapu Matukituki Mataura 7-0 Meegat Burn (Wailhola) mi MO 100 Merton Creek Mimihau Mountain Creek ISO Munro's Creek (Lawrence) 00 Naseby Reservoir 1-ii VI.II Nenthorn Oamaru Creek Okapua (Mataura) Oamarama Otekaike iaa Otakaramu Otama (Mataura) Otaraia

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Otemaite.

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LSIi'.l LNTH IH7I 1-7 i-r, 1-77 1-7 IHT'.P IMH 1HHI 1682 J 1863 Brought forward 71 wjoo laiior i Teviot 1.. Three o'clock (Cottesbrook) Tinaburn Titiroa Tokanui Tokomairiro, N. Branch- G2 I.M.: S Trotter's Creek & Hampden Strims Trumble's Creek Toapeka Waiannkaroa Waikana 0 Waikoikoi Ml Waikouaiti Waiko uati River 61 1 II Waiarikiki (Matauia] Waimahaka i.-ii Waitepeka ll.l Waihemo or Kilmog ....1 Waihoa (Canterbury) IV 100 11 Wairuna i 11 Waitahuna Waitati (Upper) (Lower) 51 11 Water of Leith 75 mi 1 Waterworks Reservoir Waikaka T" WainiaLuku 1 Top waters 1000 1 Waipori (Top) 150 450 90000 1000 600 2200 100

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Waiwera (Top) 000 Wetherburn 500 Williamson's Creek (Mataura) 200 Wyndham 500 0 m LKU0 Washpool Creeks (Nenthorn) "to Washpool Creeks (Hillend) 900 WaikaiA. Society L000 Waitaki A. Society Mr. T. Brydone, hakateramea Mr. Walter Millar Woolshed Creek (Moir's) Young's Pond (Palmerston) Mr. Banbury 500 Clark (Wairuna) 100 Coombes Milton 300 F. C. Fulton 1000 Larnach (Peninsula) 150 160 Held (El.U-n.lirEl.U-n.lirEl.U-n.lirEl.U-n.lir) 200 1 i=i =i.i Strode (Waikouaili)- iso Menlove (Windsor Park) iso McGregor, C.E. 135 500 Bishoi) Nevill Mi-, Miiftiiulrew 500 200 "Capstick "Moiris "C. E. Howdeti 500 500 "Seddon iKai-lij-i) 500 "Wheat ley (Kakanui)- 800 "Beid (North Tnicri) 200 "D. MeKcllai (Tapanui) "Traill (Stewart's Island! 300 "Beattie 100 "D. Boss 150 "P. C. Keill 500 "McLennan (Min/ion. 130 "Job Wain 1600 "McLeod Orbell Cany forward 250 1085 4891 6128 19799 15626 14231 26431 1 7250 47550 700 in S. branch and 1000 in K. branch, t N. branch, 2800; S. branch, 1000. J South bran ches. § Only a few dozen reached Stewart's Island. * All died. * Large number died.

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Brought forward Hon. J. McLean (Oamaru) Mr. Elliott Glenham).. "Hume (Waikari) "G .P. Farquhar .. "Hughan "Smith (Greenfield) "Jno. Mitchell (Mornington).. Totals 1869 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1085 4891 6128 19799 5026 1 1231 20431 17250 4755 0 43245 13245 53350 500 1085 4891 6128 19799 5026 14231 26431 17230 17550 39496 36610 During the year 1870-71, no details were kept except that 25 young trout were placed in the Taieri River (upper) in 1870, And the total number of distributed during these years was respectively 1000 and 2000. In 1872 no trout were hatched.

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Total of Trout Ova Distributed l to Different Part of New Zealend. 1874 6,750 ova 1880 57,500 ova 1875 7,800 '' 1681 38,500 '' 1876 11,107 ., 1682 63,000 '' 1877 6,250 '' 1983 80.000 '' 1878 6,640 '' 1884 148.000 '' 1879 40,000 ., 1885 .. 274,630 '' Memorandum of Sai.hon, &c. English Salmon Fry (S. Halar) liberated by Mr. H. Howard of Wallacetown Ponds, hi Aparima River, in 1874, ex " Oberon 96 October, 1875 '' Durham ' 1,400 "'' '' 1878 '' Chimbarazo ;o" 2.500 Salmon Fry distributed in 1885 by W. S. Pillans .. 50 Californian Salmon Fry (S. auinnat) liberated by Mr. Howard in Waipahi River, in 1878 1W.O0O by F. Deans, in Kakanui, 1878 i;i.ooo List oF Sea. Trout Distributed. Sea Trout (S. truttat put into Sliag River by Mr. Young, 1871 184 put into Water of Leitli by J. Duncan, 1871 UK*) American-White Fish Disthiubtkd. White Fish (CoMgomu Allots) by F. Deans, Wakatipu Lake, 1880 [,200 Loch Luvks Tuout DiBtmnuTKo, 1881. Lakes Sed and Sigel 510 W.S.Pillans 100 Mr.:Jones Nortli Canterbury Acclimatisation Society M A. M. Johnson, Opaw 30 920 Loen Leven Troct Distiubuted, 1885. WaUtaiw 400 Washpool Creek (Waiholal .. 90 Duff's Creek (Wailiolaj 60 Lovell's Creek 860 800 Scotch Burs Tboct Distributed, 1883. W. S. Pillans 60 A. M. Johnson 10 90 Pkrch Distributed. Perch (Perca jluriatilU), Mr. D. Mills, for Hawke's Bay, 1882 .. ::o "Mr. J. Stodilan, Hampden WO Otago Waters, 18S4 in 381

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Birds Librerated in Otago 1876 to 1885.
1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1885
Pheasants 0 12 5 5 0 0 0 0
Californian Quail 101 80 28 0 3 0 0 0
Californian Mountain Quai 0 0 0 0 0 122 64 0
Pintail Grouse 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Chaffinches 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0
Skylarks 87 297 0 70 0 0 0 0
Starlings 154 220 168 22 182 0 0 0
Blackbirds 5 12 26 48 0 76 16 0
Thrushes 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Hedge Sparrows 33 6 0 20 0 28 0 0
Goldfinches 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 0
Greenfinches 192 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yellow Hammers 6 0 0 56 0 0 0 0
Ciril Buntings 0 0 0 42 0 0 0 0
Australian Minahs 0 0 0 0 80 0 0 0
Australian Plover 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0
English Ducks 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0
English Robins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 40
Totals 578 657 227 287 262 243 94 40

Starlings sent to Wairarapa Society in March, 128.

Plants (chiefly Confireæ) distributed since 1873.
1873 8,650
1874 9,025
1875 9,825
1876 7,320
1877 7,520
1879 650
1881 400
1882 400
1883 52
1884 180
Fish &c., at Opoho Grounds, December 31st, 1885.
Brown Trout 98,000
Loch Leven Trout 300
Scotch Burn Trout 400
English Salmon 3,900
Salmo Fontinalis 55
Silver Pheasants 1 pair.

In Botanical Gardens

  • Tench.
  • A few pairs of English Wild Ducks.
  • One Black Swan.
  • Two Paradise Ducks.

Plants.

A Collection of trees and shrubs, including Cupressus, Macrocarpa, Cedar Gum, Stringy Bark, &c., &c, also a small number of seedlings.

page 23

Appendix B.

List of Life Members

decorative feature - dragonfly

Allport, Morton Honorary
Andrew, George Honorary
Austin, Thomas Honorary
Begg, A. C. Honorary
Boyd, Captain Honorary
Buckland John Honorary
Bunbury, Honorary
Carrick Alexander Honorary
Ewen, J. A, Honorary
Fulton, F. C. Honorary
Graven, J. W. Honorary
Henry, Capt. W. Honorary
Maitland, J. P. Honorary
Melville, F. L. Honorary
Reid, R. C. Honorary
Sargood, F,G. Honorary
Savill, Walter Honorary
Stoddart, P. F. Honorary
Temple, James Honorary
Young, W. C. Honorary
Blackwood A. R. £20 0 0
Buckley, George 10 10 0
Clifford G. P. 20 0 0
Ewen, J. A. 16 13 0
Fulton Francis 10 10 0
Haggitt, B. C. 10 10 0
Holmes. Matthew 10 10 0
Mason, William 10 10 0
McGlashan, Edward 10 10 0
McGregor, J. B. 10 10 0
McKellar. John 30 0 4
McLean John 10 0 0
Neill, P. C. 10 10 0
Pillans, F. S. 10 10 0
Rich, F. D. 10 10 0
Sargood, F. J. 10 10 0
Vogel, Sir Julius 20 0 0
Wentworth, F. 30 0 0

decorative feature - silhouette of hunter and animals

page 24

The Rules and Objects of the Otago Acclimatisation Society.

left 1. The objects of the Society shall be the introduction, acclimatisation, domestication, and sale of all inoxious animals, birds, fishes, insects, trees, and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental; the perfection, propagation, and hybridisation of races newly introduced or already domesticated: the spread of indigenous animals, &c., from parts of the Colony where they are already known, to other localities where they are not known; the procuring, whether by purchase, gift, or exchange of animals, &c, from Great Britain, the British Colonies, and foreign countries; the transmission of animals, &c, from the Colony to England and foreign parts, in exchange for others sent to the Society; the holding of periodical meetings, and the publication of reports and transactions, for the purpose of spreading knowledge of acclimatisation, and enquiry into the causes of success or failure; the interchange of reports, &c., with kindred associations in other parts of the world, with the view, by correspondence and mutual good offices, of giving the widest possible scope to the project of acclimatisation; the conferring rewards, honorary or intrinsically valuable, upon seafaring men, passengers from distant countries, and others, who may render valuable assistance to the cause of acclimatisation.

left 2. A Subscriber of ten shillings or upwards annually shall be a member of the Society; and contributors within one year of Ten Guineas or upwards shall be Life Members of the Society; and any person who may render special service to the Society, by contribution of stock or otherwise, shall be eligible for life membership, and may be elected as such by the Council, or by any annual general meeting.

left 3. The Annual Subscription shall be payable on the first day of February in each year, and shall be received by the duly-appointed Collector, who, on receiving the same shall cause the person so subscribing to be enrolled a Member accordingly.

page 25

left 4. The society shall be governed by a Council of eight-teen Members; to include a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, and Honorary Secretary, to be elected by ballot at the first general meeting of the Society; three of whom (to be determined voluntarily or by lot amongst themselves) shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election.

left 5. In case of any vacancy occuring by death or resignation of any Member of Council, or the non-attendance of any town member of Council for the period of three months, the remaining members shall appoint another member of the Society to be a member of the Council in the place and stead of the deceased, resigned, or absenting Member, without such absence be caused by ill-health, when and upon the Council receiving information from the absenting member to that effect, the Council may abstain from electing a fresh Member of Council in his stead; providing that such vacancy shall not be supplied by the Council except after seven days' notice given of thy new Member to be proposed, and unless in the presence of at least five Members of the Council.

left 6. The Society shall hold periodical meetings at which papers and other communications relating lo the objects of the Society, and reports prepared by the Council shall be received; and such discussion shall be encouraged as may be of value in propagating a knowledge of acclimatisation amongst the Members and the public, and such business generally shall be disposed of as may be brought under consideration by the Council, or by any Member who shall have given seven days' previous notice thereof to the Honorary Secretary, or as a majority of two-thirds of the Members present shall see fit to entertain and consider; and each Member shall have the privilege of introducing two friends at such meetings.

left 7. The Council shall meet at least once a month, and three Members, of whom the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, or Honorary Secretary shall be one, shall form a quorum, and be capable of transacting the business of the Council, subject to such limitations as may be imposed by any bye law of the Council, or rule, or resolution of the Society which may be hereafter made.

page 26

left 8. The Council shall have the sole management of the affairs of the Society, and of the income and property thereof, for the uses, purposes, and benefits of the Society; and shall have the sole and exclusive right of appointing paid servants, as a manager, or assistant-secretary, collector, and such other officers, clerks, and labourers, and at such salaries as they may deem necessary, and of removing them if they think fit, and shall prescribe their respective duties. And such Council shall have power, to consider and determine all matters, either directly or indirectly affecting the interests of the Society, and If they shall think fit so to do, shall bring the same under the notice of the Members of the Society, at any general or special meeting, and to make such bye-laws as they may deem necessary for the efficient management of the affairs an the promotion of the objects of the Society, and for the conduct of the business of the Council, provided the same are not repugnant to the Rules; to appoint one or more sub-committees, for any purpose contemplated by these Rules; and generally to perform such acts as may be requisite to carry out the objects of the Society; which bye-laws are to be subject to ratification, or emendation, or rejection by the next annual or special general meeting of the Society convened for that purpose. And it shall be the duty of the Council to exercise the foregoing powers as occasion may require, and to furnish report of the proceedings at every periodical and annual meeting of the Society.

left 9. The Society shall have power to affiliate or associate itself with other Societies of kindred objects, and to found Branch Societies if desirable, and the council shall have power to carry out any arrangement for this purpose, and to furnish any monthly or other reports.

left 10. Minutes shall be made in books, kept for that purpose, of all the proceedings at the general and special meetings of the Members, and minutes shall also be made of the proceedings of the Council at their general and special meetings, and the names of the Members attending the same, and such minutes shall be open to inspection by the Members of the Society at all reasonable times.

left 11. All moneys payable to the Society shall be paid to the Treasure, who shall forthwith place the same in a bank, to be named by the Council, to the credit of the Society, and no sum shall be paid on account of the Society until the page 27 same shall have been ordered by the Council, and such order be duly entered in the books of the proceedings of the Council. No sum of money exceeding twenty pounds shall be paid by order of the Council until notice of such has been sent to each Member of the Council. Cheques shall he signed by the Treasurer as such, and be countersigned by the Honorary Secretary, or some other Member of Council, delegated by the Council to act as such.

left 12. An Annual Meeting shall be held on the first Wednesday in March of each year; or, if a holiday, then upon the next day following; and the Council shall report their proceedings during the past year, and shall produce their accounts, duly audited, for publication if deemed desirable: and the meeting shall elect new Members of Council to supply the vacancies therein. Any notice of motion must be furnished to the Honorary Secretary, or Assistant Secretary, one day previous to the holding of such meeting, or such motion may be rejected by the Chairman.

left 13. All privileges of Membership shall cease in case any Member shall be three months in arrear, subject, however, to his restoration by the Council on the payment of such subscription as aforesaid, accompanied by a satisfactory explanation.

left 14. Upon receiving a requisition in writing, signed by twelve or more members of the Society, or upon a resolution of the Council, the Honorary Secretary shall convene a Special Meeting of the Members, to be held within 15 days of the receipt by him of such requisition or resolution, and the notice thereunder convening the meeting shall specify the subject to be considered at such meeting, and that subject only shall be discussed at such meeting.

left 15. The Council or any general meeting of the Society may admit, as Honorary Members, such ladies or gentlemen as may have distinguished themselves in connection with the objects of the Society, or in objects of a kindred nature.

left 16. It shall be lawfull for any annual or special meeting of the Society to alter, vary, or amend the Rules, or to substitute another for any of the same; or to make any new rule which may be considered desirable; if and after notice specifying the nature of such alteration, variation, amendment, substitution, or new rule shall have been given to the Honorary Secretary fifteen days before the holding of such meeting. And such alteration, variation, amendment, substitution, or new rule shall be valid, if carried by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present at such meetings.

page break

decorative feature - fish

Sent to Stewart's Island.

12 Sent to Sir W. Gordon, Sydney.