ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1918, 29 June 1869, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held at the Athemeuni, this afternoon, at 2 o’clock.

The Chairman, Mr W. Murison, took the chair.

The report of the Council was read by tbe Manager, of which the following is an abstract :

The report stated that the success of the Society lias in no way diminished. The income of the Society from all sources amounts to L 773 4s lid. The liabilities amount to LSD, and the assets to L 129 Os ; leaving a balac.ee in favor of the Society of L4O Os. The Council express their thanks to tiie Provincial Council for subsidies and support. Many English birds liberated by the Society have been frequently seen, aud are believed to have increased in number. The following stock have been liberated during the year:—s4 long thrushes or mavis, 14 blackbirds, 12 gold finches, G chaffinches, 4 skylarks, II sparrows, 12 pheasants, 18 Californian quail, 5 Java doves, 6 Australian magpies, 2 laughing jackasses, 5 brush kangaroos, 28 English perch, IS tench, English oysters, Australian frogs. The Council have frequently drawn attention to the fact that donations of native birds for exchange would assist the .Society, but their appeal has been attended with poor results. During the year paradise ducks have been forwarded to Auckland, an apteryx to England, and native seeds te England and Australia. The following seeds of fruit trees, <tc., have been distributed amongst the members:—Chinese tea tree, quinine, cork, elm, ailanthns glan dulosa. A large quantity of the eggs of the following poultry have been distributed: Dorking, "Poland, black aud red game, and duckwing game. Previous to the arrival of the shipment of salmon ova by tbe Celestial Queen, the Council proposed to the Government to take charge of the trout and salmon umbla ova, the offer was accepted, hut unfortunately the ova turned out had. A box containing fowls eggs was also sent with the fish ova, but vitality was destroyed. Mr Clifford, the manager, was sent to Tasmania in July last, to obtain supplies of trout ova. The result was most satisfactory, as from 800 ova 720 were hatched out. At the same time 21 English perch were landed out of 24 shipped. These were placed in the reservoir of the waterworks company, and they may now be considered established in Otago. The society is greatly indebted to Captain Boyd for their success in carrying our the trout experiment. The stock in the hands of the society are emus, black swans, English wild duck, pheasants, paradise ducks, doves, bronze-wing pigeons, clerking, Poland, black, red, and duck-wing game fowls; trout, tench, goldfish, frogs. The society have received "a collection of salmon specimens, in various stages of their growth, and a collection of English birds’ eggs, presented by Mr J. C. Fulton; of Dunedin, which have been deposited in the Otago Museum. During the great flood, damage was done to the property of the .Society—the bridge having been carried away, with some fencing. The machinery for water supply was also injured. The Council are happy io state that the destruction of hawks has been so great that their number is considerably diminished. Messrs Morton Allport, John Bueklancl, B. C. Reid, J. W. Graves, J. C. Fulton, and Dr R. Officer, all of Tasmania, were elected life membery of the Society. The Council concluded by asking a continuance of assistance from those who have aided by subscriptions. The Chairman read a very excellent paper, supplementary of the Report of the Society. He remarked upon the advantages likely to he derived from the experience of other coun tries in artificial fish-breeding and transport of lish. He recommended, should the Tasmanian experiment succeed, taking advantage of that Colony’s supply, or British Columbia, for further importations. He remark: d upon the effect of gold digging upon the prospects of the acclimatisation of salmon, Mr F. D. Rich confirmed the report that pheasants were increasing in the neighborhood of Palmerston. An Act of the General Assembly provided that fee? received trom licenses for shooting game should be handed over to the Societies within the Province. The Auckland Society derived the greater part of their revenue from that source, and shortly the Otago Society must expect to derive its income from that source. It would probably he considered advisable to throw open the northern part of the Province for shooting in May, 1871. Various useful recommendations were made, especially as to the formation of a Philosophical So.iety and delivery of lectures. On the motion of Dr Eccles, seconded by

Mr Carrtck, Mr W. D. Murison -was requested to retain his office of Chairman and President of the Society. The motion was carried. Dr Eccles proposed that Mr Garrick should be Vice-President of the Society. Seconded bv Mr Fulton.

Mr Oliver proposed the continuance of Mr Vogel in that office, and that Mr Garrick should continue as Secretary and Treasurer. The rules of the Society requiring the pres ncc of the Vice-Pre-ident in the absence of the President, the amendment was withdrawn.

Mr Garrick was appointed Vice-President, Hon. Treasurer, Mr G. K. Turton; town members, Messrs E. P. Kenyon, J. S. Webb, E. M'tilashan, R. Oliver, and W. Hepburn. Mr Gregor was elected a country member, in the room of Mr G. Murray.