ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 175, 30 December 1874, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The usual monthly meeting of the Council of the above society was held yesterday, at the public library. Present—Hon J. T. Peacock (in the chair), Sir Cracroft Wilson, and Messis Wallace, J. C. Watts-Russell, J. P. Jameson, Dr Campbell, H. B. Johnstone, and S. C. Farr (hon sec). The chairman stated that in accordance with the resolution passed at a former meeting of the council, he had waited upon his Honor the Superintendent and Executive, with a desire of ascertaining whether the services of the hard labor, or charitable aid gangs, could not be obtained to cut a stream from the river into the gardens, so as to obtain a supply of river water for the fish, and he regretted to say that the Government turned a deaf ear to his representations. He had since written to Sir Cracroft Wilson, asking that gentleman to call upon the Government to see if he could not do something in the matter. Sir Cracroft Wilson said, thitatthe request of the hon Mr Peacock he had waited upon the Superintendent respecting this matter, but he regretted to say that he had not been more successful than that gentleman was. He hardly knew what the Government meant by adopting such a course. He had always supported them, and had even suffered opprobium for doing so. Dr Campbell asked when the Provincial Council met ? Sir Cracroft Wilson replied, in two or three months hence. The secretary read the following letter, received from the Assistant Provincial Secretary, December Ist, addressed to the hon treasurer in reply:—"l have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 28th ultimo, and in reply, I am directed to state that the £3OO will be available for the purpose for which it was voted on the Provincial Secretary receiving an assurance from the Acclimatisation Society that arrangements have been made for introducing salmon ova at a cost of £3OO or such lesser sum as may be required." Sir Cracroft Wilson moved the following resolution:—" With reference to the letter 1623 of the Assistant Provincial Secretary, under date of Ist instant, refusing to place at the disposal of the society the £3OO voted for the introduction of Am3rican salmon until an assurance be received by thenffrom the Acclimatisation Society that arrangements have been made for introducing salmon ova at a cost of £3OO, or such lesser sum as may be required, I move that the hon secretary be requested to inform t'ie Assistant Provincial Secretary that a resolution of the society is deemed equal to the fullest assurance; and to submit to that officer copies of all the papers connected with the correspondence of the society with Dr Spencer Baird, of the Smithsonian Insti tute, Washirglon, in the matter of the American salmou ova."

The resolution was seconded by Mr Wallace, and carried. . Colonel Packe, chief ranger, here entered the room, and introduced Mr J. Stanley Biuce, surveyor to the Ashburton Road Board, who had informed him that a perfect slaughter of young ducks was now going on in the bed of Ihe Ashburton river, and recommended Mr Bruce be appointed ranger for that district. Mr Bruce repeated the particulars to the council, and after both gentlemen had retired, it was resolved on the mction of Sir Cracroft Wilson that his Honor the Superintendent be recommended to appoint Mr Bruce as ranger. A letter was read from Mr T. Nottidge, regretting to see by a report of the Council's proceedings that the society claimed no right (o the wallabis in the Domain. In 18G6 there vie>"e two Tasmanian kangaroos in the Domain—both females, and he (Mr Nottidge) in conjunction with his late partner, Mr Macfarlane, had presented a male wallabi to the society, and that fact was du'y recoided in pige thirteen of the third annual report of the society. It was resolved to acknowledge this letter with thanks.

The sum of £ls, the estimated expenditure for the month of January, was passed. The curator's report was read and referred to the garden committee before being approved. Sir Cracroft Wilson brought up the draft annual report to be submitted to a general meeting, which was approved with some Blight additions. One clause in the report was the subject of remark, each member ngreeine'on the necessity which suggested that his Honor the Superintendent be asked to remove house sparrows from the schedule of protected birds. Sir Cracroft Wilson moved the following resolution—" House sparrows having become a nuisance, the society desires that they may no longer be protected on the plea of having been originally imported by the society ; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, with a request that he will issue a proclamation authorising the killing or taking of the said birds." Dr Campbell seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. At the instance of Dr Campbell, some conversation took place on the advisability of opening the river for fishing during the months of January, February, and March, for trout-fishing, to persons _ taking out licenses; and recommending his Honor the Superintendent to issue a proclamation to this effect, after which, Mr Johnson moved—" That there be a season for fishing in the months of January, February, and March in the year 1875. That such fishing be restricted to the river Avon, and be conducted with rod and line only. That all imported fish less than eight inches in length be returned to the stream. That the license fee for the season be£l. The licenses to be issued and fee received by the secretary to the society, and that his Honor the Superintendent be requested to give effect to this resolution." Dr Campbell seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Thursday, 14th January, at 7 p.m., was appointed the date on which the general meeting of the society should be held, and Messrs Twentyman and Fletcher were chosen auditors to audit the annual accounts of the Bociety. The meeting then adjourned.