ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 198, 27 January 1875, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of the council of the Acclimatisation Society was held at 3 p.m. Present —Messrs J. C. Watts Russell (in the chair), Packe, Wallace, Bluett, H. B. Johnston, Anderson, Bird, Farr, Marshman, Wood, and Sir J. C. Wilson. It was resolved—" That Mr C. W. Dumergue be recommended as a ranger.' 1 Colonel Packe moved—" That the following gentlemen be recommended for appointment as rangers, viz:—Alex. D. Mcllraith, Haldon, Horarata; Reginald Foster, Craigieburn; and Robert McFarlane, Kaiapoi. The motion was agreed to. ; , . Mr H. B. Johnstone, moved—" That the secretary be instructed to write to the Commissioner of Police, enquiring whether be had any objection to the district constables acting as rangers. Sir J. C. Wilson seconded.the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr C. M. Wakefield, requesting the withdrawal of his name as a member of the society. A letter was read from Mr Leonard, Harper, resigning his seat as a member of the Council, on the ground of pressure of business. A letter was read from Mr W. de Troy, suggesting that the limits of the, river Avon should be defined as being between the source and the new Brighton school as at present, the preserved limits of the river was indefinite. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of Mr De Troy's letter. The curator's report for the month was read. He reported that the receipts for the month had been £54 15s, viz : subscriptions, £24 ss; sale of stock, £l4 10s 8d ; angling licenses, £l6. The large shipment of birds was expected shortly to arrive, and it was ' desirable that the localities should be selected where the birds were to be turned out. A large number—2s9—trout had been liberated in the Southern rivers by Mr Walker. Mr W. D. Wood was elected as treasurer to the society, vice Mr J. P. Jameson, resigned. Sir Cracrof t Wilson moued—-" That on the arrival of the insectivorous birds, expected to arrive in charge of Mr Bills, those of them in fit condition to be liberated be sold at a price to be hereafter fixed by the council of the Acclimatisation Society, provided that not less tban three males and three females of each kind be sold to one individual ; and that the purchaser enter into a bond to liberate the same within one week within the limits of the Province of Canterbury. That the birds which are not fit to be liberated

be retained in the gardens under the charge of the curator until sufficiently recovered, to be liberated as above proposed. Mr Bluett seconded the motion, which was carried. Col. Packe, as head ranger, took occasion to correct a statement made by Mr Johnson, the curator, in his report made to the society, and appearing in the Press of Jan. 15th. The curator had there stated that only one conviction had been obtained by the rangers during the year, and that credit was due to Dr Nedwill for. reminding his fellow rangers of their connection with the society. Now, the fact was, that convictions had been obtained by Mr Jasper O'Callaghan, Mr Coster, and himself. The curator expressed bis regret that he bad inadvertently made a statement which he now found was incorrect. The meeting then adjourned.