ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 274, 28 April 1875, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The usual monthly meeting of the council of the above society was held yesterday afternoon, at the Public Library. Present— Messrs W. D. Carruthers (in the chair), Thomas, Bird, Wallace, Duncan, Colonel Packe, Dr Campbell, and Messrs Wood (hon treasurer), and Farr (hon secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The secretary read the following letter from the curator to Sir Cracroft Wilson : “The Bluff, April 17, 1876. “ Sir—Notwithstanding the many false alarms of the arrival of the Timaru, here I am still waiting, but not altogether without hope, as if the ova is absolutely frozen in the centre of the ice, there is a chance of its being uninjured by the additional delay. I fear, however, that the egg life has been totally destroyed in England by the mode of packing and construction of the ice house ; this, however, will not deter me using every care to give it a fair trial. “ Just before leaving home 1 received another consignment of trout eggs from America, making the fourth lot and all bad, with about ten different modes of packing, with the idea of discovering an inexpensive and simple plan without the expense attend* ing the use of ice. “ I think, however, if a proper use is made of the experience now gained in all the shipments of salmon ova both to here and Tasmania, the contemplated attempt from America might be made a great success and at considerably less tfc an half the expense. The introduction of the American brook trout ( salmo fontinalis) would be worth all the expenditure, to say nothing of salmon, lobsters, &c. “ I hope you will, therefore, see the importance of getting the £3OO revoted, although £SOO would be much better, and that little enough; also, an additional sum for general expenses, including a supply of Avon water in the gardens. “ We are to have four boxes of the ova, which will be contained in two cases. I wrote to Mr Farr from Dunedin, and will telegraph to him, as also to the stationmaster at Lyttelton, as arranged, when 1 expect to arrive. “ I have been making a large collection of ferns, both seeds and plants, during my stay here, though ,’afraid to travel far out of sight of the flagstaff, and have experienced great and universal kindness. |“ I remain, Yours in all respect, “ A. M. Johnson." The secretary said the next business was to discuss the manner in which the £2OOO should be expended if that sum were voted by the Provincial Council. Dr Campbell, who had suggested at the last meeting the advisability of drawing up a list of intended expenditure and present liability of the society to be laid before the Government, said he did not wish to press this question, as Sir Cracroft Wilson had intimated his intention of explaining the manner in which the money should be spent to the Executive. Mr Farr remarked that it was Sir Cracroft’s expressed wish at the time that this matter should be fully discussed at the present meeting. Mr Duncan would suggest that a committee should be formed to draw up an estimate. They might prepare a report, and a special meeting could be called to discuss it. He would move —“ That a sub-committee be appointed, consisting of Dr Campbell, Messrs Farr, Carruthers, and Wood, for the purpose of drawing up an estimate of the requirements of the society, as a recommendation to the Government for acclimatisation purposes, to be forwarded by Sir Cracroft Wilson to the Government.”

Colonel Packe seconded the motion, which was carried. On the recommendation of the chief ranger, it was resolved to recommend to his Honor the Superintendent the following gentlemen for the appointment of rangers : Messrs Henry Piper, Duvauchelle’s Bay; John Edward Thacker, O’Kain’s Bay; C. A. Cunningham, Loburn; H. Flitch, Templeton; J. Luxton, sen, Rangiora; H. Washbourne, jun, Selwyn, and Joseph Judge, Tai Tapu. Dr Campbell said that from remarks made to him by several persons outside he would like it to be especially made public that every member of the community can lay an information against anyone found destroying game. Some of those persons, though they knew of this offence having been committed, were under the impression that no one but a ranger could lay an information.

The Chairman considered that every member of the society was morally bound to do all in his power and take every means to prevent the destruction of imported game. After some discussion of a conversational nature on the advisableness of immediately turning the water from the river into the fishponds in the society’s grounds, Dr Campbell moved, “ That the garden committee and Mr Wood be appointed to examine the moat eligible part of the river for fish culture, and report at a special meeting.” Mr Bird seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Dr Camobell, before the meeting broke up, * would like to say that he would prefer that the committee appointed to draw up the estimate to be presented to the Government should first report to a meeting of the council of the society. He did so because, personally, he was opposed altogether to the introduction of salmon. It was necessary these fish should go to the sea, and from his observation he could not see where there were any breeding places for them in the immediate vicinity of the province. They had now had enough of experimenting with salmon ; the result had not proved a success ; and let them introduce those fish which would breed in their rivers and afford good sport to the general public. He would either like this course to be taken, or his name removed from the list of the sub-committee.

Mr Duncan did not think it necessary for the committee to draw up a hard-and-fast report, as though in a measure detailed, the money would be required for general purposes. After some further remarks, it was decided that on the sub-committee agreeing upon their list of expenditure it should be presented direct to Sir Oracroft Wilson. It was resolved that the garden committee should meet to-day and lay their report before a special meeting of the council on the best means for taking the water from the river into the ponds. The council then adjourned.