ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 709, 27 September 1876, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday afternoon at the Gardens. Present—Sir Cracroft Wilson (President, in the chair), Dr Nedw’ll, Captain Clogstoun, Colonel Packe, and Messrs Wallace, Bird, Farr (hon sec), Johnstone, Jameson (treasurer), Marshman, and Dr Campbell. The secretary reported that he had received from the president a cheque for £l5O, handed by the Government, being the balance of the grant from the Provincial Council for the introduction of American salmon ova. The minutes of the last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. A deputation from the Hunt Club, consisting of Messrs Moore, Egan, and Barker, were introduced to the meeting. Mr Moore stated that the committee of the club held the impression that the council were not aware of the whole facts relative to the hares obtained, and deemed it advisable to lay the circumstances before them He said that after having applied to the council to aid their committee in distributing hares throughout the province, their application was referred to the garden committee and a message was subsequently left at his house that the club might have the hares if they sent some persons to catch them. Prior to receiving this message a verbal reply to an application to the chairman of the Domain Board was obtained .that gentlemen givin g permission for the Club to enter the parks for the purpose of catching the hares. This the Club did, and without having received any benefit from those captured, distributed them in various places in the province, and they understood at the time that they were merely acting as recipients of the animals for the purpose of assisting the Council in distributing them around the country. An account had subsequently been received for £l3, which very much astonished the Club. He would mention that when he saw Mr Harman subsequent to his verbal permission, that gentleman told him that a formal permission to catch the bares would be sent to him in a day or two. The Club had gone to considerable trouble in catching and distributing the hares, and had they been told that a sum of £ I per head would be asked for them, they would certainly not have done anything in the matter. The chairman referred to a minute on the Society’s bonks, of a date prior to the application from the Club, authorising the curator to catch hares lor sale, at so much per head. He also referred to the introduction of the hares by the Society, and their proprietary right to them, adding that the animals did not belong to the Domain Board, and they had no authority to give any person permission to catch them for any purpose. Dr Campbell considered it was useless wasting the time of the meeting in discussing the matter, as it had already been resolved that the club should be sued for the hares taken by them. The club had done very little towards catching them, and he would move thanked for their explanation, but that the Council see no reason to withdraw from their former resolution to sue for the ha - es.” Mr Wallace seconded the motion. Mr Marshman was certainly of opinion that if the club were under the impression that they were merely acting as assistant distributors, then they should not be charged for the hares. The deputation then withdrew. Mr Wallace felt that according to Mr Moore’s remarks the club had certainly a color of right, as they believed they were only assisting the society in distributing Ihe hares throughout the province, with no object of hunting them for a length of time. Under all the circumstances he thought the society might be generous under the expla nation given, and make the club a present of the hares. The club had only just started, and the amount was but small. He would move as an amendment—“ That after the representations from the Hunt Club the claim for the price of the hares be abandoned.” Mr Marshman seconded the amendment. After some further remarks the amendment wis put, and lost by 6 to 4, and the motion declared to be carried. A number of accounts were passed for paymeat.

Dr Campbell said he had learnt that at the end of the fishing season the female fish took the bait with greater avidity than at any other time, and it was found lately that only four female trout had teen secured out of thirty-four taken. He thought the season should close a fortnight earlier, and would move—“ That the Deputy-Superintendent be requested to proclaim the ensuing season open on the 16th of October, to close on the last day of February.” Colonel Packe seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Messrs Wilson and Sawtell, saying that they had received an advice from San Francisco that the ova would have every attention from the agents there, and suggesting that arrangements should be made to receive them on arrival here. The secretary said he had made the necessary arrangements. A letter was read from the chairman of the Domain Board to Dr Campbell, one of the deputation appointed to wait upon him, saying that he had learnt for the first time that in answer to an application by the Acclimatisation Society, the Superintendent had plainly intimated to them that he should not approve of any alteration of the line on which the new fence had been erected. He was not aware of this when he suggested an alteration to the hon Mr Peacock with a view to meet the wishes of the society, As, however, the fact had now come to his knowledge, and as the Domain Board had throughout acted in entire accord with his Honor in reference to the definition of the line, he felt compelled to say that he should have to refuse to allow the fence to be removed from its present position. With a view, however, of affording facilities for rearing the fish during the present season, he should be prepared to allow a gate to be placed in the new fence, to be kept locked, and placed at the full disposal of the society to use by boxes or by ponds along the course of the run of water in wich the boxes are situated. He would not feel justified on his sole responsibility as chairman, and in the absence of nearly all the members of the Board, in doing more than he had indicated, Mr Farr read a minute, dated 1868, giving the result of an interview of a deputation with the Superintendent, in which it was reported that every facility would be given to the society to obtain a lease of their land. Dr Campbell moved—“ That as it is im probable that the enclosed ground will be required this season for the service of the Hospital, we accept the proposal for the present season.” Mr Farr seconded the motion, which was agreed to. On the motion of Dr Campbell, the garden committee were authorised to engage a man to assist the curator at 7s per day. Some remarks were made by the chairman aa to the advisableness of still further reducing the price of the young trout, with a view of getting rid of them before they should require a supply of water. In reply to Mr Wallace, Mr Jameson said he had not been able to wait upon Mr Ollivier to have the accounts audited ; but those for the last six months were ready, and would be attended to at once. The Council then adjourned.