ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 811, 27 January 1877, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A special meeting o£ the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held afternoon, at the gardens, Mr Johnstone mentioned that he had seen a letter received by Dr Yoa Haast, from Mr Baird Smith, as director of the United States Fish Commission, writing of a present of 60,000 ova sent by that body to the Canterbury Society, in the shipment sent from San Francisco. Mr Farr said he knew that that gentleman had been doing his best for the society, but he had not replied to letters which had been addressed to him, nor had he (Mr Farr) received intimation of any salmon having been forwarded by the commission per Zealandia. A letter was read from the Auckland ' society, promising a list of expenditure re j Californian ova, and saying that a portion of the money received from the Christchurch J society would be returned ; also stating that the money paid to Captain Ferris and officers had been paid them on behalf of both societies, and the society considered that sufficient money had been given for the trouble taken by them. A letter was read from Mr H. Bills, dated from Deniliquin, New South Wales, saying he was about to re-visit England in May next, and would be willing to bring out another shipment of birds similar to the last, or any other birds desired under the same arrangement as the previous one. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the incoming committee. A letter was read from Mr Davidson, of the Levels station, thanking the society for the 2 r, 00 salmon sent down by the society and liberated there, A letter was read from Hon J. B. Acland, regretting the decision of the society as to not liberating salmon in the Rangitata. It was suggested that the letter should bo reconsidered by the new council. A telegram was read from the Greymouth society, asking the lowest price of the Californian salmon. The secretary said that he had replied J>3 per 100. To a subsequent telegram, asking whether the price was not £2 per 100, as appearing in a Hokitika paper, he had replied that that sum was charged in Canterbury alone, and £3 outside the district. / Remarks were made by ine Hon J. T. Peacock and Mr Marshman, who were of the opinion that every means should be taken to make the experiment of the salmon a successful one throughout the whole of the island, and that the applying society should be given the salmon at £2 per 100. The President said that he was afraid come mistake had been made in the number of ova received, and that the council might find they could not spare as many as the applying societies required. Mr Peacock thought that at-least 1000 might be given the Greymouth Society at £2 per 100. The secretary said there was £-. resolution on the books that 40,000 should be distributed in the Canterbury rivers before any were sold, Mr Peacock was of the opinion that the Christchurch Society should work in harmony with other Acclimatisation Societies, and this the Council did not seem desirous of doing. Ooionel Packe, Mr Oarruthera, and Mi Marshman felt that it was the duty ox theChristchurch Society to do all in their power to further the experiment in every possible way, and it was well known that the West Coast rivers were most suitable for the salmon. The subject thea dropped,

The president said he had received a letter from a Mr Matched, Greymouth, offering to send kiwis and kiwi eggs in exchange for hares and partridges. The chairman said he had replied that the society only caught hares in the cold season, ard that having seen Dr Haast, that gentleman was prepared to purchase kiwi eggs at a

price. The treasurer (Mr Jameson) read a state ment of accounts, showing the society to possess a credit balance of .£791 18r Id, in which amount was included £50;) lent out ai 7 per cent interest, and £UU draft returned from San Francisco, which had been sent on account of a second shipment of ova, but it was found to be too late in the season to send oat, and the balance in Bank. The draft annual report, to be submitted at a general meeting of subscribers, was read by the secretary and approved, with amendments. It was decided to hold the annual general meeting on Tuesday evening next, at the Congregational schoolroom. The Council then adjourned.