ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 842, 6 March 1877, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

An adjourned meeting of the Council of this society was held yesterday afternoon at the Gardens, Preeent —Hon J. T. Peacock (chaiiman), Drs Ncdwill and Powell. Messrs Hill, Boys, Carrick, Jameson (hon treasurer), Farr (hon sec), Johnstone, B'ereday, Hanraer, and Blakiston.

The secretary said since last meeting he had received £2O from the Auckland society, balance of the £7O, refund on account of the Californian salmon ova.

A telegram was read from Dr Hector, requesting that the majority of the white fish might be sent to Lake Coleridge as soon aB they were fit for carriage; a few to be kept by the society for experimental purposes. The Curator, who was present, said that only about half a dozen of the fish were now alive. He had put some muslin in the boxes to retain the food; this had caused the boxes to overflow, and the fish had been thrown on to the floor of the breeding house.

A very general regret was expressed that such a mishap should have occurred, and which had all the appearanca of having resulted from very great carelessness. The secretary was instructed to telegraph the fact to Dr Hector.

In reply to Mr Boys, the secretary said about 200 of these fiah had been hatched out.

The chairman reported that he had seen Mr Harman with lefcreuco to the state of the drain leading from the gardens through the Hospital grounds, and since seeing that gentleman the matter had been atteuded to. Mr Hill moved the motion of which he had given notice, with some slight modification, as follows :—" That it is desirable that the opening season for ducks shall be from liilh April to Ist August, and for pheasants from Ist to 50th Jane ; and that intimation be given to all the rangers of the fact so soon after the Governor has given consent, and the same has been proclaimed in the Gazette; and that the same be then published throughout the province among all the hotelkeepers, to be put up in their bars." Since giving the notice he had seen many persons who were authorities on the matter, and without exception they all agreed on the advi&ableness of such a step being taken as proposed, in consequence of the lateness of the present season. Mr Farr psconded the resolution.

Mr Honrner considered the Ist August quite late enough for shooting clucks, at least this had been his experience. Dr Nedwill would like to see the duck shooting season fixed from the Ist May to Ist August; but so far as the pheasants were concerned, he would like to see no open season this year.

Mr Boys said that only last_ week he had seen two fine broods of ducks just out of the egg?, and these would not be fit for shooting until at least in May. At the suggestion of Dr Nedwill the resolution was divided,

The chairman then put the portion relat ing to the duck season. Mr Hanmer seconded the resolution,

Mr Boys moved as an amendment—" That the date be from Ist May to Ist August (inclusive.")

Dr fcedwill seconded the amendment. Mr Johnstone said he had seen young ducks Bwimmiag about in the middle oi July, and splendid broods out iu September, proving to him that the ducks bred all the /ear round. He thought such a sweeping Utera'ion as that proposed should not be made in the date, and in his opinion the Hick season should not be put off too long. From the experience of those who had been in Canterbury for years, it was known that the ducks were in excellent condition about the middle of April, though of course even

at that time there would be plenty of flappers swimming about. He thought that as the general public looked forward to the opening of the duck season, and as the Easter holidays occurred about that time, it would be a pity to put off'the opening of the coming one. He would support the original resolution.

Mr Fereday said with regard to the commencement of the duck shooting season, he would rather see it commence in the beginning of May than in April. Mr Hill, "in reply, Raid the Easter holidays would be held this year in March. In his opinion the pairing season for ducks did not commence until October.

The Chairman said, in his opinion, the council were simply to consider acclimatisation, and not thg general public, as they as a society, so far at subscriptions were concerned, received very little support from the public. If he were compelled to vote, he should certainly do so in the interests of acclimatisation only. The amendment was put and carried by 6 to 3, and the resolution declared to be lost. Mr Hill then the second portion of his resolution as follows. —"That it is desirable the pheasant shooting season shall commence on the Ist June, and end on 30th June." It was well known that many hens were shot last year, as the broods were too young for every one to distinguish the difference between the cock and hen birds. Mr Jameson seconded the resolution. Mr Johnstone considered it would be the greatest mistake in the world to put the season off till June. H 6 considered the month of May the very best for shooting pheasants. They were in splendid condition at that time, and any true sportsman could easily distinguish a male from a female pheasant; and besides confining the season to one month, was simply to encourage poaching. He would move as an amendment —" That the pheasant; shooting be from the Ist day of May to Ist day of June inclusive " The amendment was not seconded, and fell through. Dr Nedwill moved as a further amendment—" That the season for shooting pheasants this year be from 16th May to Ist June inclusive." He felt that from the indiscriminate slaughter last year a fortnight would be quite long enough, and really he thought it would be much better if there was no season at all this year. In his own experience he had known of spots being cleared of pheasants where they had existed in large numbers before last season. Mr Blakiston seconded the amendment. Mr Boys hardly agreed with Dr Nedwill, as the pheasants had been driven away into the dry ground through being shot about so much near Christchurch la«t season. Mr Johnstone spoke of having lately seen pheasants in large numbers throughout the district. He did not believe for one moment that the birds had in the least been thinned out. Dr Nedwill's amendment was then put and lost by 6 to 5. Mr Boys moved as an amendment—" That considering the lateness of the aeason, the pheasant shooting commence on 15th May, and last to 15th June (inclusive)." Mr Hanmer seconded this amendment, Mr Hill said it was known by some present and others whom he had spoken to, that the broods were six weeks later this year than last. Mr Johnstone said the whole of the information obtained was a series of contradictions, and ho still believed the time cf last year was the bet. The amendment wa3 put and lost by 8 to 5. and the original resolution of Mr Hill's declared to be carried. Mr Hill moved—" That a deputation, consisting of the chairman, Mr Farr, and the mover, wait upon Mr Ilolleston, requesting him to have the dates altered in accordance with the resolutions agreed to." Mr Jameson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. It was also agreed that notices to Bame effect should be inserted in the Gazette, and placards printed for distribution. Mr Fereday withdrew the resolution of which he had given notice, and moved the following instead :—"That fifteen English salmon be handed to Mr Johnson, the late curator, as a compensation agreed by him to be accepted in respect of English salmon ova claimed by him." He had seen Mr Johnson, who had agreed to take fifteen of the English salmon as compensation for his claim. In his (Mr Fereday's) opinion, he was well entitled to them, and he (Mr Fereday) would not sit upon any council who would not do this act of justice. It was said that this matter had been fully tested at the public meeting. He said it had not, but merely the question of placing or otherwise a certain occurrence on the minutes of the society's books, Mr Hill would second the resolution, and was very glad it had been brought forward. He had looked closely into this matter, and considered an injustice had been done to Mr Johnson. He felt that members had allowed their prejudices against the late curator to influence them at the annual meeting ; and as the ova from Dunedin had been forwarded to Mr Johnson as an experiment —and though even if the salmon were handed to him the experiment might result infailure—still he was entitled tohavethefish Several membarH spoke ab tut the manner in which the resolution had been put by the mover, who had expressed • is intention of nut sitting longer st the Council Board if hia motion were not carried. Besides no resolution bearing on this had been referred to the council from the annual meeting of members.

Mr Farr considered he would not be doing his duty if he did not continue to oppose any grant of salmon to Mr Johtißon, as he was not entitled to them. Two boxes of ova had been sent up to the society from Otago, and the society had only received that number. He had seen the telegram sent to Mr Johnson at the time, but could not acknowledge it, as the society had received no more than they were entitled to. Mr Hill hoped Mr Farr would not ignore the Superintendent's letter in explanation, received subsequently. Mr Farr muut also ignore that letter,

The Chairman explained that when he was Secretary for Public Works, Mr Johnson came to him and to'd him abjit the svfaole affair. By his (Jotmson's) desire he qat down to write to the Saperink-.ndent of Otago to endeavor to obtain the whole particular?, Having got through half the letter, he suggested to Johnson whether it was worth the trouble to go farther in the matter, and received a reply that perhaps it would be as well to let the affair drop. Undei those circumstances, as the claim had been abandoned, he did not consider Mr Johnson bad any light now to put forward a claim,

Mr Hanmer would like the claim referred to a select committee. The Chairman said this matter had bee;.i considered by a committee of the late Council, who held that Mr Johnson had no claim on the society. After further remarks, the resolution was put and lost by 7 to 3. Mr Fereday here tendered hia resignation as member of the Council, as he declined to be a party to an injustice. On the motion of Mr Jameson, seconded by Mr Johnstone, the treasurer was requested to procure the services of a collector to obtain subscriptions in aid of the society's funds.

Mr Johnstone moved—" That the English salmon now in the gardens be turned out into the Ashley River." Mr Hanmer seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. Mr Fercday's resignation was accepted, and on the motion of Mr Hill, seconded by Dr Powell, Mr J. Wallace was elected a member to fill the vacancy. In reply to Mr Hanmer, the secretary said that 100 prairie hens had been Bent for, Mr H. Bills' offer to bring out another shipment of English birds, and which bai been remitted from the late Council, wap. considered.

It was decided that «j reply should be sent, saying the sneiety did not intend to introduce a further shipment of English biids "his season.

A letter was read from Mr Charles Reed, Westerfield, asking that. 500 or 1000 young salmon might be liberated in the ABhburton river.

Tho secretary was instructed to reply that all the salmon had already been disposed of.

On the motion of Mr Hill it was resolved torecommend the following names as rangers: —Hon T, H. Wigley (Timaru), Leonard White (Leeston), E. Goodwin (Pigeon Bay), H. Scott (Opawa).

On the motion of Dr Nedwill it was resolved that the names of all persona recommended as rangers be first posted a month in the society's room before being elected, and that each person be proposed and seconded by a member. The question of the Curators salary was referred to a committee consisting of the chairman, hon sec, and treasurer.