The Globe. MONDAY, MARCH l2, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 847, 12 March 1877, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1877.

The doings and sayings of the wellmeaning—and at times good natured — gentlemen who sit, at distant periods, upon the elastic-cushioned seats of the Acclimatisation Board-room of Canterbury, have of late attracted greater attention than usual. The “ Farr Tragedy ” was only an episode of unimportant consequence, affecting as it did but the interests of one man, Mr. Johnson, and the honor of the Society. The general public grumbled, it grinned a good deal, and the nine days’ wonder, thrice repeated, finally died, and was buried in oblivion, as far at least as the aforesaid public was concerned. But now, a much larger question has arisen, and one, the importance of which leaves in the shade those interesting episodes which have followed upon the ventilation of the amusing little peccadilloes of the Society. At its last meeting, after somewhat lengthy arguments and a rather close division, a resolution was carried to the effect that the opening and closing dates of the shooting season be altered this year from what they were hitherto, and also shortened by one month. Of course we do not for one moment doubt that the comparatively small majority which carried the motion, was actuated by any desire other than to do what was beat for the interests of —the Society first, and the public afterwards. People hold different opinions generally on matters of the kind, and so long as they are prompted solely by the merit of the points at issue, whatever views they may bold should be respected. In this instance, however, as soon as the decision arrived at by the Society became known, a number of gentlemen interested in the matter met, and without loss of time, did what was constitutionally in their power to do to prevent it being carried into effect. Mr, Eolleston, the Government Agent, whose duty it became to convey the Acclimatisation Society’s resolution to the Wellington authorities for the purpose of its being made law by proclamation in the Gazette, was at once waited upon, and requested to suspend actionuntil those interested could have time to muster, with a view of “ deputationising ” him about it. Mr, Eolleston, notwithstanding the urgency of the appeal, fixed the following day at noon as the time when he would be prepared to hear what people might have to say in the matter. This, of course, gave only a few hours wherein those opposed to the action of the Society might set to work, and when the appointed hour came a memmorial, signed by a number of rangers under the Act, and of landowners, was submitted to Mr. Eolleston in which various reasons were forcibly pointed out against the step taken by the Acclimatisation Society, It was also stated that if time be allowed, hundreds of people would come forward and express a similar opinion. To this Mr. Eolleston, we understand, merely said that, as the Society was a legally recognised body, its action should be maintained, and that the Government had been telegraphed to on the previous day with a view of the resolution being at once gazetted. And so it now seems, that whatever the opinion of the public may be in a question so vitally interesting themselves, it has to be set aside and ignored by the casting vote, perhaps, of members of a nominated body, who, but the other day, dared to enunciate the opinion that in their acts they need not consider the public “ as the Society had received but very “ little public support.” As a matter of fact, of course, nearly all the money spent by the Society for years past came from the public pockets, iu the shape of special sums voted by the late Provincial council. As things now are, we very much fear that the acts of the Society may at times prove of far greater injury than benefit to the public. It would seem as if it was leaning considerably to that conservative groove which very closely touches a tender ground to colonists, the adoption of

those stringent game-laws which exist in England. We are not at all sure but that the time has long passed by when Acclimatisation Societies, such as ours is, should be entirely done away with. A few enthusiasts, let them be ever so well educated or experienced, besides possessing disinterestedness to a high degree, can do incomparable mischief when not checked. It is through such monomaniacal feelings as appear to possess our friends of the Canterbury Society that districts have been wholly ruined. Hares are almost an unconquerable pest in some parts of New Zealand, and so are pheasants. As to other nuisances, such as sparrows, &c., nothing need again be said. If a few good-natured old gentlemen, who may possess exaggerated theories, based upon old English recollections of their boyhood, chose to make donkeys of themselves in their endeavours to carry out their hobbies, a patient public, sooner or later, is sure to interfere, And we feel strongly that the present is a case in point. [Since the above was in type we learn that a telegram has been received from Wellington stating that the General Government has refused to accede to the request of the Society.]