ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 911, 26 May 1877, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The adjourned meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday at 3 p.m. Present—Messrs Wallace, Farr (lion, sec.), Boys, Jameson, Carriek, Oakden, Hill, Dr. Frankish, and Sir C. Wilson. The Hon. J. T. Peacock occupied the chair. and explained that the meeting had been called to further consider the question of Mr Beck's resignation as curator of the society. As perhaps some of the gentlemen present had not been at the meeting when Mr Beck's letter was read, he would now read it. [Read.] The Chairman said that it was perhaps necessary for him to make an explanation. He had asked Mr Oakden from the chair whether he had -any authority to withdraw the resignation, and he stated that he had not. Mr Oakden said the resignation had been placed in the hands of Mr Jameson, and was not intended to be put in the hands of the secretary. He was verbally authorised by MiBeck to withdraw the resignation, and ho had slated that it was so.

Mr Wallace said there was a matter at the last meeting whieh the reporters had been asked to keep out, and he thought that there was some secret at the bottom of it. He was therefore determined to have the matter investigated. He could say that he had worked with Mr Beck night and day, and found him thoroughly honest —as honest, and perhaps mors so, than some in that room. [Oh, oh.] Mr Farr had stated that Mr Beck had thrown the white fish, after the late accident, on to the shingle. Now he stigmatised this as a gross falsehood Mr Hill certainly could not allow such a statement as tlus to be made. It was not right that one member should accuse another member of falsehood on the ipse dixit of an officer of the Society.

Mr Wallace continued to say that the curator distinctly denied having put the fish on to the shingle, but that lie had placed them in the race running through the garden. He had thought it only right that this matter should be made public. Mr Farr said that in his own office he had asked Mr Beck what he had done with the white fish, and Beck stated that he had thrown them out on the ground. What was that but destroying them ? He could say that lie had throughout the whole time he had oeen connected with the Society as secretary done his duty most zealously and independently. Mr Wallace was the only man who had accused him of falsehood and dishonesty, and he appealed to his twenty-seven years' career in the colony as a refutation of what Mr Wallace had said.

Mr Hill thought that Mr Wallace was not justified in stating what he had said. The whole discussion was out of order, and Mr Wallace should not have made the accusations he had.

The Chairman said he should have stopped j the discussion before, but after Mr Wallace's J very serious charge it was only right that Mr ! Farr should have an opportunity of reply. _ \ Mr Hill said he thought that the public had a very erroneous idea of what had occurred between the Council and the curator. It arose out of a very small matter. The curator had coursed some hares for sale, and the Council, on hearing of it, laid down the principle that before the property of the society was disposed of the Council should have a voice in it. It seemed to him to be the proper duty of the Council. [Hear, hear.] The chairman laid down this principle in a very mild manner, and what was the reply ? The curator said, " Well, if you want any more hares caught, you must get some one else to catch them." Now there was not the slightest bullying of Mr Beck, as stated by -Mr Wallace, lie denied most emphatically that there had been any bullying. If they let the curator do what he wanted to do, they had far better hand over the whole management of the society to the curator, and say " do as you like." Ho thought that all the circumstances of the case should be put before the public so that they might sec that so far from any bullying the Council had simply laid down a principle which was a right one, and was only vindicating their position. Sir C. Wilson said the original agreement with the curator was that he should receive his orders through two members of the garden He thought that they would have very great difficulty in replacing Mr Beck if they allowed him to go, as he was a man who worked most zealously for the interests of the Society. If the curator would lak" his advice ho would ask them to take the olive branch held out through Mr Qakden, and although the latter had not a written withdrawal of the resignation they should accept his word as sufficient. So far as he (Sir C. Wilson) was concerned, though president of the society, he had never given the curator an order, except through the two members of the garden committee. Let (hem start afresh ; let bygones be bygones, and let them carry on the society with renewed vigor and effect. So long as they had office he hoped they would work hard for the interests of the society. The Chairman—Have you the ojivo branch, Sir Cracroft : J We hare nothing before us but the written resignation of the curator. Sir Cracroft Wilson had not. All lie wanted to gee was that they should not toe

the curator, as it would be very prejudicial to the society. Mr Farr and Mr Jameson both spoke on the matter, the former stating that he had been led to believe that the curator had withdrawn his resignation, but no such intimation was received by him. The latter stated that he had seen Mr Oakden after the resignation had been sent in, and he stated that Mr Beck liad agreed to withdraw his resignation. He was rather surprised to find that the resignation had not been withdrawn.

Mr Wallace desired to explain that he asked whether the resignation was to be withdrawn without any conditions, even those under which the curator had been engaged, and the answer was " Yes. 5 ' [" No, no."]

Dr. Frankish said that it seemed to him that Mr Beck would not take orders from any one. Even in the resignation there was this expression, that ho had resigned " owing to the action of some members of the Council." lie for one could not allow such a stigma to be affixed to the members of the Council.

Mr Boys said that the curator seemed to think that he had a right to do what he liked without reference in any way to the opinions of the Council. His very resignation reflected upon the acts of the Council, which seemed to him to be the wrong state of things. After some desultory discussion, Sir C. Wilson moved —" That the resignation of the curator be not accepted." Mr Wallace seconded the motion.

Mr Hill moved —" That the resignation be accepted." He thought that after the position taken up by the curator, they could not with dignity do otherwise than accept the resignation. They had been told that, as they had not accepted the verbal withdrawal by Mr Oakden, he would not withdraw it at all. Under these circumstances, they could do nothing but accept what was before them. If they had done an injustice to Liu; curator, they would be the first to retrace tlieir stops. But this was not the case, and he having positively refused to do so, they had no option in the matter.

The Chairman said, as it would be likely to come to him to vote, it was only right lie should give a reason for it. It was that there should be a head to everything or else it would fail. Every opportunity had been given to MiBeck to withdraw his resignation ; he had been pressed to do so, but refused. The Chairman then put the resolution with the following result: —Ayes: Sir Cm croft Wilson, Messrs Oakden, Wallace, Jameson. Noes : Dr Frankish, Messrs Carriek, Farr, Boys, and Hill. The resignation was therefore accepted, and, on the motion of Sir Cracroft Wilson, the names were ordered to be recorded.

Mr Hill moved that the following gentlemen be appointed to make arrangements for the appointment of Mr Beck's successor, viz. : —Sir Cracroft Wilson, Hon. J. T. Peacock, and Mr Jameson." It was necessary, as the notice given by Mr Beck expired in a few days, that they should take measures to protect the property of the society. Mr Oakden seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from Mr L. C. Williams, ranger, Tcviotdale, asking whether a tenant would require to get a permit from his landlord to shoot pheasants on his land, or whether agents for absentees could also do so. It was decided to reply that the ranger be referred to the Act. Mr Wallace said he had been asked by a ranger whether he could search a man suspected of having pheasants in his pockets. The ranger referred to had told him that he knew a man had pheasants, but he did not know whether he had power to search. Sir C. Wilson said that there was no power in the Act for the ranger to search anyone. Dr Frankish thought it would be very much better if a gun license were substituted for game licenses. Mr Boys would suggest what would be better, viz., to lower the game license and put on a gun license. This was done in England, and was very effectual. Sir C. Wilson said that he endeavoured to get the license reduced, but the Auckland members opposed it, as they said that the Acclimatisation Society would be ruined in a month.

Mr Hill said that he might tellDrFi'ankish that Hon C. 0. Bowon had promised to request the Society to make suggestions for a new Act. The present one required amendment very much, as now the police had no standing instead of being made rangers ex officio. The Chairman suggested that it would be better for a committee to be appointed to draft suggestions for submission to Hon C. C. Bowen.

Mr Jameson moved —"That, Sir Cracroft Wilson, Dr Frankish, and Messrs Hill and Boys be appointed as a select committee to draft suggestions for amendments in the Act." Mr Carrick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Farr said before the meeting closed he would like to ask Mr Wallace to withdraw the imputations of falsehood and dishonesty made that day against him (Mr Farr), which he felt sure had been made while under the influence of strong feeling. [Mr Wallace—"T did not accuse you of dishonesty."] Ho (Mr Fan-) was a public servant, and he felt that they ought not to separate after such remarks had been made against him uuj.il they had been withdrawn. Mr Wallace had been led away by a strong feeling in favour of the curator, and he (Mr Farr) was quite ready to offer him the right hand of fellowship and work as friendly as previously with him. Under all the circumstances, lie thought the least Mr Wallace could do was to withdraw the imputation ho had cast on him. [Hear, hear.] Mr Wallace—Well, I'll withdraw the expressions used. The council then adjourned.