ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 992, 30 August 1877, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The ordinary monthly meeting oi ! the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held on Tuesday afternoon, at Cookham Chambers. Present —Sir Cracroft Wilson (in the chair), Hon. J. T. Peacock, Messrs .Boys, Jameson, and Farr (hon. sec.) The minutes of the last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. A letter was road from the Chairman of the Provisional Committee of the “ Waitaki County Acclimatisation Society,” asking to be supplied with a copy of the Christchurch Society’s rules, to assist the committee in framing their bye-laws. The Secretary said he had forwarded a copy as requested, and had supplied every information to tire new society. A letter was read from the -Auckland Acclimatisation Society saying that by the outgoing San Francisco mail it was intended to forward a draft to cover expenses of the forthcoming consignment of salmon ova. It was believed that the expenses of this lot would not be nearly so large as the last, and £SO would probably cover the Christchurch Society’s share. A full statement of the expenditure would be forwarded in due course. The Secretary also wrote to say that full information had been received from Professor Baird and Mr Livingstone respecting the ova, each of whom had also promised to give every assistance in their power, and it was the belief of those gentlemen that the ova would be furnished —as was the case last year—free of cost, except the usual charge for packing. Mr Jameson (hon. treasurer) said a draft for £SO had been forwarded on the 20th instant.

Mr Jameson’s action was approved. Mr Boys moved—" That £SO be voted for brook trout, to be procured from America; the secretary to take steps in that directiop.” The Hon. J. T. Peacock seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A telegram was read from the Hon, C. C. Bowen, in reply to the report of the subcommittee appointed to recommend suggestions on the game laws, informing them that their suggestions re Protection of Animals Act had been received, and would be considered at once. A letter was read from Mr Charles Been, of Westerfield station, informing the Council that out of four blackbirds and a similar number of thrushes turned out by him two years ago, only one male bird of each kind was left, and asking if he could he supplied with two hen birds. The linnets and larks he had turned out five years ago had multiplied rapidly, and the latter were now singing all

over the district. The starlings had also increased to a flock of twenty or thirty. The Secretary said he had replied to Mr Reed’s letter shortly after receipt of it. The following report was read from the sub-committee appointed to furnish information as to the management of the gardens :

Your committee suggest that for the proper supervision of the operations of the society in the gardens, a committee be appointed, who shall carry out the wishes of the Council and report at its monthly meetings, such committee to consist of the chairman, hon. secretary, treasurer for the current year, and one member (Mr Wallace). That it be an instruction to such committee to have the gardens put in good order, but to curtail all unnecessary expenditure, and that one of the garden hands be dispensed with. The sub-committee suggest that the Council should consider the desirability or otherwise of continuing the breeding of pheasants. The report was adopted as read. Mr Boys moved —“ That the sum of Is per head be offered for the large black cormorant, delivered at the gardens.” Mr Peacock seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. The Secretary was instructed to write to Mr Francis Francis, of the Brighton Aquarium, and also to Messrs. P. Buckland and Youl, respecting the disease which lately made its appearance amongst the trout. The Curator submitted a statement showing that twenty-eight trout had been stripped at the society’s ponds during the present season, from which 16,550 eggs had been procured. Of these 1157 had gone bad, leaving 15,393 at present in the boxes. After passing a number of accounts, the Council adjourned.