ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1254, 14 March 1878, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the council was held yesterday at Radcliffe’s Hotel at 3 p.m. Present—Hon. J. T. Peacock (in the chair), Messrs Hill, Boys, Hellish, Blakiston, Farr (hon, sec.), and Dr. Frankish. Mr Hill said he had seen a letter in one of the papers from Mr A. M. Johnson reflecting on Mr Farr, As Mr Farr had done so much for the society, and given more of his time than perhaps any one in Christchurch, he would like to have a statement prepared showing what the experiments made by Mr Johnson had cost the society, o Mir Farr said he'had not liked to take the initiative in this matter, but he would not certainly let it droj) 1 . 1 '' ’ Mi- Boys had also seen the letter, and thought it exceedingly ill-advised on the part of Mr Johnson, but he thought as this letter had evidently been only an outcome of an old feud, it would perhaps be as well to let 'file matter drop. ' T ‘ MF Hill felt the society should vindicate Mr Farr in some manner. If the expense to iyhich Mr .fohnsbn had put the society by }jis various and psejess experiments were generally fcnqwn ;t might enlighten the public. Mr Farr said he was very much obliged to the Council for their kind expression, but it would be somewhat difficult to draw out a statement of the cost of the experiments made by Mr Johnson, and which had turned out useless. Members would remember the large expense incurred in constructing the salmon boxes, which were ultimately found to be unfit for the purpose. He felt annoyed when he first saw the letter, hut ns Mr Johnson had, no doubt, used his best efforts at limes in the cause of acclimatisation, he would bo Satisfied'to let the matter- 1 drop, with the expression of opinjon which had faljep from the Council, The matter then dropped. A letter was read from Mi* J. C. Boys, suggesting that the gamekeeper appointed should be asked to sign a schedule of duties, to prevent the office being made a mere sinecure. Mr Boys enclosed an extract from “The Field ” of December 22nd, 1877, giving a report of a quarterly meeting of the Eden Board of Conservators, in which it. was agreed that Mr Frank Buckland should Imyo pprmifjH slpn tp take Oftlmou ova- from file River Oalder during January for transmission to New Zealand. A letter was read from Sir Cracroft Wilson saying he had placed 240 salmon fry in one of the confluents of the River Heathcote without losing a single fish. A long and interesting report was read from Mr W. A. Low, giving the incidents of hia fourneywith the youm- Californian salmon Horn Christchurch to He. runup and stating imnutdly the reason of the failure of the trip; One cause was the refusal of one man whom he had employed to continue the journey, and another was the use of scrim in the cans. . . „ Two tenders were opened for printing 000 copies of the annual report. ■ It was decided to accept the tender of the LjtteJtoa 1 ■ ' 5

The Council then proceeded to consider the applications for the post of gamekeeper, eighty five of which had been received. Two were finally selected, and the secretary was directed to interview these applicants before the appointment is made. Mr Mellish mentioned that his sister, Mrs H. Belficld, when at home, interested herself in having the humble bee introduced into Canterbury. Mr Neighbours, and Mr Smith of the British Museum, had kindly offered their assistance, and from the precautions that had been taken to mark the nests for removal at the proper season, and the provision for their transmission by steamer, the best results might be looked for. A general expression of thanks was recorded for the effort made by Mrs Belfield towards acclimatising this useful insect. The meeting then adjourned.