ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1582, 15 March 1879, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the council of this society was held at the Commercial Hotel at three o’clock yesterday afternoon. Present— Messrs Boys (in the chair), T. Acland, Blakiston, Farr, and Dr. Frankish. Tha Secretary (Mr Farr) said the meeting had been called together to consider the following letter, which had been received from the Government: — “ Colonial Secretary’s office, “ Wellington, sth March, 1879. «« gj r —X am directed by the Colonial Secretary to 'all your attention to clauses 10 and II of the Protection of Animals Act, 1873, and to request that you will be so good as to state what months should in the opinion of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society be proclaimed ‘open season ’ this year for native as well as for imported game. “ I have, &c,, “ G. S. Cooper,” The Chairman asked what was the open season for shooting ducks last year. Dr. Frankish replied from the Ist of April to the 3lst July. Mr Farr said he had had a very strong feeling on the subject during the last three or four years. There were a certain number of gentlemen who paid license fees fur shooting game, which the Society could not do without. It was a well-known fact that many of those persons who went out shooting in the month of April shot everything before _ them, and deprived others of the opportunity of shooting native game. They shoot as much in the first month as others shoot in the remaining four. For his own part, he was very anxiou* that those who paid a urge sum lor licenses should be put on a footing with those who went out shooting native game in April. He had written to Sir Cracroft Wilson on the subject, who had replied that ho perfectly agreed with him, but that he would not be able to be present, as he was leaving for the Hot Springs. Mr Acland did not see what good they could do by making th> terms run concurrently. If people were going to poach they would so at any time. This was a matter upon which the country districts ought to be consulted. Some one should go down to the Lincoln and hllesmere districts, and see what was the feeling on the subject. The farmers wcr« the largest preservers of game, and it would be a great hardship to them to give another month to the ducks. In what time would it be necessary to give an answer to the Government ? Mr Farr said in about a week. Dr. Frankish said he had spoken to a number of people interested in the subject, and although personally he should like to see the season commence on the Ist of May, he was sure such a course would meet with very great opposition I hey must rember that there wero a number of holidays in April, and if the opening of the season were postponed for a month a great many people would be deprived of their shooting daring a good proportion of the season. He really thought the best thing they could do would be to let the season remain as it was before so far as the Native game was concerned. One of the chief reasons he had heard advanced against the season opening on the Ist of April was the wilful destruction of birds that took place. There could be no doubt that this was so, and that shooting of ducks was carried on to a most suicidal extent; for ducks could not bo kept long at that time of the year, and turned bad before they could be cooked. Still at the same time if they proposed the season not commencing until the Ist of May, they would meet with a very great amount of opposition, and therefore he did not think it should be done. It would only result in the society losing a considerable number of license fees. He was afraid that if they made the alteration a petition would be got up against it, and they would be placed in the same unpleasant position that they were on a former occasion. He would, therefore, propose that the open season for shooting Native game should be from He Ist of April to the 31st of July, both days inclusive, from sunrise to sunset. At the same time he perfectly concurred with what had fallen from the secretary.

Mr Farr instanced a case where a man had shot forty ducks in one day, and being unable to bring them all in had buried them. The Chairman asked how it would be to put off the commencement of the shooting season for Native game until the 15th of April. Dr. Frankish said he should like it well enough. The only thing was there were a good many holidays in the early part of April, and people would be deprived of their shooting.

The Chairman said he represented the opinion of a good many people in the North, and their wish was to have the seasons assimilated. They had very little duck shooting themselves, and did not wish to interfere with other people’s sport. If the two seasons could be assimilated they would be very glad. With regard to pheasant shooting, he thought it should end on the 31st of May. If it were not for the holidays most people would lik to put off the open season. There could be no doubt there was a great deal of slaughter by pot hunters during April. Still, if the.: were to make it later, he belinved they would have so many letters in the papers that they would be obliged to give in.

Dr. Frankish said a certain person had gone to him and said that ho himself was prepared to send four letters to the Press if the opening of the season was delayed. Mr Farr said he would not care how many letters appeared in the papers, if they had got the law on their side._ The society were the custodians of both native and imported game, and they ought to do their best to protect it. Mr Acland remarked that most people did not know how to hang game, and that was why so much of it was spoiled. He could keep ducks for a week. With regard to their condition, they were just as fit to eat on the Ist of April as partridges were on the Ist of October. After a few further remarks on the subject of poaching, Mr A eland seconded the motion of Dr Frankish, which was then put and agreed to, Mr Farr being the only dissentient. Mr Acland said he would far sooner see the season closed for a year than the dates of opening made late as suggested. Ho then moved—- “ That the open season for shooting cock pheasants bo from the Ist to the 31st of May, both days inclusive, between the hours of sunrise and sunset, and that the license remain the same as last year.” Seconded by Mr Farr, and agreed to unanimous y. Mr Farr stated that he had received a letter from the Nelson Acclimatisation Society, asking for certain information, which he should forward by the earliest opportunity. He might also state tnat he had changed away the only goldfish they had in the gardens for seven young gold and silver fish, with Mr George Go_uld._ A pond had been made for them, with a nue little island in the middle. The meeting then adjourned.