ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1616, 25 April 1879, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday afternoon, at the Commercial Hotel. Present —The Hon. J. T. Peacock (in the chair), Messrs Acland, Garrick, Hill, Parr (hon. sec.), and Dr, Frankish. The Secretary stated that the meeting had been called to consider a petition that had been sent to him through Mr Deans, asking that the Society would proclaim an open season for shooting hares. The petition was signed by about forty people. A letter had also been received from Mr Walker, the secretary of the Coursing Club, asking the Society not to grant the prayer of the petition. Some conversation of a desultory character ensued, in the course of which an opinion was expressed that the prayer of the petition ought not to be granted. Mr Acland moved —“ That the prayer of the petition be not acceded to, on the ground that hares are not yet numerous enough to warrant shooting.” Seconded by Mr Garrick, and agreed to. The Secretary stated that he had received a telegram from the South Canterbury Club on the subject of coursing. He replied that he could not give an answer until he had received a reply from the Government. He had written to the Government, asking them to extend the coursing license to South Canterbury, but had not yet received a reply. The South Canterbury Society was not registered, and what they had to do would have to be done through the Canterbury Society, The action of the secretary was approved, and he was requested to forward a telegram to the Government, asking for an immediate reply to the application, Mr Acland said, on behalf of the Rabbit Club, he had that day laid two informations for trespassing, and intended to lay three others as soon as he could find the men. One of these latter had, to his own knowledge, knocked over a hare and wounded it badly. He would suggest that the Society should take part in these prosecutions. The meeting resolved to agree with the suggestion of Mr Acland. The Secretary read a letter from Mr McPherson, of Temuka, asking for information on the subject of coursing. He had replied to that letter, giving the necessary information. Mr Farr asked if they could refuse to grant a coursing license to questionable characters. The Chairman did not think they could do so. Dr. Frankish suggested that the Society should offer rewards for the conviction of persons offending against the Game Acts, The Chairman said they could not deal with this question now, as it was a special meeting. This was all the business, and the meeting then terminated.