ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2041, 8 September 1880, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the council of the above was held at 3 p.m. yesterday. Present —Sir Oracroft Wilson (chairman), Messrs Marshman, Farr (hon. sec.), and Oogan. Dr. Irvine also attended by invitation. The business before the meeting was the disposal of tho Ligurian bees recently received. A letter was read from Mr H. E. Rout, Wuimate, stating his willingness to take charge of the Ligurian bees, and forwarding references as to his capabilities. A communication was also read from Messrs Thompson and Broadley, Kaiapoi, offering to take charge of tho Ligurian bees. A letter was read from Dr. Irvine, president of the Canterbury Apiarian Society, asking that the Acclimatisation Society would hand over to the former the charge of the bees. Dr. Irvine produced two specimens of the tongues of the Ligurian and black bee, which, under the magnifying glass, showed them to be exactly the same length. Apiarians had stated that tho black-bee tongue was shorter than the Ligurian bee, but the specimens exhibited by Dr. Irvine were exactly of the same length. Mr Oogan mentioned that Mr Cook some seventeen years ago had introduced the Ligurian bee from Victoria, and that the bees had afterwards been seen in Mr Geo. Gould’s garden and at Ricoarton where the trees were felled for the honey. He should like know what had become of these bees.

A letter was read from Mr R. J. Creighton accompanying tho hive of Ligurian bees, stating that the thanks of the society were due to the captain of tho Australia, Captain Cargill, who had brought tho bees free of charge. Some discussion ensued as to the disposal of the Ligurian bees, the opinion of the members being that the best mode would be to allow the Apiarian Society to have the charge of the bees.

Mr Marshman moved—" That the Ligurian bees be handed over to Dr. Irvine, as President of the Canterbury Apiarian Society, on the condition that all future stocks and progeny become the property of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.” Mr Cogan seconded the motion, which was put and agreed to. Mr Farr suggested that the society should send for a further supply of Ligurian bees to San Francisco.

It was resolved that the secretary write to San Francisco for three hives of Ligurian bees by the next San Francisco mail. It was resolved that a vote of thanks should be accorded to Mr Kennaway for his services in connection with the shipment of birds recently received from England. A letter was read from Mr Neighbours, London, addressed to Mr Belfleld, of Timaru, stating that they proposed sending some humble bees out next winter, and had made arrangements for obtaining mother bees. Mr Neighbours asked that arrangements should be made for receiving them, and it was intended to send them in November or December, They were to be sent in a torpid state. The meeting then adjourned.