ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2164, 1 February 1881, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The seventeenth annual meeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held at the Commercial Hotel last evening, at 8 o’clock. Present—Sir Craoroft Wilson (in the chair), Drs. Frankish and Brittin, Messrs H. R. Webb, Q-. Q-.jjßridges, E. F. Cogan, 8. O. Farr (secretary), and E. O. Farr (assistant secretary. The Chairman called on the assistant secretary to read the report. The report congratulated the society on the large measure of success attending its operations during the past year. It alluded to the disadvantages attending the hatching-out the white fish ova, as, through the excessive heat of the weather, 28,000 fish only, out of 350,000 hatched out, were preserved. Of this number 25,000 were safely deposited in Lake Coleridge by Sir C. Wilson and Messrs S. O. and B. O. Farr. The hope was expressed that the cost attending the experiment would bo recouped to the society by the Colonial Government, as the ova was received at its instance, and the result was the successful acclimatisation (of the white 'fish. Regret was expressed that the shipment of pheasants and partridges received ex Waimate, in the early part of the year, was a comparative failure, as nearly two-thirds of the consignment died on the passage. The object of the shipment was mainly to improve the present breed—a change of blood being considered desirable. A consignment of skylarks and other birds had been sent to the South Australian Society, and another shipment will be forwarded when the proper season arrives. A commission had been granted to certain members of the Anglers’ Society to a»sertain if salmon t listed in the Waimakariri. Certain fish were caught and reported to be the true Californian suiion by a large number of former residents in California. As, however, doubts h c -d arisen on the subject, the Council had sent to California for a salmon, to ha forwarded in spirits or ice, to settle the question if our salmon are the true salmo quinat. In 1877 the society liberated 45,000 Californian salmon, and it is hoped that when the question is settled the Government will take steps to protect the same by legal enactment. From the Wes t Coast the grayling has also been successfully introduced into Canterbury waters, and orders have been sent to Mr B. J. Creighton, of San Francisco, for both brook trout and silver trout. The Ligurian bee had, thanks to Dr. Irving’s care, been successfully acclimatised, and the hope was expressed that as a fructifier of rod clover it would prove of benefit to agriculturists. The hope was also expressed that liberal subscriptions would bo forthcoming to allow of the introduction of the “ humble bee.” Seeds of various kinds had been reccived|from Philadelphia and distributed amongst members, and a case of American forest trees had boon planted out in the Society’s grounds. The prairie chickens received from Nebraska last year, and turned out at Mount Thomas, had not been seen since. It was thought that they had found their way into the back country. The report concluded by expressing its obligations to Mr F. Back, Railway Manager, for his uniform courtesy ; also regretting that the destruction of fish and game by licensed and unlicensed persons, both in and out of season, was largely carried on, and finally recommended a jfbonus to the curator in recognition of his valuable services. The balance sheet was next submitted. The receipts for the year from all sources were £842 Is Id, which, added to a credit balance of £323 10s from 1870, isade a total of £1165 lls Id. The expenditure was shown as £972 Is 9d, leaving a credit balance on December 31st, 1880, of £193 9s 4d. On the motion of Dr. Brittin, seconded by Mr H. B. Webb, the report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. Mr H. B. Webb moved, and Dr. Frankish seconded—“ That the incoming Council be requested to tsko into consideration the subject of making the gardens of the society more attractive to the public, with the object of obtaining a large accession to its list of members.”

Mr E. F. Cogan spoko in favor of the motion, which was carried nem. son. A desultory conversation took place respecting the probable amount the Government would hand over to the society on account of tho expense incurred in acclimatising tho white fish.

The Secretary thought there was little chance of any sum being voted, as they had been termed an irresponsible society. It was agreed that 300 copies of tho report be printed, tho secretary to get tenders for the work. The election of the Council then tosk place, with the following result:—Sir J. 0. Wilson, Drs. Frankish and Brittin, Messrs A. Garrick, J. Marohman, H. B. Webb, J. O. Boys, G. G. Bridges, 8. O. Farr, J. T. Peacock, F. Kimbell, T. Aoland. A bonus of £25 was voted to the curator for his valuable services. Votes of thanks were unanimously accorded to the chairman, tho secretary and assistant secretary, and also to tho proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, for his courtesy in placing the room for meeting at the disposal of the society.