ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2460, 23 February 1882, Page 4

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The Council met at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, The chair was occupied by Mr Marshman. A letter was read from the Government asking for a list of rivers, streams and lakes in which salmon and trout or ova or spawn had been placed by the society. The Secretary stated that the information had been afforded, from the Government stating that a notification would be issued stating that hares might be shot from Ist April to 31st August, and that the Government intended to proclaim that hares might be shot in the Eakaia road district. The Secretary stated that now the £1 license covered all game. A letter was read from Mr John Whitefoord thanking the society for their appreciation of his gift of a pair of deer. The Coursing Oiub wrote forwarding a resolution requesting the Council to co-operate with them in getting a five months’ season for coursing. The Secretary said the answer already read from the Gcvernmant covered this letter. Mr Boys pointed out that snoring of hares was very prevalent, which the giving permission by the Government in the letter read would allow of being done. He thought this practice should be discouraged as much as possible, and that the Act be amended so as to make snaring illegal. Mr Acland pointed out that under the amended Act trapping or snaring was made illegal under a penalty of £2O. Some discussion arose as to the date of pheasant shooting, and Mr Boys moved—- “ That the Government be requested to open the season for the shooting of cook pheasants only from Ist May to June 30th in the North Canterbury district, the fee for such shooting of cock pheasants only to be £1 10s.” Dr. Frankish seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Hill moved—“ That the season for Native game be from Ist April to 31st July, both inclusive.” Mr Webb seconded this, which was carried. It was resolved that the license fee for killing hares be £l. The secretary was instructed to obtain tenders for two hundred copies of the annual report. Dr. Frankish reported the particulars of the interview with Professor Strong, of thej Melbourne Society, as to the exchange of animals and birds with that society. It was arranged that Mr LeSouef, the secretary of the Melbourne Society, should furnish a list of animals and birds for exchange, the Canterbury Society agreeing to supply birds, mostly of an insectivorous character, at a price to be agreed upon. He then moved—“ That it ia desirable that the members of the House of Representatives for this city be requested to nse their best endeavours to obtain, during the coming session of Parliament, such legislation as will enable this society to make a small charge for admission to the society’s grounds.” The mover spoke at some length as to the remarks made by some newspapers on the subject, deprecating unfair criticism, and said that at the time the sparrow was liberated hero, he was a very welcome bird. The present members also had nothing to do with it, aa their predecessors had, though perhaps not wisely, yet done what they had with the best intentions. The object set forth in his motion was not a new one, as Mr Webb and himself had moved ia the matter before. He contended that a zoological collection would go far to pat a stop to the larrikinism which they so much deplored. He had been met by a perfect bowl of indignation, but ho would ask whether it was unreasonable to ask the people who were to benefit by it to set apart a few acres out of the vast sheep walk which existed under the name of Hagley Park. The project was to make a charge of fid per head on all days except on Saturday, which was the working man’s holiday, when no fee would be charged. Ho felt that if an appeal wore made to the public by having a book left at the grounds for visitors to put their names in favor of the project, that they would see that the zoological collection would be an accomplished fact. There was one suggestion made, he believed by the “ Lyttelton Times,” that they should subscribe themselves, which was a very useful suggestion indeed. In the zoological collection of the future he would if he were alive, have a special cage provided for the incarceration of j editors, and have it lined wita ex-

tracts from the leading columns of the “ Lyttelton Times,” to show the utter depth of degradation to which journalism had descended at the end of the nineteenth century. Dr. Britten seconded the motion. Mr H. B. Webb spoke strongly in favor of the motion, and said he could not see why the horticultural societies, &c., should not have the use of the Park. Mr Acland said he did not see how they could afford it, as the cost would bo some £2OOO. He was opposed entirely to the charge for admission being made ; and thought the public should not have to pay out of their pockets to embellish their gardens and then have to pay again. What they shou'd do was to get some interesting exhibits by way of exchange first, and then gradually increase these, when, perhaps, at a future dale, a charge might be made. Besides, he did not see how the society was to pay the expenses caused by such a proposition. Mr Farr moved, as an amendment —“ That the question bo adjmrned till next meeting. After some further discussion, it was resolved to adjourn the consideration of the motion for the purpose of convening a special meeting of the members of the society and others interested to discuss the matter. The meeting then adjourned.