ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 173, 16 November 1880, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A (JKNHRAO M KKTiNfs of the Acclimatisation Society washeldat the Club Hotel, on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Jos. Ward in the chair. 'The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was mu! from the Secretary of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, stating that the application from Blenheim for trout ova came too late, as all the available fish bad been stripped, but (iOO young fish will be sent if arrangements can be made for their transit. The Rev. F. T. Opic asked the Society to spare him 10 or 12 young fish. Mr. McNab moved that the fish at the disposal of this Society for distribution should be placed in the most suitable places, and not pro wi/a according to the amount of subscriptions received fiom particular district, as proposed by resolution of the Committee. He said there had been a little jealousy between the Pelorus District and the \\ airau. I lie 1 elorus was thought to be the more favorable for salmon. ° The shooting, moreover, was better north of the Wnirau. lie thong it the side streams of the Pelorus and Kaituna should be treated in the same way as the Wairau. There was no stream in his opinion, even in Scotland, more suitable for salmon trout than the Pelorus : it had splendid side streams, and good breeding "round, and was easily fished. ° Paul Douslin seconded the motion. M v. Macklin thought the people who paid the money should have the benefit. Mr. J. Redwood said lie understood from experts that the Wairau rivers were admirably adapted for salmon trout and other fish. , , . , Mr. Ward said he thought .Spring ( reek and the Onamalntii were as suitable as any stream in the Pelorus. Mr. McNab said lie admitted it, but ns to Spring Creek it was already stocked. The settlers north of the Wairau provided shooting, and were entitled to a share of fish. Mr. Rutland had proposed to get up a Society for their own district, which was met by the objection that this Society extended over the whole provincial district. The principle they ought to go on was acclimatisation, and that the most suitable places should he selected. Mr. John 'J’. Robinson said lie agreed with what had fallen from Mr. McNab to a certain extent, but thought those who subscribed should have the benefit first, and unless something of the kind suggested by the Committee were done, they would not have funds to carry on with.

Mr J. Rutland wrote to the Secretary asking for vvluit sum the Society would undertake to deliver for liberation in the Pelorus at To Data 500 or any other definite number of trout. He could not go about askin" his neighbors to join a society “with whose ways and means lie was wholly unacquainted." At the close of the meeting, the Secretary was instructed to write to Mr Rutland, telling him what had been done, and asking him'to look up subscriptions. Mr J. R. W. Cook said he considered that 2,000 salmon ova were little enough to put into the Wairau. It was better to stock one river first.

Mr McNab’s motion was put and lost, Mr McNab and Mr Paul Douslin voting for it, and Messrs Ward, Cook, J T Robinson, Macklin, and .1 Robinson against it. Mr McNab said lie should offer no objection to the Wairau being stocked this year provided the Pelorus were stocked, sav that one half the salmon ova should be put there next year, lie moved that all salmon be turned out in the Wairau and branches this year, and that the Pelorus receive one half of the salmon received next season. Mr Cook seconded the motion which was carried. Mr McNab proposed that three-eights of the trout ho allocated to the northern watershed. Mr P. Douslin seconded. Mr Macklin proposed as ail amendment that one-fifth instead of one-eighth, be allowed to the northern watershed. Mr Cook suggested that it he one-fourth. Mr Macklin said lie would adopt this amendment and withdraw his own. The amendment was carried. Mr Me Nab n oved that the distrubution to the northen watershed be as follows : One-sixth to cacli of the following places— Kaituna, Mahakipawa, Pietou, Honshu's Creek, Rutland’s, Rai ; each six represent in" probably 200 fish. Mi- p, Douslin seconded the motion which was carried. It was agreed that 200 young fish be placed in the stream on Mr Tescliemakcr’s property on bis application and the same number to Langley Dale, Flaxbourne 2C.), Taylor 200, Tyntesficld 200, C. Ohlsen 100, Captain Dalton 100. This was based oil the assumption that the number to be turned out is 4,500.

The Secretary stated that there were sundry subscribers in nr rear, and that it was necessary to obtain funds, there were payments to be made amounting to about 1,30. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.