MANAWATU ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 32, 30 January 1878, Page 2

MANAWATU ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

A numerously attended meeting of I lie ATanawatu Acclimatization Society was held m tlio Highways Oiiice, J?aluuM'Ston, last Saturday afternoon, the

President A.. W. P. flaloombu, Esq., occupying the chair. '. ... The President explained that owing: to pressure of business the Committee appointed at last meeting to. prepare rules had not been able to; do so* but ;in all probability would lay them before the next meeting. V The Secretary reported 5Q members on the list of subscribers. The President entered into particulars about the origin of the fish supply via Wellington, and shewed that out of 800 trout sent" only 170 had arrived m a healthy state, the balance having died on the passage from Canterbury to Poxton. Those received had: cost. the Society £14 ss. or at the rate of about £9 per 100. This fact he. thought shewed that if they intended to draw their supply from Wellington they would have to put their hands into their pockets rather' deeper than was anticipated. A letter was read from Mr Denton, of Wellington, to Mr Dalrymple, to the effect that owing to the bad state of the weather it was not advisable to forward any fish at the present time, but intimating that they might be skit on when the fine weather set m. TlWSecreiary wrote to Mi Dentoti hot to "forward any at present.Mr Halcombe then read -W letter from Mr Williams, of Napier, who is intimately connected with the Napier Acclimatization. Society, and who takes particular interest m the'fhh supply of the New Zealand rivers. This gentleman stated that he had f offered on. a previous occasion to deliver at the Manawatu River 3,000 salmon trout for £30. This offer had been so readily accepted by Mr Halcombe that he had been induced, m order to give the Mariawatu Society the full benefit' of a quick supply, to forward! 5,000 instead of 3,000, and had been extremely successful m removing them from Napiers to' the ; Manawatu River," having lost something under one-half per cent. It appeared that three railway vanswere employed m .their .transit , from Napier towards the Manawatu River, the balance of the journey being accomplished by express vans. The whole entailed a considerable amount of expense and trouble. - , „ The Pbesident explained that he had, on his own responsibility, entered into the arrangement with the. Napier" Society for the salmon referred to, and had incurred a liability of £30, and this had been increased to £50, owing to the delivery of ; 5,000, instead of 3,000, trout. He now wished -this meeting to endorse his Action in 'the, matter, arid; relieve bina. from his present position ; and he strongly recommended the Society to introduce^ what fish was required via Napier, instead of Wellington. He felt that the Napier Society had an in-terest-in common with us, as bur rivers took their rise m that district, and the fish we wetfe how getting from them would, m time, stock the: rivers to their sources.' He thought that this Society might, with all safety, congratulate itself m having introduced 5,000 salmon m such a short time.Mr Dalrymple quite agreed with the remarks made by Mr Halcombe, and was pleased to hear of the , success of the first' experiment via Napier ; and would recommend that the Presidetit be requested to make enquiries : which may lead ta a supply of mountain, trout from. Napier. • ■ ■ "' Mr Sanson would like to know what amount of "funds was to the rretlii: or" the : Society at thepresent time ? The Secretary informed tile m «3tinpf that there were £27, including £10, m the hands Of Mr Deritori of Wellington. The President suggested that a letter be written to the Napier Society, informing them that the sum of £50 would be remitted as soon; as vyas convenient. . „ , ■ Mr Dalrymple proposed "That the thanks of the Society be conveyed to the Napier ; Society for the, prompt and successful supply of so maiiy salmon for the Manawatu River, and that this meeting heartily- endorses the action taken by Mr Halcombe, and acknowledges its indebtedness to the~ a jount of £50."— Carried unanimously. •" Dr. Johnston was of opinion that as we were, fitoing: tolstock bur rivers with fish, we should try and procure the best sort. It was iust possible that, m order to do so, we' might have to. get trout from Wellington, as he was informed the. Napier trout was not of the best description. Mr Dalryaiple thought that the great mortality m the batch received from Canterbury arose partly through false economy and improper treatment while on; the. steamer from' Wellington to Foxton, : : '.; i:^.'v •■;'■'; ! The Secretary was ' requested to write, and ' telegraph to 'Mr Denton that this Society will not require any further supply of salmon at the present time via Wellington, and request that gentleman to reniit the £10 now held I by him. ...... .'.', Proposed by Mr Sanson and seconded by Mr Snelson, " That, Mr, Halcqmbe. ■write to the Napier Society and ase'ertoiu at what rate per 1,000 they can supply mountain "trout." ; Dr. JohnstoV was 6E opinion that the annual subscription -for members should be 21s instead of 10s 6d: Mr Snelson thought that if any member felt inclined to double his isubscription he might safely do so without fear of giving any Offence to the other members. ,' • Mr Hanson stated that he had supported the 10s 6d scheme, thinking- it would have been the means of enlisting the sympathies of a greater number of the settlers m the County. He was still m hope such would be the case, and. felt sure that large numbers would yet join the Society. He would like to know if any difference m the issue of licenses would be : made- between subscribers and non 7 sub'scribers, or whether members of the Society would have the preferetice m getting licenses? Mr tIAtcoMBE could not yet say wliether the Society had the power to make any such distinction. Dr. Johnstox wonld oppose any ssuch distinction, which would have the effect of lowering the cost of the IL-ense. Dr. Scbrman thought it was pre'tuature to discuss such matters at that rapeting: . ' : Mr Sanson was of opinion that the Society should make most stringent rules to prevent persons ~ destroy iugV

ga;ne, and iustanc&d the poisoning of birds by steeping grain m strychnineand other poisonous ingredients. -Several small accounts were passed for pHyiiient, and the Secretary authorised to procure the necessary account books and stationery and get 500 members' cards printed. Tlie meeting adjourned until* Saturday, the 23rd February next, at 2 p.ia.