ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 15, 6 May 1871, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of subscribers to the Wellington Acclimatisation Society was held at the Maori House, Colonial Museum, on Monday afternoon at four o'clock, when the following gentlemen were present :■—Messrs Bannatyne (in the chair), Travers, Pearce, Borlase, J. C. Crawford, Hart, Palmer, Duncan, Denton, Krull, Ludlam, Izard, Dr. Hector, Dr. Johnston, the Bev. A. Stock; Mr Tbatbes said he had received a communication from his Honor the Superintendent in which he expressed a desire to become a member of the Society, and that he Was only, prevented attending the meeting by a previous engagement for that afternoon. Mr Travers : said that up to that time sixty-four members had joined the Society. Before proceeding with the real business before the meeting (the election of officers), he would call the attention. of those gentlemen present to a new clause which had been added to the rules and regulations at the suggestion of some members from the country, so as to entitle subscribers in the country to a corresponding advantage. Acting on this suggestion, he had drawn up an additional rule by which subBe ribers in a district to the extent of £lO should be entitled to a proportionate share of the amount contributed towards the introduction of animals or. plants j and that subscribers should at all times have preference in the distribution or eale of animals or plants. The Chairman then informed the meeting that the election of a president was the first business before them. Mr Teavebs would like,to propose Mr Ludlam. It was well known that he took a

great interest in the matter of acclimatisation, more so indeed than any person in the pro- " vince, and had achieved a great deal by his individual efforts in the introduction of both birds and plants, and at considerable trouble and expense; and although these things might seem insignificant now, and not be very widely known, the rising generation would one day realise the full benefit, and remember Mr Ludlam with gratitude. Mr Ludlam had already contributed largely to the ornamentation of the Botanic Reserve by donations of plants and flowers, such as gloxianas, rhododendrons, azalias, camelias, and others, and had otherwise displayed a great interest in the reserve ; so that altogether the society could not get a better man, and might consider themselves fortunate in securing his services. Mr Cbawfobd, who seconded the proposition, said that any one who visited Mr Ludlam's garden would at once feel the justice of Mr Travers' remarks. It was well known what difficulties attended Mr Ludlam's attempts to introduce starlings and skylarks, one consignment having gone to Lyttelton by mistake, and another com? to grief; but still he was undeterred, and at last introduced them successfully. The motion was earned unanimously.

The appointment of three vice-presidents was the next business, and Mr Travers proposed that Dr Hector and Mr Palmer, of the Bank of Australasia, be two, leaving it for someone else to nominate a third.

Mr Pai-mbr deprecated the idea of passing by gentlemen of standing and old residents of the place, in favor of a comparative stranger like himself, and proposed that Dr Hector, the Rev. A. Stock, and J. C. Crawford, Esq., be nominated vice-presidents. Agreed to unanimously. The following gentlemen were' then elected as members of the committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs Hunter, Pearce, Krull, Laing, Bannatyne, Denton, Travers, Bennett, W. Levin, Dr Johnston. The rules of the society were then read and approved of. As the general desire seemed to be that the society should commence operations as soon as possible, it was decided to hold the next meeting at the same place, at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday next, when a secretary and treasurer will be appointed, and subscriptions collected; after which the committee will visit the Botanic Reserve in connection with the objects of the society.