ACCLIMATISATION MEETING.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 88, 8 September 1863, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION MEETING.

;; "; A pubuc^nei6ting,s®u[ledrby f . advertisement 5> >was held,|^,est^rda^>.aMour^ Avithin 'the • I were, amongst t£ voH^rs;pre||nt, His Hbno|the Superintendent, il rMessrs;.He|Llej- F.ign'cisj';!£McNeiil, Fitzgerald| I *'J. Clerke7 v FenlontMcAr^urV Whitton, Speer| ! j Stuart, Carey, and Howard. • i His Honor having, upon the motion of i Mr F.tzgerald, ■■.-, taken the chair, ! that the endeavor £o naturalise i all "those animals indigenous to Great Britain was ir [ subjectSflfecolojdalir^ ; that subject and tp^reducejit ;td practice they ' ; had that day assembledf tn the work of ac- [ climatisationtheintroduction of salmon should not: be forgptteni '^ EfeJ was!; not -acquainted with the ; pr,9gramme of the toeetingV so would call upon <^fp,'l^JEijc{in6ia%w?ffl&ji' fcirivard as exponent." " " ,'" v ' \*K~l.y:. "~*, w '°'i Mr Francis", ; said 1 i tliat 'incf his- opinion .the preliminary stsp. shbuld 1 ' be' the^ writings to . Melbourne or Auckland^ for, a r copy of the regulations ot'the' : Acclimatisatiou Societies of those, places. ' .■:'■•■* ':■' r. : l '... :■ If. 1 ~1~ <! - ';*'..*»'' The Chairman thought that, jthe "proceedsings at the meeting would be more in rule if conducted in the form of resolutions, Mr Stuart hnd to move as the first resolution that the .meeting form itself ». into a Society to be called the "Southland Acclimatisation Society." Mr Francis seconded the resolution, and it was carried. Mr Stuart said that the next step to be considered was the appointment of a provisional committee. He would, move that such committee be appointed and that it consist of the f ollowing members — His, Honor the Su.r perintendent, Messrs McArthur", Ccwan, Heale, McNiell, F. Wentworth, G. Fitzgerald, Nurse, T. S. Wright, Hill, J. Olerke, Brayton, A. Gilles, F. W. Whitton, Charles Howard, Reinecker, T. W, Clerke; Hankinson, and W. Stuart, with power to add' to their number. Mr Stuart had farther to move, that this Committee be considered to be* appointed " for the purpose of procuring the necessary inforinjition. to form a constitution for the Society, with instructions to call a general meeting of gentlemen willing to join the Society, when they have obtained information with reference to the rules and regulations of other Societies, elsewhere constructed for similar objects." The resolution seconded by Mr Whitton was carried. Ho would in addition move, that a quorum of three be appointed. Mr, G. Fitzgerald begged to move as an amendment, that the quorum consist of five. Mr J. Clerke suggested four, in order to split the difference. The Chairman put the resolution and the amendments to the meeing, and the result was a majority for a quorum of five. Mr Heale said, that they ought, amongst the fir.'t things done, to give a cove and constitution to the Society. The Chairman stated that it was not long ago since Acclimatisation, its aims and possibilities had engaged the attention of the Provincial Government of Southland. In concert with Tasmania they had already taken some action in the matter He need not allude to the experiments resulting upon the .arrival of the Beautiful Star. He was particularly anxious that the introduction of salmon should be attempted^ Mr Buckland, whose name was well known in connection with projects of this nature, had taken in hand a process whereby the salmon ova might b 3 preserved for a period of 96 days. The ova were frozen, and upon being thaiwed at the expiration of a long-voyage were found to be full of vitality. The chief difficulty was to procuie the necessary amount of ice ; still he thought that the plan- was feasible, and might, suitably engage the attention of the Society. He would mention that the agent or the Piovince in the home country, Mr Morison, had interested himself materially in acclimatisation. He had applied to Lord Bread;ilhane for deer for Southland, and, ere this tha Province would have been in possession oi that game, had it not been for .the demise of his Lordship. He hoped however that before long the Government would be in a position to offer to the Society a good collection of deer. He would add that a sum of money had been voted by the Provincial Council for the purpose. (Applause.) On the motion of Mr MeNeilt -a vote of thanks was then passed to. His Honor for his kindness in presiding, and the meeting went into Committee. Committee Meeting, appointment of secretary. Mr Heale begged to move that Mr McArthur be appointed Honorary Secretary to the Southland Acclimatisation Society. Mr McArtuur would not undertake the duties, as he was meanwhile occupied with business of importance. He would suggest Mr Stuart. Mr Heale said that Mr Stuart too had business to attend to. He would now move that Mr Howard be appointed Honorary Secretary and Convener. The resolution was put to the committee t and carried. SECRETARY'S DUTIES. Mr Heale moved, Mr Stuart seconded, and it was carried, — " That the Secretary communicate with the secretaries of the Acclimatisation Socitties of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and Auckland, in order to obtain copies of any information bearing on the objects of the Society." (We are requested by Mr G. Fitzgerald to mention, thatsubsequentto the meeting, letters were received by him, from J' T. Thompson, Esq., and B. H. Reinecker, Esq., stating that; jthough unable to be present at the meeting,; they were desirous of co-operating with, ! and becoming members of, the Southland Acclimatisation Society.)