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Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 89, 11 September 1863, Page 2

After, a new and sparsely inhabited country has been won away from its loneliness by the influx of population ; when the genus homo has increased and multiplied upon it ; there would seem to be demanded a fresh order of colonisation, that, induced by the presence of the lower and previously not obtaining order of the creation, those aninoals of the earth, and birds of the air, which, in older lands have been found either useful or ornamental. Kand in hand with colonisation, indeed a branch thereof, is the work of acclimatising. This has constantly been recognised by every offshoot of the British Empire, so soon as its early struggles for healthy existence have led to something beyond the possibility of of simply being ; and only a few days ago the little province ot Southland followed the unvarying rule On lnst Monday the Southland Acclimatisation Society was inaugurated under the auspices of His Honor the Superintendent, and an influential meeting of the inhabitants. A working committee was chosen, and an energetic Seci'etary appointed. It was determined to introduce into the Province some of those animalia which so successfully have been imported to, and acclimatisecTin Auckland, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales. Fish too, were to be brought to our streams and coast seas. The satisfactory experiments made at home in preservation, for long periods, of the salmon ova suggested their importation here. The secretary was instructed to communicate with secretaries of other societies in order to ascertain their mode of working, n fine, no means were to be neglected in order to place this association on a comparative footing with existing associations of a kindred nature. The public have been made aware of the formation of the Society ; of its uses and good tendencies they cannot be ignorant. No one wi o has resided in other colonies, and no one of ordinary intelligence, who does not dtspise the history of current events, but knows the advantages which have accrued to those places in which there was a well working Acclimatisation Society. The breed of sheep and cattle has been improved, the quality of wool'enhancedj vermin destroyed by birds and quadrupeds of certain kinds, the woods made lively with voices more dulcet than those of the laughing jackass; game provided for the sportsman ; and even food for the hungry. If there, perchance, be any who do not know the meaning of Acclimatisation, we would refer them

to an article publislie(i§in^ur supplement of to-day, atfoj-ding ailittle History of the Victorian sdcijetyj^lnch possibly more than the^est^h&lbejen. fortunate and useful in it^;^.x^irtfenits.^ The zeal of its membersy*as extended from .Java sparows to Canadian geese; and. even Madagascar tortoises, and St. i Bernard dbgjHiaire been provided with-; homes in thu Royal Park:, Botanic Gardens, &c, where their idiosyncracies are tenderly cared for, 7 This energy mifrht well fee emulated Southland Association, though*' it\ ought at first to be directed to triore, necessary objects than Java >j»arrqws t arid* similar reirce ayes. It wottldLjiot ;be difficult for the new Society tS obtain a.fevvofHhe al-' pacas recenily, brought tq^ Victoria* from ■< Peru, — they might have pheasants from Auckland, and hares.. There is much in their power, without going to Madagascar lor tortoises v but before they j can do any practical good'thete arej some things which th,y wu^t haye fi andi these are — a full? roll Of m^mbers^and ; public support and sympathy.. ; -I^hey deserve these — their aims live useful, and sure to aid in the progress of the Province. Every inhabitant jof the Province who is endowed with anypublic spirit will join the Society. The subscriptions will not be raurous ; and any member who may have a speciality for the impootation of a particular animal, will by the : in-, formation which will be-* -always iatj hand, be enabled to indulge that speciality much more readily than if there were no association to assist him in the praiseworthy endeavor.