THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Southland Times, Issue 1248, 10 May 1870, Page 3

THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the above Society — adjourned from a previous date took place at the Prince of Wales Hotel on the evening of Priday last, 6th inst. Mr Gilmour, who occupied the chair, said there was no necessity for his occupying time with remarks, as the reports to be laid before the meeting would iully explain what had been done by the society during the past year. Mr E. D. Butts, the hon. Secretary and Treasurer, being called upon, read the following reports, whicb were afterwards adopted unanimously : — In laying their second annual report before the members of this Society, your committee venture to hope that their efforts for promoting acclimatisation will be considered fairly successful, proportionately with the means at their command. The balance sheet now laid before you, made up to the end of March 1870, shows an income * from all sources of £151 10s 23, and an expenditure of £131 18s lOd, leaving a balance in the Treasurer's hands of £19 lls 4d. It will be seen that the expenditure, which was mainly incurred in the early part of the year, has been in connection with the Society's fish-hatch-ing establishment at Waliacetown. Owing, howeTpr, to the untiring efforts of the Southland members in Wellington, a Bill was passed through both Houses of the Legislature, granting the Society 2GOO acres of land, the proceeds of which were to be confined strictly to the introduction of salmon and other fish, which will now enable the Society to devote their finds to their more legitimate purposes, namely, the introduction of birds and plants. A report from the curator at the ponds will enable the Society to see the progress which has been made with the fish and birds at present under his charge. It wDI therefore only be necessary here to remark that the following gentlemen have received supplies of young trout, all of which are doing well, namely, Messrs F«Wentworth, Hankinson Brothers, F. F. Butler, and G. Dundas. A supply was also forwarded to Queenstown, but .unfortunately, without success, as all but one died before reaching the Late. Your committee trust that during the coming winter they may be able to add a supply of salmon trout ova to their hatching house, as the Commissioners in Tasmania have succeeded in obtaining ova from some of their fish which were kept in confinement, and it is hoped that a small quantity may be granted to Southland. Ffforts have been made to obtain salmon ova from Great Britain, and a letter of credit was despatched to Mr Youl for that purpose. Unfortunately, it arrived too late to enable a shipment to be made . during the last winter, in Great Britain. A correspondence has since been commenced with His Honor the Superintendent of Otago, with the view of importing salmon ova at joint expense, and which may lead to a fresh effort to acclimatise this valuable fish. At the last annual meeting, it was agreed that efforts should be made to establish a Museum in connection with the Society. Your committee regret that there has been no means at their command to commence this undertaking. Your committee cannot close this report without pointing out the difficulty which exists in obtaining that degree of popular snpport which this institution receives in other parts of New Zealand. This may be accounted for by the fact that Provincial Governments have rendered material assistance, by granting sums of money for the purpose of forming gardens, and even now they generally receive annual grants in aid of their funds, as exampled by the Otago Society, which receives £2 of Government aid for every pound sterling subscribed. The money received originally from the Government of Southland, was given on the understanding that it should be spent in promoting fish culture, which though doubtless of far greater ultimate value to the province, has not that element of popularity in it which there would be in a well-cultivated, garden contiguous to the town. It should therefore be the duty of any future committee, to do their utmost towards providing a fund for that purpose, and which, if energetically prosecuted, may possibly be undertaken now that separate means have been provided for the maintenance of the fish ponds. Trout Ponds, Wallacetown, Ist April, 1870. To the Southland Acclimatisation. Society. Gentlekeh, — I have the honor to place before the Society a short account of the progress made here daring the past year. In the first place, with regard to the fish-culture, the hatching-house has been considerably enlarged, the boxes being now sufficient for the laying down of about fortythousand ova, the rearing pond made at least three times its original size, the reservoir at the spang-head covered in, thus entirely destroying

the weed which proved so troublesome daring the hatching of the first trout ova. |All the springs have now been brought down, thus at least doubling the water supply, and three additional ponds made. The lower spring has also been enclosed, and so added to the grounds, forming an excellent site for the future salmon pond. As the shags were inclined to be troublesome, it was deemed safer to cover the lower part of the rill where the old fish now are, and to which part they confine themselves during the day. I consider the water supply now ample for all hatching and rearing purposes, and believe the establishment to be superior to most, and second to no other in the "Colony for practical purposes. That the water is admirably adapted for the fish is best shown by their healthy appearance, the old fish now varying from ten to fourteen inches iv length, some of the largest being at least three inchea through at the shoulder, and must exceed l£lbs in weight. The fry in the rearing pond now vary from 2£ to Si inches in length, and I am not aware of a single loss amongst them since their ejectment from the hatching-house in January lastA large aviary was built for the reception of two brace of the Chinese pheasants presented by , a member, but on reaching here they were found so wild, and the season being far advanced, were turned out at Mossbura Bush under the eye of a settler who takes great interest in their well-doing. From a visit I lately made there, I believe the hens are away with their nides, though I fear the late wet season is much against them. The aviary has been again tenanted with two couples of Californian quail, presented by the Auckland Society, which arrived in splendid condition, and have since laid 70 eggs, though brought here very late in the season. One bevy of these, hatched at the Bluff, has been brought here nearly full grown. As I have now a good supply of bantam hens for hatching, with an earlier start next season, I trust to be proportion* ately even more successful. — I have the honor to be, Ctentlemen, your most obedient servant, Heket Howabd. The subject of the formation of a garden near town, for the purposes of the society, was next discussed, the unanimous opinion on the matter being that strong efforts should be made in that direction, and that the garden should include a recreation ground for public use. A section of the Hyde Park Eeserve, fronting Gala-street, was generally considered the most eligible site, and it was hoped the work might soon be commenced. Mr Butts stated that the sub-comm-ittee recently appointed for this particular purpose, had schemes on foot which it was believed would turn out successful. Mr Fielder, on behalf of his Honor I the Superintendent, moved certain verbal alterations in the rules, rendered necessary through an alteration made in one of them at last annual meeting, but the effect of which, with, reference to the others, had been at the time overlooked. The proposal being duly seconded, was carried. The vacancies in the committee, occasioned by the retirement, in accordance with rule, of six members, and the names of one or two others struck out for non-attendance, were then filled up by the election of the following gentlemen, viz. : — The hon. Dr. Menzies, and Messrs Butts and M* Arthur (proposed by Mr Shearer), Mr J. M'Pherson (proposed by Mr Butts), Messrs F. F. Buttler, and C. Basstian (proposed by Mr Fielder), and Mr L. Hume, (proposed by Mr Gt. Smith.) Several items in the financial statement were next discussed, and satisfactorily explained. Mr Fielder, in a few complimentary words, proposed a special vote of thanks to the hon. Secretary and Treasurer, for his indefatigable zeal in the interests of the society. Mr Shearer cordially seconded the motion, which was earned by acclamation, and the meeting broke up.