THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1871.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 60, 15 December 1871, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. FRIDAY , DECEMBER 15, 1871.

The Auckland Acclimatisation Society, according to the report of the last meeting, which appeared in the local newspapers of Tuesday, appears to be adding very considerably to the. number of insectivorous birds. We think a branch Society should be formed at the Thames, and arrangements made to obtain some of the advantages arising from the operations of the Auckland Society, which is principally supported by sporting licenses for shooting pheasants, which were introduced and acclimatised by private persons long before an Acclimatization Society was thought of. It would appear that the same Society vote the silk worms, —obtained after much pains and some cost —“ a decided bore.” “ They were to troublesome for all the profit they would ever give;” and MrTonks, an ardent advocate of acclimatization and the “ development of new industries,” moved the following highly characteristic resolution :

“ That the brutes be destroyed by hanging, drowning, burning, or any other way, so as to get rid of them,” On first reading this resolution, we inferred that it had reference to the Council of the Acclimatization Society ; but the context showed that “ the brutes” intended were the industrious little worms which contribute so much to the wealth and happiness of mankind, and not to the members of the Council. Would our readers believe it, however, that Mr. Tonic’s stupid resolution was gravely considered by the Council of the Society, but with an eve to profit, it was resolved not to destroy “ the brutes,” but to sell them. Now, we ask, who would buy these silk worms after reading the report of the meeting in question. The Society, it appears, has gone to considerable trouble to import “ morns alba” seed from Calcfornia, the leaves of this description of mulberry being most suitable for feeding the silk worm. The seed is to be sold. Let us imagine what is the duty of the Acclimatization Society in this matter ? They have a garden cf seven acres in the public domain in which to conduct experiments of this character, and because a little trouble is involved they resolve to abandon the attempt to acclimate the silk worm. The colony has made considerable efforts to render sericulture a success. A large sum has been i spent creating a nursery in Nelson from which the “ moms alba” and silk worms may be distributed throughout the colony, and yet the Auckland Acclimatization Society, with all its advantages, refuses to conduct an experiment on a small scale, which if successful, would be of incalculably advantage to the province. Really, something should be done to bring these gentlemen to their senses. They are much more the representatives of the public in this matter than they imagine. Their gardens arc public property ; their game licenses belong to the Provincial revenue by right, although we approve of its appropriation for acclimatization purposes. We therefore protest against such an insolent disregard of the public interests as has been manifested in this matter by the committee or council of the Acclimatization Society. Heretofore these gentlemen have had everything their own way. As they have not been criticised they may have assumed that they are not liable to criticism. Rut we can assure them that their conduct will hereafter be closely scrutinised, and that the public trust which they hold must be administered to public satisfaction. The effort to stock the Piako river by Mr. Frith, with trout, is a praiseworthy one; and we trust he may succeed. The Natives would preserve the fish, we have no doubt, until they had increased sufficiently to warrant

killing them. The Kauwearanga .and Ohinemuri might likewise lie stocked and we suggest that locals effort be made in that direction. We fear ’the attempt to acclamatise the. salmon, which is to bo made, will fail. The only chance we have is from the Colombia river, on the Pacific coast.