THE TROUT OVA.

West Coast Times, Issue 628, 28 September 1867, Page 4

THE TROUT OVA.

(lEOJt THE IYTTELTON TIMES, SEP. 23.) Mr Jobnson, the Secretary of the Acclimatization Society, arrived by the Bangitoto on Saturday, with the trout ova which he has procured from Tasmania. Dr Officer and the other members of the Commission evinced every desire to aid "MY Johnson in carrying out the objects of his mission, and expressed their hearty wishes for the success of the experiment. The ova, which were spawned shortly be/ore Mr Johnson's arrival in Tasmania, in a little rill connected with the ponds at the Plenty, were packed in moss in three boxes, containing 400 each. The boxes were perforated and placed in a larger one, also containing moss. The passage to Melbourne was very rough, and the boxes were much shaken. The stormy weather having delayed the steamer, a week's detention in Melbourne was the consequence, during which time the boxes were packed in ice at the works of the Victorian Ice Company. On the departure from Melbourne of the Hangitoto, the box was clung on board the steamer, and a fresh supply of ice obtained from the Company. The voyage to New Zealand was a fair one, but strong heads winds were met with between the Bluff, Otago, and Lyttelton. During this time the ova were carefully .watched and a fresh supply of ice was placed in the outer box every two hours, and the moss kept saturated with the coldest fresh water procurable. On the arrival of the steamer at Otago, one of the boxes of ova intended for the Otago society was handed over to the officials of the association. On arrival at Lyttelton the boxes of ova were immediately landed and conveyed to the gardens. The ova were then placed in the breeding box prepared for their reception, which is supplied with water from an artesian well by pipes so arranged as to modify the force of tlie stream. As might have been anticipated, from the transhipment of the ova, the rough weather experienced, and the unavoidable detention at Melbourne, a small per-centage has perished, but as far as can be at present ascertained, the remainder are in a healthy condition; and Mr Johnson himself entertains no doubt of the successful hatching of fish. Besides the trout ova, Mr Johnson has brought a large and valuable collection of objects of use and interest to the province. Mr M. Allport has proved himself a j valuable coadjutor in the undei'taking. Mr Johnson has succeeded in bringing with him some English perch, j and also some tadpoles. He has also in charge a deer from Tasmania, presented by Mr Graves. Amongst other importations will be found a species of water snail, which possesses the property of feeding on decayed vegetable matter, and also affording an abundant supply of food for fish. From the Botanical Society of Tasmania Mr Johnson has obtained a considerable number of seeds and plants. From the Melbourne Botanical Society he has been supplied with the American hickory, DyoS' j pyrits Virginiana, an American fruit and j timber tree ; a specimen of a new and beautiful Queensland palm, and a new variety of vine from the same colony ; a plant of the Australian mahogany tree, the most valuable timber tree grown there ; a Cork oak, a Norfolk Island pine, some Chinese tea-plants, and specimens of the blue and white waterlily . These are very easily cultivated, and from their j hardy character will no doubt soon form a prominent feature in our lakes and rivers. They are readily acclimatized, and once planted require little or no attention. A few being placed in the river ■would soon form a pleasing addition to the Government Domain, and to the gardens of the Acclimatization Society. There is no reason why the Avon in Canterbury should not in a short time rival the Ouse in the number and beauty of these pretty and favorite aquatic plants. Mr Johnson has been presented by Meßsrs Grant and M'MUlan, of Melbourne, with some rare and curious seeds, amongst Tvhieli are those of the Locustbean, the Sesamum indicum, a plant yield- I ing a valuable oil, and which is used as food, and also medicinally ; the Pennicillaria spicita a cereal UFed as millet, and -likely to suit the climate of Canterbury, and some new varieties of spinach from California. A few gold-fish have been contributed by the Melbourne Acclimatization Society, and some seeds of the Madagascar bean, by that of Dunediu. Some eggs of a fine breed of grey Dorking fowls have also been obtained. Mr Johnson has also brought seeds of the Lima bean, specimens of the China sugar grass — Sorghum saccharatum, and of the Osage orange, a highly ornamental hedgeplant, and one of very rapid growth. This latter plant has recently come into vogue in Victoria for fences, where it forms a cattle-proof fence in a few years. Should the climate of Canterbury be favorable to its growth, it will prove a valuable acquisition to the province.

We take the following from the " Wellington Independent" : — " Mr A. S. Atkinson gave noticelast night of amotion declaring thatinthe opinion of the House, the session should close on the Bth October. Members generally are getting heartily sick of their work, which 6eems endless. Late sittings have been tried, and the " wee sma' hours" are constantly encroached upon; but the law which governs the relation of the business transacted to the •number of hours occupied by the sitting appears to be that of inverse proportion. It is jto be hoped the country will appreciate the «■' ; ij.^flfifforU of their legislators, who mitft

suffer severely from their arduous labors ; indeed, Mr Main yesterday began to talk about " impaired constitutions." A suggestion made by Mr H. A. Atkinson deserves consideration whether it would not be advisable to postpone the consideration of a number of bills now on the Order Paper till next session. It is simply absurd to pass laws in so crude a state that they must necessarily be repealed or amended next session ; and half of the measures passed through the Hoxisc during the last week or two have not received anything like the consideration requisite to render them workable. A good deal move business would be got through if .less time were wasted on points of order and questions as to whether certain measures should be considered or not. The greatest sinner in this respect is Mr Reynolds, and it would be an interesting calculatian to ascertain what expense he has put the country to during the present session. He is decidedly the dearest member of the House. A strange circumstance is reported by the Okarita Police concerning a man named John Kirwau who, on the 18th instant, was observed wandering -about the banks of the Waitaki Biver, apparently in an unsound state of mind. He was first observed by a miner who informed the police, and a constable was dispatched to watch the poor fellow, and if necessary to arrest him. He however was nowhere to be seen when the constable reached the river, so after searching about all day the latter returned to the station with the missing man's swag which had been found by the Waitaki ferryman. The search was resumed next day, and fruitlessly until 4 p.m., when Kirwan was observed to walk out of the bush and deliberately rush into the river which in that place is very wide and deep. He struck out like a practised swimmer and gained the opposite shore safely but terribly exhausted. He presented a wretched appearance being emaciated from long fasting, whilst his flesh was torn and bleeding through rough contact with the dense undergrowth of that part of the coast. He was arrested and conveyed to the Okarita camp, where he was examined and remanded until tke 24th instant and then discharged as he quite recovered in the interim. The singular part of the storey is to come and proves that divested of timidity, man like the lower animals, i 3 naturally gifted with the power of swiiuming, as in answer to the "Warden, Kirwan swore that he was not able to swim, and had never swam a stroke in his life, and yet the constable declared that he saw linn swim the "Waitaki, which is there from ten to fourteen feet deep.