NEW ZEALAND ACCLIMATISATION WOMK.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1266, 10 August 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND ACCLIMATISATION WOMK.

The presistent efforts of New Zealand in the work of acclimatisation deserve the utmost commendation. Half a century ago there were no domestic animals in that country except a few herd of cattle and horses introduced by the early missionaries at the Bay of Islands, near the extreme north of the Northern Island. The celebrated discoverer, Captain Cook, had introduced sheep and swine half a century earlier, but the sheep very soon perished. The swine, however, increased rapidly, and became a nuisance to sheep-fanners after the colonisation of the country, - rewards being paid for their destruction, as if they were noxious vermin. The Colony was founded in 1840, and the Natives had then barely abaudoned their cannibal practices — desolating inter-tribal wars having lasted till within a few years of that date. Since then the progress of the country has been the most remarkable on record. It has succeeded in acclimatising nearly all the game birds of the old and New Worlds. Californian quail are more plentiful there than in that State, pheasants, grouse, partridges, &c, afford excellent sport, the several provinces competing with each other in the work of acclimatisating them. The songbirds of England are fully represented, and these, with tha native songsters, make mountain and plain vocal the year round. Prairie chickens and mountain quail have likewise been introduced, 16 of the latter birds out of 22 recently sent to Nelson by Robert J. Creighton, agent of the Golony having arrived there. Thevse birds were forwarded from Emigrant Gap by J. B. Chinn, who took great interest in the matter. Deer-stalk-ing is now possible in many parts of New Zealand, red and fallow deer having been introduced and increased wonderfully The rivers are full of English and Californian trout, Eastern trout being likewise represented. In the San Fr.incisoo Pout particulars were published of a cross between Eastern and English trout by Mr Johnson, of Owapa, in the Canterbury province of New Zealand, the hybrid growing larger and faster than the pure • fish of either variety. California salmon have likewise been acclimatised, and are in almost every river of any volume in the islands. English salmon are established iv New Zealand, also salmon trout. The latter fi~.li has inex'eased very fast, and is now purchasable in most of the markets of the Colony. But the great interior lakes of the country are comparatively without fish ; indeed in several of them and tributary rivers, fish can scarcely be said to exist. To remedy this defect two attempts were made to stock the lakes with whitefish from Lake Michigan. These attempts failed in the Colony fiom local causes. This year, however, another effort is being made on a much larger scale than formerly. Mr Creighton has arranger' for the shipment of over 20,000,000 whitefi^n eggs from the fish-hatching establishment of Frederick N. Clark, Northville Mich , by the mail steamer Australia. The eggs will be packed in mountain ice and carefully watched during the voyage. On their arrival at Auckland they will be transferred to a Colonial steamc, preparations having been made for their reception and distribution throughout the Colony. Mr Clark kindly forwarded to Mr Creighton models of his patent hatching-boxes, and these are already in the Colony, so tint no hitch will occur in this regard. Mr Clark telegraphed from Omaha on the loth that the eggs had been shipped in good condition and would arrive in Saa Francisco on the 19th. Mr Clark came with the shipment from Nbrthville to Omaha, to ensure against any damrge or acci 'ent en route. The friends of acclimatisation iv this State will be gratified, no doubt, at the success of the experiment. Of the Australian • group of Colonies, New Zepland is more closely identified with this country than any other. — Frank Led'w\ Illustrated Newspaper.

Tasitanian On, Shale. — A corresponof the llobart Town Jfercuri/ writes from Latrobe as follows: — An enterprise which promises to result in a very considerable increase in the exports of Latrobe has now been inaugurated. The bituminous mineral, or oil shale, discovered on the Mersey, ntar the above township, some years ago, but which has ever since lain dormant, has at length found the requisite capital and enterprise in Melbourne to develope it. The mineral in question was known as dysodile, but being found to be entirely unique, and confined not only to Tasmania, but to the spot in Tasmania indicated, has now received its scientific baptism as "Tasmanite." It was always considered doubtful whether the oil alone to be extracted from the shale would bo sufficient to prove remunerative, but new channels of utilisation have recently been discovered. It has been found to be admirably adapted for antiaephc and protective paints. Trials for this purpose in Melbourne have proved a perfect success, not only for black paint, which was at first contemplated for the preservation of timber, but also as an antiseptic body to be coloured by various pigments according to requirement It has also been fouud available, for moulds for ii-on castings, instead of charcoal powder at little over half the coat of the latter. And it is further said to afford a polishing powder superior to those at present in use. For all these manufactures patents are said to have been secured. Should the mineral fulfil all the promises made in its behalf, it must not only prove a valuable discovery for the prosecution of certain arts and manufactures, but must exercise a most potent influence in furthering the j progressive tendency of Latrobe. The j requisite prelimimry mining operations on the section are now in full progress. Ami to jinlge from appearance, the mineral uil Ie obtained die iply and abundantly, as well as speedily.