ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4637, 11 June 1880, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting" of the above society was held yesterday afternoon, at Cookson's Commercial Hotel, at 3.30. Present—Hon. J. T. Peacock (in the chair), Meesrs Bridges, Oogan, and S. C. Farr, hon. secretary. The secretary announced the receipt of a warrant from Wellington authorising .Mr Q-. L. Mellish to kill hares on hie eetate. Also, a letter from the South Australian Acclimatisation Society, covering bank draft for £62 10e, amount due to the society for birds purchased of Mr Bills, acting further if they could be supplied with starlings, blackbirds, thrushes, and goldfinches, to the value of £50. The matter was ordered to lie over until Mr Bills returned to Canterbury. A letter .was read from the secretary to the Otago Acclimatisation Society, sending diagram and particulars of a salmon trout (Salmo trutta) caught at Otago Heads, and preserved in the Otago Museum, which was pronounced by the members to be exactly the counterpart of the fish lately caught at the mouth of the Waimakariri river. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary's office, authorising the Bey. J. D. Ferguson, Br. Campbell, Messrs W. S. Cooke, and Major Cunningham to fish in the Waimakariri for the purpose of merely testing the actual presence or not of salmon in that river, also acknowledging receipt of copy of resolution in favor of legislation for the protection of fish of the salmon tribe from extermination. A copy of the Fisheries Bill now before the Legislative Council was also forwarded, with the request that the society should suggest any needful additional clause to be inserted. This led to considerable discussion. It was contended that if in the future all fees would have to be paid to the Government, it was impossible to carry on the society. Dissatisfaction was also expressed that the Bill contained no provision for the protection of fish of the salmon tribe, as asked for in the letter recently sent to Wellington. Ultimately it was resolved—"That Messrs Bridges, Cogan, and Farr form a committee to consider the Bill seriatim, and report as soon as possible to a special meeting of the sooiety." The secretary was instructed to write to Wellington, aeking that the passage of the Bill be delayed a few days to allow time to prepare and forward proposed additions and alterations. It was suggested that it was advisable to make the fishing and game licenses reciprocal in the various provinces of the colony. This being all the business, the meeting adjourned.