ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 8528, 29 May 1891, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meetiDg of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held this afternoon, and attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), A. C. Begg, W. Carlton, J. Edgar, F. Deans, (manager), G. P. Clifiord, W. AitkeD, G. M. Marshall, W. F. Forrest, \V. S. Pillans, D. Russell (secretary), T. Brown. Mr G. M. Thomson apologised for his absence. FIN'AXCIAL. In presenting the balance-sheet, Mr Begg said he was glad to be able to say that the Bociety'3 finances were in a better position than tor some Sine past. The society began the year with a balance of L24S lis 7d, and closed it with L 396 83 Id, an increase of Ll5O. The assets were valued at L 2.133, and there were no liabilities. He thought that the state of the finances was very satisfactory, and that the society were in a position to take advantage of any opportunity they might have to spend anything advantageously in the way of introducing game or i making experiments in fish culture or otherwise. THE REPORT. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report (already printed), said that the Council had hoped to be able to report something certain about the return of some of their salmon from the sea. That hope had not been realised, but there was yet a possibility that some information concerning the return of these fish would come to hand. Nothing had been done in the matter of introducing winged game. The question had been considered, but it had not been deemed advisable to spend any money on an experiment the results of which were very doubtful. The year'B transactions embraced useful and progressive work, and, as Mr Begg had said, the financial result was satisfactory. Mr Begg seconded the motion for the adoption of the report. The society had been doing good work without miking much f U3S about it. For one thiDg, the stocking of the streams would benefit the " unborn millions." Nearly every available stream f rem Auckland to the Bluff was now stocked, •jifcl as showing the quality of the angling he TBiaht mention that he had recently sent Home Ihree trout caught in the Waitaki, and a member of the Iziak Walton Society wrote in rsply that he had never seen such fine trout" The speaker went on to advocate that the society should make an effort to destroy shags and eels, two great deetrovera of fish in our rivers. The Chairman thought that the assistance of settlers should be asked to prevent peaching in the streams. The society were powerless of themselves to cope with this ■evil. Mr Beg-; thought the thanks of the Society should bei >iven to Mr Clifford for the efforts he had made on his two trips to stock the West Coast rivers with salmon. The motion for the adoption of the report wa3 carried. COMPLIMENTARY. A special vote of thanks was passed to Mr Clifford. This motion wa3 proposed by Mr Begg and aeconded by the Chairman*, who spoke of Mr Clifford as a very useful friend and member o£ the society. Oa the motion of Mr Ebgar, it was resolved to elect Mr William M'Connohie, of St. Bathans, an honorary member, in recognition of the services he had rendered to the society in the way of hatching trout. A similar motion was proposed in respect to Mr Wiliiam lelford, of Clifton, but it was pointed out that this was unnecessary, as Mr Telford had already become a life member by having subscribed LlO to the funds. OPOSSUMS. Mr Clifford thought that opossums should be tamed out into the forests on the West Coast, where they would become a very valuable asset. _ Mr Begg said that the Southland Society were already turning out opossums on the We3t Coast. THE MURRAY LOBSTER. Mr Clifford asked whether something could not be cone to introduce the Murray lobster, a fresh water lobster that was very fine eating. Mr Pillans had seen crayfish eating trout, and feared that Murray lobsters would do the same. The Chairman would be against the proposal, on the ground that the lobsters referred to might interfere with the fißh in the streams. The subject then dropped. ELECTIONS.

Mr MaitUnd was re-elected chairman and Mr Begg vice-chairman. The motion to that effect was proposed by Mr Carlton and seconded by Mr Edgar. , . . . Both gentlemen returned thanks for being elected unopposed. . „ ~. Messrs Brown, Marshall, and Carlton voluntarily retired from the Council so as to comply with the rules, and were re-elected. Mr W S. Pillans was elected in place of Mr J. Wilkie (deceased). This election was the result of a ballot, and it was understood that whenever a vacancy arose the candidate standing next to Mr Pillans in order of votes-viz., Mr W. Aitkenshonld be made a member. Mr A. Christie (of Waikaia) and Mr W. Telford (of Clifton) were added to the list of associates. Mr Begg, proposed as hon. treasurer, said that he had already served eleven years, and it was time Bomebody else took a turn, but being pressed by all the members to reconsider the matter be submitted to re-election. Mr D. Russell was re-elected honorary secretary. Mr W. O. Smith was appointed auditor. thanks. On the motion of Mr Edgar, a vote of thanks was passed to the hon. secretary, the manager (Mr Deans), and the Ranger (Mr Burt). m>^ _———