ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1620, 30 April 1879, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The usual montly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held on Tuesday, at the Commercial Hotel, at 3 p.m. Present— Messrs J. 0. Boys (in the chair), Hill, Carrick, Acland, and Farr (hon. sec.) The minutes of the last general and special meetings were read and confirmed. Accounts to the amount of £23 9s 3d were passed for payment. correspondence. The following letter was read from Mr Piers Warburton, of Shenstone Farm, Palmeraton North : The Secretary Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, Christchurch. Dear Sir, —I myself privately, and not as secretary to the Manawatu Acclimatisation Society, have just imported some prize poultry from England, of various sorts, but unfortunately the buff Cochin China cock, light Brahma cock, and Aylesbury drake died on the passage.

As I understand that you have imported some pure-bred fowls, I wish to know if you could let me have some good birds to supply the place of these, and if so, what their prices would be f.o.b. Lyttclton. I also want to pro. cure some pure-bred Spanish and dark Brahma fowls, say a cock and three hens of each. In the event of my procuring the above from your society, I should alwa>s be glad to exchange cocks with you, so as to avoid too much interbreeding. I have at present imported light Brahmas, buff Cochins, golden pencilled Hainburghs, Dorkings (dark grey), and Aylesbury ducks, and have ordered others from home.

Should you require any reference, I am sure that Colonel Pucke of your town would kindly answer any enquiries you might make. Yours, truly, Piers Warburton.

The secretary was instructed to ask the secretary of the Poultry Association to forward to the writer a list of the description of birds that would be exhibited at the next poultry show in Christchurch. A letter was read from Messrs Walker and Ologstoun, acknowledging the receipt of letter containing a warrant empowering them to shoot hares on their property during the the month of June.

The Secretary read a telegram from the Government, stating that the fee for licenses for shooting game waß the same as last year, namely, £2 10s. A telegram was read from Mr R. Ball, of Nelson, enquiring if the society wanted the fifty brace of quails ordered last season for Lyttelton. The secretary was instructed to see Mr Hawkins, of Lyttelton, upon the matter. A letter was received from Mr Luecombe, Makihi, asking if the society had any objection to Mr Bills bringing out from Home on his return to the colony a pen of game fowls.

The Secretary stated that he had replied to tho eifect that as a very large order had been given to Mr Bills for birds a resolution was pussed by the Council as follows:—" That Mr Bills shall give his whole attention to the shipments, and shall under (be ci-cumstances not take charge of anything beyond tho list ho had undertaken," and that the resolution would prevent the society acceding to his request. The secretary stated that the ranger had applied for some extra allowance towards the maintenance of two horses he was obliged to keep for the performance of his duty. The secretary was instructed to write, informing the ranger that if he made hisjapplication by letter it would be considered.

, Mr Acland asked, on behalf of Mr Join Studholmo, for the loan of the society'a nets to catch hares at Waimate, to be brought from thence to the Coldstream this side of the Rangitat a. It was decided to let Mr Studholme huvo the nets for ore week.

The following letter was read from the secretary of the South Canterbury I S. C. Farr, Esq., Dear Sir,—ln reply to your letter of the 18th instant, with reference to cbufcsinfr hares in Ron*;h Canterbury ai; the last meeting of our society, it was decided that the time has not yet arrived when coursing should be general in South Canterbury, as hares were not as yet sufficiently plentiful for the pnrpose. It was, however, recommended that application be mads to the Governor, allowing Mr Studholmo to take hares on his property at Waimate during the next season, which has been granted by his Excellency. As to our society requiring hares this season, our object is to allow members to import gamo themselves, the society recouping them part of tho cost. I cannot get a meeting of the society together in time to answer your letter with reference to purchasing hare 3 from your society. I will take twenty, and I know a number of our members will take them if you send them to me. I will see that they are sent to their destination. The price we are willing to give is 20s for does and 10s for jacks delivered alive here. I enclose cheque for .£25 10s for pheasants purchased by me from your society. Please return receipt. An application has beefl made by Messrs Smith and Dennistbun to bourse hares on the Peel Forest estate. I .have written to them to apply to I he Governor, we seeing no objection.

Tours truly, Arthur Ferry, Secretary.

It was resolved that the South Canterbury Society should be supplied with the quantity required at £1 per head, if the Canterbury Society had them to spare. An application was received for the appointment of gamekeeper from William Hand.

The application was declined. It wag resolved that Mr Bills be instructed to bring out, for the use of the society, £5 worth of ground nets, for game, hares, and birds.

It was resolved that for the future the hour for holding the usual monthly meeting should be 3.30 p.m. This was the whole of the business, and the meeting then adjourned.