THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY OF VICTORIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 946, 4 December 1861, Page 4

THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY OF VICTORIA.

The first dinner of the Acclimatisation Society, which has been advertised for some time past as an experimental entertainment, was held on Tuesday afternoon, at Menzies' Hotel. The assemblage was presided over by Mr. Edward Wilson, and the vicechair was occupied by Mr. E. Chambers. On Mr. Wilson's right hand was seated the Vice-Consul of France, and on his left Professor M'Coy. The following was the bill of fare in the English version:— Soups.—Kangaroo, murray turtle, cray fish, iced punch. Fish.—Schnapper, Murray cod, golden perch, whiting, black fish, garfish, butter fish, silver fish, soles, grey mullet, flounders, pike, oyster sauce, anchovy sauce, lobster sauce, shrimp sauce. Removes.—Haunch of kangaroo, native companion, wild turkey, wild duck and water cresses, stewed ducks and green peas, boiled turkey, roast turkey, bandicoot, boiled rabbit, guinea fowl, native pigeon, wallaby, wombat, patty of frogs, musk duck, water hens, Cape barren goose, parroquet pie, roast spring chicken, boiled spring chicken, tongues, hams, black swan. Entrees.—Salmi wild duck, filets of native pigeon, stewed eels, oyster patties, fricandeau of wombat and spinach, crayfish voilau vent, supreme of black duck, shrimp patties, curried opossum; kangaroo, olives, and spinach; jugged kangaroo, braised teal and truffles, curried crayfish, mayonaise of Murray lobster, sweetbreads and white sauce, mayonaise of fowl. Second Course.—Porcupine, plover, snipe, teal, quail, wattle bird. Removes.—lced nesselrode pudding, semolina cabinet pudding, Australian pudding. Entremets.—Orange souffle, citron cream, fruit tarts, maraschino jelly, compotes of pears, vanilla fanchonettes, noyeau jelly, meringue of apple 3, blancmange, strawberry cream, custards, charlotte of apples, open jam tarts, trifle, pyramid cake, fondau au parmesan, anniesleigh cheese, macaroni au gratin. Dessert (in season.)— Pine apple, strawberries, bananas, loquats, pears, apples, oranges. (Preserved) —Plums, green gages, peaches, apricots. (Dried) — Almonds, walnuts, prunes, Barcelona nuts, raisins, figsMr. Wilson opened the proceedings by remarking, that the dinner which they had just discussed was sufficient to remind them of the Acclimatisation Society of England. It had been suggested by the members of that association that it would be well to introduce many new descriptions of game, but it was felt in the colony that if the society was to occupy its proper position it must engage itself in more useful designs, and that above all things it should engage itself in procuring food for the people. One great reason why the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria surpassed that of England was that it had kept in view the utilitarian aspect of the question. It had especially borne in mind the supply of food to the people by importing valuable supplies from other countries. For whilst the masses of the people in Victoria possessed supplies of food unknown in other countries, it was still desirable to increase the supply. If the country did not possess any particular animal adapted for food, that animal should be imported. The persons present had experienced the advantage of this system; and the dinner which had just been concluded, afforded an opportunity of forming a judgment in this respect. If the dishes they had tried were bad, let them say so; but if they were good, l#t them by all means be introduced into other countries. He had great pleasure in proposing " The Queen." Band—" God' Save the Queen I" The toast was drunk with all honors. The Chairman rose again to propose a toast. He thanked the meeting for their praiseworthy enthusiasm, which, in fact, had nearly interrupted him in his remarks. (Laughter.) He was about to say that, in connection with this matter, her Majesty deserved more credit than in ordinary affairs. (Applause, amidst which Mr. Wilson resumed his seat.) After a brief pause, the Chairman again rose, and saip that the enthusiasm of the meeting had rather interrupted the current of his remarks. He was about to assign the reasons for which her Majesty was entitled to the special recognition of the society. When he (Mr. Wilson) was pushing forward with all his energies the introduction of salmon, he had communicated with the Duke of Newcastle on the subject. The Duke said he had been at Windsor, and that he had spoken to the Queen and Prince Albert, both of whom were exceedingly anxious to ? serve the cause of acclimatisation, and stated that"f anything that Windsor or Balmoral could furnish would be at the disposal of the gentlemen interesting themselves in the matter. On this ground, therefore, even if on no other, her Majesty and the royal family were entitled to the gratitude of the society. The association had every reason to speak and think respectfully oi Prince Albert, for when Mr. Chirnside sent orders to Mr. Dalgety to forward him some red deer—and it was a very ticklish thing to do—Mr. Dalgety was informed that half a dozen of the best deer at Balmoral were at his disposal. On this account he thought they might drink the health of Prince Albert as enthusiastically as they had already done that of the Queen. (Cheers.) The toast was drunk with all honors. The Chairman again rose and said that it was a general custom in all companies to drink the health of royalty, but it was not so easy to import an appreciation of political institutions. The kangaroo, for instance, had very vague ideas respecting the export duty on gold, and the emu but indistinct notions as to the occupation licenses.. He would propose the health of the Governor, who had been a very good friend to the cause, had presided at tho society's first meeting, and had given its members the largest subscription of any permanent subscriber. The toast was drunk with all honors. The Chairman again, after a brief interval, proposed the army and navy, with the addition of the volunteers. There could not be too much importance attached to the volunteer force. (Cheers.) The gentlemen present could scarcely look abroad and see what was going on in other countries, without perceiving what was iv progress, and that

a serious crisis was approaching in the world in which British volunteers might be called on to use their arms, and would, no doubt, use them effectually. (Cheers.) Air—" British Grenadiers."

Colonel Ross briefly returned thanks on behalf of the volunteers, remarking upon the coincidence, that the initials, V. R., represented at once Victoria Begina and Volunteer Rifles. The Vice-President, Mr. Chambers, proposed the next toast, which he observed should command the approval of all sections of politicians, and especially of the Acclimatisation Society, whose efforts the Parliament had at all times supported. Whatever might be the effect of the Parliament in other respects, as regarded the Acclimatisation Society it had been useful. It might be true that in obtaining a new constitution too readily the country had gone rather too fast, but that was" altogether a different thing from the introduction of new plants and animals. It was however a source of congratulation to have introduced the British lion in the shape of a British Parliament. He begged to propose " The Parliament of Victoria." .

The toast was drunk with all honors,

Mr. Nicholson, who was received with loud and continued cheers, returned thanks. He had no notion, on coining to the meeting, that he would be called upon to propose any toast, and had come merely for the purpose of discussing the kangaroos and oppossums. He thought, under the circumstances, it would have been better if the last-toast had been omitted. (Some cries of " No.") At present the Parliament was divided into two parties, and of these two he was most decidedly with the Opposition. (Cheers.) Some of the political difficulties that had arisen had been pointed out and foreseen by impartial persons. There was a want of moderation on the one side of the House and a want of patriotism on the other. He had been taught the necessity of cultivating the one, and he also perceived how essential was the other. But the people were themselves to blame if responsible Government did not work well. As for the Acclimatisation Society, he had introduced it before the colony four years ago, when he asked Parliament for a sum of £2000 to forward its objects. He had subsequently, however, in compliance with the wish of the House, to reduce the amount to £1000, and ultimately to £500. He was glad to think that now no reasonable vote for the purpose would be refused by either House of Parliament. He was only present by chance, having purchased a ticket, but he had indulged in a few items of the repast which he had never tasted before, and which he found perfectly satisfactory. The Chairman again rose and said that the development of the resources of the colony in con : nection with the matter of acclimatisation was the great object of the society, and if there was any country in which acclimatisation could be useful, it was Australia. He was about to mention a fact so startling, that though he stated it on one of the highest authorities in the world, it would be received with incredulity. It was that in dealing with the subject of acclimatisation, a matter which was merely scratched upon the surface, there were animals to deal with, saying nothing of the vegetables which should be introduced for their sustenance, to the number of 140,000. [A voice: "Bead them over."] He (Mr. Wilson) would do so, but that he might exhaust the patience of bis hearers, though he could see the excellence of the repartee. But it would be scarcely credited that of the 140,000 varieties of animals which he had mentioned there were but 42 in the colony. To show the value of acclimatisation, he might state that it was estimated that the flock of alpacas would in fifty years produce nine millions of money. He would conclude by proposing, " The Eesources of the Colony, in connection with the great principle of acclimatisation throughout the world."

The toast was drank with all honors,

Mr. Archer next proposed "The Acclimatisation Societies of London and Paris," coupled with the name of the French Consul, Mr. Truy.

M. Truy returned thanks. Several other toasts were proposed and responded to, arid the party broke up at a somewhat advanced hour.— Age, Oct. 18. .