ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1674, 28 April 1866, Page 2

ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

The usual monthly meeting of the members of this association was held yesterday at 2 p. m., at their room, at the Mechanics' Institute.

The following members were present: Messrs. Haast, chairman; Gould, Stevens, Packe, Aynsley, Speschley, Davie, and Hall, The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The following contributions have been received:—A Paradise duck from a gentleman ; a bat or flying fox from Fiji Islands, from Mr. W. Rayner, of Lyttelton; a pair of black swans by Dr. Mueller.of Melbourne; and a collection of seeds of trees and Shrubs, 180 varieties; seeds of the custard apple and Adhumba bean from the Fiji Islands, by Mr. F. T. Adams; Scotch heath and Californian prairie grass by Mr. Hislop; a quantity of cuttings of the Cupressus torulosa or Cashmeriensis a very beautiful variety of the cypress from the Himalaya mountains, by Mrs. J. C. Wilson ; a sea-gull by Mr, J. G. Cotton, and a pair of bantam fowls from Mr. Traherne.

The following letter was read from Dr. Mueller.

The Pittospora are such lovely hardy and quick-growing plants that thousands of theae plants are wanted for our cemeteries, town churches, and schools, hence I accept tho seed you so kindly offer with the utmost of gratitude. As a commencement of a reciprocation, I beg to offer you two collections of seeds of shrubs and trees, which will at least be useful to you for interchanges, if you should not want them yourself. The native flax is now in abundance here, but we have not a single plant of the Aralia. Schalijlira, Dicksonia antartica is a very common variety in Victoria, but we have no Ci/atMa dealbata here. If these plants are packed, the roots having been soaked in water for a night, they would arrive in safety, and might bo sent here under the care of a friendly captain of any vessel, free of charge. I have a gully or ravino which I am anxious to dress with specimens of this plant. Some animals will, ere long be sent by myself under the care of the captain of the Albion; others will be sent through the Victorian Acclimatization Society, F. Muehbe. A letter was also read from the Provincial Secretary, stating that the order in Council prohibiting the importation of certain animals, including poultry,does not,iu his opinion,' extend to small birds, or to pheasants and partridges. 'The letter added that the Collector of Customs would give fuller information on the subject. The following is the letter of the Collector of Customs : In reply to your letter of April 6,1 beg to state that lam not instructed to what limits tho Government intend to confine tho interpretation of tho word "poultry." The best courso would, perhaps, be to write to the Commissioner of Customs to ascertain if he intends that game birds shall be included in the prohibition now in force. J. W. Hahiitob. The Secbetart stated that, in conformity with the recommendation contained in Mr. Hamilton's letter, he had written to the Commissioner of Customs at Wellington for a ! definition of the word " poultry." The Secretart also stated that he had acknowledged with thanks the various contributions received. It was mentioned, that Mr. Marshman had been authorised to furnish Mr. Hill with a sum of £IOO for the purpose of purchasing insectivorous birds, particularly hedge sparrows. Mr. Johnson was provisionally authorised to send £SO to Mr. Hill for the purchase of small birds, in caße the answer of the Commissioner of Customs should be favourable to their introduction. It was decided that the black swans presented by Dr. Mueller should be given to Mrs. Deans of Riccarton, as an acknowledgment of the interest she has always taken in the welfare of the Society, and also as a compensation for those belonging to her, which strayed away with the Bwans of the City Council. It was stated that some of the swans belonging to the Society had strayed into Marlborough Province, and a suggestion was made that the authorities there should be communicated with in order to prevent the destruction of these birds. (■'Ome discussion ensued as to the desirability of allowing the Curator to proceed to the Peninsula, in order to procure pheasants for the Society, and also to obtain specimens of ferns, &c, to he sent to Dr. Mueller. The consideration of the subject was deferred until the annual meeting, which was fixed for Monday, May 7, at half-past seven o'clock, p.m.

• The question of sinking an artesian well in the ground of the society for the use of the salmon and trout ova expected shortly, was also deferred for the present. Mr. Deßourbel having kindly offered to procure some seeds, plants, and shrubs from the'-' Himalaya mountains, some discussion arose as to whether the offer should be

be accepted or not, carriage to the amount of £l6 being guaranteed by the society. It was decided that Mr. Dcßourbel should be requested to obtain such seeds of hardy plants and trees as it might be desirable to introduco into tho province. It was resolved to present some guinea fowls to Mr, Redwood of Nelson, who had expressed a wish to obtain some specimens. A Sub-Committee consisting of Messrs. Speechley, Dr. Haast, Davie, Gould and Macfarlan waß appointed to draw up the annual report of the society. Some of the swans belonging to the Bociety having strayed to the Horse-shoe Lake, it was settled that an advertisement Bliould be inserted in the local journals, warning the public against destroying them, The Curator mentioned that some gentlemen had kindly offered to use every exertion to protect them. The Curator stated that he had sent to Melbourne for some magpies. Mr. Spbeohlet suggested that as these birds were very hardy, those procured should be turned loose into Eiccarton Bush.

The thanks of the society were unanimously voted to Mr. Fleming for his kindness in offering his assistance in procuring pheasants for the society, and for the other services which he has rendered to it.

The monthly balance-sheet was produced ; it showed a credit in favour of the society of £58135; after which the meeting adjourned.