ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7228, 30 April 1884, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society was held at the Commercial Hotel, at 4 p.m, yesterday j present—Mr F. J. Kimbell (in the chair), Dr Brittin, and Mr S. C- Farr (hon Sec). CORRESPONDENCE. The following was read:— From Mr J. Lennox, Amberley, asking if the Society allowed anything for the destruction of hawks, which destroyed large numbers of the hares in that locality. Prom Mr W. H. Beetham, Masterton, stating that 100 Loch Leven and 200 salmon trout would be forwarded to Christchurch by the Society’s gamekeeper. The hon Secretary reported that the trout had arrived, and were now in the ponds. From the Canterbury Anglers’ Society, forwarding copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of anglers held on March 26 last, to consider what steps should be taken to prevent* the present wholesale slaughter of trout for the purpose of sale. The resolution suggested that a license fee of £5 should be imposed on persons selling fish or catching them for sale. A second resolution requested the Acclimatisation Society to define what baits might legally be used. Dr Brittin said that the Acclimatisation Society should forward the first resolution to the Government, as was the wish of the Anglers’ Society. It would be well also if a small Committee were appointed to confer with the Anglers’ Society, so as to definitely determine what were legal and what were illegal baits. The Society had several legal gentlemen among its members, whose knowledge would doubtless be useful on the present occasion.

The Chairman asked Dr Brittin if it would not be well to defer the consideration of the subject to another meeting, when there might be a fuller attendance. Dr Brittin thought it was just as likely as not to be wet weather when their next meeting was held, and the attendance would be no larger than at the present one, so he did not see the advantage of deferring the matter.

It was resolved, on the motion of Dr Brittin, seconded by Mr Fart —“That Messrs Beetham, Farr, and Spackman be appointed a Committee to confer with the Anglers’ Society in order to define what are legal baits and tackle for trout, and what are not.” It was also decided to instruct the Committee to confer with the Anglers’ Society on the question of the bast seasons for fishing for perch and tench, the, proper baits and tackle for this purpose, and also whether a fee should be charged for permission to fish for them. NEW MEMBEES. Mr Bichmond Beetham was elected an ordinary member of the Council in the room of the late Mr Oakden ; and Messrs W. S. Cooke, and J. Evans Brown were chosen supernumerary members of the Council. THE LATE MB OAKDEN. The Secretary mentioned that he had prepared a brief biographical notice of Mr Oakden, to appear in the New Zealand Country Journal. The Chairman moved —“ That there be placed on the minutes of this Society a record of the deep regret the members feel at the death of their friend, Mr John Jackson Oakden.” Mr Oakden, he believed, was one of the founders of the Society, and a staunch supporter of it throughout. He had been a most useful member, and a kindly, genial man; and by his death the Society had sustained a great loss. The motion was agreed to unanimously. This concluded the business, and the meeting adjourned.