ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1417, 2 June 1868, Page 5

ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

The usual monthly meeting of the Oouncil of this Society was held yesterday morning, in their room, Canada Buildings. Mr. Gillie?, President of the Society, in the chair. There were present, Messrs. ifurdock, McKelvie, Wayte, Wm. Morrin, Samuel Morrin, T. B. Hill, Burtt, S. Jones. The Hox. Secketaet 1 ead the minutes of tho previous meeting, which were confirmed. A subscription of ten guineas was announced as received from Mr. O. J. Leaf, of London, through Mr. Larkwoithy, of the New Zealand Bank. The acknowledgments of the society were ordered to bo ' conveyed to Mr. Leaf and to Mr. Larkworthy, who has been zealous in collecting money in aid of the objects of the society. xiwis. Mr. Mubdock said he had written to Mr. Larkworthy, informing him that there was a kiwi on the way to England. Mr. Larkworthy, it appeared, had transferred his interest to another gentleman who was willing to give ten guineas for it. The society, it was ilso announced, had received a promise of ten guinea.) for a pair of kiwis if they could be got. JAVA SPARBOWS. Captain Huttox protested against the proposed release of Java sparrows, which he described as a most destructive bird, and if they increased likely to become most injurious. The Secretaby was instructed to write to the Curator to that effect. GOLDEN PHEASANT. It was ordered that the body of the golden pheasant which had died a few weeks back should be stuffed and presented to the Auckland Museum. THE GAME ACT. It was resolved that a committee, consisting of Mr. Gillies (President of the society), Captain Hutton, and Mr. Win. Alorrin, should be appointed to consider the provisions of the Game Act, so that the members of the House of- Representatives might have something to guida them in any discussion" 1 which might arise on this subject during the nest session of the General Assembly. SALMON. A conversation arose as to tho introduction of salmon, from which it appeared that salmon had been introduced into Otago, but whe.her successfully or not there was some difference of opinion. Capfein Hutton siid the General Assembly had shown their interest in the subject by passing a law during the last session for the protection of salmon ova. The Government also felt considerable interest •~i the matter, as might be judged from the fact that they had already given orders to inquire and obtain the mean temperature of ali the New Zealand waters in which they would be likely to thr : .ve. deer on Graham's island.

Mr. S. Joitbs said that on the island of Motu. Ihi there was a large number of deer that were at present neither ornamental nor useful, and of which landed proprietors in various parts of the countiy would be glad to get a pair. An attempt had been made to catch them on a former occasion, but failed for the want of any organization. He thought the Provm - cial Government would soon turn the island to account, but they could hardly make any use of the deer, or they would perhaps be glad to assist the society in the work of acclimatization by promoting their distribution. To this end if some of the animals •were caught and sold to persons who would be glad to obtain them, thr.t would increase the funds of the society, and promote ,the wort: of acclimatization at the same time. He knew that Mr. Thomas nurse" would be happy to purchase a pair to send to Canterbury. They had been promistd £50 to turn them into the Waikato. But if a few were sent there, a few more round by Raglan, and a few more to different parti where there might be adesire expressed to have a pair, that would be distributing them just as they would be wanted, and there would be no reason for complaint. At present, if allowed to remain at Motu Ihi, they would, in the course of a very short time, be shot. If a vessel was chartered, and five or sir people sent down, they might be all caught in a very short time.

Capt. Hutton thought that the best place to place deer would be in the neighbourhood of Xaupo. There was not only plenty of room for them there, but abundance of food, and they would not be likely to do any damage. Mr. T. B. Hill : Or about Te Awamutu. They would be Bure to find plenty of food in that district. Mr. Wayte would be sorry to see the money of the society used for any such purpose. They might depend upon it that by distributing those animals throughout the country they would be doing injustice, and provoking people to break the law by •hooting them down. In liis opinion it was out of the province of the society to interfere in the matter. They had been established for the purpose of acclimatization, and the immediate object they set before them "was the introduction of insectivorous birls, which would be an assistance and not an injury to the farmer. Could they say that they had entirely succeeded in that? Had they done all in that one direction thoy might have done ? It appeared to him they should not direct their attention to the introduction of hares or deer until insectivorous birds had become common in every man's garden. They would certainly get into hot water with the country if they persisted in neglecting the introduction of insectivorous birds in sufficient number to be of any benefit, and importing hares and deer. Several members 6aid that no deer had been imported by the society, and the question merely was whether, having them in the country, they might be utilized as muih as possible. Mr. Stannus Jones said that for all the good the country settlers or the country members had done for the society it mattered little -whether, so far as they were concerned, the society was in hot water or sot. The President : But it is not whether we should consider country settlers or country members, but ■whether the country might not consider we, as a public body, were going contrary to their interests. For myself I must say that deer are animals that tonsume a great deal more than they produce. They might do damage to plantations and ornamental grounds, but the question is really the balance of usefulness. If they are neither useful nor hurtful the society was not called upon to take any action with respect to them. Private individuals might of course do as they liked.' But it ia a question whether, as a public body, this society is not bound to consider whether they are promoting the interests of the country by doing all the good they can. Mr. S. Jones thought that the society were doing all the good that was possible. A Member : The hare and the deer are good food. The Peesidbnt : But it is a question also whether we are not travelling out of our province. It is useless to say that deer or hare are useful animals. I quite agree with my friend Mr. Wayte that we are bound to show that we have done all we can for the introduction of birds, &c., which are most needed, V-fore we introduce such animals as hares. I say * »at neither the hare nor the deer is a useful animaL i!oth destroy a great deal more of the fruits of the pftrth than they produce in the shape of food to man. lh»y afford sport to some people, and that ia alf.

Mr. T. B. Hill : That would be Tory well if the country were covered, with market gardens, but not in a country where there is abundance of uncultivated land upon which they can go. President ; I n tile Southern parts of the country it might not be objectionable, for there were enormous tracts of lands covered with natural grasses that would never be cultivated. But, in this part of the country, there was very little land that would not be cultivated, and none which affordod natural grasses! to any extent to feed such animals when they should largely increase. Mr. 8. Jonbs: The same argument would apply to the pheasant, but the fact of the phonsant being found here in great abundanco did more to make the capacity and resources of the Province than perhaps any other single fact that might be mentioned. Mr. W. Morein : A prentleman certainly told me that there was nothing that would induce him sooner to settle in the couutry than the fact that therß was plenty of game to be found in it. Mr. Burtt thought that there was abundant food for deer in the country. A great quantity of the land was certainly coverod with fern, but mixed ■with the fern were plenty »f koramika, taupaki and other shrubs. That was proved by tho number of wild cattle to be found in almost every pari; of the country. He was aware that there was a great deal of game at the Cape. Suppose a person intending to come to New Zealand and seeing or hearing that there was abundance of jrame at the Cape whilst in 2Tew Zealand they wero discouraged, that fact might turn the scale, and he would choose to settle at tho Cape rather than como to New Zealand. 'The President : It would be very well if the land wero supposed to remain always in its present condition. But it will happen that just as cultivation extends, so will your deer and hares increase. Everybody know* that there is very little land hero that will not at one timo or other be available for agricultural purposes, and bo cultivated. It is evident thbt everybodj interested in agriculture watches very narrowly the proceedings of this society, and if it was thought that their proceedings were opposed to the prosperity of agriculture they would have to encounter hostility 011 all sides. Mr. Burtt thought that about the skirts of the New Zealand bush there would be found plenty of food. Some of the land in the province could not be cultivated for many a year to come. Mr. Hlix suggested that a certain portion of the ground ot the society should be fenced in, and that if hares should be introduced they should only be given to persons who would buy them. In that way the} - would obviate any complaint. iJJr. Watte objected to tho introduction of hares by the society until common birds became so plentiful that it would] be acknowledged tho society had done tho work appointed to it. Evsn then he would be opposed to their introduction. But it was out of their province to introduce hares, or to spend money on deer until they had completed the first work for which they were established. Mr. Jones : There is no question of spending money on the deer. A sum of money might be collected from those who would liko to have a pair. [ Mr. Firrh had promised to give ten guineas for a pair. Mr. Buckland had also promised ten guineas for a pair. There would therefore be no money of the society's spent. The "society would simply have the credit of doing a sensible thing. He believed that the Napier Government would be glad to get a pair or a couple of pair, and would be willing to nay for them. The Pbesident said they might do very well in Napier. As for having the credit of doing a sensible thing, he was afraid the society would have the disgrace of being unsuccessful as they were last time, and being taunted with the number of deer that were seen unsteady about the island. Mr. S. Morein" did not see any difficulty in catching them with a couple of good dogs. The President : There may bo no harm in the Secretary writing to the Government and asking whether leave would be given, and if leave bo given that some gentlemen proceed, without in any way making the society responsible. Ab to deer, he had not the same objection to them that he had o hares. But to hares he had a decided objection. The whole question was to be decided by the balance of usefulness. He thought that a general meeting should be called to decido that question conclusively. As it had been already been carried by only a majority of one, be thought that was net a position ia which the matter should continue to stand. If it were not called by the , oouncil, ho would, as president, call a general meet j ing upon his own responsibility. Mr. Gillies referred , to tho rule which prescribed that a general meeting , could be called bj requisition of twelve members, , and said that it might be most according to rule | that tho general meetiDg should be called by requisi- , tion.

After same further discussion the Secretary was instructed to write to Hi 3 Honor the Superintendent, asking whether leave would be given to catch the deer, with a view to their distribution throughout the country. CURATOB'S SALARY. Mr. Wm. Mobkin aaid he wished to bring before the council the subject of the curator's salary. It appeared to him to be too small for the duties that were expected of him. Sevaral members of the council having left the room it was thought desirable that Mr. Morrin should give notice of his motion for the next monthly meeting, when, if the council should wish to increase the curator's salary, they might also direct that it should date retrospectively. This was all the business before the meeting, and the proceedings terminated.