ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2796, 14 January 1873, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The Council o£ tho Acclimatisation Society met yestorday afternoon, at the Museum Buildings, Princes-street. Present:—Dr. Campbell (in tho chair), Messrs. H. Chamberlain, James Williamson, J. Burtt, Palmer, and T. Kirk (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. COBBEBPONDENCE. —A lotter was read from Mr. A. Badman, late vice-president of the Californian Acclimatisation Society, in roply te one from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. Accounts. —The Secretary read an interim report of the receipts and expenditure for December last. Shipment of Gbouse. —The Secretary reported that the grouse shipped per Agnes Muir had not survived the passage. The birds had been shipped in excellent condition in London, and were well supplied with food. The captain and Mr. Millward had paid every attention to them which was possible.—Mr. Kirk suggested some alterations as to diet, &e., which he thought would bo of service in the event of the Society desiring to repeat the experiment of importing grouse. Libebation OF CanabikS. —A conversation took place respecting the desirability of releasing some canaries iu the Domain; it was Btated that they were able to protect themselves after liberation. Rooks. —The Secretary reported that a rook had been found dead iu tho Domain paddock, but he was unablo to say whether it had been killed by children or not. There were eight nests, but only two had been hatched. The night review held in the Domain had frightened a number of the birds from their nests, and they ceased breeding. Cabp.—Enquiries were made by several members as to the number of carp in the ponds.—Mr. Kirk said the carp were not so plentiful now, as 2000 had been captured last season. The Shooting Season. —Mr. Palmer waß desirous of knowing what steps had been taken with regard to the alteration of the shooting season. May and June, he understood, had been fixed upon. In May pheasants were not fit for eating, and in June but little better. Ho thought tho season should bo extended over threo months—June, July, and August —but. that no hen pheasants should be shot in August.— After some desultory conversation, tho matter wo remitted to next meeting for consideration. Destruction of Impoeted Bieds.—The question of offering a reward for tho conviction of persons guilty of destroying imported ' birds, was brought up.—Mr. J. Burtt thought the remission of part of tho penalty to the informer would be sufficient inducement in most cases.—Mr. Kirk was of opinion that it would be better to postpono the matter for another year. PAETErnGES.—The Secretary stated that the partridges were increasing but slowly, owing to the depredations of wild cats. Cat 3 were more deadly onemies to tho imported birds than the hawks. Buruing off scrub had also oaused the destruction of nests and eggs.