ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6065, 26 April 1881, Page 6

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the Council of the Acclimatisation Society was held yesterday at 2 p.m. There were present Messrs. Bull (in the chair), McKechnie, S. Morrin, James Russell, and J. A. Pond.

Pheasants. —After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and con- . firmed, the question of the protestion of pheasants came on for consideration. The following letter, dated April 6th, sent by the Secretary to the Colonial Secretary was read : " The: Society has received a request from certain gentlemen resident in the Bay of Plenty, district, that hen pheasants be protected during the game season. The matter was referred'to tliu Tauranga County Council, to ascertain whether the inhabitants generally were in favour of this, and a reply, in the affirmative has been received. The society have," therefore," to recommend that : cock pheasants only and Californian quail be the imported game open to be shot within the Tauranga and Whakatane Counties." And the answer, which reads :— "I am directed to inform you that it has been thought best to protect hen pheasants throughout the Auckland Provincial District, and that, therefore, cock pheasants only have been declared open to be shot.-—G-. S. Cooper."—The Chairman said this was the first time the Government had not accepted the recommendation of the society. The matter required consideration from two points. If the hen pheasants were protected they run counter to the wish of the settlers, especially in the North, where the pheasants might prove a great nuisance. Again, it would be likely to affect their funds, as the sportsmen might not takeout licenses.—Mr. S. Morrin did not see why the Bay of Plenty should dictate to all. The Acclimatisation Society should be a better judge of what was required than a few settlers in that district. If that proposal of the Government were carried into effect this year it would shut up the society, as no one would take out licenses. —On the motion of Air. Russell, seconded by Mr. Morrin, the following resolution was carried :— "That, in the opinion of this council any measures for protecting pheasants or other game, should come through fanners or settlei's through the County Council of the district where the protection is required, and that this council deprecates the action of the Government, in protecting hen pheasants in the provincial district of Auckland (excepting Whakatane and Tauranga counties) for the coming season, in opposition to the expressed desire of the Council." Messrs. Bull and Russell were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Hon. F. Whitaker with a view to having the regulations altered in consonance with the desire of the society. LiGuiUAX Bees. — The Secretary announced that a hive of Ligurian bees had arrived from America, and was in a healthy condition.—lt was decided that it should be taken care of by the society's employes, under the supervision of the Secretary. Economic Plants.—lt was resolved to send to England for £10 worth of the seeds of certain economic plants. New Members.—On the motion of the Chairman, Messrs. Roche and Wiggins were elected members, and accorded a place in the council.—Mr. Bull said he thought their experience would prove valuable in the treatment of fish.