ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3243, 28 June 1872, Page 2

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this Society was held yesterday, in the City Council Chamber. Mr W. D. Murison presided, and there were also present—Captain Boyd, Messrs E. M'Glashan, M.H.R., W. Hepburn, H. Tewsley, J. T. Thomson, W. J. M. Larnach, W. M. Hodgkins, R. Oliver, Gr. Matthews, H. Dench, D. F. Main, J. Reid, and <£ X Turton, Hon. Secretary. ANNXJAI, REPORT. The following is the annual report, which was read by Mr Turton:—■ In presenting to tho subscribers the eighth Annual Report of the Society's jpioceeiiiugoj , the Council has every reason to express its "great salisfactidu-a.^tlie results of the past labours of the Society. By the accompanying balance sheet, which shows that the Society's revenue for the past year was £447 Gs Id, ami the expenditure for the same period, £394 14s 7d, it will be seen that, as compared with previous years, the expenditure incurred during the past year for the introduction of stock has _peen,,comparatively r trilliug. The. Society's income, however,"daring.that period, was much less thaii iv any of the three preceding year 3; the subsidy voted by the Provincial Council last year amounted to £200, while the amounts received by the Society from the same source in each of ■ he three previous years was £500. With a diminished revenue therefore at its disposal, the Council was unable to arrange for a shipment of stock from Great Britain. Fortunately, the Council sees no great reason to regret its inability to introduce stock from that quarter during the past year, as nearly all the most valuable kinds of insectivorous birds and of game, to be found in Great Britain, are already successfully acclimatised in the Province. There are some birds, such as grouse and black game, which the^ Council would gladly see acclimatised in Otago; but not only would the expense connected with the shipment of a number of those birds be almost beyond the means of the Society, but experience has shown that although a few might survive the long voyage, yet the ch<\nces would be small that a sufficient number, to eusure their successful acclimatisation, would be landed alive. Under the circumstances, therefore, the Council deemed it prudent to limit its transactions strictly to those which would bring about certain substantial results. I

A large sum, it will be seen, has been expended, on the purchase and distribution of seeds. These consisted almost entirely of the seeds of coniferae proenred from California. This is the fourth year in which this Society has distributed those seeds among its members, and they will agree that the funds of the Society could not well be more beneficially expended. In obtaining a supply of seeds, the Society has been peculiarly fortunate in securing the assistance of Messrs Cross and Co., of San Francisco, who in every instance have taken care that none but fresh and sound seeds were sent; aud the Council would take this opportunity of acknowledging the debt of thanks which is due to that firm by the Society for the attention which those gentlemen have paid to its interests. The following is a list of the seeds of Califorman trees which were obtained during the past year;—Pinus: insignis, mnricata, Eeuthaaiiana, sempervirens, Lambertiana, torreyana, flexiiis, sembrioides, contorta, tuberculata, monticula, and Jeffrey a. Cupressus : Macrocarpa, Lawsoniana, Macnabiana, and Goviniana. Other J sorts of seed : Live oak, evergreen oak, and white oak, Californian holly, torreya Californica, abies Patonia, manzanita, libocedrus decurrens, acer niacrophyllum, ceantlms thyrsiflorus, picea ainabilis, fremontia California, Californian soap plant, and madrona. The Society was presented a few months ago, by Mr William Thomson, of Dunedin, with a valuable lot of seeds, which that gentleman had forwarded to him by his son from the garden of the Taj, Agra. The parcel contained sixty-five kinds of trees, shrubs, and flowers.

The attention, of the Council has been directed by tho General Government to the question of the introduction of salmon from Great Britain. The sum of £500 was voted by the House of Representatives last session for that purpose, but as the amount was deemed insufficient to defray ail the expenses connected withashipinentof ova, the Government communicated with tho various Acclimatisation Societies, asking them whether they would be williHg to make up the amount required for the proposed shipment. In March last the following telegram from the Colonial Secretary was received by the Chairman :— "Re, vote £500, salmon ova. Government about to send orders for ova, but require £500 to be subsidised by Acclimation Societies in addition to vote. Southland guarantees £300 ; Christchurch, £100 ; Nelson does not join. Will your Society contribute balance ? Communications to you in fiist instance accidentally overlooked. Government have decided as funds only enough for one experiment to confine hatching to Southland ponds, shipping to Port Chalmers by fast vessel. Iteaaons for selecting Makarewa ponds were—lower temperature of sea water; freedom from being rendered turbid by diggings; favourable nature of estuary; and number of suitaWe streams

.11., . mo.. .....,.i^» running into ifc. Reply in time for outgoing-"«« 'Frisco mail." This communication was considered by a meeting of the Council, which, was held on the 15th March, and th» Chairman was instructed to inform the Colonial Secretary that the Council saw no reason why action should be taken for a few months, and that, conditional on the Society, which could not contribute out of its ordinary income, getting the subsidy from the Provincial Council, it would be in & position to guarantee the amount. Had a definite answer to the Colonial Secretary's telegram been required at the time it was received, the Council would have had no course open but to have refused to contribute. Now, however, that a subsidy of £200----has been voted for the Society by the Provincial Council, the Society is in a position to pay the amount asked, and it rests with, the members, at the annual meeting, to say whether, under the circumstances" the Society will be justified iv voting the sum of £100 towards defraying the cost of a shipment of salmon ova from Great Brit an.

As in all probability the Society's income for the current year will about equal that which was received during the past, the Council is of opinion that the expenditure for the year should be limited chieiiy to two objects, viz. :—the distribution of trout, andE the purchase of forest tree seeds. With regard to the first, the Council is hopeful that a number of young fish will be hatched out in the ponds at Pahnerston during the present winter. In the event of a sufficient, supply of trout being obtained, the Council is strongly of opinion that steps should be taken to stock the many suitable streams in the Olutha district with these fish. _ As to the latter, the Council is convinced that a further expenditure in thia direction will meet with the unanimous approval of the members. When it is remembered that a large portion of the Provi ice is entirely dovoid of timber, the Coun.- ' eil considers that the Society's efforts in the cause of acclimatisation would be incomplete in their nature did they not aiui at the cultivation of forest trees upon a large scale. In. all parts of the world countries are becoming alive to the necessity of preserving and propagating forests. It is known that the decline^ of nations can be partly traced to their waste aud neglect of the State forests, so is it true that the creation and maintenance of a large timber supply within. a country possessed of great agricultural, and mineral resources must vastly increase its industrial capabilities, and add to its wealth and importance. It is true that any steps which the Society has hithtrto taken to promote the cultivation of forest trees have been on too limited a scale to produce ultimately direct results of any great consequence ; and were direct advantages all that would hereafter represent the labours of the Society^ in this direction, a comparatively insignificant work would have been accomplished. There is every reason to believe,, however, that the introduction and distribution throughout the Province of the seeds o£ valuable forest trees will tend to create amongst the people a taste for forest culture ; and it will be by fostering this taste,, that the end which the Society lias in view^ will in time be attained.

The Council has deemed the present a suitable time to present to the Society some of the results of its labours in past yearsWith this view, members resident in, those districts where stock have been liberated were communicated with, and their replies will be found embodied in the following report concerning the various birds,S34^_ animals which the Society has endeajs'aret£^"*"v to acclimatise. /

Pheasants.—These are in grea*"st niraivbotf*^ *>«=> Lower Waihemo P»d Goodwood, district. _ One Gentleman -«ports that in. that district these birds' are "getting verjr numerous," and that " there will be far toa many cocks next year." This statement is fully borne out by several other reports which; have been recently received from the same, quarter. Mr F. D. Rich writes :—" The pheasants in this district are now very numerous, particularly on the properties of Mr Amyes, Mr Sise, Mr Kennard, and Capt. -"Rullarton.-onGoodwoodJSstate-audatJßjishjc Park. lam glad to say that the English; pheasants are keeping to the woods, whick was my object in getting them, as the Chinese or Auckland pheasant prefers the open country. I consider the latter are quite as numerous on the coast from Shag Point to Cornish Mount—a distance of twelve miles—as they would be on the same area in. Auckland, and I believe the cock birdsr may be shot with advantage next shooting season." It will be for the Society to make enquiries next year, and should it be thought advisable to thin out the male birds, the Government should be requested to throw open the district for pheasant shooting. In the neighbourhood of Dunedin, especially at the north end oft the city, pheasants are frequently seen, while, lately, a hen bird and brood were observed near the Forbury. There are several instances of pheasants having been met with. near Green Island and on the Chain Hills. A member of the Society, resident at the Taieri, reports that "pheasants are becoming numerous on the ranges that bound the Taieri Plain ; they have also been seen and heard in the very centre of the Plain." Another gentleman writes that they f' have now go largely increased in numbers that s person can scarcely walk for a quarter of an hour on the low hills in the vicinity of: Outram without flushing one or more; and the crowing of the cocks is heard by travellers along the main road daily." At Tokomairiro, where 26 English pheasants were, turned out in the beginning of 1870, these birds may bo considered to have been successfully acclimatised. Mr A. Jones reports :—" The pheasants iv this district arer thriving exceeding well. From eighteen t» twenty strong healthy birds may be seen frequently feeding in the stubble-fields adjoining the bush at Mr Langley's farm. A hen: and fifteen chickens (supposed to have been, two broods) were observed a -few days ago at the edge of the bush., Every care is taken.1 I>y Mr Langley and others to prevent their being disturbed. At Kaitangata they are reported to be " doing marvellously well, nxmy yonng broods haym# boon ofteaT-' se n during tlio lsvat; summer by the settlers in the neighbourhood." These latter must: be chiefly the progeny of a lot of 17 Chinese pheasants, which were liberated at Coal Point in Augnst, 18G9. Further south, at Popotunoa, and in tho Pomahaka district, the pheasant is said to be fairly established; From the former place, Mr P. Roberts, writes that several coveys of young birds were Hushed iv February this year, numbering from fourteen to eight, and that he seldom rides through his run without raising several strong healthy birds. Partridges.-Two years and a half ago, six brace of those birds were liberated afc Green Island, and seven brace at Goodwood. Iv the beginning of 1871 the Society received a further shipment of partridges from Greafc Britain. Of these about twenty brace were turned out at Green Island; sixteen brace at Shag Valley ; a like number at l'nck Clutha ; and twelve brace at Oainaru. Timehas shown that the Society acted wisely iit resisting the claims made by various loca.lities for small lots of those birds. The lots turned out were of sufficient size to ensures every probability of success, and the result has fully justified the Society's expectations. In every district were partridges were sent to they have increased. From Oamaru it is reported that they "appear to have thriven, several coveys having been seen this season. Two line birds were picked up on the North. Road, having in flying across struck the telegraph wires, and so killed themselves.'* In Pleasant Valley coveys have frequently been flushed, and in the farms in the LowerWaihemo Valley young birds have of late been seen. Mr Rich writes :—" I must congr.itutofce your Society upon the verygreat success that has attended its efforts to introduce the partridge into this part of the the Province, and it shows the wisdom o£ turning out a large number of birds together, as was dor-e here. The following coveys; have been flushed in this neighbournood frequently of late, viz.:—On Mr Preston's property, 14 ; at Puketapu, 7 ; on Mr AymesV 10; and at Bushy Park, 11. I may nieatiois.

these coveys appear to remain upon the respective properties named, though I fre- • quently hear of others in the district." Within the last fortnight partridges have been seen at Moeraki. South of Dunedin, the partridges have spread from Green Island over the Chain Hills, and into the Taieri Plain. From the former locality, a member resident there writes that there has been a covey on Mr Howden's farm for some time. He states also that " on Mrs Shand's paddock a covey of 15 birds was flushed last week; and on the space between Mr Sidey's and Green Island Church partridges have been frequently seen." MiBills vi&ited tliis district a few months ago, and reported that while there he had raised several coveys. Some of the birds sent to Inch Chit ha proved weakly after their liberation. Within a week after they were turned out .fottv were discovered dead in the fields, and when examined were found to be greatly 4 -cmaciatfd, and the probability is that the y "mortality was not confined to those which were found. The surviving birds remained on the Island during last winter, but in the spring they betook themselves to the ridges in the neighbourhood, and for several months after they were neither seen nor * heard of. Three pairs, however, were subse- ■* quently found to have taken up their quar- /' fcers.at Hillend, and in due time these apM .Pear|d with broods, numbering respectively 15,. 14, and 7. These young birds have all fortunately arrived at maturity. Although no reports have been received respecting the remainder of the partridges which were on jthe Island, it is probable that some of them . Tiave bred in other parts of the Clutha district. Californian Quail. -Nine brace of these %irds were liberated at Inch Clutha in 1868. A little more than a year ago 15 brace were to Pleasant Valley, and at the same ttime a similar number were turned out at , Popotnnoa. A little later a lot consisting of 'from 25 to 30 brace, was liberated in the •<: -neighbourhood of Queenstown. At Inch ClUtha the quail have increased rapidly. Writing from that district, a gentleman •says :—" With regard to their increase, it has simply been miraculous, for it is no ••exaggeration to say that any one taking a walk through any of the large bushes in this immediate neighbourhood might at any anoment be startled by hearing the whirring noise of some hundred of them fetting up at the same time, and arting into the thickest part of the bush." The same gentleman gives it as his opinion that there is " considerable doubfc "whether the introduction of the bird into New Zealand is ever likely to prove much of an acquisition to the sportsman, for being {as far ag we yet know) .essentially a bush bird, and seemingly very shy of going any •distance from thick cover, I hardly see how, Tvhen, and where the sportsman is ever to jggmake a bag of them." Sport, however, with birds may be afforded in parts of the Province when the cover is low, and easily traversed. Such is the nature of the country -where these quail are now to be found in the Lake .District. At Popotunoa Bush as many -as forty have been seen together. Hares.—ln 18G7, Mr J. A. Ewen brought ,<?■?;, over three hares—a jack and two does—from Victoria for-the Society. These were liberated in August of that year in the Waihola district, and 3iuce that time their increase has been very rapid. In February, IS7O, a -doe hare was forwarded to Mr F. D. Rich, t Bushy Park, who at that time had a jack in jfi. his possession. Subsequently a doe was "" .procured at Waihola, and was sent to Mr That gentleman now reports that **"^ ihey "have increased to a marvellous several months ago steps were,, 'taken b^ the Society to from Waihdto^, for Jihft- purpose of acclimatising they* 'in other parts of the Province. The attempt was so far success'fnl that the Society was enabled to send four, consisting of one male and three iemales, to the Clutha, and three, a male --and two females, to Oamaru! During the present year three hares were procured by Mr W. J. M. Larnach, from Victoria, and ;-were liberated by him on the Peninsula. 'The well known fecundity of those animals iurniehes-a sufficient guarantr-c thafr-ere-long-iiheywill spread over the country. Deer.—ln 1867 Mr Ewen secured seven of axis deer in Victoria for the Society. ' These the Society placed under the care of Mr F. D. Rich, and they have remained on Iris property since that time. Writing about Kthis herd, that gentleman says, "They have increased rapidly. At the end of the second . year there were nineteen, but it would be 'difficult to make a correct estimate of their now, as they are very wild, and make for coA'er as soon as seen." In the •same year four fallow deer were sent to Morven Hills; two of these, a buck and ' doe, killed themselves by attempting to leap *a*fence. The other pair were turned out on *-the ranges, and it has been ascertained that /they have bred. In 1869 the Society obvtained twelve head of fallow deer from Tas■mania. These were sent to Mr J. M'Kellar, • at Tapanui, and the herd is now much larger. -A doe, sent out by Mr Ewen, was subsequently added to the herd. About sixteen months ago, seven head of red deer were sent to Morven Hills, and a short time after eight head were forwarded to Bushy Park. This small herd was reared on one of the Earl of -Dalhousie's estates in .Scotland, and was ••obtained from that nobleman by Mr Ewen. "The does at Bushy Park are reported to be in fawn. Mr Rich gives it as his opinion that the red deer will be found to be more ■ suitable to the Ofcago climate than the Axis 1 deer, although the latter will do very well on the coast country. The red deer to -Morven Hills have betaken themselves at «the ranges.

-Insectivorous Birds.—Those obtained from $&r*at Britain include blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, skylarks, linnets, redpoles, goldfinches, chaffinches, greenfinches, yellowliammers, hedge-sparrows, mountain-spar-jroyva, twites, serle buntiugs, and reed sparktowb. The greater number of these birds rswere liberated in the vicinity of Dunedin. '^Undoubtedly the most successful have been "ihe starlings, chaffinches, hedge-sparrows, :.green and brown linnets ; blackbirds and thrushes^ however, are frequently seen near • the city, and skylarks are to be met •with at, Green Island. The nests of -chaffinches have .dlso >beem observed in the '- same locality. At Oaniaru the starlings are - reported " to have multiplied rapidly, they '-are often seen in flocks of hundreds. The ■ goldfinches are known to have bred, but appear to have dispersed, their appearance at 1 the Levels Station, Timaru, having been ■ ■noticed." Near Palmerston "the black- | 'birds have increased, and are doing well; as 'also are the chaffinches." Writing from East "-Taieri, the Rev. W. Will reports that " starlings abound ; there is a sufficient number to stock all New Zealand. They have proved almost thorough success. A colony of them Jhas taken possession this winter of the trees ground the Manse, and chatter away most pleasantly in the evenings. The chaffinches nave also done well; they are now to be ,/:*ound in many parts of the plain. Yesterttynjf I heard them in my garden. Blackbirds :,. areiie the Big Bush, but do not appear to be idncreasiag. The thrushes, I fear, are a failure. The skylarks, I have been assured, were ■.frequently heard last summer in the North .Taieri." A gentleman residing on the west • side of the Plain writes :—" My own ■bush swarms with starlings, and I have seen a flock of about fifty following my cows. ...Much larger flocks, however, I have observed •"■■ in the neighbourhood of the East Taieri . Bush. These birds must be of inestimable

'value to the farmer in picking up the numerous grubs which infest the pastures." Eeports have lately been received showing that .blackbirds, thrushes, and chaffinches are to be seen in some of the bushes in the northern part of the Province. The Council, however, would be glad if persons noticing any of the English birds which have been intro- .• duced, whether near Dunedin or in <the -country, would communicate the result o£ i, their observations to the Society.

Trout. — Upwards of 2000 brown trout lave been distributed by the Society through varioiis parts of the Province. In only one stream, however, has there been any at-

<tempt made to observe these fish. In Shag ,-ißiver, the trout which were turned in

therein 1867 and IS7O have bred, and they are now to be seen about four miles below where they were liberated, and about seven miles above that spot. In Mr W. A. Young's mill-race the trout have attained a great size. Mr Young estimates that some of them will weigh from 4 to 6 lbs. There seems no reason to doubt that the trout in the other streams have not succeeded as well. A fish weighing I|lb was found dead, a few months ago in the Water of Leith. Trout turned out in the Oamaru Creek as fry, were seen within the last few monthas as h lb. fish, and in the Island Stream, where they were liberated a year before, os 21b. fish. 140 sea-trout were sent to Mr Young's ponds in the beginning of 1871. These were retained in the ponds for some time, butbeingafterwards liberated in themillrace, it is supposed that they have visited the sea. The Council will gladly receive information regarding the trout from persons observing them in any of the streams where they have been liberated. Mr Young, Mr P. F. Stoddart, of Hampden, and other gentlemen, have done great service by their endeavour to destroy the shags, which are the greatest enemies to the trout. These birds are very numerous on the coast; but last year a party was organised during the breeding season for the purpose of destroying those birds. A great many were killed, and an appreciable difference, it is said, has been made in their numbers. Mr Young states that about GOO or 700 have been destroyed, and he is in hopes that in a year or two more they will give no further trouble in that quarter. In August the shags will begin to breed on the rocks half a mile from Coal Point, and then the birds can be destroyrd in a wholesale manner. Persons resident in the country, who are interested in the acclimatisation of trout, will contribute greatly towards the success of that object by destroying both shags and kingfishers. A great service will also be rendered to the Society by persons destroying hawkes, especially in those districts where partridges and pheasants have been liberated.

The Chairman- : I do not think I can add much to the exhaustive report which has just been read, because it deals fully with the labours of the Society during the past year, and also with what may be expected .to be done in the future. I certainly think the Society would act wisely if it should adopt the recommendation in the report that during the current year the expenditure should be devoted to the distribution of trout and forest tree seeds. Past experience has convinced me that it is advisable that the Society should attend to two or three matters at a time, and endeavour to j>rosecute them to a successful issue. That, in fact, is the principle, as shown by the Report, upon which the Society has always acted. There is one matter to which I should like to direct attention, namely—the salmon question. The report now under consideration mentions that a communication on the subject was received by the Society from the Colonial Secretary, and also shows that the Council of the Society was unable to reply at the time. It therefore will be for the meeting to decide whether the Society shall guarantee the sum of £100 towards defraying the cost of the shipment of salmon ova from Great Britain. My opinion is that, during $.c current year, the funds of the Society will not enable us to vote that sum. ■ But even if Ty.e^i\auld not do so, we shall not retard pfche progress "t>Hik&--%xseriment, because ! the Southland Society has rfeiacly guaran^. teed the full amount require39^by*tlie Government. The Legislature voted £500, and the experiment was not to be undertaken unless a further sum of £300 was guaranteed by the various Societies of the Middle Island. This sum was at once guaranteed by the Southland Society, and arrangements are now being made to obtain a shipment of ova° _tlie_ Agentrixener.aLiox_ the_aoloELy 7 ._ IlcFeatherston; having placed the matter in the hands of Messrs Francis Francis and Frank Buckland, who have previously superintended shipments to this Province/Another reason, I think, why we need not guarantee the sum of money mentioned is this : the Southland Society is in a position to guarantee the whole of it, for, a, year or two ago, the Legislature, by enactment, set aside two thousand acres of land in Southland for that Society, upon the condition that the money realised from the sale of the land should be expended entirely upon the intro duction and propagation of fish. It is difficult to see how the Southland Society can avoid contributing a sum such as this, because, immediately after the land was set aside, they sold it for £2000 and therefore £300 might be fairly regarded as a legitimate sum for them to expend. On the other hand, the Otago Society has never received anything o? the kind from the General Assembly or Provincial Council. It is true that, several years ago, several thousand acres , m the northern part of the Province were 1 reserved on our behalf ; bub the Ordinance which set the land aside as a reserve was afterwards repealed, and nothing has been done since by the Provincial Council m that respect. I may add that since thiß report was prepared, I have received communications from various parts of the country regarding the different kinds of stock that have been liberated, and these communications confirm what is stated in the report—namely, that the various birds and animals are progressing in a manner beyond expectation. I was informed yesterday, on good authority, that blackbirds and thrushes are very numerous in the neighbourhood of Dunedin, the Water of Leith, and Waikari. I was particularly glad to hear this ; there was a great deal of uncertainty at one time as to whether these birds had been successfully acclimatised. Regarding the reports to this effect from the Taieri district, I think that one of the lots of the first shipment by the Warrior Queen was liberated there, and a mistake was undoubtedly made in turning them out in such small lots. In respect to the second shipment, we acted differently, and the result has been altogether satisfactory.

Mr Tewsley moved, and Mr Thomson seconded, the adoption of the report and balance sheet.

Mr Tub/ion said that before the motion was put to the meeting, he wished to state that the Society had been better supported by the public during the past twelve months than in any previous year. During the past year the Society had received donations and subscriptions amounting to £207 15s, as against £159 Gs received during the preceding year. Last year the Society received from the Provincial Government £200, instead of £500 received previously. Of the former amount he received, prior to the 31st March, only £80 5s Gd, but a foot-note showed that he had since received £114 9s Gd. At the present time, after the payment of all the Society's liabilities, except about £8, for advertising and other small items, the Society had a credit balance at the Bank of £145 12s.

Mr Laknach endorsed the remarks of the Chairman, that, as the Southland Society had guaranteed the necessary sum for procuring salmon ova, there was really jio necessity for this Society to snbscribe. Under the circumstances, it would be , better that they should give their attention to other matters connected with acclimatisation. He moved a motion expressing the regret of the Society that the state of the lands rendered it undesirable

to contribute towards the importation of salmon ova, and proposing that a copy of the resolution be sent to the Colonial Secretary.

The motion was seconded by Mr Oliver.

The Chairman, on rising to put the motion to the meeting, explained that when the subject was brought before the Council of the Society, a few months ago, he stated that the only object which the Society could have in guaranteeing the sum mentioned, if it were in a position to do so, would be to prevent it being said hereafter that they interfered in any way with the experiment. As the amount, however, had been guaranteed, that could not now be alleged. He might also add, with regard to salmon ova, that Mr Ramsbotham, the great pisciculturist, in a letter which he recently addressed to a gentleman in Tasmania, stated that if the fish were not seen until a period of eleven years had elapsed after the time when they were first turned out, it would not be a matter for surprise. Of course nothing like that time had elapsed since the experiment was first tried in the Colonies — the first attempt having been made in 1864 or 1865. Seeing therefore, that they had the assurance of an authority so high as the gentleman he had mentioned, he did not think they had reasonable grounds for fearing that the experiment had not been a success ; and in addition to what Mr Ramsbotham had stated, they had the testimony of several gentlemen in Tasmania who were also interested in the question, and who stated that on several occasions they had seen the fish. Another reason why they should not look upon the experiment as being unsuccessful was this : A proper attempt to capture the fish had not yet been made ; no nets had been laid to catch them ; and indeed, the river Derwent was so full of snags that, until they were removed it would be impossible to lay the nets in the same way and with that success which followed similar attempts at home. For these reasons, therefore, he thought that it would be prudent to wait a little longer before they came to a definite conclusion as to the success or non-success of the experiment. The motion was carried. OFFICE-BEARERS. Mr W. D. Murison was re-elected chairman, and Mr J. T. Thomson vicechairman, for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen were elected as the Town Committee :—Captain Boyd, Messrs J. Reid, H. Tewsley, R. Oliver. W. J. M. Larnach, G. K. Turton, W. Manh, E. M-'Glashan, G. Matthews, W. Hepburn, R. S. Cantrell, and F. C. Fulton. The following gentlemen were elected as the Country Committee : —The Rev. W. Will, Messrs J. Fulton, A. Grigor, J. W. Murdoch, F. D. Rich, J. F. Kitching, H. Dench, F. Roberts, J. Shaw, W. Sherman, W. A. Young, P. F. Stoddart, W. Derritt, and A. Jones, Tolcomairiro. Mr Turton, who has performed the duties of hon. Secretary and Treasurer to the Society for several years, stated that other • business engagements would not admit of his again undertaking the duties, and it was therefore resolved that the question of the appointment of; a Secretary and". Treasurer should be postponed, until the ■^feSFTT?e^ng^oT4fie n¥^©u^itr^r™—■ Mr M'Gcashan .proposed a* vote of thanks to the chairman and to the other office-bearers for their services during the past year. Those gentlemen who had heard the report read could not doubt that the operations of the Society had been very successful. The only matter regarding acclimatisation about which there appeared to be any doubt was the' "ajdiMoir-o-Ajioriiiioiit-j—^ct—it waS~Ot>VIO'US,~ from what had been stated, that it also might yet prove to have been, to some extent, a success. He had visited the ponds on several occasions, and had also seen the fish ; there was hot a large number, but they appeared to be healthy and strong.

The motion was seconded by Mr Reid and carried, and

The meeting then adjourned,