ACCLIMATISATION. SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 851, 21 March 1868, Page 15

ACCLIMATISATION. SOCIETY.

' The Council of the Acclimatisation Society met on the 12th inst. Mr Murison was in the chair.

Mr Clifford reported that he had sent away from the Society's grounds the following birds, out of the number received by the ship Warrior Queen : — To Palmerston, 4 blackbirds, 4 thrushes, 6 starlings, 4 goldfinches, 3 chaffinches, 4 hedge sparrows, 6 redpolls ; to Waikouaiti, 8 starlings, 4 goldfinches, 4 chaffinches ; to Silverstream, 12 lin -.ets, 8 goldfinches ; to "Capt Boyd's, North-East Valley, 4 goldfinches, 4 hedge sparrows, 4 chaffinches ; and to Mr F. Fulton, Kakanui, 3 white swans.

Mr Ulph read a letter from the Eev. Mr Will, acknowledging the receipt of ,some seeds, and a letter from Messrs Neighbour and Sons, 149 Regent street, London, with reference to the introduction of the humble bee to the Province. In the event of the experiment being made, Messrs Neighbour and Sons promised to do their best to assist its accomplishment. Mr Clifford reported what was necessary to be done to repair the damages to the water-pipes in the Societj^'s grounds by the recent flood, and it was agreed to accept the offer of Mr W. Baird to effect the necessary repairs.

The Chairman, with reference to the water supply, remarked that he had, on the day previous, received from the Colonial Secretary's Department copies of the Tasmanian Commissioners' reports, which contained -some very valuable information with regard to the trout experiment. He found that Mr Youl recommended that trout should not be placed in the same stream as salmon. It was just possible, therefore, that when the Celestial Queen arrived, the Provincial Government might prefer having the trout at some other place than the Waiwera. On that account it would be, adv'sable to have the water supply and the ponds perfect, so as to be at the command of the Government. The expense would be trifling compared with the great benefit which might be achieved by having the ova hatched within the Grounds.

The following letter from the Provincial Secretary was read. It was addressed to Messrs Murison and Carrick, with whom the Provincial Secretaiy had previously had interviews with regard to the subject to which it referred :—: — Provincial Secretary's Office, Dunedin, 7th March, 18(38.

Gentlemen — I have the honor to inform you that I have laid before the Government the conditions iatreference to the transfer of the A eclimatisation Society's Grounds, vhioh we agreed should first be laid betore the Executive, and in the event of their approving of them, bi-fore the Society, and that the Executive are willing to aerrre to them.

The Society to relinquish .illritrhtand tit'e to the grounds and improvements thereon, but to b~ permitted to keep birds and animals, and, if necessary, to appoint a man -o look after them (not to live on the grounds) hi cor s'dwjtion of a grsnt of LSUO being submitted/to the Provincial Council for each of the three years next ensuing ; the sa:d sums to bf spent by the Society exclusively in tlia introduction of stock, and the third payment of LSUO to depend upon aa equal sum, say Lsoi>, having been raised by subscription during the two previous \ears. — I am, &c , Julius V^gel, Provincial Secretary and Treasurer.

It was agreed that the subject of the letter should be discussed at the annual general meeting of the Society, to be held on the 31st instant.

The Chairman explained that there might be some details which the Government or the Society niiijht afterwards waive ; but as a whole, the letter might be taken as a basis of any arrangement which would be ultimately made.

Mr Clifford asked for instructions respecting birds to he distributed : and he was instructed to send to the Clutha 6 pairs of thrushes, and 2 pairs of blackbirds ; to liberate atthe Society's grounds, 2 pairs of goldfinches, and to send to Mr W. Telfer, 3 pairs of chaffinches.

Mr Cabeick stated that a quantity of seeds of different descriptions, had been divided into lots, which could be had by any person applying to him. or to Mr Ulph. v The meeting adjourned.