ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 987, 29 October 1870, Page 9

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Council of this Society took place on the 26 th. instant at the City Council Chamber. Mr W. D. Murison was in the chair, and there were present Messrs J. T. Thomson, Hepburn, Turton, Kenyon, Carrick, Eccles, and Mr Clifford, the manager. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Clifford, the manager, reported that on Saturday, October 22nd, the temperature of the water at the fish boxes rose to 58deg. , the fish looking very weak. On Sunday, the 23rd, temperature 55deg. , 53 trout and 2 sea trout died. Monday the temperature rose to 54deg., and 6 trout died. Tuesday, temperature 58deg. Wednesday, the 26 th, temperature 55deg., 16 trout died. Thursday, 27th, temperature fell +o 52deg., and the fish looked well. Total of deaths of fish, 75 trout and 2 sea trout. Mr Clifford stated that any temperature of water over 50deg. was injurious to the fish. Mr Eccles read a letter from Mr Butts, Secretary to the Southland Society, stating that one of the two kiwis he had, was dead through having forced his head through a slide in the cage, and referring to the amalgamation of the Southland and Otago Societies. With regard to the cost of transport of fish to Queenstown, he mentioned that the cost of transport would be about LlO. He declined to place any price on the kiwi, but asked the Society to make an offer. It was decided that the Otago Society should share the cost, which was not to exceed LlO. Mr Kenyon read the following letter from Mr Ewen :— 4 Moorgate street, Buildings, August 18th, IS7O. A. Carrick, Esq., Dear Sir — \ now have the pleasure of acknowledging yours of the 31st May, covering bank draft, value Ll4O, which ahall be disposed of as directed by you, as far as practicable, for some of the birds ordered I

fear will not bo got at this season of the \ ear, viz., nightingales, which have now left for some months. Eooks — As previously advised, I have Jittle hopes of securing, bat have advertised for them, as well as Black Oock and Grouse, both in the field und Land aud Water, and have got the promise from the gentlemen connected with the management, of these journals, that they wi'l give a notice of the requirements of the Society in the !Sews of the Diy. What the reßU : t will H e remains to be proved. You may rest assurnd that I shall lose no opportunely of presenting the claims of the Society before parties who are l>kt ly to have it in their power to further its interest

To Captain Graff I have written, but have as yet received no reply.

The Warrior Queen has just arrived, and I am happy to state is likely to be again despatched to Otago ; if so, Messrs Shaw, Savill, and Co., have again handsomely offered the deck house gratuitously.

Shell Fish. — I cannot do more at present thau state chat in compliance with your suggestion, I called at Mr Buckland's ofiice, bnt did not see him, owing to hia b-ing ia Scotland, in connection with the fisheries there. I, however, hope that he will have returned before I have to prooure the fish, but in the event of his not doing so I shall write to him upon ihe subject for advice. Bils I have arranged with for the small birds at or about the same prices as last, and am hopeful of getting a strong and wellcondirioned lot, which may include some specimens not named in your list, but which have been found by experience to live chiefly upon insects, and are therefore of the class you desire specially. I shall also endeavour to obtain something from the Zjo ogical Society, in return for the apt eryx ; and in furtherance of this object, have v sited the gardens three or four times within the last three months, but as yet have not seen any animals or birds in duplicate worthy of acceptance for purposes of acclimatisation, except one young axis-deer, which would be valuable for introduction into the herd at Mr Rich's, and which I may accept of in part as a return .— lam, &c, Jno. M'Ewen.

Mr Ecclbs thought it would be unadvisable to breed from axis- deer sent from Britain, where they were not indigenous, and he should say, from his professional experience, likely to be subject to tubercle.

After some desultory conversation, the meeting concluded.