OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1460, 8 November 1879, Page 21

OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the Council of the Otago Acclimatisation Society was held on Thursday afternoon in the Government Building*, Princes street. Present—Messrs Allan Holmes (chairman), J. P. Maitiand, A. Bathgate, J. T. Mackerras, A. C. Begg, and W. Arthur (hon. secretary).

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Secretary stated that the special object of the meeting was to consider a telegram from Mr G. S. Cooper, undir secretary to the Government, regarding the boundaries between the Otago Society's district and the Southland Society's district. Before considering this, the ordinary business was disposed of.

TROUT AND TROUT OVA.

It was reported that 12,000 trout ova had been lent to the Hawke's Bay Society, 4000 to the Wanganui Society, 4000 to the Auckland Society, 6000 to the* Marlborough Society, 5000 to the Grey District Society (West Coast), and ,6000 to the Lakes Society at Qneenatown, since last meeting of Council. Advicei had been received from all the societies, excepting the Grey District Society, Btating that the ova had arrived in excellent condition, and that the young trout were hatching ont with a very Bmall percentage of loss. Of the 12,000 sent to Hawke's Bay, it was expected they would all hatch out with a loss of only about 1500. No advice has as yet come from the Grey District Society. Of trout, 38 have been placed in the Waipahi River at the township, in weight from Mb to, 51b; 17 have been liberated in the Tomahawk Lagoon, varying in weight from l&lb to 121b,' together with 30 perch of about din in length. The trout were taken from the Water-of-Leith, and the perch from the Dunedin reservoir by Mr Foord. Mr Charles Traill, of Stewart's Island, to whom a number of English song-birds were sent a few months ago, has applied for some trout. These, if possible, are to be sent as Boon, as ready, and he intimates that they can be taken over from the Bluff.

Sir William Gordon, Bart., of Murrurundi, N.S.W., wrote' acknowledging receipt of the blackbirds sent by this Society in August. These arrived safely in Sydney (12 in number), but three had died between that city and hid residence in the country on their way up. The Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria has written agreeing to take blackbirds and starlings as soon as we are ready to send them.

A letter from the Grey District Society was laid before the Council, asking for 12 partridges (equal sexes). — Resolved — That at present this Society regrets it cannot send them, but may at a future date.

A latter from the Borough Council of Tapanui was considered, asking for blackbirds and other song-birds, and reporting the success of skylarks in the district. Resolved to grant the request so soon as the proper season has come round. The Secretary reported that since last meeting a fow blackbirds had bsen sent to the Tuapeka district in charge of Mr Moss, the Society's ranger, to be liberated there; also that two cock goldfinches and four hens had been sent to the Lakes Acclimatisation Society.

The letter of Mr George Brown, of East Gore, was considered, covering extract from the Southland Times on the probable destruction of game by the poisoned wheat which is being laid down for rabbits. The Council considered that as it had as yet no evidence of bad results to imported game, it was hardly in a position as yet to take action in the matter.

Hopes were expressed by members that the pheasants, black game, &c. liberated at the expense of thia Society, might escape the disastrous results referred to.

An answer has been received from the Colonial Secretary to resolution of this Society regarding the protection of seals, to the effect that if possibles bill would be introduced into Parliament this session for the protection of ■eah, oysters, and fisheries. A fine of 10a under Protection of Animals Aot, 1873, has been r«Bitted by Government to the Society,

BOUNDABY OF SOUTHLAND SOCIETY'S DISTBIOT. The telegram from the Colonial Secretary on this subject was then read as follows .— Wellington, October 2 1st, 1879. Wra. Arthur Esq., Secretary AcclimatUation Society, Dunedin. Re trout-flshing regulation?, delay caused by disagreement as to boundary betwoen Otago and Southland districts. Pleaso ask your Society if they will agree to abolish boundary and make one district, licenses to run concurrently throughout, and Southland will agree. And I see no other Eolutlon. Mr Olirer has no objeotion if Society assents. Reply as Boon as possible, G. S. Cooper. A discussion followed, in which all the members of the Council took part. Among other things it was pointed out that this Society has not been informed what particular boundaries are asked for by the Southland Society, nor any distinct or good Cause shown for seeking to come within the boundary of the Obago Society's district. The Otago Society was formed in 1864, when Southland and Otago were distinct and separate provinces, and the Otago district always embraced from the first the Province of Otago, and until now there has been no attempt to encroach on our boundary, the Mataura River. Within this district the Otago Society has expended successfully much money and labour in stocking it with fish, pheasants, partridges, quail, black game, &c; while the Southland Society, since the proceeds of its 2000-acre endowment were expended, has done little or nothing. After consideration, it was unanimously resolved— "That this Society protests against any alteration of the boundaries of its district, which it has stocked with fish, game, and Bong-birds, &c, at great expense, as that would be an injustice which it has never anticipated, and which, in principle, would be fatal to its usefulness in future as a society."

A copy of the above resolution to be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary. A few accounts wore passed for payment, and the meeting adjourned.