ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Southland Times, Issue 1026, 23 September 1868, Page 3

ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

A meeting of $he committee of the above society was held on. Monday last, : the 21st September. Present— Messrs D. M' Arthur, W. H. Pearson, G. S. Crouch, and E. P. Butts, Hon Secretary. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary said that in anticipation of the salmon ova arriving from England, arrangements should be made for the .enlargement 6f the ponds. After some conversation, it was decided to let the matter stand over until next meeting. The Secretary read the following re-, Sort, prepared by the sub-committee — JTessrs M'Arthur, Moore, and Butts — appointed at a previous meeting, to draw up a statement of the Society : — This Society was inaugurated at a public meeting held at the Provincial - ; Hall, Invercargill, on the 17th March, 1867. . .-A Committee having been formed, their • first . action was to endeavor to make arrangements for the acclimatisation of Salmon arid trout : in aid of which undertaking, £150 was voted -by the Council. TJpbn examination of estimates, however, for the construction of the ponds, it was found that the cost of a proper piscicultura! establishment would not be less than. .£3OO, which was greatly in excess : of our means, and as the Government were not in a position to pay the amount voted by the Council, it was found necessary to let the matter stand over for that year.. . / In the autumn of 1868 measures were again taken for commencing pisciculture, and the Government having granted £300 in aid of the. undertaking, a piede of laiid was leased from Mr Morton, of jWallacetown, at, a nominal rental, and a ; contract was entered into for the necessary works at £250. i : Mr H. Howard was then engaged at a salary 1 of l £2o<) yearly, to 'act as Curator to the Society, and he was sent to Tasmania for the purpose of procuring trout ova, which cost about £70. His trip was most successful, he having returned with about 1000 eggs, all in a perfectly healthy condition, besides bringing across some Eve perch and tench (kindly presented to the Society by Morton Allport, Esq.), which have been confided to the care of Mr Nurse, of Eiverton. .. With the view of introducing salmon ova into the Province with as little delay as possible, the Society then communicated with the Provincial Government of Oiago,-tq see if they could obtain 40,000 or 50,000 eggs from that province in their next consignment from Great Britain, to arrive in March, and promis- ; ing, on condition of their giving us this quantity, to supply the Mataura and Waiau with salmon if successfully hatched. An answer was promptly re'\ceiyedfrom the Government, granting us th£ required supply, with the sole con-. , dition that, we should be ready to receive it immediately on its arrival at Port Chalmers. To take in this quantity of ova, it will '" be necessary to increase the size of our hatching-house, and to make a large - pond for rearing the young parr. This, with an extra pond for keeping a supply ofiroutfor breeding purposes, will probably cost about £50. ; The whole cost, then,, of the undertaking so far— including the. above £50 '-■ but excluding the Curator's salary' from Ist July, would be about £410 ; the result being most cheering, as there are al- . Teady a considerable number of •; ova hatched, and in the course of a fortnight ;- there.' will probably be 800 or 900 young ■ : - trouti And •we beg to point out that other provinces— nbtably the two large provinces of the Middle Island— have spent four or five times the amount that has been disbursed by this Society, without having succeeded hitherto in hatching any ova. of this fish. Having now reported upon the prospects of the Acclimatisation Society, we desire to point out to the Government that its L funds are quite inadequate to meet the' objects that we are endeavoring to carry out. The subscriptions for the last two years amount to only £150, and it is not expect that they will exceed £75 per annum. "We therefore respectfully propose to the Government that they take the acclimatisation of fish into their own hands, as in Otago ; or, should it be preferred, subsidise the Society by an annual vote for this purpose^ thus permitting them to devote the subscriptions revived to their more legitimate purposes, namely, the acclimatisation of animals, birds, and plants. It may appear incredible to those unacquainted with the value of salmon fisheries to be told that the rivers of Southland could be .made to yield an annual revenue many times the amount of that of all the pastoral lands in it, and that, too, years before the expiry of the existing, leases. In illustration of this we refer the Government to the exportation of salmon from Scotland to London lasij'year to the value of £200,000, which were forwarded packed in ice, arriving perfectly fresh at their destination. Southland holds the same position with k regard to the continent of Australia and Northern Provinces qf^New.Zealand,;. Kwhich will be permanent and increasing for our surplus salmon.

Such, then, being the rapidity with which this industry comes into profitable operation, it ought not to be allowed to run the risk of failure in the hands of a few private individuals, who may not, however persevering, succeed in getting the funds necessary to carry out what ought to be pre-eminently one of the very first duties of the State. To ensure success therefore, it is absolutely necessary that the Society be guaranteed not "less than £300 or £400 ! annually, for four or five years. Success must not be made to depend upon the voluntary and therefore uncertain contributions of the members of the Society. That this is the view taken by other Provincial Government both as regard fish and other objects of acclimatisation is shownj from the fact that these societies are largely supported by grants in ] aid, and that in the neighboring Province of Otago the Society gets £3 from the Government for every £1 subscribed, besides paying all the expenses in connection with pisciculture, which latter undertaking has already cost them over £2000. Mr Crouch considered the report was just what was required. He would move that it be adopted, and the Secretary requested to forward it to the Government. Mr Pearson seconded "the motion which was carried. The' Secretary brought up and read the following report frorii the" Curator, Mr H. Howard : — Wallacetown Ponds, 11th Sept., 1868. Sir, — I have the honor to inform you, for the information of the Committee, that I reached Melbourne on the 19fch of July, after a protracted voyage of seven days. When there, I visited the Secretary of the Melbourne Acclimatisation Society (Mr Spriggs), in hopes of meeting Mr Ramsbottom, who, I understood, was staying 'there; .on his way to Sydney for the benefit of his health, which you will regret to learn is in a very precarious state. I was sorry to find he had sailed the previous day. But I found from Mr Spriggs that, should your Society require | any hares, you can most probably be supplied from there another season, as hares are very prolific, and doing extremely well there, fourteen brace having been taken off tbe Eoyal farm the day previous to my visit to the Royal Gardens. I was detained in Melbourne, for want of a steamer until the 23rd, and arrived in Hobart Town (via Launceston) on the night of the 25th. On the 28th I delivered all the letters I received from you, and was sorry to learn from Mr M'Pherson that he had heard nothing whatever of the ' Prarie,' and was fearful for some time I should be obliged to return with the ova by Melbourne. On the Ist of August I went with two of the Salmon Commissioners (Messrs Allport and Buckland) to visit the ponds at New Norfolk, and was pleased to find the ova already collected in the hatching house for distribution, and not in so forward a state as I feared it would be, the trout having spawned very late this season, from the unusual coldness of the weather. I was sorry to learn that the fish had finished spawning in the rill the previous week, but I was enabled to see some on the spawning beds in the Plenty. Mr Ramsbottom has detained about 100 fish iv the reservoir above the hatching house, thus allowing them to spawn in the natural way, "and obviating all stripping. This, I have no doubt, will be found a most valuable idea, and one I would strongly advise you to adopt. I also received much valuable information and advice from Eobert Reid, Esq., of Bedlands, who is now in charge of the ponds during Mr Ramsbottom's absence, and is also one of the Salmon Commissioners, and the gentleman on whose property the Plenty ponds are situated. On my return from New Norfolk I ordered boxes for the ova, and a large tank for the tench and perch, both which fish had been kindly promised, me for you Mr Morton Allport, the original shipper of them from home. The boxes and tank I had made from recommendations of Dr Officer, similar to those already in use by Mr Huddlestone, and which all those who have seen them, think as simple and perfect as it is possible to be ; the boxes I have now here for the inspection of those desirous of seeing it, the tank has been forwarded to you. lam sorry to say the Prarie did not arrive until the 9th of August, having been detained in the New River, and being fifteen days on her passage, through contrary winds. She had then to go on the slip, having struck on the bar of the New River. On the 20th August I again started for the Plenty ponds to get the ova, and had them securely packed in the moss under the careful eye of Mr Read (eight hundred in number),' and brought them down to New Norfolk the same night by hand, ready to start by steamer next morning for Hobart Town, which I reached at eleven o'clock, everything was on board the Prairie by four, and we sailed with a fair wind at five the same evening. The ova, through the kindness of Captain "Westbrook, was stowed in the after hatchway, or rather slung there by Indian rubber bands, with a tin tank underneath, to catch the dripping from the' box, and which was emptied s every day. The snow — of which, at the last moment, I obtained two sacks — was replenished on the top of the box every day, and, contrary to everyone's opinion, answered the purpose admirably, lasting until I sighted New Zealand, and. would have lasted to the ponds had we not experienced heavy winds the last week. We reached the Mokomoko jetty on the Ist September, but through the stupidity of the fisherman in not keeping a good look-out, did not leave the ship till the next day at twelve. The ova, as you are aware, were all in the hatchingboxes before eight o'clock the next morning, and a more pleasing sight than presented itself on the opening of the boxes it would be almost impossible to fiee^ronly sixty-five dead ova in the thre*e boxes.

The perch, I am sorry to say, got a severe haridlitfg during a hurricane on the Sunday before our arrival, and I fear it will take some time to recover what few are left. I was only able to obtain two tench at the last moment, and these I had to buy ; both are alive. The frogs hatched as I came over the bar, and are now looking very healthy. I have also, I find, a few leeches. . The aquatic plants I have planted round the ponds, the seeds of which (I got an ample supply from the Eoyal Society's Gardens) I forwarded you. The flowering plants I had, I am sorry to say, were all spoiled by the kangaroos on board. — I have the honor, &c, Hbnet Howaed. E. D. Butts, Esq., Invercargill.

Mr Pearson said that as this was about the season when young black swans could easily be obtained in Australia, he thought that some steps should be taken to procure them. The Hon Secretary was instructed to write to Mr Sprig, Secretary to the Victorian Acclimatisation Association, soliciting his aid in obtaining six pairs. Mr Pearson thought that the society should now endeavor to get some hares from either Victoria or England. It was resolved that the Secretary should write to Thomas Austin, Esq., Barwon Park, ■ G-eelong, soliciting him to help the Society in this matter. It was stated at the meeting that this gentleman had large numbers of hares . on hia ground, and the interest he took in the work of acclimatisation was so great that there could be but little doubt he would comply with the request of the Society. The question of fencing in and improving the land promised by the Government to the Society, on the Waikivi Reserve, was discussed, and it was decided that no action should be taken at present, but the Secretary was requested to write to the Government with reference to obtaining a Crown Grant. Several accounts were passed, and ordered to be^ paid. A conversation ensued upon the state of the funds of the Society, in the course' of which it was stated that it was expected during the year that the Society would have some five or six hundred young trout to sell which would considerably augment the funds. The Secretary stated that the perch that had been placed under the care of Mr Nurse were all dead but one. The Chairman remarked he was delighted to hear it, as to bring perch to rivers intended for breeding salmon was like importing two greyhounds with two hares.

PUBLIC MEETING AT GUMMIE'S BUSH. - . • .

(PEOM A. COESESPONDENT). A public meeting was held at Mr Hopcroft's Accommodation House, on the evening of Friday last, the 18th inst., to discuss the propriety of supporting the committee appointed at the public meeting held in" Eiverton, on Monday last, for memoralising the. General Government for a system of local self-government in the Western District. The meeting was pretty well attended. Mr Simpson was present as a deputai tion from the Eiverton Committee — as I Mr Cuthbertson was,also expected, proceedings were delayed for some time. During the interval the proceedings at the Eiverton meeting were quietly discussed. One gentlemen remarked that the I speakers at that meeting did not seem to know what sort of local selfgovernment they wished to have. Mr Danie.l said those, who were to speak after him would give particular information, but those who spoke after him did not seem to know more than himself— that. Mr Austin and his coadjutors in getting up the meeting ought to have prepared an outline of what they wished to have, and laid it before the meeting — that even Mr Cuthbertson could not give definite information, though he is never at a loss for words. They did not wish the district to be formed into a county such as Westland — they wanted something similar to what they have in Timaru, but what they wanted he was not able to say. As Mr Cuthbertson did not appear it was resolved to proceed. . Mr Bath, senr., was elected chairman. He then introduced Mr Simpson to the meeting as a deputation from the Eiverton Committee. Mr Simpson expressed his regret that Mr Cuthbertson was not present ; however he would lay before them a few facts, and state what had been done by the Committee in Eiverton, and answer any questions which might be put to him. He then repeated the statements he had made at the public meeting in Eiverton. The resolutions adopted at that meeting were then read. The speaker said that the second resolution was departed from — the Committee upon reconsideration had resolved not to carry it out- — that they had determined to memorialise the General Government for a Local Board of Works, such as ' the people of Timaru enjoy. Mr Potts wished to know whether that Board would have power, to raise I money by taxation — a good deal had i been said in Eiverton about taxation. Mr M'Donald frequently stated in his \ speech that if we were to be taxed at all, better tax ourselves. Mr Simpson replied that the Committee had changed its opinion on that subject. They now wished to have a Board of "Works such as exists in Timaru, that in Timaru the Board had no power to raise money by taxation. The Board receives one-quarter of the land revenue, but no part of the general revenue or of the customs. He was sorry he had not got ( the act under which Timaru was constituted. Mr Cuthbertson was to have brought several copies. Several gentlemen Bpoke strongly against taxation. They were of opinion that should the land revenue fail the Board would resort to taxation ; that 5 the interest of the debt had to be paid out of

the land revenue in the first place, and also a part of the provincial expenditure, and that it was probable the Board would get very little out of the land revenue ; they were apprehensive that the townspeople wished to aggrandise themselves at the expense of the country. . One speaker remarked that several at the Riverton meeting talked of jobbery by government, but there were parties in Riverton quite as capable of jobbery as any in Invercargill. Mr Vaughan — Mr Simpson stated that only a small fraction of the money expended in the province had been expended in this district. Perhaps he can tell us what proportion of the million of money has been,expended on public works in the rest of the province. Mr Simpson was not prepared to give b I that information. i Several gentlemen regretted this, as it , : would have shown more clearly the pro- " portion this district received, many things " had to be paid out of the million— e.g. official's salaries, surveyor's salaries, ' Council expenses, compensation,- interest : on Otago Debt, &c, &c. It was also stated by a gentleman that knew that district that the making of roads about Invercargill was much more expensive than here, owing to the nature of the 1 ground, the scarcity of materials, &c. — 1 though it was allowed 7 at the same time 1 that a great deal of money had been ; misspsnt. It was remarked that the Go--1 vernment was not the only party who was , to blame for the extravagant expenditure on railways. The Council was chiefly to blame. (Hear, hear.) It sanctioned the works and voted the money, that at that time there was a mania for railways, and the Government was unfortunately carried along with the popular current. Mr S. admitted that it was so, and that for one to stand up and oppose railways, was something like Mrs Partington's attempt to drive back the rising tide with her mop. (Laughter.) A gentleman explained that it frequently happened that the monies voted for public works were in excess of the revenue, as Government did not receive so much money as they expected, of course they could not spend all the money voted, simply because they had not got it. "That several works were postponed for this reason, and Mr Cuthbertson was well aware of this. Mr Reid wished to know whether Mr Simpscn had a copy of the memorial which the Riverton Committee proposed to adopt. . Mr Simpson regretted that he had not a copy of the memorial — a memorial had been framed, but it had to be submitted for the sanction of the committee. He had a copy, but he was sorry he could not find ifc. He then pressed the meeting to adopt a resolution to support the Riverton Committee. No one seemed inclined to do so. After some conversation, Mr Eullarton moved the following resolution — "That whereas the Western District of this Province has nofc received the proportion of the funds expended on public works in this Province, to which it is fairly entitled, this meeting resolves to use all their endeavors to induce the Provincial Council to grant this district the proportion of the funds to which it is entitled, and invite their friends in 'Riverton to co-operate with them." In supporting this resolution, Mr Fullafton stated that it appeared to him very unwise to memoralise the General Government on the subject at the present time. To do so, was to strengthen Mr Stafford in his centralising policy. Besides, if the measures which were at present under the consideration of the ' General Assembly became., law, it would be quite unnecessary to memoralise the Government at all. The people at Riverton seemed to think any change would be advantageous. (Mr Simpson — That feeling seems pretty general at Riverton). Yes. What the Riverton people want is to have money in circulation. No matter where it comes from — though the settler has to. pay it in the shape of taxation. The people in the country are conservative so far that they wish to retain the privileges they enjoy until they have a fair prospect of getting something i better. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Mr James Reid seconded the resolution. He thought the action of the Committee in Riverton quite premature. It would have been much better to have postponed it until it was known whether the Road Board Bill, now under consideration would pass ; that in our circumstances it would be unwise to commit ourselves by adopting the views of the Riverton Committee (so far as we know them.) That even Mr Daniel admitted that during the present year we received a fair share of the public money for roads and bridges. (Hear, hear.) He thought ' the Riverton Committee were taking an , unwise step, and he could not support them. (Applause.) The resolution was put toithe meeting , and unanimously agreed to. Mr Simpson wished the meeting to appoint a deputation to confer with the. , Riverton Committee, as it was veiy desirable there should be united action. ; This the meeting declined to do. Mr Simpson pressed the meeting to hold out * the right hand of fellowship, and said that Mr Cuthbertson had been in Invercargill, that it was. possible he had now changed his views, and that it was possible the ' , Riverton Committee would co-operate with them. i With a view to meet the wishes, of Mr Simpson, and give the Riverton i Committee an opportunity for mending their past doings, the clause written in italics was added to the resolution at Mr Simpson's suggestion. It was further resolved to appoint a committee to carry out the above resolution, to consist of Dr Hodgkinson, Messrs W. H. Nurse, James Reid, John Yaughton, Wm. Scully, John Allison, \A. M'Clymont, with powers to add to their number. Mr James Reid to be Secretary. The usual vote of thanks to Mr Simpson and to the Chairman, closed the proceedings.