ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 68, 1 August 1868, Page 2

ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

An ordinary monthly meeting of tho Council of this society was held at the Literary Institute yesterday afternoon. Present ; Mr Nottidge in the chair, and Messrs Oarnither*, Key. U. Fwser, 1\ Hanmer, W. Robinson, J. C Uoys, L. L. Powell, Hon. Sea, and tho Curator. Tho minutes of last meeting were read nnd confirmed. A letter waa read from the secretary of the London Zoological Society. The Curator's monthly repirt was read. It stated thnt Messrs J. Wright, B. Ward, F. l.ockyer, ti. tfmjirt, J. C. tft Qnentin, nnd Mr Allen Imd become members of the society, nut) that the following contributions had been received j Seed of the Nikau palm, Mr S. Wuikins ; plants of a natirc fern Gleichenia Cunninghami, Mr i\ F. Duller, Southland ; Ailanthus tree?, nnd a variety of the native fl*x, discovered by Mr Stlmson, Mr UUlop j a colleetiou of native plants .Mr (j. Bishop, and a fountain jet hy Mr It Smith. The estimated expenses for the month were rlvch at £19 7s 3d. Tho gone shelter (or animals in the domain had been provided, aitd a nmnbjr of shrubs and tree* had also been planted round tho outside of the enclosure for the samo purpose. The aviaries Imd been cleared und planted, ready for new arrivals, A plot of ground had been prepared, fenced, imd planted with ailAtuhu* trees. Great damage li.id been done to the gardens by boys, ami it was suggested that for the future, children, unless they were accompanied by ihcir parents or giunitatu, should be denied admission. A post mortem examination had shewn tho death of the whito swan to bo the result of disease. I ho levels tnken by Mr Wylde hud shewn that a fall of two feet could bo obtained from tha ponds, and a drain to clear them was accordingly Iwing made. Whilst the water wa» out, it whs recommended thnt tho pond* tthould be divided by perforated slate, and new shingle luid. X Attention was drawn to tho Gratuitous assistance often rendered in tho gardens by working men, and a suggestion made thnt such ohoutd bo elected annual members of the soelelj? Although Captain I humpaou had gone to Melbourne instead of direct to Hobart Town, he would ba in good timo to briug the ov», and it was not likely that Anything would be cliargoil for it* conveyance. Mr Clifford, manager of the Otago society, had offered to tiki) charge of tho ova as far as Otago, if anything should occur to prevent Captain Thompson bringing it, and in the event of such being tlte cute, it was suggested that implication should be made for Sergeant Quinn to bring them on to Canterbury. All attempts to catch the kangaroos had failed. Thu report nnd recommendations contained therein were discussed, In considering the estimated expenses for the month, a discussion arose on an amount asked for the erection of a goat house. Mr Hobinson asked what wna tho object in kcoping gouts. Ihe Curator said the wool of the Augoros was very valuable, hiving been sold at 3i 6d per lb. in the London market, and thnv produced as much as sheep, added to which tho goats wero in other reaped* ireful for breeding purposes. Mr Uobinson considered it folly to say that gouts wero more valuable for growing wool than sheep, or they would long before this Imvo been extensively bred in Australia. He himself litid at one time kept a large number but found that they gave little wool, which, wiw also troublesome to remove, and tho animals died away very rapidly. He con* aidercd thu society had far better turn their attention to importing birds $ a d n gamo law being Already in force the society would confer ft great boon on the province by endeavouring to get a BUI initiated whereby the Koad Boards could offer rewards for tho des* tlon of vermin in their respective districts, tho acclimatization of birds could never succeed whilst Mta, wild cat*, and luwk* were left undisturbed. Swamp hens were alto great destroyers of eggs, and should be similarly dealt with. Tho item whs, after somo further dlacusslon, expunged, the remainder being adopted, but to be expended under the superintendence of the sub-committee. Mr Hoys said the only plan the sub-com-mittee had considered practical forgetting rid of weeds in the pom!* was by draining the water away for a short time. They bad therefore ordered the nectary drain to be nude, Mr Wylde having taken the levels. In reply to Mr Koblnson, the Curator aaid (hero wero a few blackbirds and thruahe* loft in the garden*, and that others of the- imported bird 4 had fettled in various parts of the city and suburbs. The only fresh supply of birds oxpected, were partridges and qimilr. Tho former would probably arrivo during tho present month and tho latter during September, A. brief discussion took place on the suggested exclusion of children from tho society's gardens, but tho Council not having tho power to adopt auch a course, And somo doubt being felt as to whether even the Government could enforce such a rule, nothing was <lone in the matter. Tho Curator said it was very doubtful whether any advices would be received notifying tho probable time at which the salmon ova would arrive. The Secretary was desired to communicate with tha Otago Government requesting that Sergeant Quinn might be permitted to accompany tho ova on to Canterbury, if it waa cent via Dunedin. In referring to the kangaroos, Mr Robinson made some remark! as to tho society depart*

Ing from itu avowed objeetn, nnd becoming n npccltn of Goologloftl Society by devoting attention to ouch animate. It wan explained Hint tlio kangaroon were eIf(H, and tliut ouch thingH crontcd an Interest in the floeluty. It wnn not Intended to expend fundii in procuring or brooding nnlmiiM of that (lcficrlj)tlon, but fio long an Ihero wan ground to fipare for them, and they florvert to intercnt the public, the noddy would not refimo ilicm, The trcniiurer reported that tho balance to the credit of tho Hooloty wnn X123 0» lOil, Mr Boyfl nuked whim H wa« Intondcd to procure another importation of birds, The Clmlrmiin flaid ho had ulwnya n(lvo« «alcd tho noclcty confining its nttontion to onoortwo thlngfl at a llmo, and not by dintribullng Itovora number of experiments, prevent nw.Gv.an in any. The fioeiciy hail nlflo ndopted Ihlfl view, nnd tho Introduction of! salmon having boon renolvod upon, it hud ?>cen decided at a recent meeting to devote their attention chiefly to thii.t for tho proflcnt, Mr Fr/ifior «ald there was no opnefal rcflolutlou to Hint ofTeul, but U wan generally undoralood that salmon wnn to rocclvo /til their attention eoiiHUlent with keeping tho mntlorfl now In hand In proper order. 'Hie Chairman mild, if the expectation of no freight being charged for conveyance of tho nnlmon ova wan routined, otifflclont money would rirohably bo available for procuring birdfl. Mr Cnrruthorfl reported that ho had fcpokon to the Curator with reference to iho fowls owned by him and now In the gardens, being purohuflod by tho floclcty. No objuciion had neon rained to ouch a procccdlitKi and he tliought It would bo protcrablo to allow the Curator a Httlo additional milnry than for him lo k«op fowlw on hlfl own account. i A brief (11/iciihhlod took pluou, a gcnnrnl defllri! being evinced to dual libomlly with tho (Curator In the matter, nud flic mtvlcw which ho had icndorcd Iho Hooloiy by |)ro«urIng Hicin for hatching purposun bein^ fully .ttclcnowkdgcd. ] It wan ultimately decided Hint tho pecuniary obj'Wt being an Important one, further consideration should bo deferred, ' X'J'lio Chairman finld bo had been coiißldorlug whollitii' it would bo advisable to imporl i liO(l(?ohogfl, They would provo very valuiv bio In doHtroying iuMuctn, and althoUKh tlioy would also tlcfltroy egge, that might b<; guarded "gahirtt. They could readily bo obtained in Kngluiitl, (Did being ciully mip|illod with food would ha but a trifling oxpcimo in ljriiiglog..ouL..j / Aftor noino few rcmarkfl con^tlonillon of tho subject wm defurrcd, and tho ni(iCiing adjourned,