ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 92, 29 August 1868, Page 3

ACCLIMATIZATION SOCIETY.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held at tho Literary Institute yesterday aflcrnoon. Mr 0. 0. Bo won presided, and thoro were also present, Messrs Johnstone, Rev, C, Krasor, Carruthors, Nottldgo, L. 1.. Powell (hou. sec,), J. C. Bays, (/'. It. Blnklflton, aud the Curator, Tho mlnutos of last mooting woro road nnd confirmed, A letter was rend from Messrs Miles nnd Co,, offering ou behalf of Mr 11, C, Benson, a deer, for presentation lo the Society, Tho Chairman said en receiving the lottor, ho hnd called upon tho Provincial Seerotnry and obtained a free pansngu for the deor from Lyttolton, It Is now In tlio Society's grounds and tho Curator reported it in a healthy stato, The Secretary was requested to acknowledge tho present in suitable (crms, Tho Printing Cominltieo submitted a proofsheet of the hist annual report of Iho Socioty, Tho Curator reported thnt Messrs A, Lcmprioro, 11, Wisely, J, Bidloy, G, D, Bloemlleld, D, and D, Cameron, and E. 11. Foro Jay had jolnod tho society during tho past month, Two curlows had been presented by Mr J, B, Hill, and agnzello by Captain Benson, Tlio expenditure iot tlio mouth had been XI O IDs Od, During tho {iroccss of emptying the ponds, a largo numicr of tench, peroh, and one of iho long lost trout bad beon caught. The tormor iish bad grown In a surprising manner, nnd it was believed tliat the romnlning trout wan nllvo and well, The stock of poultry had been very considerably diminished during the month, but It was suggested that somo of the best breeds mlabt bo retained for hatching purposes, Tho nanlha originally erdoroJ for the Incubator could, if it wns not considered desirable lo uso it, bo sold without loss on tho cost. But a fair trial might ho glvon to the incubator, nn If. It proved Bucociisfui, It woulr 1 bo. a {(rent acquisition In hatching and roaring quailX^Hls Lordship Bishop PutUson hud written promising to forward some cones of the Norfolk Island pine, and Mr l.*\ If. Hiitlor bad sent a parcel of tho Natlvo Umbrella fern, Tbo Angora goat had dropped three hub*/*** Mr .Toliiintono, in referring to tho cleansing of the ponds, said ho thought a great mistake hnd been made In trying to hatch ova In artesian wator. Ho could not hut think that a natural stream should bo used for such purposes us wator brought from a depth of 160 to 200 feet could scarcely contain tho elements necessary to bring tho fish to life or provide them with food after being hatched. He should also consldor that artesian water could not bo sufficiently aerated Uo yvnn certainly of opinion that previous failures had rcsullod from thCRo mattcrn. Mr Nottldgo did not agree with Mr Johnatone. 110 hnd formerly held similar opinions but enquiry had proved their fallacy, In tho first pluoe, tho temperature of running water oould not be regulated so easily as artesian, and In reference to food, ho must remind Mr Jnhnntona that nalmon did not rouulro any for a vory considerable porlod after batching, tbo umbilical bag supplying them with it for some time, That the ova could bo hatched In artesian water had already boon proved, and ho must; think, on the whole, (ho plan thoy bad hitherto pursuod was tho bent. Mr Powell was of tho same opinion, as of courso it was not intended to continue to supply tho fish with nrluslau water after being hatched. A hrlof dlnciifinlou ennuod, and fluffgosllons woro made by tho Chairman nnd others for conveying water from tlio river into tlio grounds, so as to use equal quantltltn of eaoh, Tho Curator spoko of the ndvnntngcn of arlosinn over river water for hntahlng pur* pesos, It was ultimately resolved that tlie matter flhould be deferred, and Die committee visit tho grounds, In order to judgo more clearly of tho hem plan to hu adopted, A con vernation respecting tho Introduction of the mulberry silkworm took place, but did not result iv anything definite being decided upon, In roply to a question, the Curator wild ho had written to Sydnoy for a supply of tho Ailanthun eggs, but sufficient tlmo had not elapsed for a reply to bo received, Tho Curator's salary of X-io, and sovornl flinall accounts, wero ordered lo bo paid, and tlio GVuncll then udjournod.