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Star (Christchurch), Issue 605, 30 April 1870, Page 2

Acclimatisation Societt.— The monthly meeting of the Council was held *it the Literary Institute yesterday afternoon ; Mr J. T. Peacock presided, and there were present Dr Haast, Messrs Boys, C. R. Blakiston, Hanmer, Jameson, Bird, Fereday, Nottidge, and S. C. Farr (hon sec.) Mr Johnson, Curator, was also in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman, on behalf of the Finance Committee, reported that nothing had yet been done towards procuring the loan for introducing insectivorous birds, but the Road Boards had been communicated with respecting subscriptions in aid of the project. After some discussion, it was decided that, expedition being a primary object, the chairman should become personally responsible to the bank authorities for a sufficient sum to purchase and introduce birds, the members of the Council being in their turn severally responsible to him for pro rata portions of the amount; the loan from the bank to c xtend over such a period as will permit of the result of the intended application to the Provincial Council and the one already made to the Road Boards being ascertained. It was also agreed that, Mr Bills, who has acted with great sucdeasinja similar capacity for the Otago society, shdrnd be engaged to take charge of the birds on the voyage. Mr Nottidge being on the eve of returning to England undertook, by request of the Council, to superintend, in conjunction with Mr Ottywell, agent in London, all the preliminary arrangements for shipping the birds. Mr Not tidge, on behalf of the committee appointed to wait upon the Government respecting a new piece of land being granted to the society in a more convenient locality and on a more satisfactory tenure than the enclosure recently occupied by the society in the domain, reported that the Government had stated their inability to give any definite answer at present. The committee would therefore have to seek a second interview with the Government. A letter was read from Mr Potts, asking whether the Council were willing to part with the native quail in the society's gardens. The secretary was directed to reply that the quail would be sold at the same price as pheasants— £2 5s per pair. A letter was read from the secretary to the Southland Acclimatisation Society, desiring to purchase six pheasants. A letter was read from the Colonial Secretary, acknowledging receipt of information respecting the culture of the silkworm, and expressing great satisfaction at the interest evidently taken in the matter by the Christchurch society. A communication was also read from the Commissioner of Police, stating that constables could not be instructed to shoot Bhags on the river Avon, within the precincta of the city, without infringing the law. The curator reported that Mr W. S. Robinson had become a member of the society, and that contributions had been received from Master Deane of native tui birds ; Mrs Stevens, a native owl ; Mr R. Fleming, native seeds. The receipts for the month had been: subscriptions, £13 5s 6d ; sale of pheasants, £12 4s ; total, £25 9s 6d j and the] expenditure for the ensuing month was estimated at £5. In replying to the letter from the b'outhland Society (referred to above) the curator had stated that he could not send the pheasants without the express sanction of the council, but he believed the present number in the gardens, thirty-three, would be sufficient for the society, and to allow of the Southland society's request being acceded to. A large number of seeds, including a quantity from the Fiji Islands, had been presented to the Society by a gentleman, on the understanding that they are to be distributed amongst the members. The English rook brought out in the Siberia had been procured by exchange, -and is now in the gardens. It was decided to send the pheasants to the Southland Society, after which the Council adjourned.