South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 11 November 1882, page 6


S.A. ZOOLOGICAL AND ACCLIMA TIZATION SOCIETY.

The fourth annual meeting of the members of this Society was held in the Institute on Friday, November 10, His Excellency the Governor presiding over a moderately large

audience, including His Honor the Chief Justice, the Hon. K. D. Ross (Speaker of the Assembly), several members of the Committee, and Mr. B. E. Minchin (Hon. Secretary). Mr. Minchin read the annual report to the following effect : — The past year has been the most important one in the existence of the Society. After frequent ap plications and lengthy correspondence, it has suc ceeded in obtaining a most suitable piece of ground —portion of the Botanical Reserve, between the Exhibition Grounds and the Albert Bridge— for the purpose of establishing a Zoological Garden. This site is now being substantially fenced in; a keeper's cottage will in a short time be erected thereon, and the Council trust that at no distant date the Garden will be sufficiently advanced to take over the animals, &c, at present located in the Botanical Gardens. M. Le Souef, the Director of the Zoological Gardens in Melbourne, has, on the application of the Honorary Secretary, kindly assisted us in allowing one of his keepers to accept a similar position in the service of this Society. The ex tended operations of the Society, and the fact that valuable ground in the Hundred of Noarlunga has been granted to the Society by the Government, render it necessary to incorporate the Society as early as possible. Accordingly, Messrs. Ayers and Ayers have been instructed to carry cut the wishes of the Council In this matter. With the object of improving the breed of the domestic turkey in this colony, the Council has succeeded in procuring several pairs of the American bronze turkey, and it is expected that a further supply of those costly and valuable birds are now on the passage from New York. For their early introduction into Australia the thanks of the com munity are due to Dr. Mayo, J.P., who generously presented the Society with the first importation; and to the Hon. David Murray, M.L.C., by whose exertions a further addition was made to the stock at present in the keeping of the Society. With the assistance of the Acclimatisation Society in Canterbury, New Zealand, the Council is obtaining another supply of song birds, which is daily expected to arrive. A number of goldfinches and other birds have been set at liberty in the fol lowing localities :— Hill River, Yallum Park (South East), on the Hindmarsh River, Ashford, Warra killa, Fourth Creek, Torrens Part, and Katlunga. . . . Five thousand brown trout ova have been received from Tasmania, and were most successfully hatched by Mr. Sanders in the Society's pond at Thorndon Park. About 4,000 young fry have been set at liberty in the River Torrens, the Onkaparinga, Hill River, and the River Angas. The Council desires to express its great obligations to the Government and Parliament for the liberal assistance accorded to the Society during the past year. The Council also wishes to express its thanks to His Honor the Chief Justice for the many services he has rendered to the Society as President during his term of office; also to Mr. W. B. Rounsevell, M.P., for his great assistance in procuring the site for the Zoological Gardens. To the Hon. Henry Scott the thanks of the Council are due for his con tinued kindness in allowing the meetings of the Council to be conducted in his offices, often at con siderable inconvenience to himself and the gentle men in his employ. Prominent amongst those who have assisted the Society by their purse and contri butions stands Mr. Frederick Dutton, one of our old colonists, at present residing in London, who has generously presented £100 to the funds of the Society; also Mr. Philip Levl, who has very kindly pro mised to allow his llamas to be kept in the Gardens. It is proposed by the Council that the latter gentle man be elected an honorary member of the Society. The members of the Council fully reallze the im portance of the task they have undertaken; and whilst they will not relax in their efforts to make the Society a public benefit, they trust to receive the support and assistance of their fellow-colonists by liberal contributions towards the necessary outlay. The Council desires to express its best thanks for the following gifts and loans of animals and birds to the Society:— Mrs. Isabella Shoebridge, one emu and one kangaroo; Mr. G. C. Hawker, M.P., two emus; Mr. James Martin, four emus; Mr. M. S. Clark, two emus; Dr. Mayo, three American bronze turkeys; Mr. J. H. Bagster, M.P., two Murray turtles; Mr. T. G. Fenn, one eagle ; Mr. W. T. Mortlock, two pheasants; Mr. E. L. Hamil ton, lot of native weapons, Northern Territory; Mr. W. H. Harrison, lot of assegais and Mr. Phillip Levi for loan of llamas. Hi3 Excellency remarked:— I think you will agree with me that the report which has just been read is a very satisfactory one, and one which shows a great advance in the operations of this important Society. I am very glad indeed to see that steps are being taken for the improvement of the breed of turkeys in the colony, especially as from enquiry I find that there is considerable room for such improvement. In fact, apart from that, one finds that the turkeys on one's table are not so large or so good as they might be. I am told that the turkey we ordinarily get here weighs only from 10 to 20 lb., whilst the American turkey weighs from 40 to 60 lb. If, therefore, we can only bring our birds up to the American standard a highly desirable result will have been attained. I am glad to see, too, that active steps for the introduction of songbirds into our woods are being taken. I am sure every one who lives in the hills, as I do during a great portion of the year, will highly appreciate this department of the operations of the Society. Another most im portant step has been taken, though it met with the opposition of some gentlemen in Parliament and out of it, in obtaining a grant of sixteen acres of land at the Botanic Park. Whatever may be the merits of the dis cussion upon the site, I think the Society are to be congratulated on having obtained so eligible a position for their zoological department. I confess that I am one of those, speaking individually, who think a most excellent site has been selected; and I believe that when the result of the operations of the Society shall have been seen there, that the objections which have hitherto been raised to the selection of that site will be entirely removed from the minds of every one. There is a nice fence being erected by the Society, to which no objection can be taken in regard to its being unsightly ; and I have had the pleasure of inspecting the plans of the buildings pro posed to be erected upon the sixteen acres to which I have referred, and I believe that when erected they will, so far from being detrimental to the appearance of the Park, really add to its beauty. The building for the lodge is especially neat and pretty. That for the carnivores will be a very sightly structure; and the general arrangement of the paddocks is such as not to interfere with the plantations laid out with so much care by Dr. Schomburgk, to whom we, one and all, owe great gratitude for his untiring energy with regard to these plantations, the conducting of his botanical researches, and the general administration of his department. I am not at all praising the operations of the Society in regard to this site in opposition to Dr. Schomburgk's views, but in the full belief that they will have his earnest sup port, and that he will be the first to acknow ledge the value of those operations. Turn ing back to the report of the proceedings of last year, I am reminded that I said something about ostrich-farming. This, I know, is not immediately connected with the operations of this Society, although it is of course a part of the work of acclimatiza tion. I am glad to see that there is a Bill before Parliament to encourage ostrich-farm ing, and I have no doubt the Legislature will in their wisdom, if they see fit to pass the Bill, cause the provisions to be such that the ostrich-farming industry may have full scope for its operations. (Hear, hear.) The Chief Justice, in moving for the adoption of the report, said that the Society had undoubtedly just entered upon the most important year of its history. Having through the generosity of Pariament acquired a magnificent site on which to establish a Zoological Garden it had undertaken great responsibili ties to the public. He was sure that every member of the Council was sensible of the responsibilities they had incurred in under taking the establishment of Zoological Gardens upon the site granted to them. With regard to the dispute about that site, he held that it would be rather an advan tage than a drawback to the public to have the Zoological Gardens so close to the Botanic Gardens; and their near proximity would unquestionably arouse a spirit of emulation amongst the Society to present something equally attractive to the public. They could not have a better example than that of the Royal Park in Melbourne, than which there was no spot there more attractive. If this Society brought their Gardens to the same degree of excellence he was sure that Dr. Schomburgk and the Botanic Board would rejoice in their success, and the Legislature would see that by granting the site they had acted in the public interest. As to the past work of the Society he would caution them against expecting too much at once. When fish were turned out into the streams they had a great many enemies to en counter, and a considerable time must elapse before they could be fully stocked. They had, however, already gained excellent results in Sixth Creek and elsewhere. Last Saturday he was engaged in distributing trout fry in the Upper Sturt, at Coromandel Valley, in the little creek midway between Clarendon and Noarlunga — the largest affluent of the Onkaparinga, the name of which he did not know— and also in the gorge of the Onkapa ringa itself, and whilst turning out the trouts very encouraging circumstance was brought to his notice. Mr. Murray, proprietor of the local factory, told him that three months ago one of his men was crossing a bridge on the Upper Sturt when he saw in the water a trout, which afterwards proved to be 18 inches long and weighed 1½ lb. This was one of the offspring of a few turned out by the Hon. D. Murray some years before. As to song-birds, towards the end of last year he himselt turned out in the neighbourhood of Mintaro some goldfinches and two or three hedge sparrows. The goldfinches had been seen and heard several times since; but it was thought that the sparrows had died off. The other day, however, visiting the locality with Professor Tate, they had both seen and heard the homely hedge-sparrow. He would point out that now that the Society was beginning more extensive operations they would need greater support from the public, and he had no doubt they wonld get it. He would emphasize one point in the report— the service their friends in the country coulddo them, by supply

ing specimens of rare native animals that would be useful for their own collection and for exchange with other Societies in different parts of the world. The Hon. E. D. Ross seconded the motion. Referring to the site for the Zoological Gardens, he said that he was one of those who opposed its being granted— not because it was not suitable; but because it was so valuable. From this fact he believed the opposition of the Botanic Board also arose. It was so excellent that they did not care to part with it. However, the question was now settled, and the Society might fairly be congratulated upon having obtained posses sion of such a magnificent property. As to what had been said about the steps taken to improve the breed of turkeys, he looked forward to the time when these domestic birds would be greatly improved by the cross. The Chief Justice had referred to an in stance of successful trout acclimatization. He understood that the trout ova placed in Sixth Creek had given already unmistakably favourable results; in fact, some very fine fish had been seen. He would here impress upon the Society the importance of paying more attention to the Sixth Creek, though he was somewhat reluctant to do so on account of his living near there, and because his motives might be misunderstood. But it was said to be a fact that the presence of fish im proved the water for domestic purposes. If that were so the Society would render immense service to the people of Adelaide and the suburbs by stocking this creek with fish, because the summer water supply of the city was dependent almost entirely upon Sixth Creek. It was really a beautiful stream — the water was perfectly fresh and clear; and if they could, by putting fish in it, keep it thus or still further improve it, then the Society might fairly appeal to Parliament for more liberal assistance to continue its labours. In their acclimatization of song birds he would point out the wisdom of the Society placing the various birds in localities where they could readily get the food they naturally took. The goldfinch, for instance, was exceedingly fond of the Scotch and variegated thistles, and of course should be liberated where these were most abun dant. In closing he paid a high tribute to the energetic assistance of the President (the Chief Justice), to whom the success of the Society was in great measure due, and who, he hoped, might be again elected. The motion was carried. Mr. Minchin then presented a statement of the financial position, prefacing it with the remark that the membership, and hence the subscriptions, had suffered through the doubt existing for some time as to whether the Society would get the site for the Zoological Garden, and as to whether they would con tinue their operations successfully if they did not get it. The figures are for the years ended September 30, 1881 and 1882 :— Receipts— Subscriptions, £1,258 18s. 6d. ; subsidy, £791 9s. 2d. = £2,050 7s. 8d. Expendi ture — Birds, £576 6s. 7d. ; aviary Botanic Gardens, £137 16s. 10d.; aviary at Mr. Minchin's, £15 ; fish, £262 10s. 6d.; office expenses, £181 14s. 8d.; clerical assistance, £128 5s. 4d.; general expenses, £119 6s. 9d.; salary Inspector of Fisheries, £100=£1,521 0s. 8d.; balance in Bank, £517 2s. 3d.; in hand, £12 4s. 9d.=£529 7s.: total, £2,150 7s. 8d. The statement was adopted. On the motion of Mr. G. Boothby, seconded by the Chief Justice, who highly complimented the Hon. Secretary, some necessary legal alterations in the rules were made. The effect will be that the Society will in future be called the 'South Aus tralian Zoological and Acclimatization Society;' that its purposes will be, in addition, 'the establishment of Zoological Gardens, and that the Hon. Secretary will henceforth be known as the Director.' The undernamed officers for the ensuing year were appointed :— President, the Chief Justice; Hon. Auditor, Mr. G. Boothby ; Members of Council— Messrs. W. E. West-Erskine, J. H. Bagster, M.P., and W. H. Bean, M.P. Mr. Curnow, replying to His Excellency, remarked that the trout were doing remark ably well in the Sixth Creek. He had seen four large fish on Sunday last— one about eighteen inches, another about one foot, and the rest about ten inches. The first two he judged were put in two years ago and the others last year. He had found lines and hooks in the creek, and he thought this should be prevented, as he would try to pre vent it. He wished to warn the Society against introducing blackbirds, for in Corn wall they were very destructive to goose berries and apples, and might also be to grapes here. The Hon. R. D. Ross thought a letter to the proprietors of the land around the creek would enlist their aid in putting a stop to this fishing. The Chief Justice, referring to a remark previously made by Mr. Ross about stocking Sixth Creek, said that the Society had been fully alive to its importance, and out of the small number of fish they had had this year they had turned out 400 in it. It was probably the best trout stream in the colony. He suggested that if Mr. Curnow would accept the office of honorary Sub-Inspector of Fisheries he would have legal power to pre vent this fishing in the creek which he had so justly complained of. Mr. Curnow said he would gladly accept the position. On the motion of Mr. Everard, seconded by the Hon. R. D. Ross, a vote of thanks was given to His Excellency for presiding and for his services to the Society. His Ex cellency's response brought the proceedings to a close.