KAPITI ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 8

KAPITI ISLAND.

BEAUTIFUL SANCTUARY.

LADY ALICE FERGUSSON'S FINAL VISIT.

NATIVE BIRDS INCREASING.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Lady Alice Fergusson returned from Kapiti Island last evening, after spending three pleasurable and interesting days there, in perfect weather. She was accompanied by Counters Thelma Metaxa, Captain Orr-Ewing, Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., Mr. E. Phillips Turner (Director of tne State Forest Service) and Mr. L. Tripp (president of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies' Conference and of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society).

Tho party reached the island by launch early on Saturday afternoon. During their visit the new and commodious launch recently purchased by the Government took the party round the island and to Wharekohu, one of the old whaling centres at tho south end. The visitors not only ascended to the trig station (1738 ft above sea level) but also visited most of tho other interesting spots. They were impressed by the remarkable revival of native vegetation, tho result of the complete destruction of all goats and pigs. This is apparent everywhere, and is fast reducing the danger of fire by covering large areas which have for years been covered by dry grass. The officer in charge, Mr. Wilkinson, is fast planting the vacant areas with native trees and shrubs.

Native birds are increasing in number on the island and many are so tame that they will feed out of a visitor's hand.

Members of the party spoke in the highest terms of the kindness and assistanco they received from Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson and Mr. Richard Fletcher. This was Lady Alice Fergusson's third and farewell visit to the beautiful bird and bush sanctuary, in which she has taken the keenest interest. Many photographs were taken and both her Excellency and Countess Thelma Metaxa made a number of water colour drawings.

After returning to the mainland the party visited some of the preserved forest and other spots of interest on Mr. Field's farm at Waikanae.