NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 671, 23 November 1909, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

r s (By Teleerooh.—Prisa Auoclatlonl

>;, * I ~FUR( SEALS OF,SUB-ANTARCTICA. , '. QUESTION OF PROTECTION. I \ Christchurch,'Noveinber 22 There is a probability that action will bo 11 [ taken by tho Canterbury Philosophic-il Institute'regarding the Government's proposal to issue licenses tor tho taking of seals on Camp boll and other sub-Antarctic islands, and that "representations unfavourable to tho proposal will bo made to tho authorities. Several mem-> , bers. of the soientifio party which visited the I islands towardsi the end of 1907 confirm the stafemont that all tho fur seals on the islands will bo exterminated in two seasons if licenses v to kill them are issued' Mt Edgar'R. Waito " (curator of the Canterbur) Museum), who was ( one of tho party of scicntifio men who visited /• the islands in 1907, when asked for his opinion '' ' of J:ho Government's proposals, said that ihe ,tho'dght tho issue of licenses would be a great ' "mistake. Tho fur seals wero practically ex ,« terttiwated in when between soventy i and eighty thousand sealskins were taken from v the.'aslands, The protection afforded during the",'past few years had resulted in a small increase, but if the seals now on tho islands were? to be killed, it could be taken that tho species would be almost exterminated, and it •would be many years beforo tho ground gained dunnf tho poriod of protection would bo re- -' covered. Mr. Waito could not say that it .would pay anvone to go from New Zealand •to take up sealing at the sub-Antarctic islands It might pay men on the islands or whalers j - fai connection with their whalrng, however. It is understood, ho added, that a certain amount f' of pdaching was at present done, but if the If = killing of seals was /made legitimnto it could i onlj\!end in their extermination- *j " ~«■ .*, "FIUWG IN THE TIME." t, ' ' I " Woodville, November 22 t Bugtiurs entered several business places in ( Vogel Street early yesterday morning, and ucie rewarded with, sums of money left'm tho tills, ' ranging from over two pounds to a few cop I pers. The" railway .refreshment" rooms and < the book stall at tho station wore also burgled 1 The, Drill Hall was likewise entered, and the armoury room ransacked, it is snpposed with tho object of finding explosives It is sur- , 'raised, tho oulpnts had been attending tho > Dannevrrke races, and are filling in the time before the next race meeting. ' " \ SERIOUS CHARGE, Palmerston North, November "2 ' At the Magistrate's Court, an elderlj > > i .named Gillet was charged on six sopaiato i counts of criminal' assault, and committed .' for trial to tho Supreme Court.