THE WAIRARAPA DEER HERD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 9

THE WAIRARAPA DEER HERD.

■ Sir,—l am sorry to learn from Mr. Lowe's letter, published in ypur paper of to-day's date, that my, remarks upon tho above subject, have been rehd by him as spoken in a spirit of hostile criticism. Tho'facts are that some four years ago 1 spent-a : weelc-stalkiiie very near tlio same district from-where I have just returned after another week's outing. On my return I was -asked for my opinion as to how the deer I saw this year compared with those of. four* years ago. .1 can only repeat my statement that 'this year, though 1 saw : quite as many deer if not more, than 1 saw when I was lust in tho Wairarapa, I did. not-sea one really good.head, at least not one that, in my opinion, was ivortli taking. Tho goodness, of a. stag cannot be judged from the numbed of points; thickness of horn, breadth.,of spread, symmetry of hoijns . are what prove a "really cood stag. - -. •. , ' ' ' ■

1 fear many stalkers' account? of tho "really good heads", thej have'' secured have to .be 1 taken in with reservation. A gentleman just returned from tho'' Wairarapa told mo he had'got four excellent heads, one a royal, two 11-point-ors, and* one 10-pointer. I went to see them, and in my opinion they were wretched ■ specimens tor New Zealand, thin* in the horn, narrow and very uneven. I was sorry to think they were to be taken Home as specimens of the Wairarapa stags. - \

I went to see tho heads shot this year in the district sent to Mac Donald to be set up. There was not a good head amongst, them. •? If Mr. Lowe, instead of listening to rangers' reports, will go up and go over tho country himself aad talk to people ivho live there, he will, I am confident, ngree with me that tho deer there are deteriorating rapidly. They must, continuo to do so, unless the old hinds aro shot out, also all malformed staes and small "rotters." As a matter of fact, on my return I did discuss tho matter with one or two of the members of the council. I was interviewed in Wellington, where 1 still am, and my remarks were made in the hopes of calling the attention of the Acclimatisation Society to what is going on and not in any spirit of hostile criticism. All sportsmen who come here realise how much wo owe to the acclimatisation societies of New Zealand for tho trouble they take in the interests of sport generally, and our only desire is that the Dominion should not lose tho good name it has for many years maintained in all parts of tlio world wlicro there aro keen sportsmen.—l'am, etc., E. N. SENIOR. April 25.

Sir,—The discussion in your columns regarding the AYoirarapa red door is interesting, and will probably do good. Mr. Lowe's letter is not at all convincing, mul I fear he has been misled. From my own experience I can say conclusively that the herd have deteriorated during tho past four or five years. If Mr. Lowe had given us tho measurements of the heads secured this season, as well as the points, his facts would have been nioro convincing. Every stalker knows that a head is not .a good one merely because of thi* number of its points. I have myseltffshot "royals" in the Wairarapa' that 1' did nut deem worth '-'setting up/' aild.tlu-? royals I'have seen this season were not good heads. There can be no shadow of doubt that Mr. Senior is right, and that there aro far too manyweedy hinds and stags in the district. As to poaohing and the sale of heads, it is well known that both have been going on for some years. What has tho society done to stop either? Very little indeed. Heads have been sold both in the colony and out of it. - I would suggest that tho society take steps to find out whom the heads recently advortised .for sale in a London shop belong to. The result might be somewhat of a surprise to them. Mr. Lowe says it would take an army of rangers to-.stop poaching.Mr. Senior referred more particularly to poaching in the Government sanctuary. That is a place in which no shooting' should be allowed; yet shooting there lias been frequent, not only during this; but during past seasons. An army of rangers is not needed to prevent'flint. Two smart men would quickly bring tho offenders ,to book. If the rest of Mr. Lowe's information is not morn accurate than his statements regarding Mr. Senior,- I am afraid his arguments will not.bear the light of day!. For instance, Mr. Senior has not yet been in Christchurch. Also ho has talked the matter over witli representatives of the Acclimatisation Society. Perhaps Mr. Lowe will enlighten us as to the "very effective" steps taken during the past IS mouths to improve tho Wairarapa herd. The steps mayhave been taken, but, so far, there is no result. They should have been taken rnoro than 18 months ago—at least four or five years -ago, when tho first signs of deterioration became evident, It has been the same with tho trout fishing. The deterioration hns been very marked.' What Ifns the society done to'.arrest it, let alone improve the 1 position?—l am< etc., A MEMBER OF THE ACCLIMATISA- ' TION. SOCIETY.