KAPITI ISLAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 14

KAPITI ISLAND.

A BIRD SANCTUARY. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. At the last meeting of the 'Wellington Acclimatisation Society, the chairman (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) alluded to the report that it was intended by the Government to lease portions of Kapiti Island for farming or grazing purpose.?. In the interests of the preservation of our native birds ho entered a strong protest against sucu a course being taken by the authorities. The members of tho society present heartily endorsed Mr. Tripp's remarks, and passed a resolution that tho council of the society approach the Government on the .subject, and urge them to 'preserve tho lrhole island as a sanctuary for our native birds. Interviewed in Christchurch on the questionj the Hon. I). Buddo, who has Ministerial charge of the island, said that it was not at all probable that Kapiti would be couvertediuto a grazing farm. It was an ideal place as a preserve and a sanctuary, and the suggestion that anything else was intended was absolutely without foundation. At present tho Government had a somewhat difficult position to face in respect, to the island. Mr. K. Henry, who had done excellent.work amongst.tho native birds'ht Kapiti and Resolution Islands, intended to,retire in July from the position'of 'caretaker on 'account of ill. health, and-it (..was. 1 , not: easy to select a suitable, man to take his place, as tho qualiiications were of a somewhat uncommon character. " Tho-Government, how. over,.was determined■ to have a capable man who was in sympathy with tiiu object for which the sanctuary was established. The intention' was "not only to preserve the present far.ua and flora, bur nlso to add to them from time to time. As to the Maori owners of parts of the island, negotiations were now being earned on with Mr." Matenga in respect to No. 2, in the middle of the forest area, a block of 45fl acres, known as liapiti If that block was acquired, the whole o[ tho middle of Iho island will be preserved strictly for sanctuary purposes. Mr. W. H. a'ield, M.P., the member for Otaki, owned a small piece of land on the eastern side of the island, but it had been purchased from him by th» Government some time ago. Mr. Field was doing good work in trying to have the island used for tho proper purpose. On the northern end, Mr. Matenga owned 1500 acres, which wore used for grazing. That area included historical sites associated with Tc Rauparaha, the famous fighting chief, who was once the owner of tho island, and who used it as a fortified retreat. Te Rauparaha's pa, AVaiorui, was on the northern area in nossession of Mr.:.Matenga. , It was not intended to purchaso that area,- there would, indeed, be no advantage in doing so. The area was in grass, and was well looked after, and as the island was not more than a mile and a half wide at anv place, the Maon area could easily bo fenced off If Ivapiti No. 2 was acquired bv the Government, it would have more than 2000 acres of land in forest. Large numbers of goats-representatives of herds introduced by whalers in the early days-roamed the island, especially on some of the grassy s{PPes.-but instructions ■ be given that they should bo destroyed.