KANGAROOS FOR KAPITI ISLAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 17 June 1911, Page 7

KANGAROOS FOR KAPITI ISLAND.

Sir,—ln your issue of Saturday last someone, signing himself "Knpiti," "objects to being -used on this sanctuary to keep down tho grass, because they are no novelty," and suggests "turning out wallabies and kangaroos instead.". I see no reason why theso latter should not be located on the northern portion of the island, after our member (Mr. Field) has succeeded in securing it from' the Natve owners, for a Government reserve. But, apart from the fact that the southern end (which is now overrun with the common goal) would prob-ably-be found too exposed to "southerly busters" and cold "snaps" for Australian animals to thrive on, we should not neglect the opportunity, I think, of making the acclimatisation grounds self-sup-porting. And I think one of the surest mw.ns of command would be to assist that which is already acclimatised and located, by destroying all tho "billy" goats when practicable, and turning loose male "angoras" only, killing off or disposing of all half-breds from timo to tine until the flock becomes profitable eneugh to shear, when the progeny should pvo a handsome return for tho attention required. I would also advocate, besides keeping ..kangaroos on the northern shore,' turning out ■ young ostriches, which, I feel enre, wonld thrive in the well-sheltered «pots of that slope..with its particularly mild,' if not semi-tropical, climate, and jireduco.feiithers that should.command a ready sale, greatly adding to the rcveryuo end affording the means for settlers to 'obtain the nucleus for establishing other oetrich farms.—l am, etc.. KOBT. COBB. Otaki.