WEST COAST SOUNDS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 May 1927, Page 1

WEST COAST SOUNDS

Bill!) LIFE ix tin: wilds. TV TELFGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN. May 3.

Mr Leslie Murrell was in Dunedin over the week eml_ Mr Murrell lives at Almiiipouri, and s|xmkls a good part of the year in tile sounds district, acting as guide to the deer stalkers. On his visits to Dunedin he lias always something interesting to tell about his life in the far west. This year the deer stalkers have not keen favoured with the hest of weather —in fact, in one period of six weeks there were only ]0 fine days. Y\ apiti are very numerous in the locality between George Sound and Caswell Sound. Mr Merrick, of Hastings, obtained two fine heads—a- ld-pointer and a. 1 "-pointer. The MeCaw brothers, of Kaknterainea, who stalked the George Sound block, had no luck. In the time at their disposal, it was impossible to locate the animals, owing to their wandering habits. The Sutherland brothers of AA'airarapa. secured one head. It- was remarkable that this head had at one time possessed three antlers, one of which had. unfortunately. been broken off. AYithout the third antler it looked quite an ordinary head.

Red deer, as usual, are plentiful. A gentleman from Auckland succeeded in taking a heavy antler with Id points. It is regrettable. AH Alurrell says, that better facilities are not given to stalkers in the way of opening up the various blocks by making tracks, providing lints, and so oil. thus allowing them to got over the country easier than they can do at present. As things are now. it is a matter of penetration, and each man has to explore the country for himself. This cuts down a stalker’s chance of securing doer. Earlv in Afav. Air Murrell will visit Supper Cove, at Dusky Sound, for the purpose of. report ing to the Government on the condition and number of the moose herds in that district. On us last visit four years ago the moose were increasng in mimbeis. Respecting the general bird bfe. >t seems to Air Alurrell that some of the small birds are disappearing, such as the robins ami parrakeets. The native thrush has quite gone. No specimens of it have been seen tor years. Stoats and weasels are numerous m all the sounds. They live in the bush along the edge of the bays. AVlien the penguins come ashore to moult they make their way under logs or other shcltei and Tall an easy prey to the stoats am weasels. The kiwi, although a helpless looking bird, is holding its <)"ncan look after itself very well, and succeeds in bringing up its young ones Woodhcn* are also able to defend themselves. One woodhen will give a stoat a good fight, and two of them will kill him. . , Air Murrell returns to his homo to-day.