Kapiti to be a Reserve.

Manawatu Herald, 24 August 1895, Page 3

Kapiti to be a Reserve.

v At the meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society on Wednesday evening Sir Walter Buller read a lengthy and very interesting paper on New Zealand ornithology, with an exhibition of rare specimens. In opening his subject, he said : — " On the last occasion that I had the pleasure of bringing before you a budget of ornithological notes, I took the opportunity in the course of my introductory remarks to refer to the wise action of the Government in setting apart two islands — the Little Barrier at the north, and Resolution Island in the south-— as permanent reserves for the conservation of the indigenous fauna and flora, and I mentioned that this practical step on the part of our rulers, in furtherance of natural science, had been the subject of comment and praise all over the world. It will, I am sure, be as gratifying to you as it was to myself to learn that the Minister of Lands has decided on acquiring, for a similar purpose, the freehold of the Island of Kapiti, in Cook Straight. I This island, containing an area of about 5000 acres, is in every respect most suitable ; so much so that, many years ago, Sir George Grey, before he purchased the Island of Eawau, made enquiries as to the I possibility of acquiring Kapiti as at)

could carry on without interruption the work of acclimatisation upon which he had set his heart. MtJch of the bush on the island is of exquisite beauty, and the surface is sufficiently di versified to ensure the successful cultivation of all our native trees and shrubs. ¥hf6e spedea of birds—the wood-robin, the koriraaho and the whitehead— which are now practically extinct on the mainland, still have their refuge on Kapiti ; and Captain Boss, who has hitherto been occupying the greater portion of the open land as a sheep run, has been most careful to prevent dogs and cats — those great destroyers of native birds— from becoming feral on the island.