The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10th., 1916. KAPITI AS SANCTUARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1596, 10 August 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10th., 1916. KAPITI AS SANCTUARY.

X'JOW Zealand is (or was) gifted by Nature with ;i peculiar fauna, also with an isle-studded coast; and if ihc ii,-it birds laid had voles there is no doubt that they would have been safely provided for in some of Ihe coastal islands long ago, says. Ihe Wellington Post. Unfortunately, successive Governments rendered to the sanctuary idea lipservice rather than consistent, support, and if stock' were taken now of the fauna, of the various islands it would probably be found that the unenfranchised birds have lost all atone the line. As, however, even a. belated effort in the right direction deserves praise, it is cheerfully awarded to the Government's proposal (in the Washing-up Bill) to complete (he purchase of Kapiti Island. As long as there is any portion of the island in private possession, Iho way will always he open to the introduction of persons or of animals dangerous to the feathered tribe. The story recently told by Mr 11. Tl. Travers of the depredations of cals on Stephens Island provides a ease in point. Before the cats were slain by the hand of (he avenger they had exterminated a genus of wren not known to exist outside Stephens Island; and as Kapiti is similarly t lk* only known home of at least one species of native bird, it cannot as a sanctuary be 100 carefully guarded. We hope that the Government will complete the purchase, and that the island will be closed against both farmers and picnickers. The presence of grass and (he fact, that dry grass catches lire (when it is lighted) have been used as an argument for grazing sheep on Kapiti. If (here is no permanent residence (except by the caretaker) and no sporadic picnicking, the grass may safely be left, alone; it will not be very liable to spontaneous combustion. For picnickers I Imre is plenty of room on the mainland, and for farm settlement the Government should look (o the big estates rather than to Kapiti. If it is intended to preserve the island rigidly as a, sanctuary, the Government’s proposal is entirely satisfactory.