ON KAPITI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3928, 9 April 1929, Page 3

ON KAPITI.

AN EASTER. HOLIDAY. Kapiti is about six miles in extent and one and a-quarter miles in -width, land -comprises' some" five thousand odd -acres, (most of which is in beautiful Native hush. It is one of tlh'e m’ost historic spots along this coast and iwtos the scene of a number of massacres and a great deal of lighting in the time of Te Raupai'aha, when that famous chief had his aliriost impregnable redoubt on its heights. It lies about four miles to the .west of the Paraparanmu coast and is now the home of thousands of beautiful Native birds, being -a {government bird and bush sanctuary. The highest peak is called Kapiti -and is now 'a trig station, rising to an altitude of 1,725 feet. GETTING BACK TO NATURE. For im'any years prior to the Government taking over the island it was used for sheep grazing purposes by three farmers and was overrun 'with cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep. The Government having acquired practically the whole island, the only exception being -an area of clear country ait the northern end, -owned by Mr Webber, a start was made to rid the island of these animals and to give the bush every opportunity of natural growth. The goats, pigs and cattle have now been completely cleared out and of tho sheep, the long-haired, curlyhorned Merino type, only about half a dozen now remain, but it will not be long before the caretaker and his assistant have accounted for these, and, during their Sojourn on the island, the local party were afforded the opportunity of partaking of Kapiti mutton. Opposums are now being trapped and a great number bave already been accounted for. -Rats abound in thousands and the Government -will shortly -have to give serious consideration to the extermination of this destructive rodent. Apart from 'these animals, the island is now clear and the beneficial result of the destruction of the go-ats and sheep is apparent on all sides. Young undergrowth is springing up everywhere and it will not be long before it will be necessary for tracks to be cut through the bush to allow access to the vai'icus parts of the island. NATIVE BIRDS. It is the intention of the Government to endeavour to have every species of Native bird on the island and already .there are a great variety there. Kiiwis, fcaJkas, saddlebacks, tuis, bellMrds, robins, whiteheads, pigeons, parakets, and fantails are but a few of the birds which are thriving on Kapiti today. The imported 'birds are not encouraged. No sign iwas seen of the sparrow, blackbird or thrush. There is not a bee on Kapiti, and this, Mr Fleiteher informed the visitors, was a good thing. The bee would do much harm to the tui and bellbird -by raeson of its getting down the birds’ throats when they were seeking honey from the various blooms and causing death. THE BUSH.

The hush 'comprises mainly the following:—'Manuka, ma'hoe, karataa, ngaio, rate, kojhekohe, tmako- ‘ mak'o, tarata, kawakawa, hinau, tawa, m'atipo, reWarewa, horopito, and Ibroadleaf, while graceful tree -fcrns-and nikaus abound. There are no- noxious weeds on Kapdti hut of stinging nettle there is plenty. It grows in profusion right throughout the bush and the visitor has to step warily. HISTORICAL WiHAiREKAHU. Apart from the scenic and natural beauties of the island,, the historical traditions of Kapiti have a very strong appeal. During their sojourn on the island the local party took the opportunity of visiting historical Wharekahu. A stiff southerly prevented the u’se of a boat in reaching this somewhat difficult cove at the southern end of the island, and tthe trip had to he made along the coast, including a climb over some very precipitous faces. The vie'w obtained of Wharelkahu from ‘the cliff top will be one long to be remembered by the party. Great combers raced into the little bay and dashed themselves madly ngainst the shingly shores, while tremendous seas pounded at the rugged sentinel rocks on either side of 'the ibay and boomed along the rocky shores :to end in a boiling smother around the smaller rocks of the inlet. Far out (to sea Mana Island stood out above the (windwhipped white-caps of the oeeau, and, further south, the Kaikouras of the South Island were faintly discernible against a gloomy background. ParaparaumU and Paekakariki on the mainland to the east were shrouded in (mist, but the PaekaikariM hill stood out boldly and the mirrored rays of a fretful sun were occasionally flashed back as some car or motor vehicle momentarily came into direct line with the sun when negotiating a bend. The wind howled dismally through the rocks and whipped the spray from the sea far into the air. It whs a difficult matter to stand erect on the cliff top but the patty lingered lopg enough to brink in the wondrous [beauties of a southerly in Wlharekabu before climbing down a shingly funnel to the beach. Wharekahu was once an old whaling station and later, the location of the homestead of one of the island fartners. Over a hundred years <ggo whalers were in habitation here and there remain to-day ample evidences of their activities. From thb beach, the sides of a small stream which finds its outlet in Wharekahu Bay, have been wall- ■ ed np for some distance inland, evidently to foiim a run-way for the whalers -to their try-oats, which are still on the island. TWo huge iron cauldrons skill in axcgUent

slate of preservation, lie in the grass by the edge of the .stream while in sheltered spots about this locality are located the remains of old whares. The whares were evidently covered with slate roofs as slates about twelve inches by eight nre to be found in plenty amongst the g-rass. One of the party even found an old axe -head and knife, the former a peculiar, long, handmade instrument, which had possibly been Used in shipping the blubber from the whales. These relics of the past were handed over to the caretaker and will, no doubt, be added to his already excellent collection of curios unearthed on the island, the Government, in its -wisdom, having stipulated that nothing of any historic value is to be reinojved from the Island. Two other members, fossieiki ng about in the scrub, came across two blqo penguins snugly nestled down behind

.a -heap of dead manuka, from which shelter -they emerge every evening in search of food in 'the waters of 'the bay. Around the bay from Wharekahu, a leave was located in wliicli several animal remain, and birds nests were discovered, but high up on the cliff face of Wharekahu itself, is a cave containing 'the remains of an old Maori canoe and numerous human bones. This -cave has the appearance of once having' been sealed up and it would be practically impossible to find it unguided. Ancient traditions of the island tell of a wholesale massalcre at this spot and possibly the human remains date back to that time. The ocean bed of Wharekahu presents a wonderful picture of multi-coloured seaweed and marine life and is full of interest. It is -the intention of the caretaker to dam up the old stream and Hood the low-lying marsh flat for the pmpose of introducing pnkeko to 'the island. Kapiti being very precipitous, presents few low-lying places for 'these swamp birds, but they should thrive on the flats of Wharekahu onee it is flooded.

Resting our weary ■ limbs, and while partaking of a refreshing billy of tea, we pictured the stirring scenes of the past, associated with the whaling days. We were well repaid for the physical exertion and tackled the return climb up the cliff with renewed vigour. AN OLD MISSION SITE.

Other places of historic interest visited by the patty on the return journey were the remains of Bishop Hadfield's church and house, on the eastern co'ast, about a mile north of 'Wharekahu. Heaps of stones now denote where these dwellings once stood and the ruins are overgrown 'with stinging nettle. Strips of strongly constructed stone walls still stand, showing the boundaries of these properties along the shore line. Tho stones are held together by clay and are in a good state of preservation to-day. Further to the north again, the visitor is shown a chimney of stone and clay construction, about five feet of which is still standing, and which was possibly part of some whaler’s whiare. Several caves are to ibe found along the rocky shore and all of thejrn are, perhaps, of historic interest, but contain nothing to-day to enlighten the explorer of their past history, except the hones of goats and sheep.

About the middle of the island is located Te Rauparaha’s Inlet, high above which is a piece of clear co - untry once the potato lands of Te Kauparaha and it was 'in this locality that the old chief was supposed to have had his stronghold. It is certainly a very strategic point and one commanding a view of the greater part of the island and eastern coast, besides being particularly difficult of access. A ridge bounding the grass lands of what is known as Taepiro Valley, is called Break Neck and the name is very appropriate . Break Neck runs right out to the western side which is a precipitous cliff the whole of its length, against which the ocean rolls in. Bounding the grass landsi on' the north is the trig Kapiti, the highest point on the island, at the back of Which the Government boundary is located, some two miles further north, after which there is approximately 600 acres of privately-owned land. A lagoon is also located on this portion of the island, which is of historic importance. To the south lies the Marne 'Tuikuroa, a high, bushclad ridge, and the Basiu, a clearing, now fast going back to bush, the falmoe of the kiwis, and which resembles an old eratei’, being surrounded on all sides by high ridges. Brown’s and Grave’s Island, little rodky knolls, rising out of the sea, lie to the south and 75 chains from Kapiti on the eastern side. Almost opposite the centre of the island but a good deal further out, lies Tokambpima Island, a am'all, fertile island, now under cultivation. The other two islands are barren and are occupied by fishermen who have their huts located on their shores.

Kapiti is extremely precipitous but one of Nature’s beauty spots and an ideal bush and Native bird sanctuary. FISHING. Fishing was indulged in by the visitors between whiles. A new “flattie” had just arrived and we were invited to try our luck in it just off shore. The water was decidedly jobbly and great skill is required in handling such a craft. “Dick” is an expert in this connection, which inspired confidence. As we boarded the “coffin” we were baptised with a breaker. A few chains out the stone anchor was dropped and lines baited and dropped over. The ro'cMng flattie caused symptoms of mal-de-mer, and we decided that fishing from the roclks

would he much more comfortable. Despite the seaweed, many fine fish were hauled in and, la'ter, placed with potatoes and onions in a camp oven, cooked to a turn, and heartily partaken of. Owing to the rough sea our stay was prolonged from three to eight days, but the tilme was well spent. In Mr Wilkinson the Government has a man in a thousand for the job. Both he and his assistant, Mr R. Fletcher, are students and lovers of nature and woe betide the vandal authorised or not, who dares to break tho Stringent regulations governing the bird and tree life of the island.