THE BUSH ON KAPITI.

Otaki Mail, 8 March 1922, Page 4

THE BUSH ON KAPITI.

AND HOW TO PRESERVE IT. j Referring to tlie existing bush on Kapiti Island, and how best to preserve and extend it, Captain E. Sanderson, speaking to . a New Zealand Times representative, said: — “To preserve and extend the existing bush on Kapiti (on which the native bird food supply depends) and to make, the island an effective sanc- ' tuary, it is necessary to carry out ceri tain work which may be divided into j j two groups—the more urgent and the I . less urgent. Ali the work is urgent, I I but the following is submitted as the! I immediate requirements to prevent] ' total destruction: —- t “The erection of-a thoroughly sheep-J. proof fence (eight wire, or better still), wire and netting) on the north boundclary—every day this is neglected means great damage. Immediately chis fence is erected, the sheep should be mustered twice or thrice—musterers to be armed with rifles and to shoot all goats met with and any .sheep uinnusterable. “A party of four reliable and able men to follow up with goat-shooting operations under caretaker for at least .one month. Any remaining goats to be zealously and vigorously hunted bv } caretakers until the last one has been destroyed, thus finishing the goat question once . for ail. The Opossums. “In June, the right lo take opossums be. let to four or five trappers, eachhaving his appointed area, who shall sign ail agreement to pay a royalty, to ; bring no guns on the island, or dogs, cut uo standing timber, and in every way respect the sanctuary—one breach to cancel all right to take or remove any skins, and all skins taken to be surrendered and confiscated. The two i best trappers to be kept on and eontin- ■ ' lie trapping, and to be paid a bonus I per skin to enable them to make a liv- • { ing- if the opossums are scarce after . | original trapping. - So much for the > immediate requirements. The less urgent requirements, some 1 of which are almost equally necessitous, ~ . are as follow: . 9 Other Suggestions. -j. “The introduction of pukeko, two - more kiwis (which are ground feeders, • • and should prosper), two more kakapo, ! j as none of these have been seen (they ! j are vegetarian ground feeders living ’ i in holes, in roots, and rocks). '! “Some planting should be done in \ open country of trees most likely to ' till in any gaps in routine of bird food, l as for instance kuhakitcu in Taepiro [ Gulley; also iniro, cabbage tree, flax, titoki, kowhai, thousand jacket. (Ivoe- - koe. karaka, tawa, rata abound on the : j island). “Another lagoon, should be formed : at tlie south end, which can be easily 1 done by damming the creek with stones from the beach, and clay, at a cost of less than £2O. The Western Cliffs. “The question of the great bare . cliff’s on the western side, seven miles long a ail rising to 1725 feet in height, is a unique one; but once the goats and sheep are removed, much growth will automatically spring up on these, 1 ' as the wind only affects the top edge j of any cliff. These cliffs, by the way, I’ " are only perpendicular at the top; the lower parts are much more sloping than I is evident, fro in looking’ over the top of | the cliffs. .Sugarb.srry, taupnta, tutu, I karaka should be introduced here, and j will add vastly to the bird food supt “The island, to be thoroughly equipI pod. should have a second caretaker at the south end and another at the north should the natives ever change their present attitude, ali of whom should be connected by telephone; and a road or track fcfV cycle, motor-cycle, or horse, to enable caretakers to move quickly down east coast, would much facilitate their wqrk. The west coast is too rough to land oil, and, therefore, protects itself.’’