OFFICIAL VISIT TO KAPITI.

Shannon News, 28 March 1922, Page 3

OFFICIAL VISIT TO KAPITI.

REPORTS OF DESTRUCTION MUCH

EXAGGERATED

The Kapiti Island Advisory Board visited the island during last week-end for the purpose of ascertaining its condition and discovering for themselves what measures were required to make it an effective bird sanctuary. The Minister, of Lands (Mr Guthrie) was

'unable to accompanv the boa id. The 'party consisted of Messrs G. H. M.'McClure (Commissioner of Crown Lands), W. IL Field, M.P.j.niid E. Pliillips-Tuv-ner, and Professor Kirk., They arrive ed at the island on Saturday afternoon, and returned to Wellington on Sunday evening. Mr McClure has not yet, submitted the hoard’s official report, hut in an interview with the'Minister lie- stated- that they had made an exhaustive inspection of the island'and

were agreeably surprised with the state of the native hush. 'The goats .were not so numerous, and the extent of the injury caused by them was not nearly so serious as had been reported. So''far as Mr McClure’s observations went, he could lind.no trace of injury to fcfce bark of the trees except for opossum scratchings. . In practically all the open spaces sheep were fairly numerous, hut: despite Uiis fact young trees such as kohekohe wore coming away satisfactorily. After careful inquiry and inspection the board was satisfied that the sanctuary so far as native birds were concerned was bein'g respected. Tui, mokomoko, and parakeet were seen in large numbers 'throughout the busn portions of the island, and particularly in the tarala trees, which were covered with berries. Only one pigeon, was ■men, lull the caretaker reported that thev'were there, in fairly large numbers. '

The Commissioner, on behalf of the .Minister, had a conference with the Native owners, with most satisfactory

results. “An exchange of interests lias boon agreed to which will practically consolidate'both the interests of Ihe Crown and Ike'interests ol the Native owners, and will permit of. a good fencing line.’Nsaid Mr, Guthrie. “The boundary will traverse very rocky country, ami- consequentjy the fence will lie an expensive one to erect. But as soon as legal matters have been attended to in .regard to the exchanges the work will be proceeded with.” A further sttflenient will be made as soon ns the ’Minister receives the board’s official repoit.

M r IV. IT. ’Field, M.P., who lias alwtfys taken a keen and active interest in the protection of Kapiti Island, said on Monday Unit the visit had-convinc-(>d trim that the reports of destruction wrought on (1m island by sheep and 'coats had been exaggerated. The

party climbed to the top of the island at the southern end on Saturday afternoon and obtained a good view of the buffi. They then went north to Te.opiro, which is the central valley of the island. This 'is a beautiful grass, valley. and Mb' Field ' urged years ago that the Government should use it tor o-ra/.ing purposes,-and so provide funds that could be used for the protection and development of the sanctuary. After inspecting'the valley the main party went to the home of the caretaker (Mr Bennett) for the night, . On Sunday morning the party, after an early breakfast, ascended to the trig/ slat ion directly above the enretakeiffiy cottage. This climb to a height of 725/feet through the bush occupied over two hours. Tli.cn the membois of the party wont north along the edge of the cliff at-.' the western face of the island, and descended to the coast again near To Here stream. Tiler returned to the caretaker’s cottage at Rangitira. Mr Field had the advantage of intimate acquaintance with the island in making the inspection, since he fanned on it

more than thirty years ago

“It rfas noticeable that, the send) had been opened in many places by animals, but the bush had suffered little, if at all from this cause,” said Mr Field. “We noticed many dead trees in the forest, principally ratus, but it is difficult to say what accounts for this ' mortality. Certainly it is not due to the cutting out of undergrowth. We counted, in all twentyfive goats, and we saw many hundreds of wild sheep. They are real 'wild sheep, with long lails and unshorn wool. TVc saw some enormous fleeces. “-Willi regard to the birds, we did not see a large number ot pigeons, but wc have no reason to believe that the number on the island has diminished seriously. Bell-birds and parakeets seemed to bo more numerous than overhand wckas .Avcre, very, humorous. Very many other birds were there, Among the parakeets rverc specimens of the large Antipodes Island parakeet, which- was-loosed on the. island some time ago. It was thought that this -bird had disappeared, but evidently it is .increasing .in numbers. Very many other birds were there, We sat down in the bush on Saturday afternoon, and

I the birds came around as in swarms.” i Mr Field added that the bash on the | island was very beautiful still. Large | areas of it apparently had not. suffer--1 ed iii the least from any destructive j agent. The opinions that had be&n i formed by the -members of the board in regard to the future welfare of- tlie | island rvould be expressed in an official report. '