NEWS FROM HERE AND THERE.

Shannon News, 17 August 1923, Page 4

NEWS FROM HERE AND THERE.

i The report of the Lands and Sur- | vey Department's ' scenery-preservation i branch states that as a result of the \ visit of the Advisory Board to Kapiti j last year work was undertaken that is" 1 expected to assist in the regeneration of the forest and the protection of the \ native birds. A fence had-been erected ' on portion of the boundary between the land owned by the Crown and that ! owned by the Natives, with the ob-

ject of excluding all stock from the sanctuary. The new fence must be extended or the old one substantially re-

paired, and it was hoped that this 1

! woiild be done during the coming year, i Two hundred and seventy-nine goats ; were killed during the year. They are ■ not now ■ present in such numbers as to do serious damage, but the work

of extermination was an obvious necessity and must be continued. A more pressing matter was the removal or the destruction of sheep. Some of them were the property of Native owners who use the native land at the north end Of the island for grazing purposes, but most of them were the offspring of animals that ran wild many years ago. Ample time and opportunity had been given for the removal of all privately owned stock, and more vigorous measures for ridding the sanctuary of their presence would now be adopted.

Opossums had been greatly reduced . in numbers. During the year 2292 were taken, and the tally for the coming season was expected to fall much below this. Only two cats were seen, and both were destroyed.

As a safe retreat for our native birds the sanctuary was fulfilling its purpose satisfactorily. Species now rarely seen on the mainland were present' in fair .numbers, and tho native woodpigeon certainly showed a marked increase. The Advisory Board was considering the introduction of species not now represented on the island, and this matter would be followed up during the coming year. The new programme for the Otaki Maori Racing Club will soon be available, and it will be seen that many names of races have been altered, viz., Kapiti Hurdles (150 sovs.), Puhi Maiden (100 sovs.), Katihiku Hack (150 sovs.), Teone Makitonore Memorial (500 sovs.), Pahiko Hack (150 sovs.), Waitawa Handicap (250 sovs.), Taumaka Welter (150 sovs.), and Kereihi Roere (230 sovs.). Second day: Puketoi Hack (150 sovs.), Manuao Trial (100 sovs.), Taumanuka Hack (130 sovs.), Taihoa Handicap (350 sovs.), Pukekaraka Hack (130 sovs.), Rekereki Handicap (200 sovs.), Rahui Hack (130 sovs.), and Wairengami Welter (180 sovs.), The race-meeting will be held on Saturday and Monday, September 22nd and 24th.