NEW BIRD-SANCTUARY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 276, 11 February 1928, Page 12

NEW BIRD-SANCTUARY

PART OF ARAPUNI LAKE AUCKLAND ACCLIMATISATION . SOCIETY The lower part of Arapuni Lake was declared a partial bird sanctuary at the quarterly meeting of the Auckland Acclimitisation Society, held at Putaruru last evening. Mr. C. A. Whitney presided. The meeting was one of the four held yearly in the country districts by the council of the society. Mr. F. C. Flyger, president of the local club, welcomed the visitors to Putaruru, and Mr. Whitney briefly responded. SNIPE FROM INDIA It was reported by Mr. F. E. McKenzie that endeavours were being made to secure 500,000 common snipe from India for liberation in the province. The secretary reported that 400 pairs of Hungarian partridges and 12 pairs of Reeves pheasants were being forwarded from England. The pheasants had not been ordered, and would have to be sold as they were Himalayan, and were detrimental to the sporting pheasant. PLANTING OVA Following a report from the Kawhia Club, in which planting of ova was referred to, the chairman explained this method had proved successful in America. An instrument like a plough was used, and a furrow made in which the ova were laid and afterwards lightly covered with shingle. The ova hatched themselves and much better results were obtained. Mr. M. E. Fitzgerald urged that any method which would decrease the huge losses sustained in shipping fry was worth thorough investigation. It was unanimously decided to get a ranger acquainted with the method to report on it. BIRD SANCTUARY A letter received from the Ngaruawahia Club urged that the Arapuni Lake be set aside as a bird sanctuary. The chairman pointed out that as there was already a chain reserve right round the lake this would be a simple procedure. Mr. F. C. McKenzie thought the request should have come from the local club. Mr. M. C. Fitzgerald opposed the suggestion as the lake would be the only place available for local sportsmen in the high country. He suggested a compromise whereby the lower end only would be closed. If the whole lake were closed it would be simply debarring local sportsmen in favour of the poacher. Mr. S. C. Snell strongly opposed the

suggestion, and moved that tla k* remain open. Mr. Pearce supported Mr. Fitter, and suggested that as his the lake was a bird sanctuary the from the spillway to his aout}*? boundary be closed. Mr. H. Barnett seconded this —nni ment, which was carried. The area declared a bird saacta* covers a distance of four to fivsuE* at the Arapuni end of the l»h