The Kea Controversy.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7985, 23 November 1905, Page 2

The Kea Controversy.

A SllKKl»-0\VNm-H STATEMKXT. Hie reports of lli<? discussion at a '•eceni meeting l oi\ tin.' Wellington Philosophical Society, as 'to. whether l he kea. or mountain parrot of ihe South Island, was really guilty oi' sheep-killing or not, have aroused sojiiu interest among' Southern ruivlolders. who »by no means acquiesce in live attempts (it' some 01 *>ur nnturalists to "white-wash'' the kva. Ml* Kwleriek JUcKetm'c, a Southland sheep-owner, states in the Southland Vimis that -lie has seen the -bird attack live sheep in the vicinity oi i Lake ll«iwea.( Another station-own-er, Mr .John jUc-Arthur, of St. JM- ' ens, Jlanmer Spring's, in live course of a httento H Well ing-! on Resident,

"J.ef me tell you that Hie charge against llr.- kea is unfortunately | true, as L know to my co*t. Last season my shepherds found about, 1 lorty dead sheep inline mob, and five indications eleatl\ proved that the cause of 'death was the ken. The wool -is plucked oiV lh-^hack over the region of vhe kidneys (Ihey never go for the -wrong place), and they peck a hole right into the bod\, till they get lo the kidney J'at/ My men frequently iinil a sheep 1 has -died front no apparent j cause ; it' has never struggled, nor are there indications to prow thai it 'has been cast ; Mhen 'llvey rai.se it. | they find the iivevita'b'Wlude owr the 1 region of the Sidneys, proving -that ii in a kea again. 'Phis is only on : the fiat ; goodness knows how many are kllh>d on the tinonnlain lops. My pastoral run, known as St. dames (in ihi.s district-), is largely •oiuposed of hill country. These birds are also ueufcling other backcountry run-hohiers, and unless put down, are going to prove a great scourge. lam now expending a yo.cd 'deal of -my efforts to destroy Lhem."