FOR THE PUBLIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 128, 1 June 1911, Page 2

FOR THE PUBLIC.

KAPITI ISLAND : SOME SUGGESTIONS. wl hh V A< £ in & nisfcei> ?f Lands (tho Hon. D. Buddo has received a lengthy MWer from Mr. W. H. Field, M.RT on the subject of Kapiti 'Maod. "As member lamenting the district in which the island is situated," he nays, 1 have for years past endeavoured unsuccesefully to induce thY Government ot mi© day to so administer 'the -island as to obtain, while carefully preserving iL^ th 1 hitds \ a substantial annual revenue from th© grazing of sheep on the grass had of the Crown portion of tho island, and to ©awTS least a small rate of interest on the amount expended in acquiring it, and afc the same time reduce the iisk of fire in th© long dry grace in summer. Up to the nrcaent, « you ate aware, thle, bush and bu-ds hay© Buffered no damage; but no mcome has been derived from XK 1sl»n1 s l» nd ' .?» native., on the other hand, have all along sucoessfhlly farmed the north ©nd, without in, any wav harming either bush or birds." Mi\ Field says he <u»umes that the Government .will favourably cotfeider Mr. Remi Matenga's proposal for th© exchange of the unpurchased land on, the Bouth ©nd for land 911 the north end, or that, m any cante, th© Grown would purchase the balance of the land jon the south end. The Crown would I then 1 own the whole of the south and "v ,, of tho island, and the natives the north end. The most extensive bush area, at Rangatira, in the centre of tho island, should be set a,)part, securely fenced, and no stock of any kind alJowed «pon it. Au to the area of 2000 ™> 2 . 5 00 *cr©« south bf that i-eeecrve, ho thinks that probably tho better course would -be to divide it into either two or three farms or rune.' They ehould bo submitted to tho public and leased for a fair term of yea-rs— eay, fourteen, or thereabouts— subject to the m6st» &trin> gent covenants involving cancellation of lease for breach thereof/ a*' to the protection of bird life and trees, tho clearing of ueel&ss rubbish, and the maintenance of fences. It would probably be necessary to provide against the running of cattle on any portion of Ihe island, with th© exception of certaiv selected paddocks where no bush exists. " The only other suggestion I have to make at the present juncture," continues Mr. Field, " is that thie charming iefland should be thrown open, more a* a place of enjoyment to the public, subject, of course, to the most rigid w»fcriotion6 &£ to damage of any kind. I don't think any harm would be done, and considerable benefits would accrue if eorne of the flat and terrace land at Rangallra were leased in email, areas for eenw'de residential purposes. lam satisfied that this would eventually develop into a most popular resort, and that there aye great • poesibilitiee in, ' etore foiv it. . . . I should mention that the bueh on the Island is of such , a charadei 1 that there i* no risk of its burning. Tn no case should either dogs or guim x allowed 'oil,, the island with,, the exco;j tion of 'the neces«ary* sheep-dog* ond gune in the handi of persons authorised to destroy goate.'

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