CHAMOIS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14987, 6 June 1914, Page 13

CHAMOIS IN NEW ZEALAND.

EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA'S GIFT.

The Hon. R. Hcaton Rhodes, Minister in charge of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, has received a memorandum as. follows from tho general manager of the Department icgarding the chamois presented to the Government by the Eisperor of Austria:— "I have received advice from the chief guide at Mount Cook Hermitage that the two chamois which arrived in New Zealand on tho 14th May were liberated on Thursday last near the Hooker swing-bridge. 1 arranged for tho chamois to be held on Quail Island from tho 14th to the 24th to enable them to recover from any effects of the journey from Melbourne The animals benefited from this and were in splendid condition when liberated." . PREVIOUS LIBERATION. The following is a copy of a report received from the chief guide regarding the chamois previously liberated at Mount Cook: — "1 have much pleasure in reporting that the chamois havo been seen several tim->s during the summer. -My letter to you of December 16th gavo you the particulars of the six which were seen by Guide Thomson near the Ball Pass on tho lower slopes of Mount Mabel ''Mount Cook range), which lie considered were five does and one buck and in lino condition. Later on, about the 7th January. Guide Cowling saw a solitary, chamois on a rocky spur, near tho summit of Mount AVakefield (Mount ; Cook range). He. unfortunately, did not get a near view of it and only saw it- for a short time as it dashed off over tho rocks and disappeared behind the spur. On the 18th of February however, when making a crossing of the Ball Pass, Mr Sutton Turner, with Guide Brass, had the good fortune to get a near view of quite a largo herd, numbering fifteen. Nine were full growu, l'.ve half-grown, and one apparently only a month or two old. Owing j to tho strong wind the chamois did not scent them and the party were able to watch them for some time. Guide B. ass states they were so near they could 'easily have been photographed. but In- and Air Turner were so excited at watchii/g them and of seeing so many at once the thought of taking a photograph never occurred to them. . As soon tfs tbo chamois sighted the party, however, they at once scimpered off and wero soon lost to view. They all were in splendid condition. On the Westland sid> of the main divide, early in January, a party of visitors--to the Eranz Josef glazier saw five animals some distance away, on the northern snow slopes of Mount Boon, a peak 8000 ft on the Kaiser Fritz v range which divide-* the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. These, I feel sure, were also chamois, for there aro no animals in that neighbourhood and none but chamois would go to such a height. Shortly after this the footprints of five chamois wero seen by Guide Thomson on the slopes of Mount Malte Brun, at the back of.Malto Brun hut.

"At other times during, the seasoD footprints have been frequently- seen on the Mount Cook range, once on the lower slopes of Mount Sefton. and on Ihe Ball Hut trarit between the Blue Lake and the Ball Hut. ard also on the AA'esHand sid-> of the Copland -Pass.

"From; the number and free.uency of their tracks which have been seen in differont places, and also the number of aninia's themselves, it is,quite evident the chamois are flourishing and increasing at a reasonable rate, and now that we liave such proof of-their breeding, it is i easonable to believe that in: a few years'more the.chamois, if unmolested,' will establish themselves ip great numbers : ard- distribute ■ themselves throughout the mountains here."