BIRD SANCTUARY ON ESTUARY

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27037, 12 May 1953, Page 5

BIRD SANCTUARY ON ESTUARY

EXTENSION TO BE SOUGHT COUNCIL’S APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT The extension of the bird sanctuary on the Estuary as far as Shag Rock will be recommended strongly to the Minister of Internal Affairs by the City Council. . „ . If approval is granted, the existing notice on the Pleasant Point bridge will be erected on Shag Rock, on the adjoining life-boat shed and at the end of the sand spit. The decision follows the recent controversy about shooting on the Estuary. The by-laws committee issued a warning in its report to the council last evening that the discharge of any firmarms within the city boundaries was prohibited by by-law. A complaint had been made that shooting had taken place at the bottom end of Long street, which was well within the declared sanctuary. It was obvious that the proposal to erect mia mias on the Estuary had aroused a very considerable body of opinion, said Cr. T. H. McCombs (chairman of the by-laws committee), and he was very happy to ask the council to approach the Government with a view to making the Estuary a sanctuary. A marvellous collection of sea birds was on the Estuary and shooting there would be a desecration. Cr. J. Mathison, M.P.. said he thought the recommendation would meet with general approval There was general alarm about the possibility of shooting on the Estuary because of the destruction of the birds and the danger to people. The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, MP.): I don’t think there will be any difficulty. The Minister of Internal Affairs came to me in Wellington about the proposal to shoot on the Estuary. Cr. w. P. Warner: How far does the jurisdiction on the Estuary cover? Cr. McCombs replied that the council Was asking for jurisdiction above high water mark. Cr. Warner said shooting had been done for 25 years on a private pond near the Drainage Board’s property. Cr. McCombs: That is not covered.