AT KAPITI ISLAND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11111, 8 May 1911, Page 6

AT KAPITI ISLAND.

o THE HON. D. BUDDO- PATS A VISIT. A party, to which Mr. W. H. Field. M.P., was cicerone, visited Kapiti Island on Saturday on an interesting .mission. The Hon.- D. Buddo (Acting-Minister fov Lands) was of the number, and his act-ing-secretary (Mr. Furby); and the othere were ■■Mγ. F. ■• Martin (Government Valuer), and Messrs. Freeman and Hemi Mirtenga, of Waikanae,- the last-named being oho of the chief Native owners of the island.

Tho party crossed to Kapiti early on Saturday morning- in a launch belonging to the Natives.- There were several objects in view, one of them being to ascertain whether it would bo a good policy for the Govcrnnicnt to li»nso it« holdings "Uierefor sheepfarming purposes. Some time was also spent, in ascertaining how fcho island was succeeding as a bint sanctuary. The party were ■ unable tii penetrate the biish areas, but tho wood pigeon, kea, makomako, green parakeet, weka, and numerous raro and almost extinct varieties of small birds wero seen in abundance.

Tho proposal in regard to the islanct is that the Government should appoint a farm manager, who. would act as caretaker, or that they should lease the land, and that nne of tho lessees should ha given charge of the whole place. The many interesting Maori relics and evidences of Native occupation in the past were all duly visited by the party, and an hour was also spared for deep-sea fishing. A party of Natives fishing off the north portion of the island hauled in ■10 largo hapuka, nearly a ton in weight, in two hours. The Minister and his party also had a raro time with lesser prizes. ■

As a fishing ground and a' ' wateringplace, Mr. Field considers Kapiti should thrive, but certain landfng facilities would first be essential. This matter is also to be gone into by Mr. Buddo, and .probably laid before tho Government.