PROTECTING THE TUATARA.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 4

PROTECTING THE TUATARA.

A PROCLAMATION,

Tho tuatara,. although not a very, boautiful animal, is in some respects tho most .'interesting reptilo alivo on this planet to«da-y. Recognising this, tho Wellington Zoological Society, "ono of whoso objects is to promote the popular study of zoology, recently sent a deputation to the Minister of Internal Affairs and tho Minister of Education, to discuss with them what could bo done to protect and increase the tuatara. That there aro not many left alivo .is generally, admitted, and that their only brooding placos aro a fow islands off tho coast qf Now Zealand is not disputed. A few' months ago an English reviewer stated that it was estimated that thoro wero not moro than a thousand tuataras now alive. A report of tho meeting of tho Zoological deputation and 1 the Ministers' roply was publishod in Tnii Dominion, which was road by a schoolmaster in tho north. Later, ho wrote to tho president of tho Wollington Zoological Society telling him that after reading tho report in Tun Dominion ho inquired of tho Maoris in his district whether they know where there wero tuatara alivo, and they told him that tliov knew where moro than a thousand could bo found, but that recently soma of them had been killed because tho tuatara aro ugly. Tho schoolmaster suggested that as Maoris in his district seemed to bo ignorant of tliOj' fact that tho tuatara aro protected by, law a proclamation in Maori should bo, published by tho and somo copies bo sent to him for distribui ; tion. . Tho society forwarded to tho Minister; of 'Internal Affairs a copy of tho lottery and backed tho suggestion with an ap-| peal. The Minister has sinco notified: tho society that its application will ho 1 granted, and that, further, tho procla-. mation will bo published in tho "Kav liiti." . . • Tho Government is evidently doing its best to preservo the tuatara, and tho Zoological Society is deserving of thanks for its prompt and effective N action m this matter. , ■