KAPITI ISLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 27, 1 August 1911, Page 3

KAPITI ISLAND.

TO BE THROWN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RETAINED AS A BIRD SANCTUARY. (ST TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL TO THE POST.] CHRISTCHURCS. This Day. The Hon. D. Buddo, Minister of In« ternal Affiairs, stated while here that it had been decided to bring about an important change in the history of Kapiti Island, the bird and plant sane tuary a. few miles from the eastern coast of the province of Wellington. He said that arrangements would be made to throw the island open to the public, who would be encouraged to visit it and spend a few days there. It was felt that Kapiti was admirably adapted for that purpose. A large part of it, of course, was covered with forest, but the visit he mads some time ago showed him that the tress were not, on the whole, heavy timber. In places there were beautiful grassy slopes and plateaux, and there were also sandy beaches and landing V atcf - was intended to make a road for about five mileft round the tops of the high hills and another road about a mile in length in another direction. Launches would run at stated times from the mainland opposite the island. A pavilion would bo erected and in it lunch would be served, but th6se who wished to stay on the island for a few days would be expected to take their own provisions. Tno Tiearert railway station was Waikanafe. It was only thirty-eeven miles from Wellington and was a pretty little township, with ample np-to^rlate accomtnoda> tion. Visitors could take train from Wellington to that station, stay there at night, walk abemt two miles to the beach in the morning, take the launch to Kapiti, spend a large part of the j day there, return to Waikanae, and get back to Wellington in the evening. • In reply to a question Mr. Buddo said he was convinced that the scheme the Government had in hand would not lead lo interference with native birds on the Banetuary of frighten them away. Arrangement* would probably^ bo com* pleted soon to buy from the Maori owners a block of land ih the middle of *lh« island. ' There would still be about 1600 acres in the hands of the Maoris on the northern end, but it was all in grass and Would be of little Use to tho Government, and no attempt would be made to aetniir* that area for the present, at any" rate. He added that there would be_ no departure from the policy of regarding Kapiti as a bird sanctuary. It was intended indeed to place upon it representatives of all living species of birds belonging to New Zealand. t If the Government's proposals are car lied out Kapiti will probably become one of the most jropulaf week-end resorts in the Dominion. It fcas 1 a very pleasant climate, especially in the summer, and its rugged character gives it matty natural attractions.. On its western side, white th« Pacific Ocean thunders upon its shores, it has. stupendous cliffs rising steer out of the 'water to a height of nearly 200 feet. Besides these i attractions it has many historical associations 1 . It is the scene of some of the liiost famous tribal battles of the Maoris. Soms seventy or eighty years ago RaUparaha, the northern warrior, made it his headquarters, and there some of his prisoners were butchered. Later on it was occupied by whaleTS and after the passing of the whaling periou ««■ George Grey tried to buy the island as a residence, and it was only after failing to obtain it that he went to live on Kawau, near Auckland. About eighteen years ago Mr. Seddon had it converted i into a bird sanctuary and since that time, except for a resident caretaker and the Maori owners, ib has been seldom visited.