A LEPER ISLAND.

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 March 1907, Page 3

A LEPER ISLAND.

STRONG PROTEST TO BE MADE. TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL TO THE STAR.] WELLINGTON, This Day. Kapiti Island, off the mouth of the Waikanao River, on the west coast of the North Isladid, some forty miles from Wellington, is a beautiful spot, with an interesting flora and fauna. Its importance has been recognised, and the greater portion of it has been reserved .as a sanctuary for native birds. In time to come it will, in the ordinary course of events, be a most interesting spot for the tourist or the ordinary New Zealander to visit, as, apart from its beauty and the flora ] and fauna, it has historic associations connected with that famous Maori, Te Rauparaha. It appears ,however, that by some extraordinary recommendation, the Government has decided to turn it 'nto a leper island. This action on the part of the authorities is bitterly >.'esented by the settlers on the coast, and they hope to induce the Government to abandon the scheme. At a public meeting to be held at Paraparaumu to-night the following motion will be proposed : —"That this meeting views with the utmost abhorrence the proposal of the Ministry to establish a leper station on Kapiti Island, and condemns the action of the Ministry iii the strongest possible terms; and that this meeting declares that thi Government has no right, either divine or human, to introduce lepers :jito a clean inhabited district, contrary t) the wishos of tho inhabitants."