INFORMATION ABOUT SEA BIRDS WANTED

Grey River Argus, 27 August 1946, Page 7

INFORMATION ABOUT SEA BIRDS WANTED

(To the Editor). Dear Sir.—lnformation is being sought of considerable numbers of small sea-birds, mainly Broad Billed Prions, which have recently been washed ashore on various parts of New Zealand’s western coastline. These birds have presumably perished at sea during severe weather, and although odd birds may be found after any storm, so many have not been recorded since 1932. Great numbers of a closely related species were found by Sir Walter Buller at Waikanae, -opp'osite Kapiti Island, in 1878 .-nd other occurrences have been recorded since then. Great interest is being taken in the present occurrence by scientists, and anyone who has the chance of counting the number of these birds, which are related to the giant Albatrosses, along a strip of coastline, is requested to get in touch with the writer, who is collecting reports, (or the nearest Museum),. Owing to lack of observers, no reports have yet been received from the .South Island, or between Levin and Auckland where 68 were found on a three mile stretch of coast. It would be useful if, for identification purposes, one or two ckulls were sent in. I am etc. J. M. CUNNINGHAM, Secretary, Ornithological Society of N.Z., 39 Renall Street, Master ton.

(To the Editor).

Sir, —In your issue of August 22, Mr G. Gillespie, chairman and prospective candidate of the National Party in Westland, claims that the National Party have never sat on the Treasury Benches in New Zealand. Is Mr Gillespie trying to fool himself or the people? What’s in a name when the core and ideals of the party are the same, be they Conservative, Reform, Coalition or National Party. Changing names is a favourite trick of tricky politicians. I have often heard of parents that wished to disown wayward children, but this is a case of the child disowning the parents. However, knowing the parents and their record all over the world, booms, wars and slumps, I can quite see Mr Gillespie’s desire to forget theil ß r™Em dS D E ED a s m YT' S HALL KNOW THEM.