GANNET SANCTUARY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 11 May 1935, Page 5

GANNET SANCTUARY

Cape Kidnappers Board IMPROVING TOURIST TRACK The annual meeting of the Cape Kidnappers Sanctuary Board was held in Napier yesterday. Mr. F. R. Burnley (Commissioner of Crown Lunds) presided over Messrs. W. B. Stewart, E. S. West, E. R. B. Nielson, th 1 Rt. Roy. II Williams (ex-offic'o representative of the Hawke’s Bay branch of the Rcyal Society), and Dr. A. G. Clark.

Accounts for payment totalling £l3 8/3 were passed. This amount was the cost of various works carried out last year. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £8 15/-. PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. Members considered which improvements should be carried out with the money available this year. The following were considered:— Handrail on steep part of the track down the point leading to the main nesting area, the estimated cost ot which is £8 14/9. Repairs to the walking track, estimated to cost £l. The cost of enclosing about J-acre of the plantation near the eape with a goatproof fence, an dpreparing the area for three-planting, would be about £9 10/-. The erection of a shelter shed and the installation of two 400-gallon tanks will cost £lB 3/8.

It was decided to repair the track, and do as much work on the plantation as funds would allow. No allowance in the estimates was made for the purchase of trees, as it was hoped that interested persons would subscribe money for this purpose. Because of restricted finance, the board could not undertake the erection of the tw-o water tanks this year, although it was agreed that the provision of frosh water and a shelter shed were very desirable. It was suggested that a wind-break of quick-growing exotics should be planted, and in this connection it was said that the native trees likely to do jest in that locality would be pittosporum, crassifolium, pohutukawa and karaka. Later, when these trees were large enough to provide shelter, other varieties could be planted. In connection with the provision of a track down the point, it was unanimously decided that to make the track too easy would be inadvisable, and the board refused to consider the erection of a hand-rail.

The present visiting season ends on July 31, and the new visiting period begins on October 26.

REPORT FOR THE SEASON. The meeting adopted the following report:— “One meeting of the board was held during the year. Mr. W. B. Stewart, who lor some years held a seat on the board as president of the Hawke’s Bay Philosophical Society, ex officio, was appointed as a member of the board. The society is now represented on the board by ’ its present president, the Bishop of Waiapu. Dr. T. C. Moore, who was on the board for some years, resigned on account of ill-health. “During the season about 4000 people visited the sanctuary, and some 400 permits were issued. The issuing of permits is done by Mr. W. N. Stanley, of Clifton, who keeps an eye generally on the board’s interests. The subscriptions by the public amounted to £ll 5/3, the amount being collected in a box in Mr. Stanley’s store. The board expresses its appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley for the assistance they have given. “During the winter, the tracks were done up. and a new ladder erected at the Black Reef, thus avoiding the climb up the hill at this point if the tide was in. Some of the members of the board visited the sanctuary on occasions with a view; to deciding how the moneys subscribed by the public should be spent. The board expresses its appreciation to Mr. D. G. Williams, hon. ranger, for his services.”