SENSELESS DESTRUCTION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 24 October 1912, Page 2

SENSELESS DESTRUCTION

CHARGE AGAINST NEW ZEA-

LANDERS.

In a recent work, "Views', and Reviews from the Outlook of <an Anthropologist," Sir Harry Johnston says:— "Tho Imperial mother might call the attention of New Zealand to the fact that the people and Government of that dominion have now reduced to a few hundreds that curious reptile sphenodon—it is not strictly speaking a lizard —which is the most remarkable feature of the New Zealand fauna. It is perhaps the oldest type of land vertebrate actually visible to us. At one time reptiles of this order existed in England and Scotland, and in parts of Germany and India, as well, no doubt, as elsewhere in the old world; but they survive at the present day only in New Zealand. At the time of the British discovery they were fairly abundant over both islands; but they are now relegated to one or two minute islets in the Bay of Plenty, off the North Island ; and even here they are mercilessly destroyed by the New Zealanders whenever they can get' a chance. Sphenodon punctatus-^usually known locally as the tuatara—is quite harmless, and this attempt to exterminate it appears insensate, if the New Zealanders have any natural pride. On account of its. age and extraordinary structural interest, they should long ago have adopted the tuafara as their national emblem."