THE OYSTER BEDS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13484, 10 May 1907, Page 6

THE OYSTER BEDS,

A VISIT OF INSPECTION. MINISTER FOR MARINE AT WAIHEKE. Is- accordance with the promise made to the deputation of oyster fishermen, which waited on him on Saturday last, the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Marine, paid a visit to some . of the oyster beds in. the Hauraki Gulf yesterday. • . The party consisted of the Minister, Messrs. Garnaut and A. Sanford, jun. (representing the oyster-pickers), A. Sanford, sen., and J. K. Kneen. . The trip was made in the Harbour Board's launch Kuaka, a small launch also being taken for landing purposes. A start was made at twenty minutes to nine a.m., and the first place of call was Brown's Island. The .oyster? there are somewhat small, and not very numerous. The Kuaka was then headed for Waiheke, where the party was met by Mr. Bennett, inspector of oyster fisheries.

The chief object of the promoters of the trip was to show the Minister the quantity and size of the,oysters on the beds that are now closed, and with this object the party proceeded to Putiki Bay. The small launch skirted the foreshore tor some distance, and the reefs.along the whole length traversed were seen to bo thickly covered with large oysters. A landing was afterwards effected on the rocks, and a close scrutiny was thus obtained of the extent of the beds. An excellent supply of fine oysters was found there, and a practical test, in which mast of the members of the party joined with more or less avidity, proved that the'flavour left nothing for the most fastidious lover of the popular bivalve to cavil at. It could be .seen, however, that although the beds, which have been -closed for some seven years, , are ' thickly covered with oysters, there is not as yet a great deal of " clustering." An hour was spent on the island, and the Minister took the opportunity of obtaining all possible information regarding the state of the beds now open and those closed from Mr. Bennett, and from the representatives of the oystermen. ; He made no statement as to what would be done, beyond saying that the question of ; opening the closed beds would receive careful consideration. The Minister, however, made it clear that he would not agree to Waiheke : and Ponui Islands both being opened at the same time. Owing to lack of time, - Rakino and Ponui Islands were not visited ■but it was stated that there is a good supply of oysters on the latter island. A return was made to town at a-quarter to three.