HUNT FOR THE HUIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14508, 24 October 1910, Page 8

HUNT FOR THE HUIA.

EXPEDITIONS PROPOSED. [F.Y TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Saturday. " While the Maori is anxious that the huia whould be preserved the national sentiment amongst the race with regard to the preservation of the bird has died out, very largely because there are ' few Maoris left now in the localities where huias are said to exist. The other tribes do not seem to be actuated by a national. spirit to preserve these birds." This remark was made by Mr. J. Stevens, ex-M.P. for Manawatu, who is in Wpllinfton to interview the Hon. D. Ruddo (Minister for External. Affairs) and Mr. A. Hamilton, director of the Dominion Museum, on the question of forming a Maori expedition for the purpose of ascertaining whether there are any huias still to be found on the western slopes of the Ruahine ranges. Mr. Stevens's idea is that two or more Maoris, expert in the capture of huias, should go to the head waters of the Kawatau stream, a tributary of the Rangitikei River, and .also to the Mangawharariki and Pohangina Rivers,- the latter of which runs into the Manawatu River, just below Ashhurst. His proposal is that the expedition should search round the headwaters of these rivers and along the foothills of the Tararua Range.