GOATS ON EGMONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25357, 12 November 1945, Page 6

GOATS ON EGMONT

DAMAGE TO FORESTS

BIG EXTERMINATION TASK (0.c.) ■ NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday The immense task confronting the Egmont National Park Board in eradicating goats in the Egmont national reserve was explained to a meeting or the board by the ranger, Mr G. G. Atkinson. He estimated the infested area to be about 100,000 acres of difficult, rugged country. In addition to forest infestation the higher open slopes j of the mountain were subjected to the depredations of goats during the summer, and, because of the cone-shaped contour of the mountain, the goats found it an easy matter to travel to any part of the alpine slopes, thus leaving no part unaffected. Alpine flora has suffered heavily. _ Dealing with forest destruction and erosion, Mr Atkinson said that throughout the goat-infested area the forest damage was extensive and serious. There were areas where some species had been almost entirely wiped out. The parent trees —seed distributors had been ring-barked and killed, anil the seedlings browned oft whenever they appeared. As soon as the supply of fertile seed lying on the forest floor was exhausted, then that variety ot tree ceased to exist in the locality and redistribution of seed could only be brought about by birds. Total extermination of goats must be the ultimate objective, said the ranger. This could only be brought about by an intensification of goat destruction and the employment of additional labour. He considered that by I the employment of six experienced men ! for six months the goats could be re- • diiced to a stage where two men —him--1 self and an assistant—could bring them ! to a state of almost total exterminaj tion in a \er,v short time.

MOUNTAIN BIRD-LIFE DEPREDATIONS OF VERMIN (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday Native bird-life was unfortunately not abundant in the reserve, the ranger, Mr G. G. Atkinson, told the Egmont National Park Board at a meeting at New Plymouth. It was probable, he said, that altitude had something to do with this, but it was more certain that the chief factor responsible for the comparative scarcity of birds was the large numbers of vermin within the reserve. The bush-hawk, a savage and resolute bird, took its toll of pigeons. He had seen these killers in action on several occasions, and twice he found the birds they had destroyed and partly eaten.

Kiwis were not plentiful, but appeared to be present in most parts of the reserve, he continued. He had received reports from trappers that they rarely caught kiwis in their traps. In one case a kiwi was caught, but it was not injured and made off as soon as it was released. "I submit that an intensification of trapping operations is the only means whereby native, birds can be assisted in their struggle for existence," he; concluded. OPOSSUMS INCREASE 16,000 TAKEN IN SEASON (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH. Saturday During the present season a total of 15,090 opossums had been taken in the reserve, reported the ranger, Mr G. G. Atkinson, at a meeting of the Egmont National Park Board in New Plymouth. This was an increase of over 1000 on the total taken last year. While the damage done was by no means comparable with that done by goats, the presence of opossums within the reserve must he considered inimical to its welfare. Although good work had been done in reducing their numbers, he considered trapping could be stepped up considerably by fixing the block boundaries more advantageously and putting on more trappers. Trappers, however, would operate only for so long as it was profitable for them to do so, said Mr Atkinson. Because of this every encouragement should be given trappers to warrant them trapping for as long as was practicable. If the price of skins dropped and trappers found it did not pay to operate, then there was no check on the increase of opossums, and if this prevailed over a period of years then the numbers of this pest would rise enormously.

DISCHARGES FROM NAVY DIRECT TO SHORE NO MILITARY TRANSFER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Saturday Officers and men of the Royal New Zealand Navy are now given a complete discharge direct to shore and are not, as previously, first transferred to the New Zealand military forces. This was announced by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, today. Mr Jones said that before V-J Day the Naval Board had authority to discharge only officers medically graded 3b or 4. All other men released from tho Navy, both officers, and ratings, were transferred to the New Zealand military forces for posting to army area pools. Not only did that system create considerable delay, but cases arose officers, chief petty officers and petty officers received posting instructions directing them to army area pools in the rank of private. After discussions had taken place approval was given to a proposal to give naval men their discharges direct to shore. The Minister added that when temporary officers of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve were transferred to the New Zealand military forcse for posting to army area pools it was the practice to permit officers to retain their naval rank on their release. They were instructed that on ceremonial occasions they would be permitted to wear the uniform of their rank. When transferred to the army before the institution of the direct to shore discharge system officers did not lose their identity as temporary officers of the R.N.Z.N.Y.R, TE KUITI LAND VALUES PRICES FOR CROWN AREAS (0.C.) TE KUITI, Sunday The progress of Te Kuiti was definitely being impeded by the method by which the Crown acquired the freehold of a large number of sections in the town from the native owners, said the Mayor, Mr K. W. Low, at a public meeting. Instead of applying the principles of the Land Sales Act, the Crown stated it did not matter what was paid for the sections. What it wanted was the price paid, plus 5 per cent. The township was laid out in 190S by the .Maori Land Board, acting for the native owners, and leased at 5 per cent of the unimproved value, which was very low, said Mr Low. A revaluation was carried out in 1017, after £IOO,OOO had been spent in providing amenities in the borough. This money was virtually added to the value of the sections, which were valued out of proportion to the original figure. The possible implications caused concern and after representations the Government agreed to purchase and extend to the occupiers the right to freehold. As a result of the Crown granting the freehold, some sections in- the main street were selling at. £BO a foot. He quoted an example of a case where the Crown wanted £2200 for a section, the valuation of which was £BIO. For another section, valued at £3OO. the Crown wanted £K*OO.