SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1650, 14 October 1903, Page 17

SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND.

THE ELK AND BUFFALO FROM AMERICA. DEER-STALKING. Some interesting matters in regard to deer-stalking and big game generally in this colony were dealt with in the House of Representatives last Wednesday afternoon. Mr Fiat man a Deed the Minister in charge of the Tourist Department, whether there is any truth in tho following paragraph, which appeared in tho “New Zealand Times” of the 3rd October: —‘‘The officers of the Tourist Department aro continuing their inquiries for big gamo suitable for acclimatisation in che colony, and in some cases replies have been received, but the prices asked are almost prohibitive. Letters of inquiry have been sent in regard to moose, elk, wapiti and buffalo from America, and Caucasian and Carpathian deer, Asiatic wapiti and ibex. One firm in America has written to the department offering to supply moose, elk and buffalo at a certain figure. These animals can ho obtained in numbers with comparative ease at a certain time of the year?” And, if so, is it intended to make New Zealand the dumping-gound for wild and dangerous animals for the sake of giving sport to a few tourists? Sir Joseph Ward said inquiries were being made concerning each of the animals named. The Government decided, on March 27th, that elk and buffalo should be obtained from America.. None of the animals could be regarded as ‘•’dangerous.” There were largo areas of kind, unsuitable for any other purpose, but if stocked with big game would bo a very valuable asset to the colony. Sir W. J. Steward put the following question:—Whether there is any foundation for the report that tho Tourist Department ~rs using its influence with tho Land Department to prevent the renewal of leases of back-country runs in tho Mackenzie country, in order that said runs may ho reserved as a sanctuary for red deer, or for any other reason; and whether, before liberating red deer in this part of the colony, ho will take into considcation the objections of settlers, who fear that these animals will become a nuisance, as is alleged to be already the case in the Waikato and Wairarapa ? Sir Joseph Ward replied that the only land which tho department had taken any action concerning in that locality was 32,000 acres on the slopes of Mount Cook, which, it was asked, should be reserved in order to preserve the alpine flora; 18,000 acres of this area had already been reserved, and it was proposed to reserve another 14,000 when the present lea-so expired. The land was of very little pise for grazing purposes, and it was of the utmost importance that tho alpine scenery in the vicinity of tho Hermitage should be carefully preserved for all time. It was not at present proposed to liberate red deer in the locality. If any animals were liberated there, they would ba snow-line animals. Even if red deer were liberated, they would not interfere to any extent with the settlers. In the Wairarapa, many of the settlers adjoining the red-doer country took every precaution to preserve the deer, and there had been no serious complaint of their becoming a nuisance. In reply to Mr T. Mackenzie. Sir Joseph Ward was of opinion that sport

should be encouraged in every possible way. Many hundreds’of people already visit the colony, especially for troutfishing and deer-stalking, and thousands of pounds are brought m in consequence. One person alone who brought his .family with him last year stated that he had spent £2OOO in the colony.