THE RED DEER OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13886, 25 April 1907, Page 4

THE RED DEER OF NEW ZEALAND.

ANCESTRY OF THE WAIRARAPA

HERD,

A DOUBTFUL POINT SETTLED.

(Per United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, April 2i A further contribution io the controversy regarding the ancestry of the lierd of red deer which has done so well in tho Wnirar rap a district arrived by the mail from England to-day in the form of a letter from tho ITon. J. W. Fortescue, who writes from Windsor Oastle to Mr, Donne, head of tho New Zealand Tourist Department.

"Both the trout and the deer in New Zealand," he writes, "seem (a grow bigger and bigger. The photographs o[ the stags' heads which you sent interest me particularly, for, unless I am very much mistaken, the forefalhcrg of the New Zealand deer camo from Windsor Park, and they in their turn, as I liavo ascertained by searching tlio archives oi the seventeenth century, were imported from Germany in the time of JCing Charles II in order to make good the havoc wrought by poachers during the civil war. I am sending the photographs of tlio heads to Prinio Christian, who his a lino collection of heads, and has shot doer in all the forests of Europe."

This is evidently lutcr information than was supplied to Mr Tripp by a former mail from Captain Campbell, through the medium of tlio High Commissioner in London, and may be taken as settling a very interesting point about which hitherto there has been some doubt.

Mv Donne, who has made a. special stiulv of the heads of German deer, states that thero is a close resemblance between them and many of tlio stags' head'? obtained in tlio Wairarapa district. At . the St. Louis Exposition the German Department of Forestry and Game had its exhibit quite closo to the New Zealand exhibit, so that Mr Donne had excellent opportunity of comparing the stags' heads from the two countries. The similarity of the palmatcd horns was evident, but. the principal difference between the Scottish heads and the German heads k, he says, the curly, long hair on the brows of the latter, which is also a noticeable feature of tho stags of the Wairarapa. herd.

Wellington sportsmen arc delighted to hoar of the succcss of the Rakaia herd, much interest being taken in the news telegraphed from Christchureli as to the size and weight of the heads.

Amongst t.lie passengers from England by tlio Corinlhio to-day was an enthusiastio sportsman, Mr Charles Prodgers, who has come io New Zealand specially for tho deer-stalking and fishing. He will probably remain in the colony for nine months so as to. get- next soason's trout-fishing.