CHAMOIS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 7

CHAMOIS IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From Ocb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 15. Captain T. E. Donne, C.M.G., the author of “Game Animals of New Zealand,” has lately rsceived a letter from Mr James L. •Fairholme, of Bregenz, Austria, in which he writes: *T have translated the whole of the part of your valuable book ‘The Game Animals of New Zealand,’ whrich relates to the chamois, and it is to be published in a series of articles that will _appear in the important paper, Halali, of ’Vienna, and I know that it will greatly interest the sports men of Austria as it has already interested the peasant and keepers in our mountains here, to whom I have already related that which you have written of tlie chamois in yom book. With all you say regarding chamois I perfectly agree, especially in your expressed opinion that the shooting of them should be defenred until they are thoroughly well established -and then that driving them should be absolutely forbidden. As you so definitely and rightly state, the Government, and the Government alone, can give the chamois the chance of development that it deserves.”

Sportsmen, in the true sense, consider that chamois should be stalked by one hunter, and not driven in herds to concealed rifles.

Mr Fairholme adds that he has huntsd chamois since he was a boy of U veaiß cf age, and he has been at Wellenan, Bregenz, since 1889, having increased the area of forsst from time to time by acquiring new lands. It now carries between 600 and GOO chamois. lie goes on to say: “I consider that the position which this forest holds to day is due largely to the fact that I prohibited any driving by men or dogs. I am happy to say that although the war affected me gr3atly as we could not get away in time, and were therefore interned and had to submit to very short rations, as did evaryone else, T am still able to climb the high and steep mountains.' Prior to the war Mr Fairholme was one ot the commissioners of the International Sportsmen’s Exhibition which took place in Vienna, and he was particularly in control of the British Empire exhibit. He says that Frans Josef, the Emperor of Austria, was exceedingly interested in the exhibit of red deer stag heads that were lent by Captain Donne, and that he made a prolonr*;.’ «iait to the court, asking Mr Fai’-tolmo >iany questions in regard to New Zealand and the causes of such large and heavy antler production. Ho also expressed his delight at the successful transport and acclimatisation of chamois.