KAPITI ISLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 116, 8 July 1911, Page 6

KAPITI ISLAND.

INTENTIONS OF THE GOVERN MENT. A desperate attempt is being made to take ivapiti away from the goats, the wild eats, and the straying sheep and give it to mcro respects ole and profitable occupants (says the “Dominion”). An agitation in that direction lias been in progress for some time . Those who arc interesting theras'-Ivcs in the matter have a firm conviction that the historic island will make an ideal tourist resort, and that portions of its now little used Hillsides, and dales will food respectable flocks of sheep and holds of cattle.

On Wednesday the movement culminated in a deputation to the Minister, into whose portfolio the administration of Kapili comes (the Hon. D. Buddo). The deputation was introduced by the member for the district, Mr VV. H. Field, M.P , and consisted of Mon. C. II Mtlis, .Messrs Maicolm Maclean, Wv J. Howell, F. W. Smith, R. Stanseil, and C. E. Rainsford. The arguments in favour of fh« proposal wore outline ! ay the cff.nua non and folk.wed the hues 'f what juas already been published. In the course of a lengthy reply the Minister said the subject was a oig one. He recognised there was u future for the island. It sliotild be >a popular resort for Wellington residents. It was evident that recreation grounds must be, provided in the vicinity of Wellington for the future, in Kapiti they had one- of the most promising places of that sort that could be thought of. The Minis! r had recommended to the Government that the goats on the island should be destroyed, and a contract to achieve that object had boon authorised. The late caretaker of the island had also paid that Angora goats did not thrive there,, but had died off. The climate did not suit them. Cats were favoured because they were the alternative to rats which destroyed the birdlife—and Kapiti was a bird sanctuary. The late caretaker preferred the cats. If they got too numerous they could bo poisoned off. A resident caretaker had been appointed to look after the island and he would take up his duties on July 10. He would ,-ee to the planting of trees and other preservation. Something more profitable would be done with the island than to allow straggling sheep to over-run it. In order to make the island popular with visitors some accommodation would he required, and the landing stage would have to be improved.,, He did not think there would be sufficient inducement to provide sleeping accommodation for the public, but a room might be put up for light refreshments. It was honed, to exchange certain Government lands- on other parts of the island for five hundred acres held by the Natives in the centre, and this would bring the Government lands together in one piece. Above all the intention of the Government was to ii'ebp the island a sanctuary for New Zealand birds.