NEW ZEALAND'S FAUNA.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13775, 16 July 1913, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S FAUNA.

AN APPEAL FOll PROTECTION.

[TJniteo Puess Association.]

Wellington, July. 15-'• Tho. threatened extinction of New. Zealand's fauna was tho subject of a deputation from the Wellington Zoological Society to the Minister of. Internal Affairs" (tho Hon. H. T>. Bell) to-, . day. The Rev. J. Crewos said tho.socictx wa3 deeply interested in tho preservation of tho fauna of New Zealand. TLo. tuatara was a most interesting and important reptile, and it was recently, {-istimated that there were only une thousand of them left. They wero now found only on one or two islands; none existed on-the mainland. The society was also anxious to see such birds as tho". great, spotted kiwi preserved from the ravages of the &toat and weasel. The Minister said that it was no doubt necessary for the matter to Ix 1 impressed upon the minds of tho People. Regarding' tho tuatara the Government had increased the penalty fertile destruction of the reptile, and # was in receipt of reports from various light-house-keepers. They were considering the. advisability of having a number of 'tuataras brought to Wellington, and kept under .proper condition's, to see"if t hey ■ would increase. Tho - Government was fully aware of the. necessity for preserving, as far as possible.-such: .birds/as the huia, kakapo, and paradise* ducks. As to native pigeons, the Goj verhment was determined to preserve them, but it was a difficult matter tc persuade the Maoris not to,shoot them..