The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1901. NEW SHOOTING LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 91, 7 May 1901, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1901. NEW SHOOTING LAWS.

Now that the shooting season h com mencing, it is just *s wt.ll that some [amendments in the game laws mad* last session of Parliam nt should bw b'»ine in mind. By way of giving a real holiday to some of our f.st disappearing birds it is en-o/ed that one year in every three slwll be a year of grace for " native pigeon, pukeko, and kaka " The first of th»se yearsrCimmenced on the lit of April this year, The value of this provision, remarks a southern contempjraiy, is probably very great—at lea<t fo it vcy marked in the case of puktks. A retent visitor to Waihola has noticed the beneficial effect of the procikination which hat reserved Waiho'aacd Waipori Lakes at a permanent refuge for waterfow l . These birds a'e now becoming very numerous as many as 500 swans having been sern tojje'her. The ducks have become tamer s ; nce they hive learned that there is nothing to feor. The trouble in tho North Island is that the natives, who are inveterate potters of native game, seem to pay no attention to the law, and the law seems to pay no attention to The shooting of tuis has prohibited, for yews past, yet at a recent [native fttst many thousands of th«m, preserved in own fat, were openly displayed on the tables. Theie is on* difficulty with the Mtoris which hardly applies to European*, exc-pt back blocks settlers. That is that they form partiej »nd go and cimp deep in the bush, wheie gamo is still fair'y plentiful, and po'ire cannot «ell be spared to foil >w them tin r». But as long as thsy are allow, d to d> | so we do not look for much good from prohibitive regulations, at least in thai North Islaad. Another altera'ion is] that it is now wholly ill-g.il to export ?'me or nstive gama fiom New Zetland without the writtn consent of the Colonial Secretary, atd a penalty (not exceeding £2O is attached ts the off nee. To get rid of the practice of killing game in the winteraDd keeping it frozen, or to overcome the difficulty of pre ving that frozen was kil'ed out of season, it is now enicteitnat no game shall be held in possession for a greiter perio.l than teven days after 'he close of the game eearon.