NEW ZEALAND FAUNA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144146, 16 July 1913, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FAUNA.

A PLEA FOR PROTECTION. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 15. The threatened extinction of New Zealand fauna was tho subject of a deputation from the Wellington Zoological Society to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. H. D. Bell) to-day. Tho Rev. C. Crcwos said that the society was deeply interested in the preservation of tho fauna of New Zealand. Tho tuatara was a most interesting and important reptile, and it .was recently estimated that there were only one thousand of them left. They were now found only on one or two islands and none existed on the mainland. Tho society was also anxious to sqe such birds as the great spotted kiwi preserved from tho ravages of the stoat and the weasel. Tho Minister said it was no doubt necessary for the matter to be impressed upon the minds of the people. Regarding tho tuatara, the Government had increased the penalty for the destruction of the reptiles, and was in receipt of reports from various light-house-keepers. They were considering tho advisability of having a number of tuataras. brought to AVcllington and kept under proper conditions, to see if they would increase. The Government was fully aware of the necessity of preserving, as far ns possible, such birds as tho Imia, Kakapo, and Paradise duck. As to native pigeons, the Government was determined to preserve them, but it was a difficult matter to persuade the Maoris not to shoot them. The matter was receiving the earnest attention of the Government.