A RARA AVIS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14234, 6 March 1914, Page 7

A RARA AVIS.

HUNTING THE HUIA, , MINISTER AND LOCAL MUSEUM AUTHORITIES. At a meeting of the Wanganui Museum Trustees last night an important ma.tcr m connection wuh New Zealand's native bird. , especially the Jmia was d.scus*eC. The matter was introduced by the cura.or, Air Hesse, who explained tha, about a •veek before Mr Tnomj son was appo.nted iircctor of the Dominion Museum, he was in \\ anganui and remarked to tue speaker that the lima, a native bird, lhat had jecii lor many years very rare, was Low extinct. Air IK.ssc said he rej l.ed that hilt was not so, for he had received informa ion fre.n an authoritative cource hat two pairs of hnias hud been been recently in a locality not far from Wanganui. boon afterwards, Mr Hesse said, is received a letter from Mr llioai) ton, i which information was asked respecting the locality in which the birds Had lean seen, auu suggesting that the Dominion Mu cum author! ics, in conjunction with Mr Hesse, make a search lor the specimens. Immediately afterwards, said the curator, he received a letter hom the Hon. H. D, Bell, Minister of Internal tffairs, who wrote stating that he had been informed that the officers of tue A anganui Aluseum had discovered a pait jf the countrjfftin which some hnias were .1111 to be found and had the birds and :heir habitats under observation. If this was the case, the Minister said, the authorities of the Museum were en itled to* great credit and to the assistance of every department of the Government. He hoped that the governing body of the Museum would agree that for the protection of the birds and their habitats, it was desirble that the safeguards, which the governing powers could provide, should be invoked. Hi's object in writing was to propose that the authorities 01 the Wanganui Museum should place him in possession of the information which they had upon the subject, and should consult with him as to the steps necessary to be taken to provide the locality from intruders—especially the Maoris—and to see that all matters relating fo the observation of the birds would be attended to. Me Hesse reported that he had written judicious and non-commi.tal replies, in which it was stated that the facts would be placed before the Trustors for their consideration. Air Hesse said that the Government was very anxious to got information a;' fo the locality. The huia was one of the rarest of New Zealand birds. It was peculiar to New Zealand, and they were in largo demand by New Zealand and outside museums. Discussing the report, Mr J. H. Burnet remarked that last year the Government sent two men up to Taihape for the whole summer to search for huiaa, ■ but they could not find any. He added that continental museums would, pay a fanev price for the birds, but they could not live in captivity. I After some further discussion the fol- ' lowing resolution was carried;—“lhat a tvplv bo sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs that at present nur info. 1 imvfion in ermneetion with the two pairs of hnias, which are supposed to have been jeen recently, is meagre, and we arc therefore unable to say anything further on the master just now. AVe ate, however, prosecuting further inquiries and will fur her communicate wilh the Government if ; necessary later on. In the meantime, the I Trustees of the Wanganui Museum would be glad to know what the intention cf the Government is provided the' birds could be located.’’