Remarks on Kiwis captured near Dunedin.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 5, 1872, Page 482

1. Mr. R. Gillies presented to the Society the remains of two kiwis, which had been captured on the harbour side, near Burke's brewery, by a dog of Mr. Joseph Drake's. One of the birds when found was partly devoured, but was still fresh and warm. Mr. Gillies stated that, so far as he was aware, this was the first authentic instance on record of the kiwi being found on the eastern coast of the South Island; and that, seeing the birds were running wild, the inference was that in the vast bush extending from the harbour to beyond Blueskin there must, in all likelihood, be other specimens; and, seeing that they were becoming almost extinct, it might be worth while to consider whether in the interests of science the Society should not take some steps to let the fact of the existence of these birds in that bush be as widely known as possible to the settlers, with a view to their preservation as much as possible. In the discussion which followed, it was stated that on two or three previous occasions the capture of kiwis in the bush to the north of Dunedin had been reported, and that some specimens, one of which was now in the Museum, had been secured. It was thought that Mr. Gillies' suggestions should be acted upon. 2. “Notes on Plants collected near Invercargill,” by J. S. Webb. (See Transactions, p. 360.) The author gave the result of an investigation of open tussocky ground between the Puni creek and the Main East road for the purpose of comparison with that of similar ground elsewhere. He mentioned the curious circumstance that none of the imported plants, including white clover, had been able to make headway against the native vegetation, notwithstanding that cattle were constantly wandering over the ground. It was also stated that the collection included five specimens which had not before been reported as existing in the province.