Sixteenth Annual Meeting. 469 



extinction of goats on Kapiti will involve still a great deal of work. We estimate 

 that there cannot bo less than throe hundred of them at the present time, and there 

 may be many more. 



Australian Opossums. — In many parts of the bush the damage done by opossums 

 is noticeable. Kohekohe, niahoe, and passion-flower are among the plants that most 

 frequentlj- show the marks of havuig been attacked. There are several groups of 

 dead Fuchsia trees, and these the caretaker is satisfied have been killed by opossums. 

 Systematic trapping has been carried out, and the numbers have evidently been verj- 

 much reduced ; but they are still cpiite common. The only safe aim is their absolute 

 extinction so far as Kapiti is concerned. 



Wild Cats. — We understand that most, jierhaps all, of the wild cats have been 

 killed. We neither saw nor heard any. The caretaker exercises unceasing vigilance 

 in the matter. 



Deer and Wild Cattle. — All have been killed. 



It will be seen that, except in the all-important matter of the wild sheep, there is 

 httle cause for disappointment and much cause for satisfaction with what has been 

 done. The achievement is due to the fact that the caretaker is very vigilant and 

 highly capable. Having selected a man with those cpiahfications, the Government 

 has failed to take the vitally important action that would liave resulted in complete 

 success. 



Government'' s Intentions. — In the last estimates there apiioarod a sum of £1,000 

 for the purpose of stocking Kapiti Island with sheep. The mtention is to fence off 

 the clearing at Rangatira Point and the Taijiiro clearing in the middle of the island, 

 and to run two fences across the island, cuttmg off the open lands at tht^ northern and 

 southern ends. It is intended to make a track from Rangatira to the Taipiro clearing 

 and on to the southern clearing, to enable fences to be erected and to serve as driving- 

 tracks in mustering. Sheep could then be run on the open lands with no damage to 

 the bush. Presumably, all the Native sheep would first have been disposed of. The 

 advantages to be gained, in addition to revenue, would lie that danger from fires in long 

 dry grass would be avoided, and that there would lie a sufficient staff, maintained 

 without loss, to care properly for the parts of the island that would remain a sanctuary. 



The Institute will probably consider whetlior it should make any representations 

 to the Government with regartl to the scheme just referred to. There is, we tliink, no 

 denying that if sheep are on the island there will always be some danger of the bush 

 being invaded by them, a danger that will be very shght under efficient management, 

 but that if at any time the island passes under cai-eless or otherwise inefficient manage- 

 ment will be very serious indeed. In such a case the position of the island as a 

 sanctuar}' might be worse than at present. If the island is kept as a sanctuary pure 

 and simi^le, as we suppose it was the first intention of the Government that it should, 

 then New Zealand will best have exi^ressed a sense of its duty to care for a portion of 

 a flora and fauna that are unique, the needless destruction of which could never be 

 excused, and could only be explained on the ground of sordid ignorance, (^n the other 

 hand, it is to be borne in mind that the danger of fire, already referred to, is a real one, 

 although one that may easily be exaggerated. The danger could be minimized by 

 planting the open lands with such Native trees and shrubs as would not readily carry 

 fire. Such planting would, of course, mvolve considerable expense. If the attitude of 

 the Governments of the future is such as we have known in the past, the proposal to 

 make revenue by utilizing the open sheep-lands of the island will, sooner or later, prove 

 irresistible, although now these Crown lands are allowed to be used by private individuals 

 and to the great detriment of the j^roperty of the State. If the Government runs sheep 

 on KajDiti, it is of vital importance that no sheep should be jjlaced on land that is not 

 properly fenced. 



We wish to express our appreciation of the courtesy and help extended to us, as 

 representatives of the Institute, by Mi-. T. W. Broderick, Under-Secretary to the Crown 

 Lands Department, by Mi-. Phillips Turner, of that Department, and by Mr. J. L. 

 Bennett, the caretaker of the island. 



16th January, 1919. 



On the motion of JMr. Eliott, seconded by Mr. Hill, it was resolved, 

 That the Minister of Lands be urged to acquire the remaining portion of 

 the Island of Kapiti from the private owners, in order to prevent the 

 damage and destruction to the flora and fauna which is now taking place. 



On the motion of Professor Kirk, seconded by Mr. Eliott, it was 

 resolved, That the Government be asked to formally recognize the New 



