NATIVE FLORA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 24

NATIVE FLORA.

STREET DISPLAYS.

INSTITUTE OPPOSITION. MUSEUM ACTIVITIES. Opposition to the use of native flora for street decorative purposes was. indicated yesterday afternoon at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum, The president, Sir Cecil Leys, presided.

It was decided to support the representations to the City Council of the Karangahapc Road Business Promotion Society against the use, 011 the occasion of the visit of the Duke of Gloucester, of native flora in the decoration of streets. The society advised that in bringing the question under the notice of the civic authorities, the society had pointed oat that decoration by native flora w:\i3 repugnant to many people, and was of very little value. On the other Land,- it involved the desecration of the Dominion's native bush. The secretary, tne letter added, had requested the City Council to discourage its use as a decoration, and, if possible, to prohibit its sale and use for that purpose.

"The Museum Council is sympathetic to these representations," said the president. "People Should not cut down nikau antl tree ferns."

Oil tile motion of Mr. A. G. Limn, it was decided to support the society's suggestion, and to send a copy of the letter to the City Council.

Tlie director, Mr. Gilbert Ar'cliey, reported tliat gifts to the museum for the year totalled 400, of which 29 had been received since the last meeting of the council. Accessions not previously reported included: Heirlooms of the Ngn.ti-Awa and Ngati-Toa, Miss Eleanor Brown and Mrs. George Brownlee; large wooden food bowl, Mr. C. E. Crapp, of Tauranga; South Kaipara needles and bone pickers, Mr. G. Xevill; two-volume medicinal plants, Mrs. J. Ivehderdine. The report added that attendances for the year totalled 129,934, representing a weekly average of- 1787. During the TO on tli 17 classes, comprising 594 pupils, had attended the museum. Arts Exhibition. Reporting on the decorative arts exhibition, Mr. C. R. Ford expressed t>ie opinion that it would be possible to repeat the display in two years' time. Possibly Maori art subjects could be included in the exhibition.

On the motion of the president, it was decided to send a letter of thanks to Mrs. R. M. Wilson for her handsome donation of £50, announced yesterday, for the provision of the annual Sir Edwin Mitchelson Prize in connection with the Gheeseman memorial native flower show. Dr. ,T. A. Clinch and Mr. Iv. B. Myers were elected life members. Professor J. A. Bartrum was appointed a member of the institute delegation, which is to attend the Melbourne meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the advancement of science.