OTIRA GIRLS AND BOYS ARE NATURE LOVERS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22243, 6 November 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

OTIRA GIRLS AND BOYS ARE NATURE LOVERS

The girls and boys in the cities are not so fortunate as we are in Otira. We are surrounded by native bush which is always lull of interest. On fine days our teacher takes us for a nature study ramble up creeks, and in the bush.

One of our favourite rambles is up the pipeline. The pipeline is our v/ater supply, which comes from a creek up Mount Barron. When we come to the turning we scramble into the bush, where many dainty ferns fronds block the way.

busy bees obtain the sweet rata honey. On one shingle slide there is a yellow rata tree which is the only one in Otira. From January until March the hills arc just a scarlet mass. The ribbonwood shows in white clusters among the dark green foliage. The other most important trees are the totara, miro, celery pine, putaputaweta, horopito, fuchsia, matai. lancewood, coprosma, and veronica, although there are many other kinds, some of which I do not yet know by name. We have not a large number of native birds here, perhaps because it is too cold.

Sometimes we see a beautiful green parrokeet. but these arc very scarce. The whirr of the pigeon can be heard as it sweeps from tree to tree looking for berries. The most common birds are the waxeye, bellbird, and the bush robin. At school we have a box of bread for them on cold days. —SHIRLEY KENNEDY (aged 12).

In the spring there are beautiful clusters of starry clematis. No kowhai grows here, but further down the line the yellow kowhai blossom is already showing among the green foliage. Our most beautiful native tree is the flaming rata, from which the