Differences In Arthur’s Pass Areas

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 10

Differences In Arthur’s Pass Areas

The botanic, climatic and geological differences between the two parts of the Arthur’s Pass National Park were illustrated by a senior ranger of the park, Mr D. F. Bell, at a meeting of the Canterbury Botanical Society. With the help of slides, Mr Bell showed how the main divide of the Southern Alps splits the park into two separate areas. On the eastern side the dry climate and large areas of shingle, created by glacial action, supports mainly beech forest, whereas the wetter climate and deep river system of the western part of the park assists the development of podocarp forest. Mr Bell said that tf.e main enemies of the preservation of the park were opossums, deer and thar. Stoats and weasels were responsible for the death of many ground birds, he said, and in reply to a question said that these animals might have taken a toll of the wekas recently introduced to the park from the Chatham Islands. Noxious weeds such as foxglove and sweet briar also made it difficult to maintain the natural vegetation of the park, he said. The ways in which park facilities, such as bridges on nature walks and a series of bivouacs throughout the park, were making it possible for many more people to enjoy the things a national park had to offer, while still preserving untouched wilderness areas, were also shown.

The wilderness area was in the eastern part of the park characterised by rain forest, Mr Bell said. There were many parts of the park west of the main divide, however, that were still close enough to their natural state to qualify for wilderness areas. It was impossible to stop domestic grazing animals such as cattle and sheep from en-

tering the park, he said. This was particularly so in the Poulter river area, but these animals were not as yet providing a serious threat to the park’s vegetation. A series of slides on the 10 National parks of New Zealand, showing the facilities and opportunities they afforded the public, together with a prerecorded commentary, were shown before Mr Bell’s address.