NATURALISTS FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 22252, 1 February 1936, Page 13

NATURALISTS FIELD CLUB

A party of 23 members of the Dunedin Naturalists’ Field Club found Stewart Island an ideal place for a holiday. The bush and beach, the insects and birds, and the geology of the island—all were studied with interest. As well as short trips from Half-moon Bay, three all-day excursions were made. One day was spent up the mountain Rakeahua, at tho head of Paterson Inlet, and from here a wonderful panoramic view of Stewart Island was obtained. The launch trip up the placid waters of the inlet in the early morning will not bo soon forgotten. The vegetation was interesting, but the birds (Were not so numerous as at Ulva. Hero a day was spent, and in tho virgin forest of, the island the native birds were plentiful. Wekas especially were very tame, and showed little fear when disturbed on their beautiful island homo. Tbn members of the party spent two nights at Mason Bay, on the west coast of Stewart Island. Here there is a great stretch of sand, with treasures for the keen sighted. Beautiful shells, ambergris, pumice, marine pitch, and fragments from old wrecks were all found on Mason Bay beach. Photographs were taken and sketches were made, which will servo as a reminder of tho glorious views and colouring of fern-clad gullies, shell-strewn beaches, and glowing sunset skies of Stewart Island.