NATIVE FLOWERS

Evening Star, Issue 23724, 4 November 1940, Page 6

NATIVE FLOWERS

COMPREHENSIVE BISPLAY OPENED LARGEST OF THE KIND Most extensive display of the kind Dunedin lias yet seen, an exhibition of native flora was opened at the Otago Museum on Saturday afternoon. Over 560 varieties of flowers out of a possible 2,000 were represented, giving an.unparalelled chance for visitors to see the beauties of our native bush. So extensive was the display thafa number of specimens, not in flower at the time, had to bo discarded. A rockery had been erected on the floor of the main hall of the Museum, and on this were growing a number of natives, iucludthe beautiful Chatham Island forget-me-not, largest of its kind in the world. It is hoped to keep the exhibits on display during the coining week. Introduced by Dr H. D. Skinner, Mr M. R. Skipworth opened the show, which was attended by a fair crowd. He praised the effort as one which encouraged people to tako an interest in the natural things surrounding them, thus finding a way of escape from the muddled and rushed life of the modern community. Much of the credit for the arrangement and collection of the specimens must bo credited to Mr Owen Fletcher, who is in charge of the native section of the Botanic Gardens. Visitors found the main hall_ of the Museum undergoing what is virtually a reconstruction. Showcases which have lined the walls for many years have been removed, making room for modern dioramas, wdiich are to bo the now background, indeed the main display. The first diorama in New Zealand was on view for the first time on Saturday afternoon. It is representative of New Zealand’s primary industry, depicting the Corriedalo'sheep against a typical Central Otago background. It was the work of Mr F. G. Peake, wdio is in charge of the zoological portion of the Museum.