DR. HILL’S ADMIRATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 August 1928, Page 12

DR. HILL’S ADMIRATION.

DOMINION’S WEALTH OF FLORA. EXCITES BRITISH BOTANIST’S ENVY. Dr. A. \Y. Hill, Director of the R oyal PoLanieail Garden? at Ivew, gave an address r'eceiit'.y' to the Fellows of tbi Royal Horticultural Society in Vincent Square. He was announced nis speaking on botanical gardens in general, but- lie riveted hie time to describing his experiences in Australia and New Zealand, and. indeed, devoted the major oa-tkin of his address., to Now Zealand botanical gardens, which appear to have thoroughly won his admiration. In describing Australian gardens, lie devoted his greatest attention to Tasmania and the. flora of it® mountains, ' •which is. in hi® opinion, a. most interesting one. and eflmiOar an many features to that of Now Zealand. He sad it was hoped that someone in New Zeaand. wou,d be able to visit that Australian State and study .it? flora, which is ebaracteriifud by the large number of vh i-d> • it possesses growing wild similar to those growing in New Zealand. D . Hill referred to the Botanical i Garden? of Dunedin, Chrietohurch, Wel- ! burton and Palmerston North, and laid | particular stress cn the importance of the reserves for native (plants which bad b *?.n established in connection with the uia o'tio-i. It was, lie .said, a very im3. Vt i.nt thing for New Zealanders to realise their great value, and it was of /.rent value, and it was of great interest to note that they have taken steps ro pi eeierv? such places as the R-i<xiar-con Bush. Christchurch, and Wilton’s Bush:. Wellington. He aliso drew at- .' cent i‘ii to the.interest of Wait ah a Hills Reserve, near Westport, that at Mount Egmont. and other paces. He showed fine series of slide® depicting Dunedin Botanical Gardens and P ukekura. Park, New Plymouth, ’.and exceptionally fine ones of' Alpine vegetation growing in Arthur’s- Pass and Ut-iira Gorge, which -hind been made from photographs very kindly amt the lectnrrc by" Dr. Oliver Wejfington Museum. Dr. Hill also- showed line- slides of the Franz Josef glacier and mountain® of that region as well a® various pictures of the mountain region of the Wpi-t Coast of the South Island, and drew attention to the remarkable fact that the high mountain plants there are almost without exception white flowers —a. ie.mnlkable' phenomenon m striking contrast to the mountain flora •of the Swiss Alps. in conclusion, Dr. Hit' showed photographs. of the very remarkable flower show held in his honour by the New Zealand Horticultural. Society, where a fine display of New Zealand Alpine vegetation had been got together. He expressed the hope that the account of the flower show, together with the pictures, will be sent over to England far •>jblicatlon, as the flower® got together on that occasion won cl have excited the envy and admiration of every hortiohll l ist in Great Britain. i

Dr. Hi'll referred to> the valuable work being done in New Zealand botany by ) . C-ckavne and those associated with him. and expressed liis very great ..pprec-iation of the kindness -he .recoil ed ti-om Dr. Cockayne, Mr Phillips Tor nor and many other® during the tour of the Dominion.