MISS SPENCER AT THE WOMEN’S CLUB.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 176, 11 July 1927, Page 9

MISS SPENCER AT THE WOMEN’S CLUB.

TRIP ON THE TUTANEKAI. A very interested gathering of members attended Miss Spencer’s travel talk on Thursday at the Women’s Club Literary Circle. Miss Spencer recounted her explorative trip on the Government steamer Tutanekai. The Snares Islands were the first visited, which were surrounded by rocks covered with bull-kelp—a heavy, tree-like seaweed. Sea lions were here, and the passengers almost fell over them as the lions lay sleeping in the slimy tracks they had made for themselves in the foliage. Here, too, were seen the charming little coal-black Snares’ Robins, and the rare hazelbrown Fern bird.

A rough trip took them to the main Auckland Island—a most interesting spot. All were impressed by the beautiful scenery, very bright in colour, and there were seen dense low forests of vivid rata and koromiko almost impenetrable. A huge mother sea lion was seen with her pup. The mother was amiable to the strangers, but the young one barked viciously. Later tw r o baby seals were noticed disporting themselves in the sea, who, on perceiving the passengers, came ashore and played about like two sportive puppies at their feet. Later Evening Island was visited, the stoney beach with masses of bullkelp being first sighted. Here, the rare flightless ducks were seen, a brown bird, with olive green colouring on the wings. At Ocean Island big shags were seen, and a rare penguin with pale yellow eyes, and feathers near the eyes also of yellow. With it were its young.

A large collection of sea lions was also here, seen in a mass. But later the mother sea lions weer in a group Bleeping peacefully with their young, while in a circle round them were the bulls on guard—a most interesting sight. At Erebus Hole a pathetic graveyard was seen. Miss Spencer handed round photographs of this spot, and told a story of the ship “Dundonald being wrecked in 1907. The 14 survivors landed on Disappointment Island. Here they lived for weeks on roots and sea birds, and after months of privation and attempts to reach the mainland succeeded, and were finally rescued by the Hinemoa, with the exception oi the mate and a few sailors, who died from exposure. A graphic account was given of their tearing up tussocks for shelter, of their making pieces of koromiko wood into boats, covered by bits of the one sail they had salvaged from the wrecked ship. Only the resource of their leader (Knudsen) saved them from death by starvation. On Bounty Island the rocks were so slippery with the tread of countless penguins through the passing years, that shoes had to be abandoned, and even thru there were many slips on the polished stones.

The smell was oppressive from the sea birds, and the noise the birds made was so great that one had to positively yell to be heard above the din. There was not a vestige of green plant on this island, penguins were all over its 200 acres. It was about 300 feet in height. The birds were fascinating to watch as they went up and down from the hills to the sea in endless procession-. In the sea they washed and swam, and then flew in startling feathered volleys eu masse to shore, while other birds took.their place in the Sea. Those coming out looked clean and shiny, but those going in were very dirty from their perignations on the hills above.

The wandtring albatross was seen, also green paroqueets, and the Nelly birl—renowned by sailors for its evil smelling feathers and eggs. Miss Spencer handed round to members some pawa shells. These had been pulled off the rocks by sea lions, the contents being eaten, and the shells returned as indigestible—which accounted for their polish. At the Hanfield Inlet a glance was obtained of the very rare Murganza duck. At Fairchild’s harbour there was a beautiful garden called after a captain of that name. Here, too, were quantities of sea lions. The Campbell Islands were so swept by salt winds that there was no forest. Here the approach was very picturesque. The sooty albatross on the nest with its young was seen.

At the Antipodes Island there were different kinds of penguins; some had red eyes and others yellow. The rocks were very much polished by their feet. At the Campbell Island a woman’s grave was seen, which, tradition says, is that of a Scottish princess who died there years ago in exile, during the reign of the Stuarts. A bush of heather grows there, and a mysterious white pebble path is soid by rumour to have been collected, stone by stone, by the solitary princess, to avert insanity through her loneliness. Here, too, was seen the Royal Albatross nesting. It is a depressing spot, bleak and desolate, though a few shepherds run some thousands of sheep, and eke out a living by precarious methods. The sheep spoil the country botanically, much to the regret of visiting scientists.

Questions were asked Miss Spencer throughout her address, and discussion ended the afternoon. Mrs Lloyd thanked the visitor for her exceptionally interesting talk, hearty applause seconding her little speech.