TE AWAPUNI INSTITUTE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 268, 27 October 1932, Page 9

TE AWAPUNI INSTITUTE

MONTHLY MEETING. The Te Awapuni Institute held its monthly meeting at Hukarere School, Napier, yesterday afternoon, when the college staff and some 50 pupils augmented a good attendance of members over which Mrs Maurice Chambers presided. Mr Frank Hutchinson, of Kissington, very kindly came in and gave a most interesting lecturette on native trees and plants, prefacing his taik with a story of the last bit of Puketitiri bush. In the course of his remarks he mentioned that New Zealand had the oldest kind of bird in the world—viz,-'the Kiwi, the oldest lizard, the Tuatara; also the oldest sort of centipede. Much interest was taken in the bush snails, about three inches across and rather flat in type. The shells had been highly polished to bring up their markings. Another bush curio, “dead men’s ■fingers” was a parasite growing on roots and difficult to detect. Members saw the specimen, and another exhibit with it looked like a lovely wooden carved flower. This Mr Hutchinson said was a similar growth which had been well boiled. Specimens of plants were shown and most were recognised by the girls and members and their Maori names were discussed. The lovely perfumed clematis and rangiora, totara, Mapou, Mako-mako, Manuka, Kotukutuku. Maori heath and many others. Specimen cards of wool both good and bad samples and their history proved interesting. Miss Corrigan, of Rissington, showed native lichens taken from the bush and from which dye is obtained, and Mrs Hutchinson’s sample exhibit of dyed and carded wool, also spun hanks greatly interested all. A pleasant time was spent with talk and afternoon tea, which was Served in the dining hall, after which the girls entertained with hakas, songs and the fascinating poi dances, and in return “Te Awapuni’ gave songs and spirited hakas. Thanks to Mr Hutchinson for his talk, also to Miss Corrigan and to Miss Hall for inviting the members, were passed, and the singing of the National Anthem concluded an enjoyable evening.—“Eleonore.”