WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 260, 16 October 1933, Page 9

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

HAVELOCK NORTH GROUP. ADDRESS ON BIRD LIFE. The Havelock North Women’s Institute held its annual evening meeting on Wednesday last. The hull was comfortably full, and the audience included a gratifying number of mehfolk. In the absence of Mrs ChapmanTaylor, the chair was occupied by Mrs Bridgman (vice-president), who welcomed the visitors cordially, after the Institute song had been sung. The chief item of the programme was a lecture on “Birds and Bird Lite” by Mr Johannes Andersen—and what a delight that lecture was! Bird songs and calls, mating and feeding habits, the construction of different forms of nests, including double nests, migration—all these were discussed, with countless stories and incidents, keeping the audience spellbound. Mr Andersen made an earnest plea for the planting of native shrubs and trees, especially those bearing nuts er berries. “By this means,” he said, “we should get more of our New Zealand birds round us again. We have beautiful trees and we have beautiful birds here in New Zealand, such as ale found in no other country in the world; surely it is worth while trying to preserve our own beautiful things f” The whole address was listened to with rapt attention, and at its close many questions were asked concerning -weka, nightingale, rifleman blackbird, pipit, thrush, sparrow, fantail, waxeye, robin and so on —and every question was answered fully and unhesitatingly. Mr Andersen is indeed an authority, and one member voiced Uie feelings of all when she remarked, with a sigh of satisfaction: ‘‘How lucky we are to have the chance of hearing him I” \ delicious and bountiful supper was served, after which came an item by the Glee (,'ltib and a short community sing conducted by Mr de Castro mid Mr laird. Many parcels for the Children's Home wore handed in, and the evening closed with tbo National Anthem.