NATURE—AND MAN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 101, 9 April 1936, Page 13

NATURE—AND MAN

A Call for ''Kauriiand’ REVIVAL IN NORTHLAND (Edited by Leo Fanning). Folk in that big peninsula known as North Auckland or Northland—-a very distinctive stretch of New Zealand, distinctive in history, in people, in eli- ; mate and in scenery—desire a change of name for their very pleasant land. In an inspired moment a friend sugguested “Kauriland.” Can anybody offer a better title? It would indeed have to be almost superhumanly good to beat “Kauriland,” which would be a perpetual reminder of one of the Dominion’s best scenic assets, despite the sacriligious destruction of stands of forest which had stood for many centuries as “Temples of Nature.” Such a name as “Kauriland” should well servo to put a solid strength of will in the people there to fight successfully against further slaughter of those splendid grandees of the tree world and to strive for a replacement of the slain in suitable areas.

Tho instinct of self-preservation has promoted a vigorous replanting movement in parts of the Northland where the short-sighted clearing of the protective forests on watersheds caused huge losses by flooding and erosion during recent years. “MEN OF THE TREES.” Statements of the Prime Minister and several of his colleagues give them tho right to be regarded as “Men of the Trees.” They have announced a willingness to do their utmost to save necessary native forests and to encourage replanting. The Minister of Internal Affairs (tho Hon. W. E. Parry) has rightly declined to budge from his declaration of a war of extermination against deer, and he is bestirring himself to extend the campaign against deadly enemies of native forests. He has also proclaimed the Government’s eagerness to help New Zealanders to have an unbroken succession of Tree Years, instead of solitary Tree Days (known, officially, as Arbor Days). Here one of the first reforms should be a change in the name of Arbor Day to Tree Day, which makes a direct appeal to old and young. To quote a recent comment of the Forest and Bird Protection Society: “Here is ground on which everybody can support the Government in a policy which would be good for all the people all the time.” HAVOC OF GOATS TN SOUTHERN TARARUAS. A party of deer-stalkers who roamed through much forest on the southern Tararuas recently saw plenty of goats. Their main purpose was deer, but in their stride they shot fourteen goats. Of course, if they had gone for a special hunting of these animals their tally could have been much higher. “A proper clean-up—terns, moss, everything within reach” was the terse summary of the goat mischief spoken by one of the party. “After they have grubbed out the vegetation on the forest floor, the brutes do a certain amount of tree-climbing, wherever they can get a hold for their nimble feet.” Here is another call for well-organised war against pests which threaten the welfare of large areas of farming lands below the watershed of the Tararuas. “THE SINGING GARDEN.” What a heart-warming title, “The Singing Garden,” C. J. Dennis (the well-known author of “The Sentimental Bloke” and other popular books) has chosen for verses about birds. Here is his tribute to the Australian spin ebill honey-eater: — I come in blossom time, Singing days and sunny days, Flitting like a fairy through a nectar-laden land, Flashing o’er the underbrush; Happy days and honey days Hear my cheery calling when the springtime is at hand.

Those lines could apply as well to the tuis and bell-b.irds which chant their thanks so merrily among the honeyed flowers in gardens of some New Zealanders at Wanganui, New Plymouth, Gisborne, Nelson, Akarou, Dunedin and other places. Friends of the brilliant songsters, grow the right trees and shrubs for the birds and they will come to you all right. Mr. Dennis has kindly remembered that sturdy little bird, tho common sparrow, which strongly survives, despite much persecution:— I’m a chirpie little chappie Pertly vulgar, passing vain, Quarrelsome, yet piping, happy, My monotonous refrain. Foraging by shed and stable, Close-camp-follower of man Seeking crumbs from his rich table Impudently where I can. A NEW TURN IN CANTERBURY. Canterbury has long been known as a place wheio county councils and road boards have spent tnousands of pounds in the purchase of eggs and heads of small birds. Well, it is cheering to have news of a change of heart in one part of tho grain-growing country. A bird-lover who lives in that district says that until reently the farmers were enthusiastic protectors of magpies which made their homes in big plantations of pines and firs, from which they drove tho small birds. “Ah, this is cheaper than buying eggs and heads,” tho farmers felt, when they saw the magpies fiercely chasing sparrows and chaffinches. But an end has come to that feeling of gladness. Insects and grubs increased so alarmingly that the worried farmers believe now that the. magpies are rather their enemies than their friends, and they have begun a war against the persecutors of small birds. Here is an interesting note from a member of the Forest and Bird Protection Society who lives in Milton, Otago:— “I am happy to say that last winter a pair of bell-birds made their home in o:ir garden. Ono of them was a splendid musician, and would sing most gloriously in a black matipo, within about a foot of us. Wo kept there a supply of sweetened water lor them. “1 think you will" lie Interested to Lear of an experience we had last autumn. This was hearing a eond.ieted chorus of bell-birds. It was a most surprising and entrancing thing to hoar, i and as far as 1 can find out no om-

else has ever heard it. My sister and I were at our seaside place (about 30 miles south of Dunedin) and everything was very quiet and peaceful, just about midday, when our attention was drawn to something unusual in the bird music in a nearby belt of trees. Keeping very quiet, we watched them, and we were simply spellbound. One very handsome fellow on a branch fairly low down was the conductor. He gave the key note—a full, rounded, beli note —and then the whole company burst into melody, keeping together and all stopping with the utmost precision. The conductor then sounded two peculiar, deep, vibrating notes—full of weird music—swinging his whole body vigorously from side to side as he gave the one note and then the other. Then again the bell note—the chorus—and the two timekeeping notes. This all repeated again and again and always in perfect time.” Mrs. Knox Gilmer, a well-known nature-lover of Wellington, who read that letter, says that she has heard n bell-bird chorus, which gave her the impression that it was led by a conductor, although she was not in a position to see the master musician