NEW ZEALAND FLORA

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1928, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND FLORA

HOR 'l' 1 CULT UUAL SOCIETY LECTURE. LONDON, August 27. Dr. A. W. Hill (director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kcw) lectured before the Royal Horticultural Society last week, and gave some interesting facts about New Zealand flora. Dr A. B. Rendie (keeper of the Botanical Department, British Museum) occupied the chair. During his rapid but exhaustive tour of the Dominion, Dr Hill took a large number of photographs and many ol these were shown as slides.

In introducing his subject, the lecturer spoke on the lines ol an interview forwarded in a recent mail letter. He went on to speak of and illustrate the native timber trees and smaller plants. Referring to an excellent view of Mount Egmont, he said this peak was as beautiful as the more famous Fuji Yama, of Japan. On its slopes was a forest wet and damp like a typical tropical forest. Indeed, there was very little difference in a general aspect of the New Zealand forest and that he saw afterwards in tropical Java. Other slides illustrated the filmy ferns of Rangitoto, the rata, the mistletoe, and the kauri pine forests, and again, as a botanist, he rather deplored the failure to replant tho slowgrowing native trees. Evidently, Dr Hill’s tour through Arthur’s Pass and to the glaciers on the West Coast lias left a deep impression on his mind. He was very enthusiastic about the white mountain flowers, and his photographs gave his audience a good idea of the scenes. Ho advised ids audience to make the journey to New Zealand. It was well (h while, lie said, to go and spend a holiday in that part of the world Dr. Hill concluded his lecture b.v expressing his gratitude to all those m the Dominion who had arranged Ins tour, and had been of help to him while lie was in the- country.