THE FIRST GORSE GROWN AT KAITAIA

Northern Advocate, 20 March 1934, Page 5

THE FIRST GORSE GROWN AT KAITAIA

When the Jate Mr C. M. Musters (irst arrived in Kaitaia, seventy-four years ago, tliere were only three gorso bushes growing in , the 'district. These wore in the Pev. Joseph Matthews’ flower garden, and were manured and tended with great care, probably to a large extent from sentimental reasons, as 'they reminded (ho mission folk of Old England. Mr Masters urged the missionaries to have them destroyed, pointing out that although they had only throe or four months’ growth in the climate of Britain they would have nine months’ growth in New Zealand. The first seed was given to Mr Puckey, and Dr. Trimnell, who was then living at Grassmere, Pnkopoto, afterwards secured a few seeds which ho carried out carefully tied up in the corner of his silk handkerchief. The late Mr Masters and the doc-

tor rode out. from Kaitaia Avith the precious seed, the former continuously urging its destruction, but without avail. Mr Shannon, avlio AA’as then Ha ting on the farm at the Wainui Junction, also secured a feAv of the seeds. The results are to be seen throughout the district today, where amongst the ungodly it is known as “Missionary Clover,” and Avho do not look upon it ■with those feelings of sentiment, generated in the breasts. of the Missionaries, who were strangers in a strange land.