FOREST GIANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22018, 26 January 1935, Page 12

FOREST GIANTS

CLIMBING EXHIBITION KEEN ROYAL INTEREST PRINCE TAKES PHOTOGRAPHS MORE EXPEDITIONS TO-DAY [Br TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] OFONONI, Friday The success of Prince Henry's visit ■to the bush camp was fully matched by his tour of the Waipoua State Forest this afternoon. It was a perfect afternoon for the visit and the Duke's enthusiasm for the glorious scenery was shown to the full when he stopped his car on the bridge over the Waipoua Stream and took moving and still pictures. It is doubtful whether at any other time during the tour his photographic outfit has been in such constant use.

Another thrill came when the party halted in a forest glade to witness an exhibition of tree-climbing by m'en whoso livelihood it is to search the forks of the giant kauris for gum. There were three of them, two Maoris and a European, and with their spiked boots and climbing axes they moved in unison up the trunk of a kauri whoso lowest branches were 37ft. above the ground. Remarkable Exhibitions The men worked their way up to the leafy crest, searching for gum and coues to bring back as mementos for the Royal visitor, before swinging themselves down to tho ground in their bosun's chairs. The movements of the men climbing almost as one provided a memorable picture. One of the treo climbers later gave an exhibition of the earlier method employed. With xriarvellous accuracy of aim he threw a weighted rope over a branch and then swarmed up it with apparently only a loop for foothold. The Duke talked animatedly with Mr. Courtney Biggs, of the Forestry Department, and at his request one of the Maoris equipped with climbing irons, scaled another fine tree, situated so that His Royal Highness had a better light for the cinematograph recording of the feat. Bay Ends with Swim Later another short stop was made in the forest to enable the Duke to inspect New Zealand's most famous kauri, Tane Mahutu. Then the cars moved off for Opononi, concluding their trip of just on 100 miles shortly before six o'clock. The Duke,' accompanied by Mr. Coates, Captain Schreiber and Captain Tweedie, lost no time in changing and crossing the road from the hotel to the beach for a swim. It was a most enjoyable day, and perhaps the best tribute to the snccess of the outing lies in the fact that further visits to bush camps in the vicinity are included in tho programme for to-morrow. The Duke and his party will also visit other centres of interest in the north before returning to Paihia in the evening and leaving by launch for the cruiser Australia. ■