NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19136, 2 April 1924, Page 4

NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB.

o A meeting of the Dunedin Naturalists' *Fieid Club waa Ileld on Monday . at Mr Ansconibe's board room, tho president (Mies Dalrympk') in the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The feature of the evening waa a lecture by Mr Wra. Martin on a recent trip to the Chatham Islands. He prefaced his remarks by stating that the vegetation of the nortn portion of the mainland waa somewhat different from that of the southern part. For instance, theawamp aster of the north hardly reached the south, coast, and the aster of the south did not leave the southern tableland. His party were singularly fortunate as regarde the swamp lands, *in as much as the weather had been dry, and they were able to pass over country that would not have been available in damp weather. The. mainland consisted of peaty and sandy soils, each with characteristic vegetation. There were "14 trees, probably more, 1 the same as in New Zealand. The chief trees were the ropi, akeake, lancewood, kowhai, and ribbonwood. One sample of ribbonwood there, was of the same variety aa a small grove at Pelorus Sound, and single samples had been found near the Dunedin Gardens, at Lyttelton, and near Invercargill. The umbrella fern and bracken were found everywhere,," the latter having increased greatly during the last 10 years, since the introduction of cattle. The northern portion of the mainland waa at one tinio almoßt entirely : given over to flax, which was not of such a firm fibro aa the »ie\7 Zealand plant. Now it had almost entirely disappeared, sedges and grasses having taken its place. The latter gave a certain amount of nourishment, but died out when lire passed over the land. The swamp aster (of which Mr Martin showed samples) was a very interesting and beautiful plant, being covered with, bine flowers. In the drier portion of the mainland there were several heaths (atygThelias), which, when covered with berries, were a most attractive sight. A pecularity of one species was that it was found in Australia, but not in New Zealand, which lay between. His party had secured over a dozen new plants, mostly rushes and orchids, and one of the latter was very uncommon. Mr Martin showed a number of Very interesting photographs of plant life and features of the island. Amonst thorn were views of Moriori burying-places on the seashore. He also showed a sample of a lower jaw, which was massive and carrying a full set of sound teeth. The natives bury their dead sitting, with their knees drawn up, and their arms bent at the elbows, the hands being up near the skull. Bird life was not extensive, but. tuia and wild pigeons were very common. At the close of the lecture Mr Martin, who answered a number of questions, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Nine now members were elected, and the president appealed to the members to assist in collecting specimens so as to form a complete herbarium for Dunedin, and a committee waa set up to formulate- a scheme for the proper carrying out of the project.