NATURE’S FLOWER GARDEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 15

NATURE’S FLOWER GARDEN.

Dr Recent Visitor.

THE ROUTEBUUN AND LAKE HARRIS REGIONS. 11. Written for the Otago Daily Times ,

A beautiful view is afforded from tho river flat on wbb the Government huts are built at the Ro.itcburn crossing, tho right branch of the stream coming from far up the valley and the left falling through a gap in the hills in a magnificent cascade to join and for a time wander seemingly at will, over tho pasture land, dividing and forming pools and backwaters till, the bush land reached, they go roaring and splashing down a thousand falls and over countering rocks. Through such scenery we set out in the early morning, taking the track through the beech forest up to the gap, from whence our waterfall rushes, end entered at once into tile (lower garden of the Upper Routeburn. To the ordinary reader tho names of the plants to be seen along the track all the way to the saddle at Lake Harris would he uninteresting, but as plant-col-lecting was our objective a list of the most important of these will he given at the end of these notes. The flowering season was past, but celrnesias, helichysums, ranunculi, beautiful red-berried coprosinas. gentians, scnccios. etc., were on all sides, and, between us and the river mosses, were cushion plants and swampy growth ot all kinds. On either hand the hills towered austere and rugged with scarred faces scant of vegetation, with shingle slopes creeping down to spread over gullies and gorges which the storms of centuries have torn in their flanks, and with, above nil, serrated angry spurs that cuts into the skyline. As wo reached the saddle, Lake Harris suddenly appeared, glistening in the sun. and green to tho edge. Again, on our turning to the left, the Hollyford Valley with its snovvclad peaks burst into view. From Ocean I’eak the Hollyford can be followed winding below; Lake Howden’s sunlit wafers are to the left amidst, the hills, and Lake .M’Kcrrow and Martin’s Bay in the distance down the valley. Mount f’litoko raises her head high above her sister peaks, and on every hand we see peak on jagged peak, broken rock, and snowfiold, naked shingle and beech forest, all gigantic and supreme. If this be Fiordland what must Mount Everest be? and how can even the most elated mountaineer compare Tuloko. 9200 ft with 29,C00ft, of the giant of the Himalayas? We spent three flays in this upper valley and about tho saddle, searching the gullies and clambering round the spurs and peaks, returning each night to camp, heavily laden, and with pleasant recollections of our scrambles in out-of-the-way sports. One thing struck us very forcibly, and that was (ho almost entire absence of bird life from Kinlooh to the saddle. We noticed a few creepers and a kaka. A bcllbird and several parakeels were heard on one occasion, but, beyond these no bird life showed, and the silences were broken only by the murmurs of the river or by tho rustling of tho wind in the trees. On the flat land below the bush paradise ducks crakod and konked, and here and there a few immigrants in the shape of goldfinches were seen. At Kinloch we had seen grey and paradise ducks in the lagoons, a few native pigeons perching amongst the willows, and a tamo paradise duck following Mrs Bryant into tho kitchen. The high country was, of course, kca country, and wo had many visits from these curious birds, the first indication of their presence being the cry of “ke-a” from bird to bird as they cou d bo seen moving about high up on rocky ledges, usually I hen making a circling flight to approach nearer and nearer and land close by to inquire why man had come up into ihis land of shingle and ravine, .-o long theirs as of right. On several occasions they came quite within reach, dipping their heads down into the holes we made in uprooting plants, scraping out tho earth with their strong beaks and finding roots or pelhaps grubs, cocking their heads in the usual parrot-fashion as if to request* us to dig more holes. Kcas are about 20in long, with ruffled olive-green plumage splashed with red on the under wings and tad, and with black lips to the tail feathers. .Their ■•uriosity knows no bounds, and they would follow us for miles crying “ke-a” whether in flight or while perching on some adlucent' rock to watch our movements. Ihe bright colouring of the under wings shox\s to perfection as they circle noisily about, hut their movements on landing are distinctly clumsy. They are adepts at hoppni;; and we noticed that they particularly enjoyed picking up pieces of turf, hopping a stop and throwing it forward, - only to repeat those movements till the edge of a rock or cliff is reached and the turf falls over Pieces too large to lift they rolled over’ the edge, pushing them with their heads and never apparently content I ill their object was attained and tho new plaything disappeared out of sight. They rest in the crevices of the elms, usually making use of tunnels between large broken rocks to protect their nests. \\ hen tho inaccessibility of tho country, the precipitous faces of the cliffs, and the care taken, to run many foot into still more inaccessible crevices are considered one can understand why the kea. is not often disturbed on tho nest. Owing to his depredations every man’s hand is against him, but in his rocky fastnesses he will not easily be exterminated, and one cannot help being pleased that it is so. . On tho 16th we sot out in the early morning mist to hunt up our pack-horse, and we had quite a busy two hours before 'she could bo located and rounded up, bridled, saddled, ami finally loaded up with ruesaoks, bagr. and bundles containing plants. Arriving at (he crossing, we packed our cases under Air MTntyre's supervision, placed them under the wagon for shelter from tho sun. and set, off once again for the huts to break camp finally and bring hack cur impedimenta. As it had been arranged that Harry Bryant should come on the Monday morning to drive us back to Kinlooh, wo loaded “Mavis” early, left a note to remind the next visitor that wet beech makes bad tiring, said our farewells to the routehurn huts, the remainder of the bridge, and the beautiful surroundings. Mr Bryant was waiting as arranged, and nightfall found us at Kinloch and our eases ready and labelled for their journey In Dunedin. Tho next day was not “boat day,” and some of us dreamt of a quiet day at Kinloch. Air MTntyre would not allow this, however, and early morning saw us again on tho move, this time with our steps turned to Bold Peak. Soon we wore up through the beeches lining the lake shore, wending our way by a sheep track through the bracken and upper reaches oi beech forest, to the tussock land above. The flora of this peak is interesting, anj wc noted many plants for collection on our way down. As we had left early we did not hurry, inking many a look back at the beautiful .stretch of lake and river bed and at Glenorchy and the schoolito mines, which resemble rabbit burrows on tho hillsides opposite. As we neared the top mist came over, and by and by a shower of sleet. Unfortunately, therefore, tho view from the summit was obscured, and after we had waited a while we returned, Mr M‘lntyre disappointed at not seeing again the view over die peaks behind. The outlook, however, from the shoulder looking down on the ' Roulebiirn. Dart and Rees Valleys, and Diamond Lake was alone worth the climb, ami in that direction no mist obscured tho prospect. Al this height tracks of deer were seen everywhere, and in many places the ground Had been trampled bare. We spent a busy afternoon collecting and carrying, clambering into odd corners, and gradually walking hack. Mr AlTntyre, seemingly untiring, even after his scramble to the 6900 ft summit, wandered about, searching and digging out with his long knife plants that we found and coveted. Let us hope that at his age wo may be as energetic and as diligent. We wandered back to Kinloch after night had fallen, missing the sheep track through the bracken, and fighting our way through its rough, shoulder-high stalks and over fallen timber. Next morning (Wednesday) we packed our plants from Bold Peak, amlcanght the Atom’. l a ineer for Oueenatown, hut we must not let this opportunity pass without a word of praise for the captain, engineer, mate, and crew both of the Mountaineer and the Earnslnw for their kindness in every way. They assisted ns greatly in the safe transport of our packages, and were all exceedingly obliging and helpful. 'ihe Thursday wo spent in Queenstown visiting Air Kelly at the Domain and engaging in a game of howls, and in the afternoon walking along to the One Aide to gather more specimens. The Friday night saw us home again after a most enjoyable holiday. Appended is a list of plants observed, specimens of most of which we brought back with us;— ALONf! THE nOt'TI'BUHN AXI) TRACK. Senecio claeagnifolius, Aristotelia racemoan, A. frutieosa, A. Cnlensoi. Areheria Travorsii, Psoudopanax lineare, Phylloclniduß animus, dorian runeifolia. U. thymitolia. C. angustissima, Olearia arboresoens, jNothopanax simplex. Nothnfagus ollffortioides, N. fusca, N. Menziesii, Gaya Lyallii. QUEENSTOWN. Carmichaelia cornpacla, Veronica pirnelioidcs, Cyathodes ucerosa.

COMMON TO LAKE HARRIS, SADDLE, AND BOLD PEAK. Uelmosia argentea, C. laricifolia, C. llectori, C. linearis. C sessiliflora. (I. Petriei, C. Coriacea (diverse forms), C. longifolia, C. longifolia. (var. major), C. verhascifolia, C. Poppelwelli, Raoulia Euchanani, R. grandiflora,, Aoiphylla Uolensoi (var. maxims), A. I.yallii, A. Monroi, Ranunculus Buohanam, R. sencophyllus, Senecio Lyallii, S. scorzonoroides, S. revolutus, Veronica linifolia, V. Willcoxi, V. Hcctori, y. macrantha, V. Bnxifolia, Ourisia, caespitosa.. Uoprosma repens, Drucopliyllnni. Menziesii, D. rosmarinifoliurn, D. longifolium, D. prostratum, V ioln (Junninghnmii, V. Lyallii, Lycopodium voluhile, Gentiana bellidifolia, Podocarpus nivalis. Forstera sedifoliu. Carmichaelia grandiflora, Danthonia flavescens, D. Raoulii, D. crassiuscnla. Leucngenes grandicops, Helichrysurn bellidioidcs, Wahlenbergia saxieola, Angelica montana. LAKE HARRIS SADDLE AND VICINITY (Not Noliceil on Bold Peak). Colrnosia glandulosa. C. Haastii, C. Walked, C. Lindsayi. C. ramulosa, C. Armstrongii, Aciphylla congests, Ranunculus I.yalli, R. Matthews!!. R. tonuicaulis, Astciia linearis, A. Petriei, A. Cockayniana, Senecio bellidioides Veronica Lyalli, AL sulmlpma, Ourisia Cockayniana, 0. macrocarpa, O. rnacrophylla, Coprosrna serrulata, C. cuneata, C. pnrviflora, C. rhamnoidos, C. aoerosa (var. brnnnoa), Anisotome aromatic, A. pilifrra. Caltha novac-zelandiac, Pittosporum Colensoi, Dacrydium laxifolium, Pentachondra pumila, Cardamine Ursula Gleichenia alpina, Geranium microphylhun. Azorclla Haastii, Chrysobaclron Hookeri (var. angustifolium), Phyllachne Coiensoi, Pratia angulata, Euphrasia novaeze.landiae, Geum parviflorum, G. uniflorum, Cyathodes pumila. BOLD PEAK (Not Seen on Harris Saddle). Colmesia Lyallii, Senecio cassinioides, Veronica Petriei, V. Bidwilli, V. snbalpina (var. major), V. linifolium, V. dasyphylla, Coprosrna Petriei, Haastia Sinclair!!, Cassinia fulvida. ’Hie previous article appeared in our issue of Juno 3.