NEW SANCTUARY FOR FLORA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16042, 1 February 1923, Page 8

NEW SANCTUARY FOR FLORA

SITE NEAR HUNTERVILLE. VALUABLE FOREST SPECTDIENS. Sir Thomas Dlaekenzie is a. trustee, with Dlessrs Jt\ F. Hockly, DI.P., and A. Simpson) of the estate of the late Dir Robert Bruce, who, was a member of the House of Representatives, and one of the most devoted lovers of nature in this country. He. bequeathed his estate at Ngnruru, on the Turakina river, to be used for tJ je preservation of the natural beauty of New Zealand. Sir Thomas Dlaekenzie, who is visiting Christchurch, stated that the trustees, in accordance with Dir. Bruce’s wishes, have bought, for the purpose of creating a sanctuary, 53 acres of native forest at Silverhope, about two miles from Hunterville. The plants on the area represent many sections of New Zealand’s flora, and include splendid totaras, white pipes, red, pines, black pines, and other forest giants. The transaction has a personal interest to Sir Thomas Dlaekenzie. Years ago, when the Pnrikaretu Block was bought from the .Maori owners, he was a member of the first party of surveyors sent into it. His work was to go ahead and fix the sites of camps, and one of tho first sites he selected was the site on which Hunterville now stands, close ] to the new sanctuary. | The sanctuary will be officially opened in March. Sir Thomas Dlaekenzie, as soon as Parliament meets, intends lo con- j suit other members as to the establish.nient of a, bird protection society in which he is deeply interested. j