NEW SPECIMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20202, 12 January 1934, Page 10

NEW SPECIMEN.

Interesting Find on West Coast Range. During the New Year holidays an interesting botanical specimen was found on the Glasgow range by Mr J. A. M’Pherson, curator of the Botanic Gardens. The discovery was made during a visit that Mr M’Pherson made to Mount Rochfort and the Glasgow range for the purpose of collecting specimens for propagation in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and grasses for Dr Allen, of the Palmerston North Research Station, who is at present engaged in working on the various aspects of New Zealand grasses. A number of specimens were -found and sent back to Christchurch. The new discovery is of the specimen Senecio, but at the present time Mr M’Pherson is not in a position to say just what it is. However, he does not think that it has been classified and hopes to find out more about it. It was plentiful on the range. The damage done by the Murchison earthquake, as viewed from the top of the. Glasgow range, which is about 4800 ft, amazed Mr M’Pherson. Looking in the direction of Tadmore, the hills had had their western sides taken off as far as the eye could see and in parts along the main ridges of Mount Glasgow the razor-backs had been split in two. A visit was also paid to the Brighton Caves, and, though he found the track to the caves disappointing, they were well worth visiting. They were in limestone country and were about one and a half hours’ easv walking distance from the main highway between Westport and Greymouth. The stalactites and stalagmites were fine, but there were no glow worms. Tf the track were properly formed. Mr M’Pherson is of the opinion that visitors would* be numerous.