Quarterly Newsletter

Forest and Bird, Issue 88, 1 May 1948, Page 10

Quarterly Newsletter

Riccarton Bush— This bush was 'given to Christchurch by the Deans family in 1914 and recently was increased by the purchase of adjoining land. When the Bill authorising this was before Parliament, Hon. M. Connelly, one of our Executive, was foremost in combating in the Legislative Council a clause which gave authority to plant exotic trees in the original bush, which is of native trees. There is no space here to give the full story of the debate, nor to describe how the word “trees” was inserted in the clause owing to a law draughtsman considering that a rose bush, if left alone, would eventually become almost a tree — those who have access thereto will find it all in numbers 19 to 24 of Hansard—but a compromise was eventually reached whereby it was laid down that exotic trees may be planted in the original bush not more than half a chain in from the boundary for the purpose of providing protection to the native trees. Mr. Connelly, in the Legislative Council, was supported by the Hon. T. Bloodworth and the Hon. W. Grounds, both Endowment members of the Society, as well as other members.

Bird Protection on Otago Peninsula.— ln recent years many complaints have reached the Society, and been made in the Press and elsewhere, as regards the destruction by a few irresponsibles of albatross, penguins and other seabirds and their nests and eggs in the sanctuaries around the Otago Peninsula. The local population as a whole are enthusiastically keen to see these sanctuaries, and especially the albatross sanctuary at Taiaroa Head, protected, but these vandals, a tiny fraction of the population, have so far in the indulgence of their destructive propensities been able to retard their development. Residents of Otago and bird lovers throughout New Zealand will be glad to hear that the Internal Affairs Department have taken action and have appointed . a part-time warden for the district, Mr. J. C. Aitken, with an honorary ranger, Mr. D. Reid, to assist him. Mr. Aitken will co-operate with Mr. L. E. Richdale, the ornithologist, who is well known as the chief enthusiast in developing these sanctuaries. Great support has been received from the Otago Harbour Board, who have been giving help in providing fencing, etc., while the Director of Parks and Reserves, Dunedin City Council, hopes to be able to assist in the provision of suitable plants and shrubs for planting where necessary. . The signalmen at Taiaroa Head are also enthusiastic in doing what they can to guard the albatross. We hope that the Otago Peninsula sanctuaries, which in the past have suffered so severely from ruthless destruction will now be enabled to flourish.

Federated Farmers and Waipoua Forest.— a meeting of the Dominion Council of the Federated Farmers of N.Z. (Inc.) the following resolution

was carried “That this Council supports the Forest and Bird Protection Society in its efforts to preserve the Waipoua Kauri Forest and make it a National Reserve.” We have forwarded a copy of this resolution to the quarters where it will be most effective.

Auckland Section. During the Christmas holidays this section in conjunction with , the Y.M.C.A. ran an essay competition through the “Auckland Star” for children. There were three age groups, and each age group had a choice of two or three subjects to write on, all subjects being connected with birds or forests. The section is to be congratulated on this effort ; the winning essays were of a high standard. Particular thanks go to ~ Mr. D. M. Robinson, a member of the committee of the Auckland section, for his generosity in donating the prizes. The prize winners were Group 1 (age 5 to 9), Elizabeth Mant; Group 2 (age 10 to 13), Gloria Whalley, and Group 3 (age 14 to 16), Nancy Barker. ■

Christchurch Section.— This section has arranged for four meetings this season. The first one was held on April 21, the speaker being Mr. McCaskill, who gave a talk on “The Practical Value of Birds.” We have gone to press too early to hear an account of the meeting. Other meetings will be on June 16, August 18 and October 20.

Thanks.— The thanks of the Society are due to Mr. Gordon V. Gow, of Walton, who in an honorary capacity and on his own initiative, has enrolled 84 new members for the Society since July, 1947, 48 of them endowment members and one of them a life member. We feel that such an outstanding effort should not go unacknowledged. Unfortunately, as he lives in a country district and uses his car extensively on this voluntary work, the petrol rationing may seriously affect his activities.

The Compost Society.— lt is gratifying to observe at the foot of a letter written to “Compost” by Mrs. Moncrieff, a Vice-President of this Society, an editorial note which reads as follows :—“We take this opportunity of drawing to the attention of our readers the excellent work that is done by the Forest and Bird Protection Society. Every member of the Compost Society should subscribe to this organisation as a matter, not only of interest and enlightenment, but also of public duty.” We wish to reciprocate the sentiments expressed and hope those of our members who do not already belong will join up with the Compost Society, which is doing very valuable work especially in its advocacy of municipal composting.

Annual Meeting. Although this was held on 27th April we had to go to press before then, and therefore we cannot report it in this Newsletter.