Along the Track

Forest and Bird, Issue 106, 1 November 1952, Page 8

Along the Track

Nelson.— might be interested in an old kowhai tree I have, one branch of which has in the last 3 years bloomed early in June. The tuis nearby go mad when they see these yellow blooms so early, bellbirds too. When they have finished pulling the flowers to bits, they return thankfully to their syrup bottles, which I always keep filled on bushes near the veranda. I had a pair of riflemen not long ago, and always lots of whiteeyes, who squeak with annoyance when tuis have drunk below the depth of their small beaks. —Mrs. D. Wiggins.

AUCKLAND.— Three years ago I realised a dream of possessing some native bush — two acres with some of the largest manuka I have ever seen, one more than a yard wide in the trunk, with many native birds. Enormous

tree ferns of several varieties, three very similar to the Norfolk Island one but much larger and more of a weeping variety, glow worms etc.

The City Council wanted to put the sewer through the bed of the little stream almost dry in summer- — by devious ways we managed to have the plan altered. Then they couldn’t get a tender. In the end two Maoris did the work and I implored them to spare the tree ferns. When I went to see how they were getting on, expecting devastation, I found that they had tunnelled under tree ferns in the way of the ditch and after the job was finished not one fern died and already except for two inspection traps all is as it was. I often think of those two gracious men with gratitude in my heart. — Mrs. S. Muir.