Quarterly Newsletter

Forest and Bird, Issue 106, 1 November 1952, Page 13

Quarterly Newsletter

Date.— news in this Newsletter is that received in the office of the Society up to 10th Sept. Christchurch Section. — 28th July the Section combined with the Geographical Society to see a showing of Mr. G. M. Turner’s wonderful films of sea birds on the Fame Islands, off England, and on Stewart Island; a memorable evening to a packed audience in the University . geography lecture hall, with a “House Full” notice outside. Professor McCaskill gave a grave report of the neglected state of Kennedy’s Bush and a deputation was arranged to the City Council. Mr. Combridge of the Royal N.Z. Institute of Horticulture was present to arrange the Section’s participation in Arbor Day Ceremonies. The Secretary of the Society, Mr. R. H. Carter, was also present and gave a short account of the Society’s activities. Auckland Section^ 10th July in the Zoology theatre of Auckland University College, Mr. V. Fisher of the Auckland Museum gave a talk on Maori Nature Lore. This talk, with its accompanying slides, embraced Maori nature legends, their homage to the gods for their wants of food and clothing and their dealing with nature generally and was much appreciated by a good attendance of members. Mr. and Mrs. J. Prickett afterwards gave an exhibition of articles dyed with dyes obtained from native vegetation. The Section held a field day at Bethells Beach on 2nd August, under the leadership of Mr. E. G. Turbott. The main event was observing the spotted shag colony at Ihumoana Point, where nest making was commencing and the birds were in beautiful breeding plumage. Messrs. Prickett and Atkinson brewed the billy tea for lunch, and the party then visited the small lake at the back of the Bethells property. The members were grateful to Mr. Lusk for permission to use his track to the top of the cliffs to see the splendid view of the beach and bays. At the Section’s Annual General Meeting held on 14th August the following officers were elected: Chairman, Professor W. R. McGregor; vice-Chair-man, Mr. R. B. Sibson; Committee, Mrs. J. Prickett, Miss N. Macdonald, and Messrs. H. G. Atkinson, M. G. Fowlds, K. Given, H. C. Martin, W. T. Slater, E. G. Turbott, and R. Watson; Hon. Secretary-Treasurer, Miss F. Gunson. The Section is running a project competition for Junior members the prize for which is a silver Society monogram badge. Gordon V. Gow.— lt is with considerable regret that we announce the resignation, through ill health caused by wounds in World War I, of Mr. Gordon V. Gow as our representative in the “Waikato District”. He has given great service to the Society in attending to business entrusted to him in various parts of his district and never demurred when an assignment was offered him. One of his chief services has been the voluntary entering of new members in which he travelled by car long distances at his own expense; some years ago these ran well into three figures and he has been regularly continuing this service. The Society has lost a very valuable representative and we wish him, a speedy return to health.

Shooting Godwits. When two offenders in a northern court were fined £l5 and £lO respectively for shooting godwits, their, counsel used the discredited argument that if it is good enough for the Russians to slaughter godwits it is good enough here, or as it has been put by defenders of the sport of shooting godwits, if they are slaughtered in the northern countries what, is the use of protecting them in New Zealand. The answer of course is, and it can bear frequent repetition, that if they are exposed to the danger of extermination during their northern migration, they should be all the more protected here where there are strong protection laws, wisely administered. Bridal Veil Falls Reserve. This reserve of 538 acres at Te Mata in Raglan County has been gazetted and the Bridal Veil Falls Scenic Reserve Board set up, as the result of negotiations which have been proceeding for some years. The Raglan County Council has been the prime mover in this and our Society has been supporting the plan throughout. Our Society has the privilege of nominating a member of the Board, which held its first meeting recently, and Mr. R. E. R. Grimmett, our representative in Hamilton is our member. The Board has entrusted him with the task of reporting on the state of the forest in the Reserve and the extent to which introduced animals have damaged it. The Bridal Veil Falls which give their name to the Reserve drop for 250 feet without touching the cliff face. Waikato Winter Show Competition. The winner of the Essay Competition this year was Jacqueline Lette, of Sacred Heart College, St. Johns Hill, Wanganui. Extracts from her essay are published in the Junior Section. The subject was “What is being done in New Zealand in connection with forest and bird preservation”. We congratulate her. Tararua National — The deputation to the Minister envisaged in the article in our last issue took place on 10th September, Messrs. L. Robinson, J. F. Thompson and B. lorns representing the Tararua National Park Project Committee, and the President and Secretary our Society. The Minister gave the deputation a very favourable hearing and said he would have a full investigation made for submission to the National Parks Authority to be set up next year. Proposed National Trust.— A further step as regards this will be taken on 11th September (the day after this goes to press) when a big meeting called jointly by the Nature Protection Council and Dr. Falla will be held at the Dominion Museum. Membership Drive.— -The response of members to the appeal for names of prospective members was so overwhelming that we had to engage extra staff to cope with it! The results are very satisfactory, as page 16 shows. New entries are coming in daily. There is still a large number of lists, received rather later than those already dealt with, which we have not yet had time to attend to, but the appeals will go out to the persons on these lists as soon as we can find time. Very many thanks to all those members who sent in lists.