American Deplores Lake Plans

Forest and Bird, Issue 139, 1 February 1961, Page 12

American Deplores Lake Plans

In the opinion of a visiting Californian journalist, Mr. J. F. Williamson, Lake Manapouri has a much greater potential scenically than hydro-electrically. He said that what was about to happen here was a repetition of what had happened some 30 years ago in California, where Lakes Shasta, Mead, and Huntington had their levels raised in the name of progress. Sensitive people regretted what had been done. Lake Shasta, for instance, was now littered with dead tree stumps and gave off a most repulsive smell round the edges. He thought it was a great pity to ruin for eternity the great beauty of Manapouri, especially with nuclear power “just around the corner”.

A display, put on by the branch at the National Daffodil Show held in Wanganui last September, proved to be an outstanding attraction. It was also awarded a Royal Horticulture Society bronze medallion for being the outstanding exhibit at the show. The stand, which took the form of a model of Kapiti Island, depicted many species of native plants, especially such conspicuous flowers as clematis, kowhai, kaka beak, orchids (JEarina), and karo, as well as many species of native birds, these being obtained from the Wanganui Museum. The flowers and birds were labelled with a short description of the birds’ habits and features. A larger placard gave some general information about Kapiti and how it was really the start of the Forest and Bird Protection Society. Other features, such as the early whaling industry and Te Rauparaha’s activities were also depicted and described.

The entire exhibit proved to be an outstanding success, as not only was public interest intense, but many new members were

obtained, a large number of bird albums were sold, and the display received prominent and favourable comment in the local press. Note. — The birds exhibited are of necessity stuffed ones; but readers should know that nowadays the native birds exhibited in museums and similar places are invariably those that have been accidentally killed or are picked up dead. —Ed.