NOTES FROM THE BRANCHES

Forest and Bird, Issue 153, 1 August 1964, Page 17

NOTES FROM THE BRANCHES

HASTINGS-HAVELOCK NORTH

It has been a full and interesting year for our section. Eight public meetings were held, giving members and the general public a wide variation of subjects: Two recent bird arrivals in Hawke’s Bay, speaker Mr. N. MacKenzie; The welcome swallow and the black-fronted dotterill; “Tale of the Wood”, an outstanding film on wild life in Russia, commentary in English, film shown by Mr. I. Joll; Macquarie Island, Dr. R. A. Falla of Wellington; outstanding film evening presented by Mr. M. F. Leete, his slides being titled “Westward Ho”, “Toilers of the Hive” and “Natural History Slides”; Movie films and commentary “N.Z. Birds”, speaker Mr. G. Moon; Waikaremoana, by Mr. A. Purchas and Mr. R. Chaplin; Maori history and artefacts, by Mr. H. Eric Phillips; “Nature photography just for fun”, unique slides by an American, Scott, projectionist was Mr. M. F. Leete.

Six field days were held throughout the year, comprising visits to bush areas and reserves, coastal lagoons, the seashore, and Cape Kidnappers. In addition, a field day for junior members was held, and a visit to Waikaremoana was arranged. The building of Lowry Lodge at Blowhard Bush was completed in record time and many working bees were organised.

TARANAKI

At the annual general meeting of the Taranaki Branch Mr. V. C. Davies described his visit during the summer to Stewart Island and addressed some of his remarks to the children, but the information given was of interest to all present, covering as it did some of the history and geography and climate of the island, alpine plants to sea level, semi-tropical plants grown, and garden plants which have gone wild. Birds mentioned were the pigeons, tuis, oystercatchers, pukekos, paradise duck, orange-wattled crows, and mutton birds, also penguins and seals. Beautiful colour slides of

Stewart Island were shown and then Mr. Davies told about a botanising trip to the West Coast of the South Island, which he described as a bushman’s paradise. He mentioned garden plants which have gone wild and the devastation of the rata forest by the opossum. Mr. Davies described the interesting and rare plants found and presented three plants to Miss Small for Pukekura Park, namely Pittosporum crassicule, Dacrydium biforme and laxifolium. He concluded with colour slides taken on the trip.