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Forest and Bird, Issue 156, 1 May 1965, Page 4

next ascended, and after the party had followed flats on which ratas became more plentiful, a picnic lunch was eaten at Papatowai, a small bush-girt settlement at the mouth of the tidal Tahakopa River. A heavily overcast sky, however, rather marred the beauty of this delightful spot.

The next three miles were winding and passed through mixed bush over McLennan’s Hill, from the top of which the perfect crescent of white sand framing Tautuku Bay was revealed below. From near the foot of the hill a branch road leads to the beach, where during an hour’s spell Dr. G. P. Fitzgerald, vice-chairman of the branch, in the unavoidable absence of the branch chairman, Dr. A. C. Begg, addressed the visitors, giving a brief outline of the history and acquisition of the reserve (some 10 miles further on) and its purpose and stressing the urgency of the future preservation of bush and bird life so rapidly disappearing. The reserve, Dr. Fitzgerald stated, comprised 1,360 acres of almost completely virgin bush, and was made available by the funds of the late Mrs. Ivy Lenz, of Dunedin, and was a most valuable asset. Dense Secondary Growth Hides Lake After travelling south along the road to Invercargill the party walked some 200 yards along a track through fine mixed bush to Lake Wilkie, about 10 acres in extent and hemmed in by forest. (Though it is included in another reserve, much of this lake is hidden by dense secondary growth. It might be opportune here to suggest that at some advantageous point this obstructing undergrowth should be cut away to allow a complete view of this pretty little sheet of water.)

About 5 miles further on, the northern limit of the Tautuku Reserve was reached, where the Fleming River forms its boundary. It is unfortunate that at this spot much of the once-magnificent forest has been felled, for in the early days there was a •sawmill close by, the timber being taken , out by boat down the adjacent Tautuku River to the sea, a short distance away. As an indication of the number of families living there, a derelict school still stands

above the road, and the large, long-abandoned wooden residence of the mill owner lies further back. However, virgin bush in which magnificent trees still remain extends to the west. To view this some of the party climbed by a somewhat overgrown track up a hill to an observation point which commands sight of a considerable area.

Throughout the trip the lamentable absence of bird life through the depredations of stoats, weasels, and wild cats, and the inroads of man with axe, saw, and fire, was most noticeable. As far as I could ascertain, not one fantail, tomtit, tui, or native pigeon was heard or seen, and on only one occasion did I hear a bellbird. This sad state of destruction brings to nature lovers much concern and the realisation that unless immediate and drastic steps are taken for their preservation, these lovely creatures will soon be extinct.

After a stay for an hour or so at the reserve, the party began the return journey, the visitors having spent an enjoyable and instructive day despite the poor weather for sight-seeing.