Notes from Branches

Forest and Bird, Issue 173, 1 August 1969, Page 17

Notes from Branches

TARANAKI BRANCH The Taranaki Branch evening activities in the last year have been most successful, with excellent attendances. Two field trips were made to Dawson Falls, on the southern side of Mt. Egmont, and to Bushy Park. The latter trip was described by Dr G. M. Moir as follows : During the last weekend in February a small party from the branch visited Bushy Park Reserve, owned by the Society. After a picnic lunch at the homestead on Saturday, the party enjoyed walks through the forest reserve, where there was a great variety of trees, shrubs, and ferns. Among the few birds seen on this occasion were pigeons, tuis, kingfishers, and bellbirds. Most of the party walked out to the hilltop north of the forest and were delighted with clear views of the central mountains. They were also impressed with the clearness of mountain peaks west of Nelson to the south. It was certainly a weekend of notably clear views. The central mountains were first seen from the main road before Inglewood as well as from many points on the way south. Mt. Egmont was, of course, visible at the same time’, and could also be seen from Kai Iwi. On Sunday morning the party went on to Wanganui and walked round Virginia Lake, where there was a variety of aquatic birds. Some of the party stayed a couple of nights at Ohakune. On Monday they made a brief visit to

the Society’s lodge near the Chateau Tongariro. Closer views were obtained of the central mountains, especially Ngauruhoe, with its plume of steam. From many high points along the road Mt. Egmont was also clearly visible, with more snow on its southern slopes than on the western face of Mt. Ruapehu. AUCKLAND BRANCH The Auckland Branch’s field day on 22 March was held in the Waiuku district. Under the leadership of Mr N. Douglas members visited Jones’s Bush at Waipipi, an unusual feature of which was the profusion of king ferns (Marattia flaxinea) growing naturally in the vicinity of the creek. As far as we know this is only the second area where they occur in such large numbers, the other being Mr Mitchell’s bush at Bombay. A gully beside a stream and waterfall on Mr W. M. A. Stewart’s farm nearby, which we visited, has been almost entirely planted in bush by Mrs Stewart and the result is a real beauty spot, which proves what can be done in regeneration. After lunch on the lawns in the gardens of the Stewart homestead, we went to Mr Douglas’s farm, where we saw a very fine private museum of wide interest, the exhibits being well displayed and expertly classified.

—H. E. Read