Society’s Council Meets at Bushy Park

Forest and Bird, Issue 175, 1 February 1970, Page 14

Society’s Council Meets at Bushy Park

THIRTY councillors representing branches and sections from Auckland to Invercargill assembled at Bushy Park during the weekend 14-16 November.

Members stood in silence as a mark of respect for Councillors E. Dear and I. G. Williams, both of whom had died since the previous meeting.

The Executive’s report to Council showed that membership is being maintained and finances are satisfactory.

A subcommittee was set up to consider and report to the Council on the best method of promoting further the work of the Society and obtaining a greater measure of public support for the conservation of New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna and outstanding natural features.

The President reported on the Mining Bill placed before the House of Representatives on the last day of the session. Submissions are to be made to a Select Committee of the House recommending certain improvements and safeguards considered desirable by the Society.

The President reported on the present position concerning the proposal that the levels of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau should be raised. The Council directed that a telegram

of protest be sent to the Prime Minister and decided that if an assurance was not obtained that the levels of Manapouri would not be raised as planned by 27 y 2 ft or even 37 ft, steps were to be taken to organise a Dominionwide petition to Parliament with the object of saving the lakes from mutilation.

Mr and Mrs Briffault (nee Violet Rucroft) were congratulated on their recent wedding.

The meetings began at 8 p.m. on Friday, continued all day Saturday, and ended at 10.15 on Saturday night.

Arrangements to billet and feed councillors and others attending were as usual in the hands of the Wanganui Branch. The Council expressed its appreciation of the excellent arrangements made by the committee under Mr Morrell, its chairman.

For some years the ladies of the committee have devoted much time and work to keeping the lovely Bushy Park residence in first-class order. Mr Pritchard has given great service in caring for the grounds, and Mr McGregor has helped very much in maintaining the buildings.

To all these, as well as Mr McKenzie, now chairman of the Wanganui Branch, the Society is deeply indebted for services so freely given.

Silvereyes a Delight to Watch

WE had very few vereyes around our houses in the Wanaka district last spring. It seems that the devastating frosts of the 1968 winter, the frosts that caused the runholders of the region such labour and such loss and that killed so many of the bluegums in the Queenstown area, decimated a generation of nestlings that should have been on our bird tables in the spring.

The fantails also seem to have suffered. A runholder in the Matukituki Valley told us that some native trees were killed too — trees that he had not known to suffer before.

We always delight in watching the silvereyes that visit us. We feed them daily and watch their deft acrobatics about a hanging bowl of sugar and water and hanging apples, their fighting for places, their bullying, and

their show of real affection. A pair will feed, then sit close together and preen each other’s face and neck.

We remember one bird, really savaged by a bully, lying limp and untidy on the ground, and then recovering sufficiently to be induced to get up on to a wood pile, and we saw one of its companions then sit close to it, comforting it by all sorts of gestures until it recovered. It was as gentle and charming a demonstration of affection that one could ever see in creation.

I have read that a silvereye bully is born a bully and remains one all his life. How pleasing it is that the reverse also seems to be true.

—H. P. KIDSON