Notes from Branches and Sections

Forest and Bird, Issue 185, 1 August 1972, Page 27

Notes from Branches and Sections

WAIKATO BRANCH Last Easter members of Waikato Branch stayed at the North Egmont Chalet and at the camp house from Friday night to Monday morning. Mr Jim Peacock, the ranger from Stratford, showed slides of Egmont National Park on Friday night and slides of Kapiti Island. Members split into three groups on Saturday morning, the less active going to the Trig (3,875 ft) and back to the chalet via the Veronica Track. The second party spent the day on the Korito Track. They had done a good deal of botanising in the bush, where they discovered many unusual plants. The remainder went with Mr Peacock to Holly Hut and some from there to Bell’s Falls. Many of the plants of Mt Egmont are unique to the area. This was an interesting trip broken by a few landslides, even though it rained very heavily and on the exposed ridges it blew very hard. The Holly Hut was already occupied when the party arrived for lunch, but after removing dripping parkas, we managed to squeeze in. While four of the party continued to Bed’s Falls, an extra mile away, the rest returned to the chalet. The weather turned bitterly cold on Saturday night, with a strong wind, but everyone was snug around the roaring log fire in the lounge of the chalet while the leaders of each group told of their day’s activities. On Sunday some of the party climbed up the mountain to enjoy the alpine plants and admire the view, and others went on the Kokowai Track. The children were taken to see the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust Park, and other adults travelled to Dawson’s Falls and went on walks there, a very beautiful place to see. Our thanks go to the organisers of a most enjoyable weekend: Mr David Wilson, Mr Geoff Jensen, and Mr David McAdam, and to Mr and Mrs Arnold for the catering. —• Kathleen M. Gray. WANGANUI BRANCH Wanganui Branch and Bushy Park Sub-committee held a dinner and presentation to Mr and Mrs E. A Morrell on 24 June at the stately Bushy Park homestead. Mr Morrell, who recently resigned from the branch’s committee, has served for several years on the committee, and has represented the branch as a councillor. He has also served as chairman of the Bushy Park Sub-committee. The presentation was made by Mr Stuart McKenzie, president of the Wanganui Branch and now chairman of the Bushy Park Sub-committee. Mr Morrell said he had resigned because he had many time-consuming interests. He would remain interested in the Society and in further developments at Bushy Park. —*E. O. Turfrey.

SOUTHLAND SECTION Summer activities for this year began with a trip to Lake Hauroko, where the Fiordland National Park ranger and two local farmers took our party by boat to Mary Island, a place of great Maori historical interest. The next trip was to the Kai tuna peat bog and not even showerv weather stooped 70 members going. Dracophyllums and raoulias were particular interests of the day. Then followed a visit to the Society’s lodge at Tautuku and to the Cathedral Caves. A visit to the old Nevis Road 'at Garston brought the parties to views of the Spaniards and of edelweiss. The final trip was to Forest Hill. The outings have been by private car, as many of the roads are difficult for buses and the cost has been less for families. HOROWHENUA SECTION A month or two ago we left Levin early one morning to visit Kapiti Island. After a quick but bumpy trip by jet boat from Paraparaumu we landed on the island and were welcomed by the caretaker, Mr Rodda. Kapiti Island was taken over in 1822 by the Ngatitoa tribe, who traded peacefully with the winders who had established seven stations around the island. Toward 1840, when whaling had declined and most of the Maoris had moved to the mainland, farming became the main industry. Today Kapiti is a bird sanctuary. On the way to the picnic ground we saw several wekas, which are numerous, and we were advised to keep our food off the ground. These flightless birds will come quite close and help themselves to food from packs and bags. On the flat land at Rangatira, near the caretaker’s house, we found an old whaling pot, a great iron pot used by the whalers to melt down whale blubber. Kakas were quite tame and sat or moved about in their tree while we photographed them. Further into the bush we saw two this and some North Island robins. We set off for the top of the island, which is 1,780 ft above sea level. The track was fairly steep and rather slinnerv. On the rockv ground we found pockets of kohekohe forest with kanuka groves where there was a covering of soil. Stands of tawa trees are increasing, but most of the tawas on the island are less than 100 years old. Friendly fantails accompanied us part of the way. We also saw bellbirds, whiteheads, and pigeons. Numbered discs along the track indicated places of interest. At one place rotting skeletons of large rata trees were reminders of a fire which had swept the whole island. Where logs had been placed against trees opossum traps had been set above the reach of ground birds. Opossums devastate -some vegetation, compete with birds for food and nesting sites, and

probably disturb birds at night. Rats are also a problem. At Titeremoana, the highest point on the island is a trig, where the view is magnificent. D’Urville Island can be seen to the west, with Stephen’s Island to the right of it and the Marlborough Sounds and Kaikoura Ranges to the south-west. Below the trig the cliffs slope steeply to the sea on the western side of the island. The trip back down the McKenzie Track was just as steep and slippery as the ascent. After we had lunch and a walk along the beach the launch arrived to take the first of the four boatloads back to the mainland. To visit the island a permit must be obtained from the Department of Lands and Survey, but the journey is a most interesting and enjoyable one. —• Vicky Blair. AUCKLAND BRANCH On 28 May the Auckland Branch combined with the North Shore Branch for their annual tree planting on the Society’s Onetangi Reserve, on Waiheke Island. The reserve comprises some 124 acres, about half of which is in standing bush. Though the day started with heavy showers, about 50 people attended and almost 100 trees were planted. Before work started lunch was enjoyed at our adjacent cottage, which has a wonderful view over the Hauraki Gulf. The objectives of these annual plantings are threefold: Firstly, to speed up the natural regeneration of the bush cover; secondly, to establish a canopy of quick-growing native trees to suppress the rank grasses such as kikuyu — a most aggressive plant in this climate; thirdly, and most important, to secure a good supply of food for the native bird population all the year round.

Environmental Motel in Auckland

rpHE service of providing a commercially J- operated environmental motel with full services supplied, where visitors can relax in the environment of nature, is slowly extending to New Zealand. Such motels have been established in both England and the United States for many years.

Auckland now has a new lodge in the Waitakeres known as the Waitakere Park Lodge complete with swimming pool and sauna. It is set in the quiet of a forest surround, with tracks leading up into the bush so that guests, though within half an hour of the city, may feel that they are in the solitude of the bush. This is another manifestation of the growing recognition of the environment.

The species selected for planting were mostly makomako, pigeonwood, karamu, kakaramu, kanono, taupata, mapou, kapuka, puriri, titoki, and harekeke. Though all these are endemic to this region, some are rather scarce on the reserve. With a strong team of helpers this year and plans to upgrade the cottage and give the reserve more attention, it is hoped to make this most beautiful and valuable asset of the Society more often visited and fully appreciated. —J. E. Gunson. TAUPO SECTION A party of 26 members of the Taupo Section visited the Forest Research Institute at Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, on 18 March. Before arrival at the institute opportunity was taken to have lunch at the western end of Green Lake, one of the loveliest spots in the district. Mr Anton welcomed members and visitors and the party then dispersed to walk the tracks and study the birds on the lake. The following birds were seen or heard: Dabchicks, grey duck, bittern, bellbird, tui, fantail, grey warbler, pukeko, white swan, black swan, mallard, black-backed gull, pied tit, whitefaced heron, and pied shag. At the institute we saw displays and labour-saving devices, particularly one for facilitating planting. We were told that Dr Bassett, of the staff, had arranged a special display for visiting parties from the Society. This was a stand showing the totara insect, which has caused controversy in the Press. This insect is too small to be seen by the naked eye and has not been isolated before. It drills a tiny hole in the topmost twigs of a tree and enters the stem, causing the tree to die from the top. At present scientists are not sure whether the insect or the opossum is causing the real damage to an area affected locally. Time did not allow all the interesting exhibits to be visited, but this was an outstanding exhibition of the work done at the Forest Research Institute. Our thanks are due to all the staff for their willing help, especially Mr Roy Jackson, Mr Wright, and Dr Bassett. —H.V.R.

Coming Events for Tauranga Members Coming events in the Tauranga Section are: 19 September: “South Asia to Britain by Coach”, by Mr and Mrs F. J. Heappey. 14 October: Field Day, Otanewainuku, via Te Puke No. 2 road. Leader: Mr R. L. Mander. Meet 12th Avenue, 9.30 a.m. 17 October: Address with slides: “Horticulture in the Bay of Plenty”, by Mr P. R. Sale, Department of Agriculture. 19 November: An afternoon in Mrs F. A. Dean’s garden, 12th Avenue, 1 p.m.