An Account of Improvements on Miramar Peninsula.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 11, 1878, Page 530

1. “An Account of Improvements on Miramar Peninsula,” by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. Abstract. The author stated that in 1840 the Peninsula was covered by a thick vegetation of fern, flax, toitoi, and shrubs, a few patches of bush being still on the ground. Burnham Water was then a sheet of water about 200 acres in extent. In 1846 he decided to drain Burnham Water, and in 1847 accepted a tender to drive a tunnel through the ridge between Evans Bay and the Lagoon, since any drain made towards Lyall Bay would have been liable to be choked by blown sands during southerly weather. When the tunnel was completed drains were cut through the swamp. The land when drained was very sour at first, and the sandy parts required time to gather vegetation before further operations could be carried on to advantage; but as the drainage proceeded, grass-seed was sown, and a good sward has now been obtained in most places. He estimates the cost of drainage, from first to last, at £3,000. With regard to fixing the sands, the author states that he sowed seeds of Ammophila arundinacea and Elymus arenarius, and for several years believed the experiment to have been a failure; he, however, eventually found a few plants of Ammophila, and by continual planting succeeded in fixing a good deal of the sand. He states that the Elymus which he sowed was a failure, but that some plants subsequently procured were in some respects superior to the Ammophila for fixing blown sands. Mr. Martin Chapman said that no doubt the drainage would in time be of great use, but at present he had noticed that in dry weather there was a thick deposit of salt on the land. The Chairman remarked that several drainage schemes of a similar kind had been undertaken in New Zealand, but few had succeeded. He only hoped Mr. Crawford would be more fortunate. Mr. Kirk considered that the information given regarding the fixing of the sand would be most useful. Mr. Crawford had paid particular attention to the planting with a view to its spreading. If he could now sow wheat or some other plant between the grass a thick sward would in time form. He thought the salt deposit mentioned only occurred in that portion where the lake had been. He was of opinion that the work performed would be highly remunerative.

2. “Further Contributions to the Ornithology of New Zealand,” by Walter L. Buller, C.M.G., Sc.D. (Transactions, p. 366.) Dr. Newman said he would like to be informed whether the New Zealand harrier was in the habit of catching fish. Dr. Buller had referred to its repugnance to water; but he wished to state that in Hawke Bay District he had frequently found this hawk devouring large eels in the neighbourhood of the swamps. Others had observed the same, and it was evident that this bird, which was constantly hovering about the swamp vegetation, was in the habit of catching eels. As to the kingfisher, he was surprised to hear that Captain Hutton had ever contended that this bird did not feed on fish. Everyone who had observed its habits would agree that it wasmost active in pursuit of small fish. Mr. Martin Chapman said that in regard to the kakas which perished in their passage across the Strait, he believed it would be found that it was the lean-conditioned bird, and not the fat one, that succumbed. He instanced the case of wild turkeys in America. They were known sometimes to cross rivers on the wing, and on these occasions the thin emaciated birds often fell into the water and were drowned. As to the piscivorous habits of our kingfisher mentioned by Dr. Buller, he could aver from personal observation that the New Zealand bird was an undoubted fish-hunter. He had actually seen one, after dropping a fish that it had captured, return and pick it up again. Dr. Buller, in reply, stated that the harrier, like many other birds, is very averse to wetting its plumage, and never hunts in the water. But, being a carrion-feeder, it may constantly be seen hovering over the sea-beach, and devouring the dead bodies of cast up fish, etc. Eels are known to travel considerable distances overland in search of new ponds, and during such migrations would, of course, be exposed to the attacks of the hawk. He thought that the circumstance mentioned by Dr. Newman might be accounted for in that manner, for the helpless eels on dry ground would be very apt to fall a prey to this ever-vigilant hawk. As to the kakas cast ashore in Golden Bay, he could state on the authority of his informant that in every case the birds picked up were excessively fat, and it was a well-known fact that at certain seasons of the year the kakas became so incommoded with fat as to be scarcely capable of flight. A correspondent informed him that on one of these occasions he actually caught with his hands in the course of a single day eight of these over-fed kakas, as they were positively unable to fly at all. Dr. Newman said that his experience of eels was that they only travelled when their pools became dry, and in the district to which he referred the lagoons were always full of water. He thought one of the most interesting facts in New Zealand ornithology, brought out in Dr. Buller's papers, was the frequent recurrence of albinoes. Almost every species showed a tendency in some degree to albinism, and this was certainly a very remarkable and inexplicable thing. 3. “On Osomose as the Cause of the persistent Suspension of Clay in Water,” by W. Skey, Analyst to the Geological Survey Department. (Transactions, p. 485.) 4. “On the Nature and Cause of Tomlinson's Cohesion Figures,” by W. Skey. (Transactions, p. 490.) 5. “On some New Zealand Aphroditæ, with Descriptions of supposed new Species,” by T. W. Kirk, Assistant in the Colonial Museum. (Transactions, p. 397.) Mr. Field wished to know whether the beautiful colours mentioned were preserved after death; and the author stated that the specimens exhibited on the table would prove that they were retained to a great extent.

Dr. Buller said that it was gratifying to find one of the members taking up this branch of zoology, and he hoped the author would continue his useful work.