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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3161, 16 August 1881, Page 2

The other day iD the House Mr Bowen moved, That it is expedient that the Government should take into consideration the advisability of collecting on the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges, indigenous plants and seeds which are not to be seen elsewhere, and which are in danger of extermination from the incursion of cattle and the spread of fires, consequent on tbe progress of settlement. It would require only a very small amount of money to carry out a very important object. The colony was spending a great deal in importing seeds from America every year, and in the meantime there were indigenous plants of a very beautiful description which were absolutely disappearing from tbis country. He had taken a great deal of trouble to inquire as to the cost of an expedient to get these valuable plants and seeds, and he found the thing could be easily done. Two or three expeditions during the year would secure the object he sought—that of preventing the absolute disappearance of these plants. There were one or two people who had already spent a good deal of money on the matter, and, amongst others, he might mention Mr Sturm, of Napier, who had recently taken a large amount of trouble to get in these plants. A good deal had also been done by the Botanical Department in Wellington • but there was still a chance of collecting a good quantity of these plants, and it should not be lost. As settlement spread into these ranges the cattle got into the bush, and the consequence was that a great many of the young plants disappeared. He hoped the

House would not object to a gmall expenditure in preventing what would be a disgrace to the country. Mr Hail said the Government would be glad to accept the motion. He q.iite agreed that it would be a lamentable thing to allow these native New Zealand plants to disappear. The Government would go into the matter, and ascertaiu what could bedoue, and what would be the cost.