DR HILL’S VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1928, Page 3

DR HILL’S VISIT

DELIGHTED WITH THE NATIVE FLOWERS. ALPINE BLOOMS A REVELATION CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 3. Plant life on the West Coast was a revelation to Dr A. W. Hill, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew» He knows many New Zealand plants that are cultivated in those gardens, he has examined many of the New Zealand dried specimens in the herbarium at Kew, and he is acquainted with their characters and structure, Imt he hardly seems to have been prepared for the magnificence of the vegetation at Waiho, near tho Franz Josef Glacier, for instance. He was surprised at the abundance and beauty of the ferns lie saw there; hut more than anything else lie values the opportunity given him to climb Aleck’s Knob, some 4200 feet high, part of the Kaiser Fritz Range, never previously explored by a botanist. He was taken up the mountain by Mr Peter Graham, and was accompanied by Dr Allan, Dr Cunningham and Mr A. H. Cockayne. Dr Hill’s comments on that place are: “I never before had seen a collection of alpine plants such as T saw there. We had a fairly stiff clinib through the scrub. There was no rain, hut the shrubs and trees through which we climbed were wet with a heavy dew and they showered cascades upon us. It was quite hal'd work, hut the wonderful vegetation on the alpine meadow at the top amply repaid us for all our trouble. When we got on to that alpine meadow, there was a scene of interest and beauty which was quite a, revelation, 'flic plants there are 'particularly' interesting to nny European alpinist, as they offer a striking contrast to anything we have in o>ir part of the world. All the flowers we saw on Aleck’s Knob wore pure white. There was not a single coloured one amongst them. They are extrardinarily beautiful. There were Ourisias. Ranunculus Lyalli, and Hebe (Veronica) macrantha. The sight that mot my eyes there was in itself worth coming all tho way to New Zealand to see. In -that remarkable garden of wild flowers, there are many other interesting plants. Two Lilaceopsis and Caltha novae-zealaiulica, are of special interest to me, as I have worked on them in England, 'flic high Alpine New Zealand flora, as seen on that mountain, is unlike anything else, owing to the numerous plants with white (lowers, in their setting of the yellowish Dantlionia grass. The size of many of the flowers is very striking, especially tho large Cclmisias, a most wonderful sight. All the flowers seen were unusually large and heautilul.” The Glacier Hotel was reached at noon on Tuesday. About 3 a.m. next day a start was made to climb Aleck’s Knob. The hotel was reached again at 2 p.rn. The same day the return trip was made to Hokitika, which was reached at 9 p.m. Going to the Vest Coast Dr Hill looked forward to seeing the Otira Gorge. This cannot he done if the train is used. Leaving tho train at Arthur’s Pass, the party motored and partly walked to Otira. often stopping to admire the scene and to hotanise and collect plants. He was accompanied on the whole West Coast trip by Dr L. Cockayne. Air A. H. Cockayne. and Mr K. Phillips Turner (secretary) of the Department of Forestry. What interested him particularly is tho prevalence of native hybrids, recently brought to the notice oi botanists by Dr Cockayne, who Dr Hill states, lias opened a new and most important chapter in systematic botany. An account of that walk through the gorge led Dr Hill to speak ol Dr Cockayne’s study of the New Zealand llura, and of his discovery ol the prevalence of natural hybrids it exhibits. He i-. pleased that ome ol tic yuungei men who arc becoming professional botanists, inspired by l)r Cockayne’s work and philosophical outlook are following in that botanist’s steps in this branch of science and that others—to quote from Kcclosinsticiis, “rich men funiislied with .ability” - are being .stimulated to interest themselves in making a careful study <:J‘ native plants. In Dunedin he saw something of the work of Messrs Kcott-Tlioinson anti G. Simpson, who are carrying on investigations in their gardens and in the field.

“I hope,” Dr Hill said, “that the younger generation with a leaning towards science who are being trained in the university colleges ol New Zealand will realise the value ol work of this nature, and will to drawn towards this line of study. It is very valuable to Now Zealand, and it is regarded with the deepest interest in Europe. England, and America. Dr Cockayne's work has deservedly earned for him a world-wide reputation.” So charged was l)r Hill with tlio Otira (Jorge that he determined not to miss it on the return trip. He therefore motored from Hokitika to Arthur's Pass, seeing the gorge from different points of view.

Dr Hill intended his visit to New Zealand to be a visit only, made after his official visit to Australia, hut he "iis very pleased to receive an official invitation from this Dominion. On the way from Nelson to Christchurch, however, he could not resist the temptation to collect specimens for the national, or rather Imperial herbarium at Kew. He collected in the Limestone Gorge and in AA oodsido Creek. AVhcranui. Marlborough, which, he feels, on account of the beauty of the place, and of the rare plants which grow there should he re-

served. He also collected on the AA est Coast. The Kew herbarium already has a representative collection of New Zealand plants. Sir Joseph Hooker’s collections are there, as well as those of Sir Janies Hector. Sir Julius von Haast, Alan Cunningham. Colenso, Petrie, Cheesenian, and other New Zealand botanists.

At Hannier. Dr Hill "as interested in the Government plantation. “I was impressed with the lay-out, with the results, and with the plantation’s cleanness. I mean its freedom from fungus and other pests,” lie said. Ho saw verv good stands ol larch and of Finns poinlerosn and othei- conifers. AAliile plant-life has fascinated Dr Hill in New Zealand he will carry away with him pleasurable recollections of many kindnesses. He has metnearly all the leading botanists in the Dominion, and has received help from all. He mentions particularly Dr Cockayne, Mr Coekavne. Dr E. Marsilen. secretary to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr Ellis. Director of Forestry. Dr Allan, and Afr Phillips Turner, who. Dr Hill savs is “as good a botanist as he is a forester.” Tlie arrangements have enabled Dr Hill to see a great, deal of New Zealand. He is grateful to the Government for allowing Dr Cockayne and others to accompany him.