THE KERMADECS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1929, Page 2

THE KERMADECS

FAUNA AND FLORA. INVESTIGATIONS BY NATURALISTS. AUCKLAND, April 19. I utercsi ing iwtos on ilio 1 a-ull si and flora of tin* lonely Kormadec Islands were bought back by two naturalists, .Ur A. T. Tycroft and Mr Guthrie Smith, who made the trip on the Government steamer Tutauckai. Imec landings were olfcctod on Sunday Island, and the naturalists found much to interest them, ('in a spot called “The Terraces,” on the north side of th(> island, they found the remains of the old Bell homestead. When going along the dills they saw the surface breeding petrel, which with the exception of the giant petrel, is the only mm to breed on the surface, all the others nesting in burrows or in ore vices in dills. Kermadoc Island petrels were found in a large and handsome purple 'Convolvulus with fleshy leaves peculiar to the group and Polynesia. It was found that buffalo grass, which had been introduced, had overgrown the seaward slopes, hut the indigenous bush had managed to keep it at hay. The visitors were very pleased to find the hi-pore growing. This plant, which is a cousin of the New Zealand cabbage-tree, was formerly cultivated by the Jlaoris for the sake of its ~weet root, hut now only four plants are known to he growing in the Dominion. The Norfolk Island pine flourishes in parts of the island. Oranges were lound in plenty, and the Tutanekai’s clew thoroughly enjoyed a Sunday ashore, during which they gathered sacks full of oranges. Many line uikaus were swim. The Kcrmadec variety is similar to the New Zealand one. hut is more palm like and with larger seeds. The ka.raka grows there, and envoi ing the elilf fares is that well-known New Zealander, the grass ” The taro, another plant which used to he cultivated by the Maoris, was plentiful. Round the old homestead b. os also were seen. Oae of the most picul ifill trees is the lignin, the same as the New Zealand one. which is very plentiful on the sea coasts. There is also a pohutuka'va. slighiiy different from ours, and even at this late date several of the scarlet flowers were seen. There arc several species of fern, including brack-on and a tree tern peculiar to the island. Of enprosinas, so common in tly New Zealand Lush, there is onl v one species, and only one ol the veronicas of which New Zealand has over ci-jr!,;.;.-. peculiar bird-ca lolling plant, the parapara. grows there. Contrary to what might he exjveted there is no manuka, on any of the islands of the group. The tui N i.mm! - ‘'".day Island and. 1 1 a a:':: ; \ to It: 1 . i. .< ai < d .

Iredale, wlio was there in 1908, it most certainly does sing, several of the Tutanekai party being ready to vouch that there is no truth in tho statement that it bad lost its voice. There is also a kingfisher similar to ours and harrier hawks were seen over several islands or islets of the group. Pipits or ground larks were seen on Curtis Island, and there were plenty of parrakeets (tho red-fronted kind) and they were particularly plentiful on Meyer Island. The amokura of the Maori, or red-tailed tropic bird, nests in the pumice tuffs of Curtis Island and on Sunday and Meyer Islands. This is the bird which provides the long red-tipped feathers the Maoris wore as a mark of chiefly rank. The Maoris used to pick them up at North Cape.

To show how things drift in the Pacific it may he mentioned that the Tutanekai party obtained a Queensland bean and also noticed what looked like a rough dug-out canoe on Maca a ley Island, which Captain Ilollons thought must have come from some of the islands to the north of the Kermadees.

Sea bird life is very plentiful round the Kermadecs, which are breeding grounds for several species of petrels and terns, ttbe blue-faced booby or gannet, the red-tailed tropic bird and

others. Among introduced birds were starlings and blackbirds seen on Sunday Island, and the same birds, together with a thrush, on Curtis Island.