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Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 271, 17 January 1929, Page 8

The Maoris of the Waiapu district have been provided with a new topic by a sudden change of habit on the part of a great pear tree located in the pa at Tikitiki (states an exchange). The tree had not borne fruit for many years until the present season. Its sterility had been taken for granted for a long time, but one inquiring native asked the Government orchard instructor during one of the latter’s visits to the coast why the tree did not bear as others did. The instructor noted that there were no other pear trees in the neighbourhood, and advised the inquirer to procure some blossom from another variety of pear, place the twigs in water-filled jars, and hang them in the branches of the nonbearing tree. Mystified until the instructor explained to him the basic principle of cross pollination, the the Maori adopted the experiment, and this year the tree bears a fairly healthy crop of fruit “ Our Maori friends who have more recently lived near nature than we pakehas show a great knowledge of the habits of our native birds, and know well how to win their affections,” states a writer in the interesting booklet issued by the New Zealand Native Bird Protection Society. “ Thus it would astonish many a shootist who is prone to wait carefully screened in order to even get within shooting range of a duck, to see the wild ducks come sailing down to the call of the Maori on ICapiti Island, then pitch unconcernedly at his feet and be fed out of his hand. Let a stranger be present, however, and the bird will likely pass at a goodly distance. In the mating season a duck will at times bring along her husband, who takes a lot of convincing that the ground is good and safe. Then again at Mangamuka, in the Hokianga district, our native birds have a true friend and protector in Mr. Nopera Otene, an influential chief in that district. This enthusiast goes in for the thing on a more extensive scale, and preserves the birds by the establishment of sanctuaries. It is to be hoped other Maoris will be induced to follow the example, and thus help to undo the evil which the pakeha has done our wonderful and unique bird life.”