DOMINION RESERVES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1928, Page 23

DOMINION RESERVES

PRESERVATION OF FLORA. DR. A. W. HILL’S COMMENTS. Preservation of reserves, as reserves, is the subject of some emphasis by Dr. A. W. Hill, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in his report to the New Zealand Government. “I have been very greatly impressed with the magnificent reserves which are scattered throughout the Dominion,” said Dr. Hill. “I have visited the national reserves at Tongariro and Mount Egmont, and have also seen the reserves at Riccarton Bush, at Dunedin, the Otari Open-air Museum, Wellington, Waitakere, and Rangitoto. I would suggest that, in the case of the national reserves at Tongariro, Egmont, Waimakariri, Mount Cook, and Fiord, the director of the Botanic Gardens should be chairman of the board, or have some direct control over the management of such reserves. My main reason for making this suggestion is that I have been very distressed to notice that heather and other exotic plants have been introduced into Tongariro, which, unless eradicated without delay, will sadly destroy the features of the park as a national reserve of native vegetation. If it is intended that these reserves are to be reserves for the preservation of the native flora, then the introduction of any exotic plant is likely before long seriously to destroy their proper character.

GOATS AND DEER RAVAGES. . “Similarly, on Mount Egmont I was very grieved to hear that goats were making serious ravages on the native vegetation. The damage that goats have done to vegetation in otner parts of the world is only too well known, and on St. Helena they have entirely destroyed the native vegetation. Unless steps can bo taken to destroy the goats on Mount Egmont the. native vegetation there will suffer irreparably. The ravages of the deer in other places are also quite serious, but so far as I can learn, the damage that lias beeu done by deer is a trifle compared with the damage done by goats or by the introduction of plants like heather. 1 have suggested that the five large national reserves should be in some way connected with the director of Botanic Gardens, and I think it would also be well if the director could have some supervision over the Goverment Gardens at Hamner, Rotorua, Queenstown, and Te Aroha. “I have been interested to see the various fine scenic reserves in various places, and though, perhaps, it is hardly within my province to make any comments on these reserves, I must say that, as at present managed, they may not be preserved as they should be, and I would like to suggest that they be placed under the charge of the Forestry Department in order that they may be taken proper care of by expert men, who would be competent to keep them in proper order.”