British scientist enthralled by Stewart Island

His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr W. Downie Stewart, declares open the Salvation Army...
His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr W. Downie Stewart, declares open the Salvation Army maternity home, Redroofs, on February 11. - Otago Witness, 18.2.1914. Copies of picture available from ODT front office, lower Stuart St, or www.otagoimages.co.nz.
Dr H. R. Mill, a British meteorologist and former librarian of the Royal Geographical Society, who has been visiting Stewart Island and Queenstown, returned to Dunedin last night en route to the north.

On being interviewed by a Daily Times reporter, Dr Mill said he was very much impressed by the natural beauty of Stewart Island, especially the character of the tropical forest in a temperate climate.

''I don't suppose there is another such place where you get that. The forest growth is exactly the same as you would get in the tropics - the trees and the very dense undergrowth, the tree ferns and orchids are to be seen at Stewart Island, and so also is the climbing undergrowth, such as the supplejack and the 'bush lawyers', with their bright green leaves.

''All these are to be seen in tropical regions. Stewart Island has the air of a conservatory.

''The climate is moist, owing to there being plenty of rain, and everything is fresh and green. The vegetation grows right down to the water's edge, so that it is difficult in some places to get into the forest without cutting your way.

''The little rocky islets in Paterson's Inlet, too, just look like trimmed ladies hats as they rise in the water. Across the chief of these islets a track has been cut, which enables the tourist to get a close view of these wonderful offshoots of the main island.

''Here all the native birds still abound, from the tui and the bellbird to all the others. In all, I think the place is unique, and is well worthy of being opened up.

''The accommodation houses at Stewart Island are good, although not luxurious. The proprietors cater for the tourist wonderfully well. One great drawback to Stewart Island is the passage between it and Bluff.

''We were fortunate in escaping what many people have experienced when travelling across, and we really enjoyed it. If some provision were made to keep the spray off the passengers there is nothing to prevent Stewart Island from becoming one of the most wonderful tourist resorts in the world.

''I was very much interested in the people there, as most of them are Shetland Islanders, and the Presbyterian minister was a native of Brora, just on the border of Caithness (Scotland), and the Anglican clergyman was the son of a native of Caithness, which is close to my birthplace; so you see I was very much at home.

''There were in all four of us who originated in the extreme north of Scotland, and who met in the extreme south of New Zealand. I met Dr Black, who graduated at the same university as I did.

''He did a great deal to open up the island in the early days, and has now retired and is living there.''

• Inquiry at the local Health Department yesterday elicited the reassuring news that only one case of infantile paralysis has been reported during the past two weeks, whereas at the commencement of the outbreak one, two, and three cases a day were reported. It is therefore hoped that the worst of the outbreak is now over.

In all, 24 cases in Dunedin and suburbs have been brought under the notice of the department, while a few odd ones have occurred in the outside Otago districts.

''Of the 24 referred to, it should be mentioned that only three occurred in children of school age, the other children attacked ranging in age from eight months to five years. In the majority of instances the attacks have been mild, and several of the children have almost completely recovered.

''One doctor reports that four well marked cases which were attended to in the earlier stages of the disease have also been almost completely cured. A few cases, we understand, have been reported in Christchurch, and about four in Auckland.

- ODT, 24.2.1914.

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