Reginald Day was born in 1874 and came to New Zealand from Dorset with his parents as an infant before he was one year old. He is described on his death certificate as 'retired borough inspector'.
Reginald talks about the benefits of trees to Taranaki, from the historic battlefield of Waireka.
He states that the plantations of thousands of pine trees, gum trees and macrocarpa are for prevention of weeds and erosion. Two miles away by air are the Taranaki forests plantation and another by the Mount Egmont Scenic Board, which has thousands of plantations as well as private plantations. He describes how there is room for further plantations and the benefits this would offer.
He describes the ornamental trees that are in and around New Zealand; Pukekura park, Brooklands, St Mary’s churchyard and private gardens. The 32 year old kauri tree in Pukekura Park which is kept ‘under observation’, was planted in 1914. Also the Norfolk island pines, one of which is the ‘famous’ 114ft high, chestnut tree that spreads 100ft, walnut trees, oaks, copper beech and pururis in Brooklands. One which is estimated to be 2000 years old, describing the age of the tree in relation to history and its value for ‘posts’.
Reginald talks of the pohutukawa planted in 1873 on the corner of Leech and Cameron Street in Taranaki. It was planted by Mr Inch a militiaman who brought it and other plants from Kawhia, Mr Charles Swanson presented it to the borough of New Plymouth along with the land it was on, which was commemorated with a plaque at the foot of the tree. The agreement was that the tree was allowed to stand 30ft over the section for all time.
He describes the English trees in St Mary’s churchyard, oak, yew, puriri and a unique thorn growing from a cutting originating from the ‘famous’ Glastonbury thorn at Glastonbury Abbey. Reginald describes the legend of the Glastonbury thorn which grew from the staff of St Joseph of Arimathea.
Norfolk island pines in the grounds of the Girls’High School, Fitzroy and the Roman Catholic church grounds where several pines grow. It was thought Mr King the first superintendent of the province brought the Norfolk island pines from Norfolk Island on his way from Sydney.
He describes how well the tree ferns grow, the coral tree, a native of the West Indies, which grows near the racecourse. Pohutukawas are plentiful. Describing the cabbage trees, cordyline australis, the best of which is grown in the garden of Mr Joe Lobb at Westown. It is said to be more than a hundred years old and grows on top of a hill. With one hundred and fifty branches, he suggests as it is growing away from its natural environment it could have been transplanted by a Maori before the arrival of Pakeha.
Many of the reserves, especially Burgess Park four miles out of the town, have fine specimens of the rimu on the top of the hill.
There are 14 acres of untouched native bush in the Huatoki reserve and fine specimens of rimu and totara and on the old waterworks reserve by the riverside.
He describes the battleground of Waireka where he is standing, the scene of the Koru Pa on the top of a hill.
Every hill bears evidence of Māori occupation in and around New Plymouth. The site of the cool stores near the port was one of the larger pā, Ngāmotu Pā. Pohorama Te Whiti the chief is buried there and was friendly to the settlers on arrival.
Adjoining this pā is the Māori cemetery with the grave of Richard Barrett, who settled with his whalers in 1828 and traded with Sydney prior to the earliest settlers. The Māori Pole at Fitzroy marks the boundary of the ‘white man’s domain’. it was restored after it burnt in a gorse fire and stands on Smart Road and Devon Street.
Two miles from there is Koru Pā, situated on the Oakura River, nine miles from New Plymouth. The terraces and communication trenches were faced with boulders carried up the river, in some places 15 feet high, which is said to be the only one of its kind in New Zealand. Now well-preserved as a reserve, it is covered with low bush and ferns. The surrounds were no doubt used as kumara gardens, the bush full of bird life providing food for the pā, the food pits and fortification has been preserved by the bush.
He describes the fortification on the highest point of the Kaitake Ranges, including a heap of stones, like road metal which he believes to be ammunition which would be thrown by a defender at anyone attempting to cross the path and the sheer drop which the inmates would jump, rather than being taken.
Reginald Day reads from page 258 of The History of the Taranaki Coast, by Mr Percy Smith.