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Conchology Section |
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Conchology Section |
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President's report:
We welcome our new member Mrs Barb Bycroft, 9 Kauri Loop Rd, Oratia Ak. ph (09) 814-9203 to the Section. At the last meeting Barb won the prize for most spectacular selection of Ranellidae with superb specimens of Charonia capax from Patiki Beach, Northland. Please note that Michael Bressolles has a new telephone no. (09)419-1149 and new member Mr Luen Jones address is 1a Rewarewa Rd Te Atatu Ak ph. (09) 674-5195.
There was an excellent attendance at the last meeting for Margaret Morley's demonstration of techniques for drawing shells. Please don't forget to bring your finished shell drawing to the June meeting - there is a prize to be won!
The response to the invitation to compete for a prize for the most spectacular Ranellidae at the last meeting resulted in the most magnificent array of shells on display. Although not the winner on the night, Doug Snook's tray of NZ and WW Ranellidae was magnificent. Heather Smith exhibited some recent finds from beaches in the far North and reported that there were extensive shell deposits on the northern beaches over the Easter period.
Next Meeting: Tuesday 10th June 7:30 pm at the Auckland Museum.
Entrance by the rear Admin door between 7:15-7:30pm. We regret there can be no late admittance due to security regulations.
Speaker: Mike Eagle "Mike on his bike and still peddling". Mike will give an illustrated talk about his recent tour of the Mediterranean region.
Shells for display: Pectinidae.
Win a prize for the best displayed shells. Few members would have shells from the Mediterranean so our feature shell is the ubiquitous scallop, the prized shell of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Please bring a tray of your favourite NZ and WW specimens for display.
Annual Shell Auction - Sunday 28th September 2003 - Albany Hall
Same venue as last year's Auction. Again there will be tables available for sales at no cost to shell club members. We can promise you a grand assortment from 12 contributors for the Auction. This is our big shell meet for 2003. See you there!
5th Australian National Shell Show 2004
Some members will want to be at the show. it will be held on 20th-21st March 2004 in Adelaide at the Morphettville Function Centre in the Phar Lap Room.
From the Beaches
Peter Poortman was in Northland on the weekend of 17-18th May, just after the big ocean swells. He reports that shell collecting at Bland Bay was better than usual. Peter found a highly venomous, yellow bellied sea snake beached at Taupiri Bay. The snake, Pelamis platurus, was 60 cm in length and although still alive it was very weak. After several failed attempts to return it to the sea he placed it in a container of water where it subsequently died. On his return to Auckland he deposited the snake at the Auckland Museum.
Field Trip Diary
Five members attended Fiona Thompson's field trip to Orewa Beach on Sunday May18th. It was a very productive trip. Doug Snook found 37 species on the rock ledges on the southern end of the beach. The most frequently seen shells were Dosinia anus and Dosinia subrosea and there were also many excellent specimens of Struthiolaria papulosa on the open beach. A full report of the field trip will be published in the Poirieria Journal.
June Field Trip
Glenys Stace's field trip to Omaha Beach and Matheson Bay Sat 14th-Sun 15th. Glenys Stace has kindly offered accommodation at her beach house at Omaha over this weekend, for members who would like to spend two days shell collecting. Other members may wish to come for a day only. Glenys would like us to do a search for Periploma angasi in the Whangateau Harbour, ph. Rosa 620-4523 or Glenys ph 415-9930, for details.
July Field Trip
Fiona Thompson's day trip to Wenderholm Sun. 13th. Low 0.3 tide is at 12:35. There will be more details in the next newsletter.
Field Trip To Whakatane beaches and White Island - March 2004
The Section's field trip planned for next March will be a weekend visit to the beaches of the Whakatane region with an optional 6 hour day trip to White Is. The local charter boats have a set fee of $110 pp. which includes: lunch and refreshments, a circumnavigation of the Island, a guided tour up the volcano and time for fishing, snorkelling, or diving, weather permitting. The date will be advertised next month.
Auckland Issues
Gt. Barrier Island Marine Reserve. I have attached a survey sheet on this project for your consideration. Ph 09 307 4862 for details.
Subscriptions for 2003
Only fourteen are still to be paid. If you have a notice enclosed please return it as soon as possible so Peter can prepare the 2003 membership list. Please update your 2003 list with the names of new nembers.
For Sale
Patricia Langford is moving house and has a large variety of shells for sale. ph. 09 - 473-0147.
Library News:
Librarian Gladys Goulstone - address 38A Church Rd. Mangere Bridge, Ak ph. (09) 634-2823, will be in attendance at the Library in the Matapuna Gallery on the Mon. afternoon 2-3 pm before each meeting date. Please contact her re. books on the list mailed Sept 2001 - Gladys has extra copies of this. She will deliver book orders to the meeting, or if you send her an A4 P.0. handy bag with $2.95 in stamps, for each book, she wiil mail books to you. Please return books to Matapuna as soon as possible or to Gladys at the next meeting, or mail them to her address above.
Poirieria:
Tony and Jenny Enderby, P.O Box 139 Leigh, require articles for the next Poirieria issue. All queries: ph. 09-422-6127 or email enderby@enderby.co.nz
