FOREST TREE PLANTING AT NORTH SHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1022, 29 April 1873, Page 2

FOREST TREE PLANTING AT NORTH SHORE.

A MEETING of ratepayers of the Deyonport district was. held last night, at the Flagstaff Hotel, for the purpose of considering the disposal of the Flagstaff Hill. There were about eighty persona present, and. great interest was felt in- the subject. Mr H. Niccol, chairman of Highway Trustees, occupied the chair. A communication was read from the Colbnial Secretary,, offering to set apart the Flagstaff Hill for purposes of public recreation on condition that a space of some two acres on the apex should be fenced in, this portion to be the'property of the Harbour Board, and to be retained for signalling purppses, and the further condition that: space should be reserved for a public road at ;the . basei; on : the south side. Mr. Oliver Mays drew at- ■ tention to the necessity for prdinpt action in consequence of the attempts contemplated by [ some members of the Harbour Board to ob- ; tain possession of the hill as an endowment. Mr Brown moved "That the trustees be ! empowered to , fence, that. part of the hill ' which had been reserved as a signal station. | This was seconded by Captain Eattray, and | supported by Mr Reed and others. Mr Wella and several others opposed it on the grounds of there being no funds at present, the I annual meeting and election 6i .new trustees j being at hand. The motion was ultimately carried by.a.large majority.. A proposal i submitted to the Highway Board by Mr Goldie -yrad theii brought before the meeting. It was to plant 2000 trees bn the X Flagstaff, consisting .of a thousand pinasters, three or I four years old, five hundred. Calif ornian pines, jtwo years old, and five hundred mixed, conjsistingof cypresses, Norfolk pines, and to replace those dying. Mr" Goldie v agreed . to. accept for this the sum of £60, in ten pounds ; cash and the balance payable in February ;1874and75. It was* moved by Mr Reed j"That the Highwayßoard be empowered ito accept Mr Goldie's offer," which was seconded by Mr McEwon. It was opposed by Mr Buchanan, Mr Wells and several others; but was carried by a large majority. Before the conclusion of the meeting Mr jßeed submitted for ventilation a scheme for ithe formation of a "Tree Planting Association," in which., the, residents,and jpropertythblders nlight bd induced to undertakfe systeimatic planting by the roadsides, either within their own' enclosures or outside the footpaths, eagh. .undertaking the planting> and .care of 1 one 6t twenty or any other dumber of trees,' according,to his ability, or,willingness ,to cooperate.1 The plan was attentively listened to and warmly received, and the speaker expressed his intention of shortly moving in the matter. The meeting, although^y^ly,, (?A3'-altogether of an amicable kind/ 'and (closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman bn the motion of Mr Atkin.