OUR VOLCANIC HILLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 167, 15 July 1914, Page 4

OUR VOLCANIC HILLS.

The very successful and enthusiastic public! meeting that was held at Epsom last night to protest against tin- further destruction of our volcanic hills shows that jlulilic feeling has at last been cftectivcly aroused on this important ipicsliou. The -Mayor aud Depuly-Mayoi--of • A-neklaud, the prew-

dent of the Chamber ol" Commerce, the chairman of the One-tree Hill Ilond Hoard and .several other prominent citizens .-Ir.'iifrly in favour of the nVic-nee of the ]ii|| s against injury or ri-tnolitii.il. ami Mrs. F. K. P.niini-o, the

president of the Civic l.o.ijrne, ably supported the proposals which the orpanisatioii that she represents has done so miipli to iirpe upon public attention. It is in.lispirt.-i.ble that, the qua Trying; and Welling- of tlmse volcanic bills is a grievous and irreparable injury to the ciiy. and no rational excuse lias ever yet been advance.! to justify tbe wanton defacement of Auckland's natural beauty and Hie spoliation of unique and -.irif-.'le.-i-, t'.i.u should he a lie.ritapyi to our people for all time. As to the practical steps that l:,-t night's meeting resolved to take, we hope that they will prove thoroughly clTectiic. The appeal to (iovernnicnt. t,. Parliament, and tv the local authorities to use

I heir oowvrs in x-arioitc ways, and to check the work of dc.-tnietion nrcee for all. e'hould nut ( l.c allow.-il to fall on deaf ears. The suggestion put forward l.y Mr. I',. Kent that representatives of all the local bodies ehould form a committee to co-of-erate with the projected Town Planning League for the defence of these hi'ls i- ,i thruiig'hly 'practical or.c. and we hope to see it carried into elTect. I'nfortunately the harm ulrcud'y done canrh.t be undone. and Mourn. Albert, M.aint Eden. iii- Three Kings, and many more ..f <mr volcanic ...lies must stand as they arc rent and shattered am! .I.'-crated. a testimony t.> the coming generations of our reel;-, un.i fully. It tuny he worth reminding ..nr readers of the fact that several s|K>ak(TS emphasised last night Unit scoria is at best a miserable makeshift for rum! metal, that it is wasteful and expensive and that fur better roadmaking material can easily be obtained. Surely the City Council, which is even now carrying :on the work of destruction on the slopes of Mt. F.den. should long ago have realised all this and should have refused to l>c a party tv such indefensible vandalism. However, if the City Council \till make some reparation fur the past by throwing its weight into the scilc in favour of the protection of our scoria lulls fur the future, much nmy lx- forgiven. In any case we are glad tv sec that the people of Auckland arcyjo.tv.af last amused. Ui_a.jj«nse of the dangers t > which tiie picturesque beauty of their city is exposed, and that they are thoroughly determined tv defend it against any flutter defacement or, profanation. ,