WAITAKERE RANGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 152, 29 June 1926, Page 16

WAITAKERE RANGES.

(To the Editor.) i Sir, —I hope the City Council will ,' think twice before adopting Mr. Vaile's j scheme. It owns an enormous area ', now, and to go on buying thousands of j acres more in order to make a gigantic I park is, I think, not only absurd in itself, but an entire misconception of the ! real value of the ranges to Auckland. | He says that if his proposal is not ■' adopted the bush will be cut down by i private owners and the charm of the j place thereby destroyed. I entirely dis- I agree. The great value of the ranges | to Auckland and its suburbs is the pure I air and glorious scenery. These ele- \ ments would remain even though all the bush were destroyed. The ranges are to | Auckland what the Blue Mountains are ; to Sydney. An ideal site for suburban homes, where, from the muggy heat of the city, people can escape to the cool I and bracing air of tbe heights. By the ! establishment of suburban homes of ! from two to four acres each, there is \ no danger of the bush being destroyed, j On the contrary, the owner would jealously preserve it, merely clearing! enough for the house, garden and lawn. ' All that is needed is access. The ranges should be well roaded in easy grades. It doesn't matter how long or winding the roads are if only the grade is easy | and the turns are not too sharp. A : comprehensive scheme for accomplishing i this is all that is needed in order to j make the Waitakere Ranges what j Nature designed them to be —a healthful ' and delightful site for the homes of the fast-growing population of Auckland City and its surroundings.—l am, etc., CITIZEN.