A REBUKE TO THE VANDALS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 6

A REBUKE TO THE VANDALS.

The visit of the Director of Kew Gardens will always be regarded as an important event in the scientific annals of the Dominion, and there is some reason to hope that it may also mark «i turning-point in the history of our scenic assets and reserves. For Dr. Hill has spoken out clearly and emphatically in defence of Auckland's natural beauties, and has urged the people to use their best efforts to save them from the hand of the spoiler. \V e trust that our local bodies and our fellow citizens will reflect seriously upon Dr. Hill's impressive appeal for the protection of the marvellously beautiful bush on the Waitakeres and the defence of our volcanic cones against further defacement and destruction. As we have already done everything in our power to arouse public opinion on these questions, and to induce the people of Auckland to make a stand against the spoliation of the volcanic cones and the extirpation of the native bush in the vicinity of Auckland, we gladly welcome Dr. Hill's intervention, and give his appeal our whole-hearted support. There is another kindred topic to which Dr. Hill has publicly referred —the protection of Rangitoto—which appears to require careful handling. We need hardly say that Ave sympathise strongly with Dr. Hill's view that Rangitoto, unique as it is in both a geological and a botanical sense, should be preserved from spoliation intact. At the same time, the island is a public domain, and it is impossible to keep the public away from it. The question is whether, under the circumstances, visitors are likely to do more or less damage if facilities for traversing the island are provided for them. The excuse for the motor road now being laid round the island, and ultimately to reach the summit, is the idea that if visitors have one good road to drive over they will not be tempted to adventure into the almost inaccessible and impassable areas off the main track, and so the beautiful and interesting flora of the island will be preserved. This may sound plausible, but in our opinion the making of the road is a mistake. Now, however, that it is well on its way to completion, the only thing to do is to adopt ilio most stringent safeguards against spoliation.