WONDERFUL TO SEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 8

WONDERFUL TO SEE.

OUR NATIVE RESERVES. PRAISED BY DR. COCKAYNE. rOLICY OF CITY COUNCIL. Tlic beautiful bush reserves which the people of Auckland possess in the Waitakeres came in for a just mede of appreciation at the public welcome to Dr. A. \\\ Hill last evening. The .Mayor explained to the visitor that apart from the land on tbe watersheds the City Council had 10.000 acres of reservations. Since 1024 they had spent £30.000 on the purchase of "properties in the Waitakeres. The Mayor would like to see the whole of the land from their present boundary right down to the sea taken over for reservation, but that was ail undertaking which involved big financial responsibility. However, the City Council was alive to the advantages of reservation and did not knowingly lose opportunities of adding to the assets of the citv.

Speaking in favour of the preservation of our native vegetation, l)r. L. Cockayne said it was wonderful to see what was being done in Auckland in the way (if making reservations. ' [ say without hesitation," he added, "that the finest native reserve in this country is your forest area in the Waitakeres. ]t is a piece of the virgin forest which existed long before the Maoris came to New Zealand; it comes to us away from the distant past. Think of its priceless value and then remember the danger from lire and vandalism. One kiiul of vandalism would be the planting of any tree or shrub or plant which was not already in the forest." (Applause.) Dr. Cockayne suggested that the City Council needed the advice of someone who had the necessary scientific knowledge regarding the way in which the reserves should bo treated. In humorous vein he suggested that in his own mind he had already appointed Mr. Lancaster as honorary botanist to the City of Auckland. In Mr. Lancaster the city had a splendid botanist and lie felt sure the Mayor and the City Council would see the wisdom of appointing him, as the Feilding borough had appointed his friend t Dr. Allen. (Applause.)

Dr. Cockayne added that an honorary adviser would from time to time take accurate stock of the forest and iind out whether it was poing' back or improving. Such advice would he of Dii; utmost, value not only from a scientific point of view but also in the business interests of the city. (Applause.)