PRESERVING NATIVE BUSH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 181, 2 August 1929, Page 9

PRESERVING NATIVE BUSH.

GRAFTON GULLY AREA. PRELIMINARY INQUIRY TO BE MADE. ) The City Council yesterday approved a motion by Mr. H. P. Burton that with a view to the preservation and conserva? tion to the city for all time, preliminary inquiries be made for tin acquiring of an area of privately owned land on the eastern side of Grafton Gully. Mr. Burton said the matter had been before the council for nearly 18 years. It first came up in the mayoralty of Sir James Parr and again in the time of Sir James Gunson, but unfortunately nothing was done. The time had come when steps should be taken to secure tV land for all time. It contained some of the finest native bush in the province. Seconding, Mr. Casey said he hoped the owners of land adjoining the area would be magnanimous, in the best interests of the city. The council had already a space of about two acres in addition to the cemetery. The section it was proposed to acquire was visible from Grafton Bridge, and added greatly to the picturesquesness of the view towards the eastern side of the gully. Supporting, Miss Melville expressed the hope/ that if any planting was decided on by the Parks Committee they would remember the claims of New Zealand trees in preference to imported plants and shrubs. The resolution was carried, as was a secondary motion that the commercialising of the area of land at the top end of Grafton Gully, near Symonds Street, be made the subject of investigation, noth matters are to be reported upon within two months.