RANGITOTO BAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 8

RANGITOTO BAN.

I write 011 -behalf of the unfortunates who happen to own.property on Jxangitoto Island. Here is an island of solid rock clothed in a forest as thick as any Amazonian jungle, a source of interest to the botanist, who in his misguided fervour has asked the powers that bo to ban all dwellings within a 20-vear ]>eriod. Out of this solid rock about a hundred dwellings have, been built at a capital outlay approaching £10,000. lhcse dwellings (7.1 jx»r ccnt of villa construction) have taken years to build, but the owners persevered, and at Salt Pan Hav, for example, 1 have seen a neat example of "bach." screened by trees, with fruit trees in bearing, flowers in profuse bloom, and the makings of a lawn—all out of solid rock. Think the labour and perseverance needed to x form that lawn. Many of these "bach" owners were made honorary rangers, t;» sec that the bush was not interfered with and especially to see that the California!! thistle was kept down. Xow the powers that be have decreed thai no one is to set foot on the island (Islington Hay excepted), and the other day f saw a new crop of the thi>tle. and with no one about one can guess <»f its probable spread. Xow, Mr. Botanist, what about it? And how is the "bach" owner t° look after the maintenance of his dwelling? Is the owner to receive no consideration at all from the military, who are the cause of this exodus from the inland? Fear of a ricochet is the alleged cause, but surely the guns need not tire in the channel, on whose frontage arc i'»o per cent of the dwellings halt ot which are grouped around the wharf area, out of the line of lire. The wharf area also is the ba«c for anyone wishing to climb to the summit, whieh also is banned. A lot of money has been spent in making a swimming pool, well-formed paths lead to the summit, ami there is a motor road round the inland. All are Uinned. PRO BOW PUJSUCU.