ON THE HILLS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16610, 25 August 1919, Page 5

ON THE HILLS.

KAITUNA VALLEY RESERVE. PUBLIC POSSESSION TAKEN. To a very gratifying extent the invi- i tations issued by the Port Hills-Akaroa Sumnlit lload to assist in taking possession, on behalf of the public, of tho Ivaituna Valley Native Bush Reserve, were responded to on Saturday. Cloee upon 150 took part in tho ceremony, those present including many'" ladies and children. The weather was all that could be desired for an. outdoor fixture, and was not so warm as to make hill-climbing too fatiguing for those not quite at the top of their form. The reserve taken possession of is an exteremely valuable one from tho scenic point of view, and is certain to bccomo more and more valuable as the years go by, and the remnants of the native bush, which at one time clothed the slopes of the Port Hills, become fewer ana fewer. There are several fairly large areas of native bush included in the 400 acres of tho reserve, and those who went through some of these areas on Saturday were greatly impressed with the fine specimens of native treap, and with, the natural beauty of these remnants of "the forest primeval." Many of tho visitors traversed the reserve

mil visited the • Kaitivnn Rest House, md were amply rewarded by the charm;ig; varied, and picturesque panorama oread before them—of tho uppe<r partß f Lyttelton harbour on one side, and e the plains and Southern Alps and V sea„oni tho other. Tho picnic ground for the day wns a lost appropriate site, about a milb or o from Mr H. G. Blyth's residence. Visitors began to arrive in motors P.t 'ifferent periods during tho morning, l, ie cars, through the kindness of Mr Blyth, being'parked in the paddock opmsito his house. The walk to tno oicnic ground was by a track, somewhat "ougli in places, but upon the whole *iot too difficult. At tho* picnic grounds arrangements were made for providing tea and coffee, and shortly' after noon t-.Viere was no mistaking that a good, oldtimo picnic was in full swing, family "roups being scattered over the hillside 'Hscussing tho contents of hampers. Amongst" those present were:—Messrs H. D. M. Haszard, Commissioner of Crown Lands and chairman of the Summit Road Scenic Reserves Board ; S. G. Raymond,\ K.C., George Harper, Geo. T. Booth, R. M. Macdonald, John Anderson-, A. W. Beavon, J. J. Dougall, T. G. Gee, W. Goss, W. O. Campbell, C. H. Gilby, W. F. Parkinson, John Parkinson, G. M. Hall, J. O. Coop, C. L. Wiggins, A. C. Reid, W. G. Jamieson, J. J. Thomson, H. Bradj ley, J. S. Barrett, F. F. Williams, W. I A. Gray, A. E. Ridley, Warren Fisher, S. J. Collett (officer in charge of tho Christchurch Tourist Bureau), A. W. Duncan (secretary, Summit Road Scenic Reserves Board), H. G. EH, M.P., E. H. Andrews, Dr. Simpson. Lieutenant Davies (Wanganui), •md Lieutenant Pritchard (Blenheim). After lunch the visitors were forlally welcomed by representatives of lie Scenic Reserves Board and by the

Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road Association. Mr Haszard, on behalf of the Board, said that he had much pleasure in welcoming those present.to take formal possession of "the last but not the least" of the string of reserves stretching from Godley Head to liaituna Valley. Tlhe reserve had been placed under option through the energy of Mr Ell and other gentlemen who had assisted financially and otherwise. The reserve would be a heritage for Christchurch and the surrounding districts for years and years to come, and he would like to enlist tho support of those present in the matter of developing it. Christchurch had been very fortunate, right from its foundation, in having men of vision who had made reserves by setting apart the squares, the river banks, and Hagley j Park; it now rested with the present generation to continue that work. Mr Haszard thanked the residents of the district for their assistance in con-j nexion with the function which, he j hoped, would prove to bo tho fore-! runner of many gatherings of the same sort. (Applause.) . Mr. Geo. 'T. Booth, for Mr George I Harper, chairman of the Association, wilio had left earlier for the Kaituna Rest House, apologised for Mr Harper's absence arid extended a welcomo to the visitors. Mr Booth explained that the reserves did not come under i he control of the Scenic Reserves Board till they had been paid for. The acquisition of hundreds of acres on the Hills meant the finding of a certain amount of money, and the Association had to depend almost entirely on subscriptions from private individuals. Kaituna fteserve was due, in the first place, to the generosity of Mr Walter Parkinson. (Applause.) The reserve had been acquired by the help or a gentleman who had made himself responsible for the total value of the land; but the reserve would not become the property of tjhe public until it was paid for. In the past the eminent had subsidised private .subscriptions and would, no doubt, do so in the future as Ministers took a very great interest in scenery preservation. Mr Ell had been the mainstay and mainspring in tho matter of securing reserves on the hills: but for Mr Ell the Kaituna Valley reserve would not, probably., have come into the possession of the public. Mr W. F. Parkinson, who was next I called upon, was received with applause j and was given three very hearty cheers. Mr Parkinson said that he became interested in saving the remaining patches of bush on the hills, several years ago and narrated how, in 18»' > several Christchurch people _ visited Kaituna Valley with She object of applying for sections with bush on them. His brothers and himself decided to save these bush areas, and one or them got into Christchurch at three o'clock in the morning, and waited until the Lands and Survey Office opened, thus managing to get in ahead of the others. They had been successful as the result of pointing out that if the bush were not preserved the stream would probably dry up. Mr Ell was to be congratulated on his perseverance in the matter of saving bush areas on the hills. Mr Parkinson then gave some interesting historical details of the Kaituna Valley reserve. It was in the bush here that Jonathan Roberts, after escaping from the police, built himself a supplejack hut, and campod for a long time, ultimately

crossing over to Teddington, and thence getting to Lyttelton, where ho jgot on board a ship bound for America, and thus got clear away. Mr Parkinson also explained that the track going past the picnic grounds was tho old Port track, over which in the early days the settlers drove their pigs to I/yttelton for the Christchurch market-. Mr Ell, M.P.. who was received with applause, said, he was glad to see the Messrs Parkinson present, because, wifhont their help, the hush could not have been saved. In 1901 ho (Mr EH) wrote to the then Minister of Lands (the late Hon. T. Y. Ihincan) suggesting that a report should bo prepared respecting tho remaining bush areas on tho hills. Tho letter was sent- to the Lands ana Survey PeDartmoat at Christchnrch.' and Mr El] continued, "if I had known as much then as I do now of such matters, I would have found out what became of the letter." A report was obtained, but it stated, in respect of the TCaituna bush arons, that the landowners were askins exorbitant prices, and the purchase of bush areas was not recommended. This had not come to 'us knowledge till five years ngo ; ho asked Mr Parkinson his price, Mr Parkinson said that he could set £10 nor acre for it. "I didn't, have a i 'brown,'" continued Mr EH, "and didn't know where to get one; but we now have tho land, and have protected the bush. Mr Parkinson said: "Woll, I'll give you £400 cash to help you to buy it? (Applause.) In addition, Mr Parkinson was leasing the reserve fofr five years, and paying a rental that not only paid the interest, but loft a small surplus. (Applause.) Tho young people present ought to keep Mr Parkinson's memory green as long as . they lived. Mr and Mrs Blvth, who both loved the bush, had offered their part of what is now the reserve at the- price at which he bought it —though lie had been offered an advance on ilia-t price by others. _ Mr Parkinson: That is quito right. (Annlause.) Mr Ell then detailed how ho had ei:-

deavoured to finance the purcliaso of the reserve. "I tried several people m. Christchureh," lie said, "but uiisuccfss- j fully. I heard of one geiieivms-lioarted soul who loves the people—othorwiso h<? | would not have done what he did—<Mr \ H. A. Knight, of Racecoun-e Hill. Ho gave a handsome subscription. I wont to him and told liim the position without mincing matters —tlint we had not got a penny; 'Will you find the money?' I asked. 'Yes, I • will, Air Ell. Mr Ivnight replied. And he lias found the whole lot in casli, and is trusting to the people of Canterbury to see liirn through, and tliey will do it with the aid of tlie Government. The spirit of citizenship," added Mr Ell. "is strong in tho hearts of this generation, as of those that have gone before; we want, to fostor that spirit 1" . | Mr Ell then invited as many as wish-

Ed to do so to go on ty tho Kaituna Rest House, about a mile and a hair further on. A goodly number did so,, and were well-rowardcd for the stiff climb involved. Tho ascent was made by a rout© pegged out by Mr Ell, which will probably in the future become a formed track. It led up the hillside on a fairly easy grade, and through some of the bush areas. At the Rest House thero was a goocily number, many having gono there m the earlier part of the day. Mr EH v/as, asked to soy a few words. J Mr Ell said that lie did not intond to make a speech, and what he Baid would be* in acknowledgment of those whose gifts had made the day's outing" possible. Mr "\V. A. Gray, had given the site on which tho Rest House was buil-j., (Applause.) Mr Walter Parkinson had given 240 acres, including the bush through which -tho visitors had just passed; Mr Arthur E. G. Rhodes had given an area including some bush through which they would pass on their return journey; and Mi; H. G. Blytu had 'generously ' assisted by granting exceptionnlly easy terms in respect of the acquisition of bush along the old Port Track. There was 420 acres ,m this magnificent reserve, . which extendedto the top of Cistle Hill f29ooft abovo sea level). For the additional area (including some of tho bu»h on tho Port Track), they had to thank Mr, H. A. Knight, of Racecourse Hill. In further remarks, Mr 131 said that tho Port Hills-Akaroa Summit road Would pass in front of tho Kaituna Rest House, and he predicted that in years to como there-would be a great hostel erected in the vicinity of the ««st House. The road, he said, would become one of the great historic roads or the world. He commended the project to the support of all the generous people in Canterbury. Mr W. G. Jamieson, in proposing a very hearty voto of thanks to -Mx ■ -o** for his efforts in respect of the road and the reserves, and for the very fine day he had provided, said that he doubted if the public generally fully appreciated the value of tho work done by Mr Ell. " • , ... „ The vote of thanks was heartily accorded by acclamation. Many of those'who went to tho Re|t House returned to the picaic grounds via the old Port Track, which they found rather slippery in places. Visitors from town reached the city shortly after six o'clock, after spending a most pleasant day's outing. ■