TRESPASSERS IN PLANTATIONS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20862, 23 May 1933, Page 4

TRESPASSERS IN PLANTATIONS.

DANGER OF FIRE. SELWYN BOARD TO DEAL WITH OFFENDERS. Shooting parties have been trespassing frequently on the Selwyn Plantation Board's properties at Southbridge, and as the danger of fire is still acute, the board has asked its superintendent to take such action as he considers necessary in dealing with the trespassers. When the workmen returned to Southbridge plantation last Monday morning, May 15, they noticed that a fire had been started on the Sunday, and had burnt about 20 acres of grass immediately adjoining • the planted block, stated a report made by the superintendent for the board (Mr R. G. Robinson) at the monthly meeting yesterday. The outbreak was fortunately confined to an area surrounded by a ploughed firebreak, and did no damage. Had the adjacent gorse caught, the fire might have travelled miles, and destroyed much private property. The locality of Southbridge was evidently a favourite haunt of shooting parties who were very apt unintentionally to cause a conflagration by dropping a lighted match amongst the dry vegetation. Sportsmen would, particularly at present, show a graceful act of consideration to public bodies and landowners generally by discontinuing to hunt or shoot over or near properties or plantations that were just now in such a very inflammable condition. "A Favourite Shooting Ground." "It is simply a case of trespass," said Mr Robinson, in speaking to the report. There were at least .12 cars parked there that day; the district is a favourite shooting ground—right down to the Rakaia. The chairman: Shall we place it m the hands of the police? There are fire notices in the plantations. Mr W. P. Spencer: There is no harm in a man shooting if he is careful. Mr A. E. Langdale-Hunt: We should have a patrol there. He could take the valves out of the car tyres standing on the roadside, and send the trespassers away by that means. The superintendent said that it was only through the vigilant efforts of the board's men, who went out on all days on caretaking work, that more fires had not occurred. The superintendent was instructed to take action in cases of trespass and the lighting of fires in plantations.