Birdlings Flat

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30541, 9 September 1964, Page 16

Birdlings Flat

Sir, —I. would draw the attention of gemstone collectors to a public notice in Wednesday’s paper. A Mr P. McAllister, of Auckland, has applied for a mineral licence over. 15.8 acres of Crown land on the foreshore at Kaitorete Spit, better known as Birdlings Flat. Why should one man be given the right to pick gemstones from that beach and therefore make it an offence for anyone else, keen and interested, to pick, gems from Birdlings’ Flat? The beach should be free for all and the Crown should not favour one and bar the rest of the public from gemstone collecting on this beach.—Yours, etc., H. VAN HOUTEN. September 4, 1964. [The District Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr N. S. Coad) said: “This matter is subject to a judicial hearing to be held on September 15, 1964, at 2 p.m. In view of this I am unable to comment on this letter.”]

Sir, —J understand an Auckland contractor is seeking mineral rights to an area of 15.8 acres at Kaitorete Spit, Ellesmere. Would you please answer these two questions: Is Kaitorete Spit a part of what we know as Birdling’s Flat beach? if the contractor was granted the 15.8 acres he claims would this stop the gathering of stones in this area by all other people?—Yours, etc., S. A. CHIDGEY. September 6, 1964.