BUTCHERING THE BUSH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 29, 4 February 1908, Page 8

BUTCHERING THE BUSH.

MAORI VANDALISM. r. "It is heartbreaking to see the immense amount of bush burnt off the hill-topn, and lower down the slopes along tho Wanganui River, between Pipiriki and the Wanganui town. Tho crowns of tho hills are blackened and scarred by fire," states v a Wellington president, who has just returned from a trip to that district. This desecration of lovely forest scenes, ho adds, hds been dono by Maoris. Tho natives may have been under an impression that if they cleared the land it would be serviceable for cultivation, but it is contended that tho steep slopes will grow nothing but bush, and when, this is destroyed the uplands will remain bleak and bare. Moreover, tho slaughter oi the forest will allow the torrents after heavy rain to pour down unimpeded into the river, and so help to make a sudden flood. Similar vandalism has been committed near the picturesque Waitomo Caves. There was a lovely spot in this limestone country, where the tree fern made fairy bowers ; the Maori demolished the pretty green things with axo and fire. ) Fortunately, the unaesthetic natives have not yet begun to mar the landscape between Pipiriki and Taumaranui.