THE GOLDEN GORSE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 54, 1 September 1913, Page 3

THE GOLDEN GORSE

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — In regard to the letter from Mr. Adam?, headed "Golden Gors*," I might say that so far as gorse improving the soil is concerned, Mr. Adams is correct. Broom does so also, or any plant ol the same family; but hpw are we to _ cut gorse on these rough hills and take it t\> where it can be crushed for feed ? In any case, as far as the Town Belt is concerned, the city requires the space for fresh ail, and not thorns, and the. sooner the council makes a proper effort to remove gorse the better for the citizens. Gorse doesn't pay to farm, except on, level land where you can use machinery for outting, and then not always; and stook prefer other feed to gorse. To take a local example: how much gorse is there catch on the near hills which have stock on ? They won't touch it in its natural state. _ Again, there is a ory about cutting bush in the Upjper Hutt Valley. What about all the g«rse and broom along the line right over the Bimutaka and the fires caused by same ? Is not the bush getting burnt back every year by gorse fires? It's high |ime a raid on gorse was made, or there won't be a bit of bush left. At York Bay some years ago a gorse fire started, and was the cause of a large area of bush being burnt at the back of Day's Bay. Gorse is what the Hutt people want to chase. It's of moredanger to the bush than the sawmill The bush should be saved from the gorse at all cost. If war breaks out, we canM hope to hold our towns, but no enemy can face us with small arms in the bußh. It's our only safe fort. _ Look at Aro-street rifle range. It's a disgrace and danger to property through gorse, and should be cleared, and proper butts formed, bo the lad« can learn to shoot. Again, I say, clear the gorse at Wilton's Bush Reserve, VTadestown, before the bush is burnt. Gorse is a danger, and is also lowering the value of property, and everybody should be compelled to dear their land, or there will soon be nothing but gorse on the hills. Then there won't be any rates to collect. No rates, no roads. — I am, etc., GRUBBER. 28th August, 1913.