HILLS, TREES, AND SEA

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1924, Page 6

HILLS, TREES, AND SEA

Wellington Harbour is beautiful now. ffhe sea and the hills make a charming picture; but the charm would be enhanced if the hills had more trees to relieve their even green which in summer becomes aa even brown. The Forestry League suggested last night that Ward Island should be planted so aa. to become less of an eyesore than it is in its present barren state. Attempts have already been made by yachtsmen to plant the Island, but with little success apparently. Babbits and wind and seaspray have been too much for most of the trees hitherto. But if a further effort is made, guided by experience gained in past attempts, the planting should be successful. JSTew Zealand has several beautiful trees and shrubs which nourish in stony ground and on the edge of the shore, impart -from Ward. Island, however, there is ample scope for planting on the hills—planting for beautification, for shelter, and even for profit. The City is carrying out a forestry programme steadily, but it would not be amiss for the ForestryLeague to organise voluntary effort to speed up the programme. Then there are lands not under civic control, such as the Defence Eeserve_ on Hiramar Peninsula. The planting done there is beginning to be effective, and most people who see it ask why the planted area should not be extended. A plantation in this position would be profitable—even if the trees, when the time came to thin out' yielded only posts and firewood.'