WAKE UP!

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 8

WAKE UP!

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l notice that Mr. yon Haast, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Forestry League, said: "I regard with some apprehension the work that has been carried out in the Botanical Gardens." Now, Sir, this is a splendid heritage which has been handed down to us by the early pioneers of Wellington. To think that iv the heart of Wellington there lies a tract of native bush is a wonderful thing, and that wonderful thing is in very great danger of passing from us through the policy of those in charge. If the citizens of Wellington don't wake up soon they will find that instead of a closely wooded area of native bush and scrub they will find themselves possessed of hillsides' of rhododendrons. Rhododendrons can be planted anywhere, but who can replace the native bush, which in its turn attracts hundred of native birds?' Extensive cuts have been made everywhere in the manuka, and new paths cut in the native bush. Once this is done the wind gets in,' visitors .make short cuts; down the hillsides,- and gradually all tbe undergrowth vanishes—and that is' the end of tho bush. ■ . , ~ I also noticed that up behind the stables many native trees had been cut down in the last*year or two and the inevitable rhododendrons planted, in their place, which" seemed a great prty. «ls true, as Mr. yon Haast says, that some beautiful tree ferns have been planted, and also kowhais, but ,very, few, and how long does the bush take to grow up? I do hope something,will be done to stop this work of destruction and that no more paths-and what is worse, cart roadswill be cut through,the bush.—l am, etc., SAVE THE BUSH.