MATAIAWA DOMAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 38, 15 February 1938, Page 11

MATAIAWA DOMAIN

DELIBERATELY FIRED

"I think. the conduct of this person is most, reprehensible. The act was sheer vandalism, and it is hard to understand ,the mentality of a person who would deliberately set fire to a plantation of this kind," said Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt, in regard to a report from the reserves committee. The report stated that a grass fire in the Mataiawa reserve did a considerable amount of damage. "The occurrence is the more regrettable owing to the fact that the grass was deliberately set on fire in more than one place, and although the matter was placed in the hands of the police and the alleged culprit questioned, the police advised that the evidence was not sufficiently strong to justify prosecution being proceeded with. Several trees were irreparably damaged, and more to a lesser degree, and it is hoped that they will recover from the effects of the burning." The Mataiawa Domain is a hillside area in the Normandale gully, and has been set aside by the council for the planting of native trees and shrubs. Already it is well stocked with natives, and it is hoped to include a specimenof every native tree in the Dominion. The Superintendent of Reserves, Mr. E. Hutt, states that there was clear evidence of deliberate intent, fires being started, in several places among the dry grass by means of paper.