JOHNSTON'S HILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 82, 8 April 1939, Page 5

JOHNSTON'S HILL

NATIVE FOREST

CHANCE OF ACQUISITION

FOR CITY RESERVE

On Johnston's Hill, at Karori, the only area of native forest besides Wilton's Bush accessible by tram from Wellington is threatened with destruction to make way for building sections, and unless rapid public support is given to the efforts of the Wellington Beautifying Society and the Karori Progressive Association to preserve the eastern face of the hill as a forest reserve and bird sanctuary the city of Wellington, already lacking in public parks, will miss its last opportunity of acquiring for all time an area of land that is almost unique.

Except for the absence of the giant matai, rimu, and totara,.. which were I cut out to provide building material for Wellington's earliest homes, " the forest on Johnston's Hill is a typicai New Zealand one and is unexcelled anywhere in the Dominion. Towering 80 feet above the floor of the bush, the lofty rewa rewa is the tallest of the trees that clothe the hillside, but it is run close by many other varieties, and the average height of the forest, though from afar it may not seem so, is 35 to 40 feet. There is a fine stand of kohe kohe, the New Zealand mahogany free, which is not usually found in such numbers as it is on Johnston's Hill, and another unusual attraction is a double-headed punga fern of almost perfect symmetry. Native shrubs and ferns flourish in profusion, providing cover for the larger trees, which are making noticeable progress.

ADVANTAGE OF PROXIMITY

After Johnston's Hill and the adjacent Wilton's Bush the nearest area of forest to the city is around Butterfly Creek, seven miles away by harbour ferry and about three more by road and track. Johnston's Hill is within three miles of the Chief Post Office and is reached by a five-minutes' walk on an easy grade from the Hatton Street tram stop. But there is a difference between the forests at the two places. At Butterfly it is a beech forest, magnificent enough, but in general interest not more attractive and botanically possibly less interesting than' the typical mixed forest at Karori. The acquisition of Johnston s Hill would also provide the city with a handy bird sanctuary. Kohe kohe, taua, and karaka trees give an abundance of berries for tuis, pigeons, and other native and exotic birds, a wide variety of which has been observed on the hillside. Forest and bird ooservers report a marked increase in the numbers of native birds throughout the North Island at least, and the provision of a sanctuary at Karon would certainly encourage bird life in that arid adjacent suburbs. MAGNIFICENT OUTLOOK

In a city famed for its panoramic views Johnston's Hill offers what is probably the most magnificent. Most of the suburbs of Wellington can be seen spread below an observer on or near the summit, the range of visibility including part at least of Karon, Nortnland» Wadestown, Highbury. Brooklyn, Oriental Bay, Roseneath, Melrose, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, and Seatoun, and from the summit there is an uninterrupted view, above the Tinakori hill, of the eastern harbour coastline from Petone to Pencarrow. To the southwest the lofty Kaikouras and even the Marlborough Sounds can bslseen on a clear day. Three roads, Hatton Street extension, Homewood Avenue, and Hauraki Street give car access:to the proposed reserve, and there is a formed drive from the Hatton Street entrance to a level ledge about half-way up the hill, which with- a little work could be made into a parking space for about a hundred cars. A gently-graded track leads from there almost to the summit, and it. has been suggested that near the top a tea kiosk and observation post would attract thousands oi visitors, especially during the months of the Centennial Exhibition.

-"Swimming pool available

Another proposal is that a swimming pool should be formed from a concrete reservoir which was built to supply the "Homewood" residence, but is not now used. It is kept filled by water piped from .a stream on the hillside. The area which it is proposed to acquire as a public reserve ■ comprises about 66 acres, and is nearly all of the side of the hill facing Karori. Of the 66 acres only a small portion is not bush-covered, and the Beautifying Society could and would easily remedy that. The boundary line of the proposed reserve at present falls just short of the hill top, but it is possible that if the major area were acquired by the public the peak itself could be purchased from its owner, and supporters of the scheme visualise the acquisition later of a strip of land which would connect the Johnston's Hill reserve with Wilton's Bush, thus providing for the city a wonderful tract of nearby forest country.

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK,

The owner of Johnston's Hill, Mr. C F. Pulley, has agreed to sell the property for use as a public reserve only, for £2500, but if the deal is not soon completed the land is to be subdivided for building. Of the £2500 required the City Council, with only one dissenting vote, has promised £1250, and the Government has agreed to making £500 available from the domains vote. There is left to collect the sum of £750 to save the area for the city. _____________