WANTON DESTRUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 20592, 18 September 1930, Page 16

WANTON DESTRUCTION

BEAUTIFUL DAFFODIL FIELDS DEVASTATED “ 1 didn’t know,” or “ other people are doing it,” were the excuses offered by some of those discovered by the superintendent of reserves, Mr J. A. M Pherson, and a party of Invercargill city councillors and executive officers, digging up the beautiful daffodils at Daffodil Bay (says tho ‘Sou*bland News ’). Some even went further than this and uttered abuse when reproved by the party and ordered relinquish their prizes. This discovery was made ,m Sunday morning, when the visitors found quite large parties of men and women picking the daffodils, digging up the bulbs, and even carrying then wantonness to tho extent of throwing the beautiful blooms on the ground. These plants were presented some years ago by Mr C. S. Longuet, and tho scone when first they appeared in bloom was one of singular beauty. Great indignation was expressed by Mr M'Pheram at the disgraceful conduct of tho irresponsible men and women who yesterday were so lacking in appreciation of beauty as to wilfully and wantonly destroy these delightful flowers. “ Sunday’s scene is the last straw,’ said Mr MTherson to a ‘ News ’ reporter. “In one hour no fewer than 10,000 blooms were con ; fiscated from various people, some of whom actually professed indignation at our action. ’Never before have L seen so beautiful a scene laid to such utter waste in a few hours. From row on any person found interfering with the vegetation or disturbing Hie ground or vegetation at Sandy Point, or indeed at any other part, will be very severely dealt with. 1 shall in every case ask for the maximum penalty. The people of this city, brought up as they have been among many beautiful reserves, should have a greater appreciation of things beautiful. Tt is, of course, only a certain section which indulge in such vandalism, but f feel constrained to remark hero that only last season tho narcissi naturalised in the grass at Queen’s Park were pulled to pieces. Children were allowed to pluck them and pull them to pieces. The time has come when some definite action must bo taken. Since I have been superintendent of reserves many unsightly fences have been removed, and the appearance of tho reserves consequently improved, but no sooner was this done than cyclists were riding everywhere. In the future every bylaw in connection with the reserves will be strictly enforced so far as lies within my power.”