CITY AMENITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 21005, 20 January 1932, Page 6

CITY AMENITIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It is questionable whether more than a very small percentage of our population realises what a valuable asset Waipori is to the city from a scenic point of view, quite apart from the commercial aspect. The road to Waipori after leaving the Taieri is one of the most beautiful in the country, and fortunately has been kept unspoiled by unsightly shacks, empty tins, and other offensive debris that is so much in evidence in most of our seaside and other resorts. In this connection the City Corporation is to be congratulated on the care exercised in protecting the native bush from fire by providing excellent facilities for campers’ fires at all most favourable localities.

Nothing in the whole province can surpass in grandeur the view of the Taieri River above the power station, to be reached by a few minutes’ walk through the beech forest; but unfortunately to reach this spot one has reluctantly to pass through a disused workmen’s camp containing the usual assortment of debris. Not even a wrellclefmed path exists to suggest that beyond this obstacle lies Otago’s most beautiful scenic gem, nor does even a track carry one more than 100yds or so into the forest. While this is one of the few spots where our twin pests —gorse and broom—have not taken possession, there is a likelihood of this happening unless prompt action is taken, as there are a number of broom bushes heavily laden with seed to be found hero and there along the water’s edge, also an occasional gorse bush. May I suggest that while we have so many men being employed in many cases on utterly useless undertakings a small gang be housed in the now disused workmen’s camp and employed in cleaning up the camp, forming a footpath through the forest for a mile or so overlooking the river, and grubbing all gorse and broom in the valley above the power station before it is too late?—l am, etc., Clean Up. January 20.