The Feilding Star, Oraua and Kiwitea Counties Gazette. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1909. A National Park for Feilding.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 802, 12 February 1909, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oraua and Kiwitea Counties Gazette. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1909. A National Park for Feilding.

It may savour of exaggeration to refer to a domain of sixty acres as^a national park, yet there is no term .so fitting or so applicable to the spot known as "Bailey's Bush," situate in the valley behind the range of hills on the western boundary of the Feilding Borough, and within half-a-mile of the town as the crow flies. And it is this delightful beauty spot, soaccessible to the people of the district, and so rich in possibilities of educational value, which we are endeavouring to persuade the powers that be should be made the property of the people for all time. Mr D. H. I Guthrie, M.P. for Oroua, is to be i congratulated upon his promptitude lin taking the matter up, and the visit of the Secretary of the Scenery j Preservation Commission to the property yesterday is a practical step in ; the direction Of State ownership. I While it is impossible to forecast ; what the Government will do in the matter, it is not out of place to further consider the acquisition of this j splendid piece of native bush and the I purpose to which it could be put. If \the whole of the sixty acres is acquired as a scenic reserve pure and sinitole the restrictions placed upon . its «se would probably be found to be irksome to residents who desired to x/tilise it as a convenient resort, and [ -Ub has been suggested that portion of tfee property not oovered with bush, • famne twenty acres, abould be pur-

chased by the Feilding Borough Council as a domain, providing that g the Government found a portion of the purchase-money. The balance could then be purchased by the Go- \ vernment as a scenic reserve, and tbe ] bush preserved under the comprehen- < sive laws applicable to the case, lt is generally recognised that the com- ; munity which helps itself is most likely to secure assistance from the Government, and should some scheme be prepared by which earnest proof is given in "that direction, we have no doubt that still another attractive feature will be permanently added to the residential advantages of the Feilding district.. — — ■—— — — ~^~*