Picnic Refuse At Lake Kaniere

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1949, Page 3

Picnic Refuse At Lake Kaniere

Sir.—On Monday, in beautiful weather, I was privileged to visit that wonderful scenic reserve, Lake Kaniere, and was greatly impressed with the beauty of the native bush, the fern-lined driveway and the lake itself set like a silver sheet amid the bush-clad hills.

As our car wended its way around the lake shores we came to our resting place, only to be confronted with a mass of refuse strewn over many yards—refuse evidently left by,some untidy-minded individuals who had, by all appearances, just recently used the spot as a picnic ground. On my return to Greymouth that evening I read in the evening Star that a business firm had conveyed its staff to Lake Kaniere the Saturday before for their annual picnic. Would I be wrong in suggesting that these people were responsible for the refuse that marred the beauty of this scenic delight? I have oft heard of the great civic pride displayed by West Coasters, but, if this is a sample of that same pride, then I can only come to the conclusion that civic pride in these parts is a thing “oft spoke of” yet “ne’er displayed.” One can only express the hope that the authorities will make for clealiness by refusing the right to parties who have shown then’ unwillingness to make tidy for those who follow them. Yours etc. WELLINGTONIAN.

Greymouth, March 15. The above lettei’ was referred to the secretary of the social club connected with the Greymouth firm referred to by the correspondent. He states that he is at a loss to understand the complaint, as absolutely no refuse was left at the lake by his party. All members carried their provisions in baskets ox- lunch tins, and there were no papers to be left lying round. In addition, the area was cleaned before the bus left on the return journey. “The correspondent has not made it cleax- as to which side of the lake he refers. There was a much larger picnic than ours neax' the boatsheds and perhaps he is confused,’"'added the social secretary.—Editor, Evening Star.