Steps To Protect Pohutakawas At Wainui Discussed

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23217, 31 March 1950, Page 4

Steps To Protect Pohutakawas At Wainui Discussed

Of 107 pohufukatva trees plant ed on Wainui and Makarori Beaches some years ago, 7G are alive, and 31 have either died or been destroyed by fire.

So stated a report of the tourist development committee presented at the annual meeting of the GisborneEast Coast Regional Planning Council vcsterdav

The convener of the committee, Mr. B. S. Bree, said that he had visited the localities to endeavour to appraise the cost of providing better protection for the trees still alive. The majority of the growing trees had out-grown the protection provided and were being seriously damaged by passing stock, with the result that their growth was being retarded and their shapeliness destroyed. “From mv observations I reached the conclusion that the present guards should be dismantled and re-erected to enclose a greater area, sufficient to enable the trees to develop free from damage by passing cattle,” stated Mr. Bree.

“The greater portion of the existing protective material could be used for this purpose, but it would require to be reinforced by possibly 200 secondclass posts and three or four coils of barbed wire. Cost of New Material . “Depending up the extent that existing material can be used. I estimate the cost of new material at about £35. At the moment I have in hand and am promised £25. I understand the Wainui Settlers’ Association and the Wainui Sports Club mav each make a contribution ud to £lO, but this has not been confirmed. However, it would appear that the material requirements are assured.” Dealing with the question of labour, Mr. Bree said that a number of the trees had been planted on Lysnar Park. The Gisborne Borough Council, he understood, was contemplating protective measures to the trees on the property. He offered as a suggestion (hat negotiations be entered into with fhe Gisborne Borough Council and the Cook County Council for the two bodies to do the work and the sum collected to be handed over to them at the conclusion bv wav of a contribution to the cost.

Mr. Bree referred to the two spinneys of pine trees planted on the sandhills overlooking Wainui Beach past Lvsnar Park. This type of planting was more desirable from the point of view of providing shelter and shade for those who frequented that area and could with advantage be extended, but with quicker-growing varieties.. The council decided to discuss the question of the pohutakawas with the local bodies and associations. Mr. R. C. Murphy thought that the cost of the posts would entail a bigger expenditure than that estimated in the report.