ON THE HILLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17614, 19 October 1917, Page 9

ON THE HILLS.

THE PUBLIC RESERVES. FURTHER PROPOSALS BY MR ELL. Speaking to a representative of the "Lyttelton Times" yesterday, Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., said ho wished the public to know more about the position . of the towbouse at Dyer's Pass. Tho cost or the house, with furnishing, was provided by several public-spirited citizens _in money advanced for wages and material, and for the furniture, chinaware, etc. Some of the articles were presented, others were supplied at cost, and some at' a discount as a concession for the benefit of the public. • , All the profits on the sale of reff shments were used for payment, first, or the salary of the lady in charge, and for any extra assistance, and then in payment of interest, which did not exceed 6 per cent, the balance to go towards tho creation of a sinking fund to pay off the debt on the house, furniture, etc.. and, after providing for all this, towards the payment for the 272 acres forming tho Sugar Loaf Scenic Reserve and also for making pathways alongthe face of the cliffs on Sugar Loaf Hill. The public, therefore, would see that they had a special interest m the success of the toll-house tea rooms, as it will enable the honorary trustees to pay off the debt on the toll-house and that fine public reserve, Sugar Loaf Hill. To preserve the beauty of the view from the terrace and loggia of the tollhouse, Mr Ell approached the owner of the Cashmero Estate with a proposal to sell, but only for the purpose of planting with every variety of native trees, shrubs and plants that would grow there, about sixteen or twenty acres at the head of Cashmero Valley, directly in front of the toll-house and below Dyer's Pass and Summit Roads, where those roads joined'at the hill-top. In a few years the rough gullies and steop hill faces below the toll-house would present a very pretty sight, which would _ increase in beauty every, year. His idea is to plant, in suitable situations, kauris, rimus, black and white pines, yellow or silver pines, pukateas, the different kinds of beeches, totaras, tree ferns, clematis and other native plants. 'ihe public would be interested to learn, continued Mr Ell, that, trough th« generosity of Mr G. Mitchell, of Governor's Bay, the pathway along the face of the cliffs of Sugar Loaf Hiil would be continued until it reached tho Summit Road track on the north side of Sugar Loaf Hill. . That pathway would be known as Mitchell s Track. It was also intended to make another pathway, starting from Dyer's Pas 9 Road and running about 100 ft below Mitchell's Track. Like Mitchell's Track, it would pass through several patches of bush before it reached the boundary of tho Rapaki Native Reserve. A third pathway would pass higher up and along the face of tho cliffs ,about 150 ft above Mitchell's Track. These paths would make three delightful walks, sheltered from the heat of tho Bun in summer and with very pretty and varied views. A pathway along the western face of the Coronation Hill Reserve, starting from the toll-house, would roach the summit of the hill by way bf the eastern side of the hill overlooking the harbour. From that path the walker would find pleasure in the beautiful view of Port Cooper, with its many pretty bays and the ocean beyond Godley Head and Addeyley Head.