CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6570, 7 December 1882, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

PROPOSED PURCHASE OF THE WAITAKEREI RANGES. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Auckland has become the chief city of the colony, and in all probability is destined in the near future to become the Empire City of the South Sea. Rer geographical position, magnificent harlxr.r. and splendid climate will raise her to that exalted position ; in the face of political disadvantages, heart-burnings, and jealousies, the industry and energy of her citizens liave. raised her to be what she now is—the first city in the colony. When this season of the year comes round, the hard-working citizen looks forward to enjoy his holiday. Rut where can the intelligent thinking portion spend their holiday ? Rotorua and Waiwera are too far off and expensive ; all may not care for the racecourse. Waitakerei Knnjres seems to be the only cheap and enjoyable place, and is now being largely patronised. Here the student of botany and geology ■will find ample scope, varied with the beauty and wonders of nature, of no ordinary kind. But, Sir, all these ranges are private property, and you are simply a trespasser. There are many good substantial reasons why these ranges ought to become the property of the City of Auckland. They would make for the city a noble and princely park, worthy of this first of cities. These ranpes then, with their forests, birds, flowers, and insects could be preserved to posterity in their primitive state. I venture to say that in fifty years hence the noble kauri, monarch and patriarch of the forest, whose age you must count by centuries, will have become a thing of the past, together with the kiwi and wild pigeon. As the moa is to us, such will these be to our grandchildren ! Were there a single live specimen of this gigantic bird now, say in Otago, with what eagerness would we run to behold him ! In like manner would our Southern friends of fifty years hence haste to teast their eyes on the last representatives of the stately kauri. Sir, apart from this, in a £ s. d. matter-of-fact view of the case, these ranges ought to be purchased by the city. For homesteads and farms they are useless, and could be now purchased for a mere trifle. Before many years, when all the high levels around the city are built upon, other water supply than the present will be required. Then gravitation will he found cheapest. A gravitation water supply can only be had from these ranges. Nihotupu and Waitakerei rivers here take their rise, within some few hundred yards of each other, and the whole of their watershed ought to be secured ; for when cleared of bush, there will be no river there. As the crow flies these ranges are not more than ten miles from the city. From Waikomiti to Waitakerei West is some miles ; this, by four broad, will give an area of some 20,000 acres. This would include the above rivers, many fine clumps of kauri, the waterfalls, and many wonderful things besides.—l am, &c, Settler.