A FOREST RESERVE AT WAITAKEREI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9496, 27 April 1894, Page 4

A FOREST RESERVE AT WAITAKEREI.

The City Council last night unanimously concurred in the request made by the large and influential deputation which waited upon them in reference to securing-a forest reserve at Waitakerei. The object of making the reserve was pointed out by Professor Thomas and Mr. Upton, and Mr. Devore stated what he had done in the way of having pieces of land set aside, and directed attention to the importance of the matter in. view of an addition to the sources of water supply for the city. The committee appointed will look into the details, so that the Council may go to the Government with a specific request. It must be remembered that no demand will be made to the Government to purchase land in order to hand it over to the city, nor will the Council ask for any land which will be profitable to the Government for the purposes of settlement. The land comprised in these reserves is quite valueless except for such a purpose as the Council would put it to, in which respect indeed it will be exceedingly precious to Auckland in the future. The kauri trees on it will be preserved, and persons will not be allowed to shoot birds over it, nor to hunt kiwis, which are at present tolerably numerous. If this opportunity is neglected, in a few years we shall be bitterly regretting our apathy, and the citizens of Auckland who come after us would award us no small measure of blame. ' We do not think that the Government will make any difficulty in acceding to the request of the Council.