KAURI GULLY AS A SCENIC RESORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13095, 7 February 1906, Page 6

KAURI GULLY AS A SCENIC RESORT.

■'. PETITION TO THE MINISTER.

With a view to preserving the beautiful native bush and specimens of kauri and other timbers that exist at what is now known as Kauri Gully, extending from the Birkenhead Main Road to Shoal Bay, a petition signed by about 200 residents in the vicinity is being forwarded to Sir Joseph Ward, as Minister in charge of the Tourist department, asking that about 24 acres of Kauri Gully be reserved 'as a scenic reserve. Tlio, gully is only a.bout thirty minutes' "walk from the Northcotc Wharf.

='• The petition sets out that Kauri Gully contains many tine specimens of native trees, including kauri, totara, rimu, puriri, lancewb'od, punga ferns, a. large variety of native shrubbery, and smaller ferns, and two or •.three small cascades. •It is understood that ■ the purchase and preservation of the gully for the education and use of the people was •urgently recommended by the Scenery Commissioners, and that a vote was placed upon the Estimates for the purchase of about 24 acres of the gully, and that the matter was relegated to the Tourist Department. Considerable damage has been done to some of the kauri trees, including the giant tree, by bleeding them. Fires have been lighted under the roots of the giant tree, so that this fine specimen is in imminent danger of being destroyed, while destruction by fire is also threatened to the surrounding bush.. Some fine totaras have also been cut down, and the timber removed. It is further urged that tracks be formed through the gullv, and improvements effected to render the locality available as a tourist resort.