UNSIGHTLY SCORIA PITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 156, 30 June 1914, Page 8

UNSIGHTLY SCORIA PITS

DESTROYING BEAUTY SPOTS,

ROAD BOARD'S PROTEST,

APPEAL TO PARLIAMENT.

I The assistance of members of the Legislatere from tho Auckland district is being invited by Mr. 11. 15. Morton, chairman of the One tree Hill Road Board, in the hopo that some means may be devised to protect the volcanic hills in the neighbourhood of the city from destruction by quarrying operations. Advice lias been given by the board's solicitors that it haa no legal power to prevent the opening of a quarry on Mount St. John, but Mr. Morton is hopeful that the threatened injury to the hill may be obviated. Auckland M.P.'s Approached. A letter has been addressed by Mr. Morion to each of the Auckland members of the House of Representatives, and of the Legislative Council, drawing their attention to the destruction of the various volcanic hills, and suggesting that unless some action is taken in a few years all these beautiful hills will be scarred with pre-

cipitous workings, which will irreparably injuro their appearance, and will leave only the summits, which are reserved as public domain.-., enclosed by high cliffs of scoria. ''It is often alleged that the scoria must he had for the maintenance of roads, - ' Mr, Morton continues, " hut it is obvious that the time has arrived for a more durahlo materia! for use in road-making, and, even admitting any such necessity, it would he better that one or two hills should be doomed rather than they should all be injured. Mount Smart and Mount Albert arc almost irretrievably injured. The only practical solution of the difficulty seems to bo for the New Zealand Government to take the sides of all these hills under the Public Works Act. and to charge the local bodies concerned, say, one-half of the interest and sinking fund until the cost is repaid. They could cither be added to the existing summit domains or, where not suitable for public use, could be I leased to owners of the adjoining lands." Messrs. Winstone's Intentions. The area now under discussion is the property of Mr. Henry Maxfield. Application has been made by Messrs. Win- | stone, Ltd., for access to'tlie property, it being understood by the board that their 1 intention is to open a quarry. A member of the firm stated yesterday that the appearance of the hill was not"at all endangered by the. proposed work. It was the intention of the owner to divide his property into building sections, and, in order that his plans could be carried out, a small portion of the hill would be cut away. Commenting on this statement, Mr. Morton said a similar explanation had been given to him by Mr. Maxfield, but the formation of the property was so steep that the beauty of the hill would be destroyed whether the land was excavated for villa sitej or to secure supplies of scoria. Public Meeting Suggested. Sympathetic interest in the efforts of the One-tree Hill Board was expressed yesterday by the Mayor of Auckland. "The destruction of a beautiful mountain is too dear a price to pay for any utilitarian scheme," said Mr- Parr. j " Mount St. John is one of the prettiest of the volcanic cones, and its destruction simply cannot be permitted." The Mayor added a suggestion that a public meeting should be called to urge upon the Government the necessity (or protecting the hill by special legislation if necessary. Civic League Alert. The injury to the Auckland bills by quarrying has been noticed by the Civic League, and a committee of that organisation has made a report to it upon the extent of the damage that has already been done. The conclusion at which the committee arrived is that there is no question between having good roads or preserving the hills, as scoria is a bad and perishable material for road-making, i and much inferior to basaltic rock. The I report states that if scoria were, necessary, large supplies could bo obtained from the surface at Rangitoto without injury Ix-ing done. The question is between the immediate profits of a comparative!*' fewcitizens and the good of the city and the whole body of its inhabitants, present and future.