THE HILLS OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 14

THE HILLS OF AUCKLAND.

Sir,—The ruthless assault upon the glorious intls oi Auckland must greatly siiock every sensitive soul. It is a lorm oi savagery that knows no sentiment, no poetry, no romance —not even commonisnse. Uur choicest literature suggests tint thought that our hills are "uod's thoughts piled up." With every step upward how our vision expands! And, as we obey that instinctive call of the hills and of nobility to "conie up higher," hp*v tlie little frictions of life roil away as the world recedes beneath •is' Lifted up to far horizons and great hevonds, challenged to new wonder and praise, life takes on a deeper and wider value and we drink deeply of the elixir of the hills! Surely this recreative impulse of our glorious hills, given to all without, money and without price, ha.u, in final analysis, a more real utilitarian value to the community than the price of just so much scoria to a few individuals ! What madness is it that values these incomparable hills only by the measure of so much road surface ? What devilry is it that, delights in ghastly disfigurement of beautiful and historic eminences rather than in comely garments of native flora! Why is it tint the two dominant -features of Auckland's native beauty and peculiar charm—the waterfront and the hills—are so fiercely and ruthlessly attacked ? Mount Kderi, Mount Hohson. Mount St John, Mount Wellington, Mount Albert, Mount JPtos kill, Mount Smart, the Three Kings (»ave one) —everywhere—north, south, east arid west, the grossest despoliation and the most wicked vandnlism. Cannot something he done to outlaw such frinv * If I may be permitted to adapt some of Wordsworth's lines • Ts thrre no nook of Auckland ground secure From rash assault? How can we this blight endure! And must we, too, the ruthlcs chsnne bemoan. Whr. Hcorn a nM'.itn)isr hire 'Mid our paternal hills at random ' ths threat, bright act-my from hilb he'oved. Given to the pausing traveller's raptured glance. Pl«»iid for thy life< thcu besutifvl romnnfiji Of nature; and. if human hearts hedrad, SpejiV passing winds, ye torrents with your mtrong j. AnA constant votes, protest asainst the wrong. Auckland. A. .T. Staixworthy

Sir,—Not withstanding all the porop that accompanies the territorial expansion of the city by absorption of contiguous boroughs, there are disquieting evidences that the Aucklander of to-day is not as moral a. man as his father was. Let me cite one illustration. Let the hill* of Auckland speak, and no longer be led as a lamb to the slaughter! Our forebears acknowledged these hills as being worthy of veneration, and associated them in grateful metnorv with illustrious kings, soldiers and divines. Mount Albert, Mount Wellington, Mount St. John! fhu» ? what was outstanding in nature wus joined in appropriate symbolism with epoch and achievement in human history. Reverent gratitude for a noble heritage indicated a succession of moral cense which could appreciate the moral values that had *OO so rich a heritage. It also prompted a nomenclature that should make the hills a perpetual remembrance of spiritual values. To day, there appears to be a brutal disregard of both hills and symbols, as if, in a passion of forget fulness, we cared nothing for wither the Great Architect of the Universe or for history. We are pulling them down, or, like St. Patji, consenting to #«« them pulled down an 4 trodden underfoot. Those hitlls, those heroes! To our " shame, a power the thirst for gold, that rule* o'er men like a baneful star, wills that your peace, your beauty, shall be sold." Oh, for a new vision, that the people may not perish. Nemesis.