OUR BEAUTY SPOTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20217, 30 March 1929, Page 14

OUR BEAUTY SPOTS.

Sir, —Hilda Kean's able article deserves thoughtful consideration. Locally Rangitoto may be cited. There the gradual effects of granting quarrying and residential rights, together with the continued vandalism of thoughtless visitors and the detrimental results of introduced animal life, are leading up to the ultimate destruction, as such, of what has been scientifically declared to be one of the most unique of botanical places. There is no effective supervision, for it is a gross absurdity to pay a caretaker £5 per annum for duties which he has neither the time nor incentive to fulfill. In the Auckland Domain the unique native vegetation is likewise disappearing. This is due to a lack of any active policy, of conservation, or replanting of areas therein with native trees, which aggressive exotics have displaced. Here a mere fraction of the largo sums spent on other elaborate improvements would effect much to preserve the native flora struggling to assert itself. Our Albert Park and other city park areas are unduly monopolised by exotics. Pines, oaks, ash, elm, etc., are everywhere, where native trees would equally well thrive and be of much more interest and of value ornamentally. The tree planting season is at hand, and it is certainly well worth the consideration of all controlling bodies affecting public areas, church and school grounds, etc., to decide on planting schemes, whereby our native flora receives a preferential treatment. Rakau-Maori.