FALL OF A TOTARA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22259, 11 May 1934, Page 3

FALL OF A TOTARA

AN INDIGNANT RATEPAYER LETTERS TO PENINSULA COUNCIL. Recent newspaper correspondence protesting against the destruction of a totara tree at the Peninsula County Council's reserve at Smith's Bay was read by the chairman (Cr H. Macandrew) at yesterday's meeting of the County Council. The discussion arose from a letter by S. N. Muir (Broad Bay)., who wrote drawing attention to what lie described as "an act of vandalism" involving the loss of an ornament to the locality. " The native bush here is one of the assets of the place," he added, " and it i« a shame that it should be destroyed. I trust your council will take some prompt action in the matter and so prevent any further damage to the bush." The county clerk reported that he had advised the writer of the letter that the tree was removed with the permission of the council, and subsequently two other letters, were received from the same writer asking if the tree had been cut down on the recommendation of any councillor; by whom it had been cut down; whether anything was paid for it; and at what meeting of the council permission to cut the tree was

given. The chairman read the newspaper correspondence on the subject and commented: "These letters came pretty quickly one afler another." \ After a brief discussion Cr Nyhon said that he thought it was a waste of time to bother any more about it. "Anyway," he added, "the tree was half'rotten and was grbwingon a slopo where it was gradually sinking. There was only a little tuft on top of it." It was decided to acknowledge receipt of the letters and to advise the writer that the tree was felled with the council's permission.- " I think we might intimate that the council is quite sensible of the need for preserving beauty spots," the chairman added, "and that this tree did not comply with the council's idea of beauty." The chairman's suggestion was approved.