THE TOWN BELT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22710, 24 October 1935, Page 19

THE TOWN BELT

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, —Much has been said about our wonderful reserve, and perhaps more could be said on both sides of the question to advantage. I have known and loved the Town Belt for 50 years, mute I first wandered over it &9 a young man from the Old Land. Forty-five years ago there was a great depression in New Zealand and a canvass was made of Dunedin and suburbs, with the result that some three or four thousands pounds were gathered, and very much of it was used in payment of wages to those of out work (at 4s 6d per day), mainly in forming pathways through the Belt and in the planting of trees. Some nurserymen, instead of giving money, gave trees of all kinds. Most of the trees they gave were the unsaleable ones outof their nurseries, as a friend of mine who was in the business told me. He said, "I was glad to get rid of them." There were not many native trees amongst them. ■ Overloading the Belt with a lot of these unsuitable trees ban done much to destroy the ferns, etc., which will not nourish under pinus insignia and the like. It 1 seems to me that the bad example set by the "generous" donors has been too , much followed by those who control things now. Many years ago old Dr D. ' M. Stuart did what he could to interest I the youth of our district by offering a i prize for the best essay on the "Trees of our Town Belt." Could our Education Board or our school teachers not I bestir themselves to work up some inj telligent interest > along these lines? Or maybe the Amenities Society could exer--1 cise its energy in this way.—l am, etc., Roslyn.