LONGBUSH RESERVE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18961, 11 March 1936, Page 11

LONGBUSH RESERVE

PROPOSED ACQUISITION

SUGGESTION REVIVED

The proposal to purchase Longbush as :i public reserve has been revived.

The Borough Council last night received a letter from Mr. G. T. Maunder, secretary of the Gisborne branch of the New Zealand Forestry League, urging that, something should be done in the matter. The letter was referred to the reserves committee. The letter stated :

“1 have been requested to place liefore you a statement as to the proposed acquisition of the area known as Longbush as a public reserve. The area is approximately 170 acres, and is situated five miles from the Borough of Gisborne. A portion, probably about. 40 to 50 acres, lias been felled, but not burnt, and a quantity of firewood removed from the more accessible parts. This area is already covered by a dense growth, partly from the stumps of the trees cut down, partly from the natural growth. The greater portion is on a steep hillside, but there is a considerable area at the foot of the hill sido which is moderately flat, besides an area between the road and the Waimata River that is quite flat. This piece of native bush is the nearest to Gisborne now left, and has been and still is an attractive spot for picnics, even though it is private property. “The owners have offered the, whole block for the sum of £950. I may say that' the Government valuation is in the neighbourhood of £6OO. It is thought that if the local bodies or other organisations could be persuaded to find a half of the purchase money, the balance could be obtained through one of the Government departments, such as the Scenery Preservation Board. It is considered, too, by some who are in a position to give an opinion, that the property could be obtained for a sum below that of the Government valuation.”

The Mayor, Mr. D. \V. Coleman, M.P., said it would be a pity if Longbush was destroyed, but he did not see what the council could do in the matter. Perhaps the reserves committee could offer a suggestion. On his proposal, the mat tot was referred to the reserves committee.