RAID ON FLOWER GATHERERS

Southland Times, Issue 23612, 13 September 1938, Page 6

RAID ON FLOWER GATHERERS

Daffodils Taken From

Daffodil Bay

SURPRISE FOR VISITORS ON SUNDAY

Persons returning from Daffodil Bay laden with daffodils on Sunday afternoon received a shock when they were accosted by two men who took their names and confiscated their blooms, which were destroyed and then thrown in a heap -on the ground. The men were stationed at the narrow entrance to the road which rims off the main Oreti Beach road, in full view of .passing motorists, some of whom watched the “trap” in operation as persons of all ages arrived with blooms. Contrary to the belief held by many, Daffodil Bay is not Invercargill City Council property, but is owned by Mr T. H. Watson, who has raised no objection to the public visiting the property. It is, however, the only means of access by road to the Sandy. Point Domain, which is vested in the City Council. An inquiry by The Southland Times last night disclosed that the men who confiscated the flowers were stationed there by Mr B. P. Mansfield (superintendent of the City Reserves Department), who stated that he had received a letter dated September 1 from Mr Watson asking him to act as ranger and stating that linauthorized persons were pulling and removing daffodils and I spoiling, the bush. ; “These daffodils were planted many years ago by public-spirited citizens, of ! whom Mr C. S. Longuet was one,” said IMr Mansfield. “They used to go down there by boat before the bridge was over the Oreti at Dunn’s road and plant the bulbs at the point. The manner in which they have been despoiled lately constitutes an act of gross vandalism, and it was considered necessary that a stop should be put to it before it was too late. It would not have been so bad if people just took a few for their own needs,’but they have been taking great bundles of the flowers. One mfin on Sunday had even dug up a number of bulbs which were found in the back of his car. It is nothing less than common theft.”

Mr Mansfield added that as superintendent of reserves he was the officer responsible for the Sandy Point Endowment and the Oreti Beach. He could not say whether those whose names were taken would be prosecuted. Exception was taken by some motorists who saw the “raid” on Sunday to the action of the two men in. destroying the flowers, instead of preserving them for distribution at the hospital, but Mr Mansfield explained that the men had gone there on bicycles and could scarcely have been expected to constitute themselves a distributing agency. They wer4 there for one purpose —to prevent further destruction.