SCARRED HILLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 1

SCARRED HILLS

Auckland Maoris Protest Against Destructive Work HISTORIC TUHIMATA Te Akarana Maori Association is protesting against the probable quarrying of Tuhimata, an historic hill near Ramarama. fpHE Franklin County Council has leased the reserve and the association has heard that the lessee Intends to carry out quarrying of the hill immediately. In making its request to the council to prevent such work, the association is emphasising that it Is not acting entirely because of the history of the hill. It considers that scenic value should be considered, as the hill is a landmark, and argues that, scenery is public property and should not be sacrificed for the sake of private gain. The association points out the damage to vorcanic cones and headlands hoar Auckland and intends to make a strong request that Tuhimata should bo preserved. Tuhimata was once the site of an important Maori pa, and, about 1825, there was a proposal among the tribes of the southern section of the Auckland isthmus to make it a general stronghold. The suggestion was ruled out by many of the chiefs, however, on the ground that the site would not be suitable against the gunfire of the North Auckland Maoris, from whom invasions were feared. Another proposal to make it a stronghold was made before the Waikato War, Tuhimata having been an ordinary large village site about 1850 and 1860. Eventually the occupation of the hill ceased, as it was in the area confiscated from the natives. The Maori Association urges particularly that it is not desirable to allow further damage to hills in the vicinity of Auckland. Recently additional damage to Mount Albert was prevented, One Tree Hill has been made a reserve, jnS the One Tree Hill Road Board protested against quarrying on Mount Smart.