THE BIG TREE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4523, 14 January 1942, Page 5

THE BIG TREE

TRIMMED OR HACKED ? PUBLIC INDIGNATION “Unmitigated vandalism; that is all I can stigmatise it!” In this emphatic manner, an indignant citizen, who was supported by a number of others, expressed his amazement at the treatment to which The Big Tree-r-Te Awamutu’s historical landmark—had this week been subjected. Big boughs at the base have been completely removed, leaving an ugly .gap. which action has cause much indignation among townspeople. Interviewed this morning, the Mayor (Mr L. G. Armstrong), who is also chairman of the local Domain Board, stated that the latter body had nothing whatever to do with the matter. The Postmaster (Mr A. H. Laybourn), when approached on the subject. said it had been represented to him that the boughs of the tree were a danger to the telegraph lines, and permission had accordingly been secured from the competent authority in Wellington to trim the tree. He had then issued instructions accordingly to tip the boughs. Residents can, by inspecting The Big Trye, judge’for themselves what an undesirable interpretation has been out on the word “trimming.” The Domain Board, as custodian of the people’s heritage, should enter a most emphatic protest to the proper authorities in order to prevent a repetition of an action which must be roundly condemned.