PARITUTU AS A RESERVE,

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1931, Page 8

PARITUTU AS A RESERVE,

The suggestion that Paritutu and the three islands' contiguous to that hill be made a civic reserve for New Plymouth will receive general approval. There is no more outstanding natural feature in the landscape of the Dominion than Paritutu, the principal of the “sugar loaves” described by Cook in the homely language that characterised his records and the nomenclature of his discoveries. In addition it holds a prominent position in the history of Taranaki in pre-European days and through the troublous years when Western civilisation was finding its way to New Zealand without the power of authority to guide and restrain. Geologically the hill is unique, and for this alone its preservation from destruction or abuse would be justified. The land it is proposed to include in the reserve is unlikely to be required for other purposes for many years to come. When the development of the district has reached the stage of requiring all the other areas nearer the port the wisdom of retaining the Paritutu reserve will be the more apparent. The proposal to plant the reserve and make walks through it is quite sound. The negotiations between the Harbour Board and the New Plymouth Borough Council are being conducted in quite the right spirit. It can be understood that the civic authorities must be cautious in regard to undertakings that may mean expenditure without any direct return. Nevertheless it is their duty to take a long view, particularly in regard to matters like public reserves or services. It is pleasing to note that this is being recognised by both the local authorities concerned, and that there is every likelihood of the Paritutu reserve being added to the fine public assets of the province.