SIGNS ERECTED

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 4

SIGNS ERECTED

INSTRUCTIONS FOR VISITORS.

innovation at brooklands. Painted signs giving information to visitors are now set up at Brooklands, New Plymouth, and the members of the ground staff have remarked on the effects of the innovation. The explicit instructions are observed by the public and in consequence supervision of the gardens during holidays is becoming a comparatively light task. The destructions or mutilation of signs was a recurrent trouble in Pukekura Park and Brooklands, said Mr. T. Horton,- the superintendent, but it was one that was difficult to check. Practically all the temporary signs that he had put up to direct visitors through the bush and to places of particular interest had been destroyed. It was rather a gamble to erect signs at all, but the need for them was imperative.

Deliberate vandalism and theft of plants has not been reported for some weeks, but Mr. Horton emphasised the danger of fires being caused by. carelessness. The hot weather has dried up the fallen pine needles in the Park and it requires only a lighted match to start a blaze which would do considerable damage, particularly to the young trees and shrubs. Fires have broken out this year and have seriously harmed several specimens, the flame scorching the trunks and killing the young saplings. Workmen have removed the pine needles from the neighbourhood of the paths, but if people wander off these sufficient fuel is lying on the ground to provide a serious outbreak.