CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9122, 1 July 1891, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

We are not responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. Ths writer's n.tmo, as n cruavanteeof jtoodfaitb, must b 8 enolosed in tin lattor.l

CUTTING DOWN THE TREES.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — A gentleman was in tho Govovnmont Buildings a few days ago, and noticing tho drooping cuds o£ tho branches of tho microcarpa beautifully defined against tho cleav blue sky, ho could not help expressing his admiration, "But,* 1 said an oflicial, " theso trees are about to bo cut down," " Cut down ! said tho gentleman in astonishment. "Yes," whoso doing is that ? " Mr Smith" waa the reply. " What has ho to do with it ? Surely the Crown Lands Commissioner won't agreo to that !" "He can't help it," said tho official, " ho is overruled from Wellington."

My object in relating this incidont is to draw attention, bofoio it is too late, to this proposed act of vandalism. Hero is tho only part of our streets which has been beautified by trees about to be turned into a blank dusty waste meroly, I understand, because some membors of tho Council want to asphalt tho path. Surely this improvement ? would be obtained at too groat a sacrifice I maintain, that tho 'difficulty of tho oncroachment of tho roots of the trees can bo obviated by cutting a trench along the side of the path opposite the two or three that offend, and thus stopping future oncroachmonts. If this bo objected to, then lot us havo tho trees and tho pathways as they are. I'm sure there aro many works ! more urgently needed than the asphalting of tho pathways around tho Government Buildings — pathways that aro by no means bad. At any rate tho ratepayers who are now called upon to pay twopence in tho £ extra for general rates would be glad to be spared the expenditure. To wind up at the starting point : What a spectacle is this to find the municipal authorities using Mr Smith to bring pressure to bear upon the Government to get that done which is opposed to reason and common sense ! If this combination is to prevail, then for years to come those who have to work at, or resort to, the Government Buildings are to be deprived of the benefit which these trees afford in sheltering the pl.ice from the wind, the sun, and theclust; and of course we must not expect any shelter during moonlight concerts. If this is a sample of Borough management the sooner we have a change the better. — I am, &c, Ratepayer.