VANDAMSIi

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13841, 22 December 1908, Page 5

VANDALISM.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — A paragraph in this evening's Herald refers to the "ringing" of some pines in the neighbourhood of the Esplanade, and all right-thinking people will agree with you that such v&ndfcriism is greatly to be deplored. But who can blame the poor, ignorant hoodlum whene he has the example <jf the Vestry of St. Mary's Church, whose wanton destruction of the ivy which was such an adornment of that edifice has caused surprise and pain to all who have Been the result of their ill-directed efforts? No doubt it was that example which led to the destruction of a large and shapely elm tree, one of tho few good specimens in the neighbourhood of New Plymonth, which adorned the late Mrs Muggendge's property, immediately opposite tho Jhtzrojr railway station. One day it was' a thing of beauty and a joy to the passing traveller ; the next it lay prostrate and in process of conversion into firewood. Of course, the owner had a right to do what he liked wi^h his own, which is more than be said of St. Mary's Vestry.— l am, ct xr' ™ • S.A.D. New Plymouth, Dec. 21; 1908.