THE WHANGANUI RIVER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 245, 15 October 1937, Page 6

THE WHANGANUI RIVER

Sir, —The Whanganui River is one of our greatest assets. What are we doing to assist Nature in her work of beautification? Little, I am afraid! There is room, and will be room for many years to come, for beautification in the planting of native trees. At one time I thought that a few deciduous trees planted in conspicuous places on the river banks would lead to its attractiveness. I was wrong and admit it. I don’t think we realise what a valuable asset we have given us by Nature and at no cost. I would offer here a scheme that would, in my opinion, make the rivei more attractive: In the first place cut and cut to kill all willows that shut out many beautiful vistas. I may mention here a conversation 1 had with an American lady, a fellowpassenger on the river boat. She was loud in her praises of the river scenery and said it was the most enchanting piece of scenery of the kind she had ever seen and remarked that it was a pity wj had planted so many willows, shutting out altogether beautiful vistas. I informed her that the willows were an accident as many years ago a few had been planted by the early missionaries in the upper reaches and in later years successive floods had broken off branches and twigs ana deposited them on the river banks in the silt, where they quickly grew. She retorted: “But why not cut them out?”

This done, fill in open spaces with native trees, first determining where various trees should be planted to give the best effect. There is room for thousands of kowhai on th<? more or less steep slopes; rata (Mctrosiderous), too, on the slopes. On the lower ground totara (Podocarpus Totara), rimu (Dacrydium Laxipobium), one of our most beautiful forest trees, white pin? (Dacrydium Hymen of dioides), matai (Podocarpus Spicatus), miro (Podocarpus Ferrugenia); in moist situations pukatea (Laureilia Novae‘Zealandia), karaka (Cornucarpa Levelgata), and other trees and shrubs where localities suit them. There is room for thousands of the clematis family and ideal localities in which to grow them. To make this beautiful bush more accessible I would suggest that a footbridge be erected (not a costly matter) giving access to the right bank and that a narrow path be made with an easy grade to the top of the high range from which a gorgeous view of portions of the river and surrounding country would be obtained. My object in bridging th? river is to allow school children and others to be taken into the bush in charge of a responsible person—one who was himself a bush lover who would answer any questions with regard to the bush and give the names of trees and shrubs. I submit, sir, that it would be of high educational value. We are all too ignorant of our beautiful flora, even we of mature age. We cannot estimate the value ot these river reserves in pounds, shillings and pence. They have a value far beyond that of money—an educational value, a value of its appreciation by its owners, every man woman and child in the Dominion; a value as time goes on that will increase. To bo parochial, a value from a tourist point of view.

In the river this city has an asset, a valuable asset. Being keenly interested in the flora part of it, I almost forgot the birds. What a beautiful place to go and see and hear them and make friends with them. I am hoping that someone more competent than I will take th* important matter up and offer suggestions either for or against.—l am, etc., " G. McGREGOR. Wanganui, Oct. 11, 1937.