AGRICULTURAL BUSH RESERVE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2702, 10 February 1876, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL BUSH RESERVE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — Allow me to protest in your columns against Mr Milne's letter in the Weekly Herald, of January 29th being accepted as a true statement of the case. I quite agree with him that it was hard he should not have heen able by tlie rules of elections to reply to Mr Ballance on the nomination day, but I must disagree entirely with him in his view of the state of the bush. Ist. As to the heading of the article for which I presume the paper ia responsible, lt is spoken of as the " Marton Reserve" ; now, the bush ia probably of ;less importance to Marton than to any other part of the Agricultural Reserve, as the supply for the township is drawn from the direction of Mcßeth's, as there is a good metalled road and the distance is less. It was for this reason in a great measure as well as for conveniencs that when taking round the letter for signatures, I placed a copy in tho hands of Mr Beaven, thus separating the two parts of the district. I repeat that the letter then stated that we have no right to a single acre of bush elsewhere, and if by Mr Bruce's courtesy some of his friends are allowed to get firewood from his grounds, it is no argument in favour of taking away our ewe lamb. 2nd. Mr Milne states that " few, if any, loads of wood have been taken thence since the memorial." This is not only a mistake, but is calculated to mislead. Mr Milne must know that until the commencement of the shearing time the road was bad, and that since that time the farmers' who use the bush have been busy with their crops. I myself had three loads out of this bush within a few days of the memorial, have had twelve out since, and have not had the smallest difficulty in getting it beyond the felling and splitting, and I have not brought away a stick of other than Manuka. 1 also know of a near neighbour who has had two loads out lately. I repeat the assertion that there is a good deal of Manuka to be easily got at, besides many large trees on the banks of the gully, there is also plenty of Maieri, besides other inferior kindo of firewnnd, nearly all of which are at all events better to burn than gum. Apoligising for the length of this letter, I am, &c, Thomas Awdri'. Tadcroft, February Bth, 187 G.