OHOPES NATIVE BUSH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 95, 5 July 1946, Page 5

OHOPES NATIVE BUSH

A VALUABLE ASSET OPENING-UP SUGGESTED “The whole point is, we are afraid of what might happen in the event of fire. Ohope cannot afford to run the risk of losing such a valuable asset.” In these words did Mr H. C. McCready sum up the feeling of the County Council with regard to the opening to visitors of the large area of native bush in the vicinity of the Captain’s Cabin Hall. The question as to why the -bush should not be properly laid out in paths and walks, and opened to visitors and residents, was put at the meeting of ratepayers and residents which took place at Ohope recently. Continuing, Mr McCready said that Ohope should have learnt a lesson from the last flood, when logs qnd debris were piled high in the creek and on the roadway, below the bush which it was now requested should be opened. If this were done, and a fire swept through, the whole hillside would be denuded. In the event of another sustained fall of heavy rain, the amount of debris which would come down would be colossal.

Continuing on the advisability of ,opening the bush, one ratepayer suggested that the council was actually running more risk through vandalism in keeping the bush closed, than it would be if it were opened up. In addition, if paths were laid down, and the bush opened up, it would constitute one of the most beautiful walks in New Zealand.

“Perhaps it would,” concluded Mr McCready. “It is at present one of the most valuable pieces of bush in •New Zealand, and we cannot run the risk of losing it. That is my attitude •on the point, and I intend to stick to it.”