THAT GORSE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 36, 6 November 1907, Page 5

THAT GORSE.

THE LAND OWNERS' POINT OF VIEW. • "The Corporation have been worrying mo aljout chat gorse," said an ngitated : looking Property Owner to a Dominion representative. "What do you-think of it?" The near distance was occupied by,, a* steeply cut bank, which, whore not gorseclad, - showed tho' rotten rock formation "so characteristic of Wellington. Tho sort of stuff that erodes under tho weathor and, ■where not conserved by gorse.or bush, sheds long slides of rubble down the hillsides. Tho gorse itself was just gorse—a cheery optimist flourishing on a,precipice, and illnniinating the scene with oceans of goldon bloom. "The funny thing,", said Property Owner, "is that the Corporation owns tho top of that bank, while I own the lower part. The Corporation has as big n crop of gorse as I have, and is not touching it." "Thoy would not liavo the composure to bring you to court when thoir abutting property is carrying the same crop?" "1 don't know. A number wero fined last year. When the Corporation mean business they begin to cut their own gorse, just to improve their position in Court." ■ "Do you ■ think they mean business this time?"

"Well, the inspector told me I, must grub it out. Fancy grubbing on tho face of that bank. I asked him if tlio'Corporation would bo liable for consequent damage to property, when the bank comes down."

Owing the amount of excavation required to build ithe city of Wellington, which for the most part is carved out of tho hillsides, tho presence of a large number of steep banks is inevitable, and without somo binding vegetation they are a source of danger as well as an oyesoro. Whore tho ,builuor has carved out a ledgo in tho hillside —just-enou'gh to anchor a house, which is a fine two-storied residence in front and a cramped one-story place at the roar—gorso often springs up on tho scarped face in order to hide its nakedness, to act as substitute for tho vegetable garden and flower bods which should be ana aro not, and to brighten ' tho precincts of buildings whoso back premises aro hardly in countciianco with their imposing fronts. Unfortunately, gorse is a noxious weed. Officialdom cannot recognise that it has any mission in life—except on tho Town Belt. _■ , ' • . •Meanwhile,- no ono seriously thinks that thero is to be any real attempt to put the house in order, and the prospects of. next year's gorse crop can hardly be said' to bef seriously affeoted-