THE TOWN BELT.

Evening Star, Issue 2853, 11 April 1872, Page 2

THE TOWN BELT.

To the Editor. Sir, —If that great Persian legislator who deemed every man that planted ? tree a benefactor to his country could have seen the ruthless destruction of timber on the Town Belt this morning, under the supervision of a Prison overseer, he would have alarmingly wondered at our disregard of results. As even a “world-wide reputaton” could ha;dly have been considered a warranty for this destruction of a citizens’ reserve, no matter for what purpose, some authority from the Corporation must have been given for this act, and necessarily with the cognisance of his Worship the Mayor. That this universally respected gentleman should so soon have forgotten his promise to some of the residents of this neighborhood that nn more timber should be cut down on this poif tion of the Belt is a surprise to more than the writer. Putting altogether on one side the fact that the indiscriminate clearing of forest timber is now engaging the earnest attention of the whole world, it is a wellknown characteristic of the New Zealand bush that whin once opened, through the larger trees being felled, the decay of tbe undergrowth is simply a matter of time; and we who dtlightcd to look upon eur lovely portion cf the Belt—which to many was an inducement to purchase ground and build here—will, if this state of things be permitted much longer, soon have the satisfaction of viewing a barren hill, relieved by a few dead stumps. I earnctly trust that his Worship, in view of his promise, and in the interest of the citizens, will at once put a stop to any more timber being cut down. I am, &c., Ratepayer. Water of Leith, Castle street, April 9.