BOXTHORN HEDGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2122, 3 July 1907, Page 4

BOXTHORN HEDGES.

Mr. Matthews waited on the BortoCouncil Im(j.night jpn bQbalf or a number of people, urging tlio Council not to confirm tlio by-law relating to tlio eradication of 'boxthorn bodges. Ho said the box-thorn was not poisonous, nor did it spread, and it was a great hardship to oxpect ]KM>plo to root up tlio bodges. On a rough estimate i.t would cost the ratepayers on the wliolo about £4OO to carry out the Council’s order. Further, in many cases it was simply for protective ■•’~ r >oses for youpg trees, and in other cases- for stock, so that tlio hedge would bo much, missed. Ho-suggested -that-tlio- Coun - cil should allow some considerable time in which to remove tlio hedges; in the meantime .to make a stipulation that . tho hedges must bo properly trimmed, and tho rofuso .gathered up and burned It wus unfair to subject tho ratepayers to heavy outlny at such short, notice; at some future time, provided hpuseholdoro made other provision for shelter in tlio moaritime, the hedges could bo removed without much inoonvenience. Ho quoted instances .to show thitt tho thorn was not poisonous. The Rev. Cockerel upheld Mr. Matthews’ views. He pointed out that liis school in Aberdeen roiul was surrounded on two sides with a boxthorn hedge. To remove this and attend to the fencing would entail an outlay of at least £3O, besides depriving tho premises of the privacy that was desirable, . At the same time lie agreed that stringent conditions should ho imposed to keep hedges from overhanging the footpaths and from running rank. The Mayor. said tho Council would go carofujly into the matter. Tho Mayor said the notice ho had received was for the Aberdeen road recreation reserve. All tlio Council were liable. . , . . At a later stage his Worship moved that the notice be complied with. It would set a good example to the ratepayers. ' . , Regarding Mr. Matthews’ views he a freed to a largo extent. It was a big order to say tho hedges must go. In Kaiti and Whataupoko there were long linos of hedge and it would be a hardship. Cr. Sheridan: The b.v-law has yet to ho confirmed. The Mayor: That onlv makes a noxious weed of it. Our present by-laws deal with the subject apart from that. I accept the notice on behalf of the Council and order the removal of our hedge. , . The Town Clerk wanted instructions as to hedges generally. A resolution had been passed recently. The Mayor: We should reconsider the matter. , Cr. Somervell said tlio Council should exercise a good deal of discretion. It would suffice to warn people .„ai hedges becoming a nuisance were liable to be eradicated at any time, anil that no fresh hedges bo allowed. Cr. Sawyer said that Mr. Thomson had ten chains of hedge. There was no formed footpath alongside. Why should he be put to the expense of eradicating the hedge and putting up a fence P . Cr. Williams thought it would answer very well if hedges abutting formed footpaths were ordered to be removed. When they were cut the pricks lying about constituted a danger to children, and lie instanced several eases. It was unnecessary to arbitrarily order all hedges to he destroyed. Cr. Sheridan: If wo declare it a noxious weed the Government Inspector will enforoe the by-law. The rooting up would cause hardships in some oases, but what was that compared with the health or even life;'of children. Ho would suggest ordering all hedges to be removed in two years time, and in the meantime kept trimmed. This would allow time to get other quick-growing hedges in thenstead. He moved to this effect.

The Town Clerk queried whether the Council had power. Cr. Sheridan: That is why we want boxtliorn brought under the noxious weeds. The Town Clerk: Even then we can’t order the removal. So long as the hedges are kept trimmed it meets the Act. Councillors seemed inclined to. take a moderate view of the matter. In order to know oxactl.v what the Council’s powers were it was decided to obtain legal opinion bv next meeting.