NOXIOUS WEEDS BY.LAWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2134, 17 July 1907, Page 4

NOXIOUS WEEDS BY.LAWS.

TRIMMED HEDGES SAFE. - Messrs. Clirisp and Coleman, Borough solicitors, advised the Council last evening that they had considered the matter of noxious weeds by-laws. They had no doubt about the Council’s power to make the proposed bylaw regarding African box-thorn. “We think, however,” they added' “that as regards hedges the ninth section of the ‘Noxious Weeds Act, 1900’ is defective, inasmuch as it only refers to a certain class of hedge and not to any other class which may be declared noxious. In any case we do not think yop could compel owners to entirely abolish box-thorn or any other hedges (noxious or otherwise)—at most you could only compel owners to cut them down so as to prevent any part flowering. See the interpretation of ‘clear’ in the Act. We

think your by-laws (part 16, page 110, sections 3, 4 and 5) already provide an adequate remedy, and that therefore there is no necessity to proceed further with the proposed new by-law as regards box-thorn at any rate. You can, of course, make fennel a noxious weed—the Governor having declared it as such within the meaning of the Act.”

Tlio Council's proposed by-law referred to above, was: “That fennel, gorse and African box-thorn shall, for the purposes of the Noxious Weeds

Act, 1900, bo declared noxious woods within the Borough of Gisboliio.” Tho Mayor: Wo \):ant to considor whotlior it' is worth wliilo'going on with tho by-law. Cr. Shoridan said that if confinod to fennel it was hardly worth while doing away with it. Fennel was useful in binding rivor banks. Cr. Whinray thought fonuel should go. It was a noxious wood of no use.

Tho Town Clerk Baid tho by-law could bo amended by striking out “African box-thorn.” Tho Council stil: had power to order hedges to bo triirinicid. Cr. Shoridan said thero was' no other course to adopt. "ITo was sorry box-thorn could not bo oradicatod. Cr. Williams: Can wo still prevent box-thorn from being planted in futuro.P Tho Mayor: Yos, that power exists in our ordinary bv-laws. Cr. Marin inovod to pass tho bylaw, omitting box-thorn. Fonuel and gorso should .go. Cr. Sheridan movod an amondmont that tho by-law bo not passed. Fennel and gorso wore of tliomsolvos harmless.

After discussion, tho by-law, as amended by striking out box-thorn, was carriod.