KOWHAI BUSH.

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1937, Page 2

KOWHAI BUSH.

(To the Editor). Sir,—Having perused the letter from Ehoa-o-te Manu, under the heading “Kowhai Bush,” the writer's first thought was that, some jester, knowing Ehoa-o-te Manu’s keen appreciation of that particular beauty spot, had been indulging in the gentle pastime'of extending his nether limb 1 -—to wit, pulling his leg. However, on second thought, and realising the grasping, miserly nature of some ofi our prominent townsmen, who would I put their grandmother’s graves to utilitarian uses, if such would show a profit, the danger, as set out by Ehoa-o-te Manu, may after all be a real one. But surely, Sir, surely these utilitarian vandals would never be given permission or authority to destroy any scenic reserve, and least of all, the reserve on the bank of Sawyer’s Creek, where the tuis, sipping their fill from the kowhai’s golden cups, themselves filling the air with such melodious notes, that even those of the nightingale can not compare. As one who has, during many years, derived very great pleasure from the birds and flowers of the kowhai reserve, this writer can endorse every word of the fluent description from the pen of Ehoa-o-te Manu. In passing, one might point out that much of the top soil and leaf mould has been taken from the reserve for the Borough nursery garden by Council employees, and such action is certainly not in the best interests of the reserve, nor the kowhai trees in it. Allow me, Sir, to assure Ehoa-o-te Manu that he will not be alone in the defence of the kowhais and tuis, that whether the weapons of defence required are pens, pokers or pistols. “Lo, I will stand at thy right hand, and keep the bush with thee.” I am, etc., SECOND BARREL.