FIREWOOD FROM RIVERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 38, 1 March 1937, Page 6

FIREWOOD FROM RIVERS

Unauthorised Persons Do Damage ACTION T0 BE TAKEN Prompt eteps are to be taken by the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board to "deal with . all off'enders who damage the board's property or who chop trees and remove firewood without authority, At to-day 's meeting of the board complaint was made at the way certain persons when j?oing on to the riverbeds had left gates open, much to the annoyanee ana lnconvenience of the board's lesBees, Trees were being chopped down and firewood was being taken away without permisaion. Oue person, who held that he had received authority from the board 's late overseer, had cut over 150 cords of firewood. This man, through his negleet, had beon a source of eonsiderable annoyanee to certain settlers. Mr L, E. Harris stated that this particular person, who was a regular woodcutter, had caused no end of trouble by his high-handed attitude. As far as the public ge.nerally was concerned, quite a number of persons went on to riverbeds just where they liked and did damage just as they pleased. Many picnie parties went there without doing any damage whatever. It was essential that the board should take a definite stand to deal with offenders who showed disregard for the board's property. It was necessary for the public to be shown that they did not own the property that they were damaging. Mr G. Fairey said that he did not wish picnic parties, who did not do any damage, restricted in spending pleasant outings on the riverbeds, but those doing damage ho agreed should be promptly dealt with. Mr H. H. Burns said5 that th© practice of leoving gates open was most annoyiag. The board had to protect its lossees against unauthori.sed persons chopping down green trees. It was decided to issue a public warning that all persons damaging any of the board's property or removing firewood without authority would bo prosecuted.