LAKE DOMAIN BOARD.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 13 November 1917, Page 3

LAKE DOMAIN BOARD.

PKES'JiIItVING THE BUSH

The monthly meeting of the Levin 'Lake Domain Board was held last evening. Present—Messrs C. Blenkhorn (chairman), F. Parker, K. Aitken, A. Dempsey, J. Broughton, Hanita Henare, and: Mr B. K. Gardener (secretary).

Mr Gardener read a letter be had received from Mr W. H. Field, M.P., expressing the lather's satisfaction at having the clause relating to the fourteen ai res by the Lake inserted in the Washing-up Bill, for he thought this area was of the greatest importance to the .Domain. ''in communicating with the Prime Minister oil the subject," said Mr Field, "1 showed him that bin: Board's object was to preserve Alio bush and improve it toy planting vacant spaces with native trees and genera, ly to render it a beauty spot. It ha.-: aiwayis been a matter of keen regret to me >ihat we could not have presened some of the larger timber forest at either end of the Lake. That which Wivs standing several years iago at tin: Southern end is now praiVjica'lly all destroyed. There is, however, a piece at the northern end still standing. I am unaware on whose land it is growing, but probably it is still na.iive land. If it is wet ground, and not likcliy to be completely draiuaible, the valuo of it should not be it very large •: um. Would there not be somo chance of securing it. It is a bad time, of course, to be asking for Government assistance for such a purpose; but if the sum was not too large a one I could perhaps get the Government to look favourably upon it. The preservation of this bush would add enormously to olie beauty of the Lake. We have so few of our large forest timber trees preserved to us in accessible placets that the small patches we have left ought to be saved if possible.'"

Mr Gardener said IMr Field liad been very prompt in getting the clause inserted in the Washing-up Bill. It gave the Boa'rd control of land that, by an omission, had never been vested in any body, though it had been acquired' in connection with ;iho Lake.

Mr Dcmpsey ashed whether nothing could he done to preserve the bush mentioned by Mr Field as it was very desirable to secure such areas.

Mr liroughj'xm said tho land was under lease at present.

Mr Gardener said till at some yea re ago tlie Government could have purchased the land very cheaply, but the opportunity was missed and it was worth much more flji present.

'Referring to the proposal to increase the drainage from the Lake by cleaning out the Hokio stream Mr Aitken suggested that the matter should be brought under tho notice of the County Council.

The correspondence wibh the County Engineer having been read, Mr Parker considered the Board should ask the 'County Council to instruct its Engineer to take certain levels he re. quiredi in order that a .scheme lie had designed could be tested.

Mr Gardener expressed 'ihe opinion that the Board would he no farther forward when it got tho levels and he strongly urged that the drainage question should not bo allowed to dritV; this year as it had done last.

No .resolution was passed, but Mr Gardener will interview the County Engineer in regard so tin? matter.