THE ROUND BUSH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1712, 15 May 1917, Page 3

THE ROUND BUSH.

HARBOUR BOARD DEPUTATION WAITS ON COUNCIL. COUNCIL TO VISIT LOCALITY. In accordance with the decision arrived at at (he last meeting of the Harbour Board, a deputation consisting of Messrs Hennessy (chairman), Barber and Rimmcr, waited mjf on the Borough Council at last night’s meeting to ask that, the Council should exchange portion of its reserve (which adjoins the Round Bush reserve) for the hush portion of the Harbour Board reserve, so that same could be preserved as a scenic reserve. The Mayor, in welcoming the deputation, said the thanks of the whole community were due to the chairman, Mr Hennessy, for his untiring efforts for many years past in endeavouring to. get possession of (he wharf. His indomitable will and perseverence would go down to posterity, as if was no doubt due in a very large degree to his efforts that the Board was now within striking distance of its goal. lie did think the people of Foxlon fully realised the benefits that will accrue from the successful working of (he harbour. Mr Hennessy sincerely thanked the Mayor for his very complimentary remarks concerning his exertions in the pasl, but; said that any praise was due to the whole Board and not to him personally. The whole of the members had worked unceasingly to gain (heir object, and bis efforts could not have met with anything like success but tor the whole-hearted manner in which he was supported by Hie other members. The whole Board was entitled (o praise for the very satisfactory position in which the Board was at present. They were now waiting to receive a copy of the Bill from the Board's solicitors, to he submitted to Parliament, which had to be advertised, and they bad been assured that the Bill would go through Parliament alright. The revenues from the wharf that were at present, being collected by the Railway Department were, in accordance to the recommendations of the Royal Commission, to be handed over to the Board, when it comes into possession of the wharf. In his efforts in the past he had laid the public sympathy with him all Ihe time, ami Mr Nash, who had been a member of the Board since its inception, had kept the Board’s proposals well before the public of Palmerston North, with the result that the people of Palmerston N. were strongly supporting the proposals, the business men recognising that the proper control of the harbour and wharf will'be of great assistance to them and will put them in a position to compete with Wanganui fur the Main Trunk trade.

Referring to the object of the deputation, Mr Henuessy said Ilia I. they did not waul a hasty decision. The reserve in question had been Landed over to the Board as an endowment, and under I lie Harbours Act the Board is prevented from spending anything' on reserves tor beautifying purposes. They were allowed to drain, fence, etc., provided it was dune with the object of increasing the revenue from t Improperly. They wanted to know it the Council could see its way to take over the bush portion and give in exchange equal value of land from the Council's reserve which adjoins the property, if an arrangement were come P> the Board would not expect to lake over the land exchanged until the expiry of the present lease to Air Purcell, which he understood had about two years to run. The Board intended to drain the reserve and also plant marram grass on the sand drifts. As far as the Board was concerned, the Council would not be ('ailed upon to pay any cash, it would he purely an exchange of land. in reply to questions, Mr liennessy said that in making the exchange a valuation from an independent valuer would be obtained. Both parlies were local bodies, and neither wanted to be greedy, lie would be very sorry indeed to see the bush destroyed, as it was all that remained of the native bush in the immediate district. Mr Barber said it appeared to him to be almost a sin to sacrifice the bush. Certainly of late years it had not been used much by the J-’oxton pimple, but given facilities for getting there, was certain it would prove a most attractive picnic ground. The offer made by the Board should suit the Pox ton borough.

In reply to a question, Air Ilennessy said that the Borough could have any width it desired for a road. The Board was anxious lo do anything in its power in order that the bush might be preserved. The Alayor said he npju'eciated the spirit in which the Board deputation had approached the Council. He hud visited the bush that morning, and was entirely in sympathy with the Board’s efforts to preserve the bush fur posterity. He was grieved to see the destruction of our natural forests that hud taken place throughout the Dominion. This piece of bush should be preserved

at all costs, and it was just a matter as to the best methods to adopt. Perhaps the Government would take the bush over as a scenic reserve. In any case the Council as a whole would pay a visit of inspection and let the Board know its decision later.

The deputation thanked the Council and withdrew.