CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 198, 21 August 1874, Page 2

COR R ES PONDENCE.

BRITANNIA HEIGHTS. To thk Editor of the Evbnino Mail. Sir — It seems a sad pity that almost the only hill top near Nelson accessible to even indifferent walkers, and a pleasant riding ground, and commanding a most lovely view of sea and land, should be permanently lost as a resort. of the people of Nelson, apparently for no better reason than tbat some one in a land-office haa ruled off a straight line on a map as a road reserve, instead of following the windings of the ridge on ihe ground ! I apeak of tbe ridge running from the signal station towards Jen-in's Pass. By the gentle curvature of ita crest, by its easy windings and *gr*adual slopes, above all by the glorioua view it commands, Nature, one might have thought, had marked out this hill-top for all time as a pleasure promenade for the citizens of Nelaon and their visitors. It is just tbe very spot lo which one might ( very naturally take a visitor to Bhow bim the brightness of the Bay, or the fatness of the Waimeas. It is within easy reach of the evening ride* pt^of ' the Sunday afternoon walk. But* 'thia/ straight line marked out by a man on a map avoids, ao it turns out, the hill-top close at hand, to run along the steep sidling bill flank, to cross the beada of the steep little gullies falling away to Toi-toi Valley, to afford a track but just practicable to a smart walker or to a clever bush-back, and to deny all sea-view which is shut out \ by the seaward rise of the bill I Nature's Hoe would afford even a carriage-drive at a moderate expense ; map's line would need heavy side-cutting all the before wheels could traverse it f\\ * \ This deplorable line has been marked out on the ground ; preparations are being made to fence it, but is it too late even yet to take steps to prevent the loss to the Nelson public of this strip of bill-top ? Of little value for profit- f able use, it ia not easy to value ita latent storea of pleasure to the lovers of Nature, of exercise, or of fresh air, in thia and in future generations. I am, &c, Nelsonian. j P.S. — Curiously enough, another road reserve baa been made on the seaward flank of ridge, also running across steep sidling ground and neglecting a good easy spur of Nature's providing, atarting down to nearly tbe aame spot of tbo beach flat.