KHANDALLAH RUSH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10606, 3 June 1920, Page 6

KHANDALLAH RUSH

PROTECTION FROM FIRE RESIDENTS APPROACH CITY COUNCIL. Tho residents of Khandallah and Kgaio aro anxious that adequate steps should bo taken to prevent tho destruction by fire of tho Khandallah bush, and with the object of impressing upon tho City Council the necessity for immediate prevention work being carried out in the reserve, a largo deputation of gentlemen front tho district yesterday waited on the council’s reserves committee. “A BEAUTY SPOT.” ,

Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson, who headed the deputation, said ho thought it would bo realised that the Khandallah bush was one of the beauty spots of Wellington, though it ■was not fts '"’ell known as _it _ might be. The residents of the district desired that it should bo preserved for all time. There was a danger of firo in the reserve, and it was by a remarkable coincidence that only last week, when the snow was on the ground, a tree was struck bv _ lightning in a thunderstorm; had it not been for the fact thafc it was winter a. serious fire would have occurred. There was danger of firo not only from within the bush, hut also from the gorse skirting it. If it was the desire of the council to preserve the beauty spots of the city, ho felt sure it would feel justified in carrying out the firo prevention measures the deputation desired. AN EXPERT’S ADVICE. Sir David 'Hutchins explained in detail what ho considered required to be done to minimise the risk of fire. The first point that had to he considered was whether the bush would, be injured by the making of internal firo lines. Ho had written some information on* that question which he w.auld leave for the council’s perusal The Khandallah bush was bush which m some respects was more important to Wellington 'than that at Day’s Bay it was more accessible in that it took less time to reach it, and it had. advantages that were not possessed by ■the Day’s Bay bush. It was mixed and more varied, in vegetation, the soil was splendid, and the,view from the top of the lulls was unsurpassed. If the council, as had boon stated, had spent £21,000 in acquiring Day’s Bay bush; he thought they should spend! something in acquiring land situated near the Khandallah bush. There was a ridge stretching along the heights above Ngaio covered with scrub gorse, which was in prqcess of deterioration from noxious weeds, and ho understood from the 'Lands Department that a large area of this could bo acquired. . EJXLARiGE THE AREA. 1

The council, the speaker said, should endeavour to enlarge the area of tho reserve by acquiring a portion of that land. There were several points he would like the council to consider in connection with the preservation of the bush. Every forest in Europe, Asia and Africa that we systematically controlled was managed according to what was called a working plan. It was the custom in Europe in connection with municipal and communal forests to obtain a definite working plan, and they wished tho council to follow the same course, and adopt a plan which would render the Khandalla-h bush safer from fire. The next point was the provision of a hut on the highest point of tho reserve from ft’hicli a caretaker could overlook the whole or the forest. It could bo connected by telephone with the nearest fire station so that assistance could bo obtained in ease firo broke out. There might .he a dry summer next year, and in view of the danger from firo that would result ho would recommend the erection of tho hut as soon as possible. Thirdly, it would be preferable to have a caretaker who had had a practical training in forestry. Tho deputation was sensible of the effort the council was now making to preserve its reserves from fire, for it wa s an important matter. A number of gentlemen on the deputation lived near the Khandallah hush, and if tho bush was destroyed by fire their residences would go, too. They wished to conserve their own safety. OTHER SPEAKERS.

Mr H. A. Seed, who re presented the Onslow Progressive Association, said it was imperative that some, proper steps should bo taken in regard to tho protection of tho bush, which was not only an asset to Khandallah, but also .to the city. It should be conserved by every possible means. If. the council followed on the lines indicated by Sir David Hutchins they certainly could not go wrong. Mr F. W. Mansfield suggested that all standing dead trees should ho cut down, as they would only tend to spread the flames if fire broke out. All the fires that he could remember having occurred in the last 30 years had spread from tree to tree and ninny could have been avoided if the old dead trunks had been chopped down. Ho further suggested that protection should bo afforded by means of belts of leafless broom.

Air Day, another member of tho deputation, said that only last week two rimu trees were struck by lightning, and burnt for a long time. If they'had been struck in summer weather, when tho trees were dry, nothing could have saved the surrounding bush from destruction. Air Chamberlain pointed out ’that for some reason or other the ferns in the reserve were gradually passing away. They required to he restocked. He thought the Caw-Caw peak should he acquired for tho planting of sub-alpinc plants. Alajor Smith said that tho IChandallah bush had been presented to tho council, and tho residents simply asked tho council to expend a small sum on its preservation. Councillor McKenzie asked the deputation whether it would give the council support if a vigilance commit, too was set up to guard against depredation of the ferns. Alombers of the deputation said they would be willing to do all in their power to this end. A FAVOURABLE REPLY.

The chairman of the committee, Councillor George Frost, said that, so far as the committee was concerned, it fully realised the value of tho pro perty, and the necessity for preserving it. The deputation could rest assured that no stono would bo left unturned, either by the committee or by the council, in protecting it. There was undoubtedly much merit in Sir David Hutchens’s suggestion in regard to a look-out station. Tho committee would consider what could be done about cutting out of tho bush tho old trees. Tho council had already appointed a very capable custodian. to take charge of tho reserve. Mr Glenn ha 4 been in the council’s

employ for many years, and the director of reserves placed great confidence in him. Ho was quite trustworthy and capable, and was now living on tho reserve. In regard to tree-plant-ing, the director of reserves had assured him that 100,000 trees (pines) would be planted on the backblocks of file reserve. This work would be undertaken not only from tho point of view of the beauty of tho background, but also with a view to utility for commercial and other purposes. Ho thought tho time would arrive when tho Khandallah hush would bo probably one of the best reserves within the city boundaries. The council realised that it was as essential to have good reserves and playing areas as it was to have good streets.