MOUNT VICTORIA TREES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 60, 2 June 1927, Page 10

MOUNT VICTORIA TREES

TO BE THINNED OUT “The cutting down of the trees on Mount Victoria is a poor compliment to the work of the pioneers who 54 years ago found the money, at a time when it was scarce, to plant the hill,” wrote Captain Albert Duder to the Devonport Borough Council last evening, in opposing the council’s scheme to cut down the trees that are so (familiar a sight to all travellers by water around the city. He considered the trees were sacred and many of themi beautiful, and they added to the glory of the mountain. At least they might he spared until new growth was ready. Mr. E. Aldridge, mayor, in classing the mountain as the beauty spot of Devonport, said that an expert, whom he could not name, had accompanied the deputy-mayor, the engineer and himself over the hill and every tree had been inspected. Most of them were in the last stage of growth, and growing on a hill-side were spindly and had but little foliage. The expert was of opinion that all the worst trees should be cut out and more suitable ones planted. He was to submit a writen report. In the meantime the mayor moved that tenders be called for the work and the proceeds from the sale of timber be used in the purchase of other trees. He stated that the late Commissioner of Crown Lands, in obtaining permission for the borough to remove the trees, had give*! the same advice. The engineer would scheme out a route for paths to the summit and the planting should be arranged to conform to that route. It would bo a good idea if a “planting day” could be arranged, so that all interested, public bodies and private persons. could i) int memorial trees, either to those whose names were on the war memorial, or to former prominent citizens. Mr. Hislop, who called the mountain the grandstand of the Waitemata, urged dealing with the beautification of the hill on a bold scheme which could not he done unless the trees were thinned out. Several councillors considered that householders on the south and the west of the mountain had cause for complaint In that the trees kept the sunlight off the houses.