The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1916. AN APPEAL TO RESIDENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 29, 4 February 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1916. AN APPEAL TO RESIDENTS.

(With which is incorporated The Tai hape Post and Waimarino News.)

If there is one institution in Taihape that should call forth the support and assistance of our townspeople more than any other it is that which controls and manages our reserves and recreation grounds, and more especially so because this body has no income of a nature that permits of anything but the most careful handling. Taihape is favoured with scenic reserves and recreation areas as few towns in the Dominion are favoured, and it goes without saying there are many residents, who, as they walk through : scenery unsurpassed anywhere for. its natural and virgin beauty, realise that it is their duty to do all in thjeir power to preserve and, if possible,} improve what is theirs by right. They check, as they go along, the wilful destruction of young trees and injury to older ones, as well as to what /has been done for the public pleasure and convenience, hut there are those, unfortunately, who do not do their, duty as true, and loyal citizens in the preservation of property which they enjoy and have a share

in. Because it is public property they' seem to think they have- some right to destroy where they should protect, to laugh at, and urge on wanton damage when they should be doing all in their power to conserve, and so seats are broken up, magnificent trees that would require a century to replace are thoughtlessly barked, or fires are lit at their base, either of which means early death 'and the rapid wasting of Taihape’s very best asset. Smaller plants and ferns are dragged from where they are growing, and, although this loss is not irreparable as with the trees, it ought to be borne in mind by every man, ■ woman, and young person who has arrived at a thinking age, tlfht their pief * turesque and naturally beautiful scenic and recreation grounds would not, if the trees and vegetation were destroyed be replaced for many generations' even though a hundred thousand pounds were available for the purpose. , we appeal to everyone of the town’s residents, to realise that any damage done to the reserve is done to their own property, and they should be just as ready to protect it as they would i anything inside their own houses that a burglar or vandal was seeking to carry away or destroy.