SCENERY PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 194, 28 August 1901, Page 2

SCENERY PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

Thb annual meeting of the Soenery Preservation Society was held at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, when iho following members were present: Messrs W. Skinner (chairman), Straachon,Dockri!l,Govet, S.B. White, T : sch, Newman, Hughes, Kerr and Colli s (secretary). Correspondence having bten read, the Secretary referred to the application by Mr. Kerr and the liowling Club for the cutting down of the p : ous insignus trees at Marsland Hill, anii stated that applicants were willing to replace those trees by others of a more suitable character, Mr. Strauchon moved that in view of the promises made the mattor be left in the hands of the chairman to deal with and to decide what native shrubs •hould be planted in lieu of the trees removed. This was seconded by Mr. Docktill a: d carried. Mr, Collis then read the-balance-sheet, which consisted of only a few items. Receipts were stated as £2 5s 6d and expenditure on advertising aud stationery lis 6d, the credit balance ir hand now being £i 13s 6d, in addition to which the Government held the balance of an unappropriated grant, He said that the principal expenditure bad been in connection with fencing and preserving native pahs' in respect; of which the Society had obtained a Govt i'nment grant of £SO. The Chairman explained that it was expected greater calls would have been made on the amount granted by the Government, but the natives bad in several cases not only supplied mate) ial but done the work.

Mr. Strauchon advocated making an effjrt this year to expend the whole of th» grant. Mr. Rtights drew attention to the insignificant amount of subscriptions received. He blamed the Society for not making a canvass for subscription* us he contended there w.ere always good ways "f spindmg money to carry out the aims'of the Society. He that a circular letter should be issued askii g for subscriptions or donations to the Society's funds.

Mr. 'Oollis: Circular letters would have little eflect.

Mr. Hughes: Those having the real interests of the Society at heart would only require a rrmindtr.

Mr, Newman sai'l the work of the S icicty had not been hampered for of funds as the Government m'at.t hid. more thin sufficed.

Mr. White considered it was desirable to enlist the sympathies of tbe ladirß towards augmenting the funds. He was convinced that means could readily be devised for spending more money if it were available. Mr. Hughes: Marsland Hill for instance. It is in a deplorable state. The Chairman po : nted out that the Prison Department had taken over the land there.

The balance-sheet was then adopted, Mr. Hughes advocated improving tbe Esplanade.

The Chairman said that was a moot point as he considered the Borough Council should do its share of that work. Mr. Dockrill considered the Council would do its duty in the matter. Mr. Kerr drew attention to the bad state of the approaches to Maryland H'll and moved that it be a recommendation to the committee to induce the Borough Council to improve the approaches thereto. He pointed out the bad efftct such a disgraceful state of affairs had on visitors and expressed an opinion that it was largely due to 'he'practice of carting metal at the wrong time of year. Mr. Dockrill pointed out that anyone having the slightest practical knowledge would see that this work be 'joing on all through the yo ras if the mea only worked in fine weather they would have to seOk charitable aid in times of wet. He mentioned however that shortly the council would have to ctsase taking stone from the beach, and '•hen a complete alteration os to break i"g and carting metal would take place With regard to the ro\d at the back of the church grounds, it could never be used for access to building sites, bu l only for traffic.

M>. Collis seconded the motion and in so doing expressed a strong opioioo 'hat it was one of the duties of the cotincil to provide proper access to such , a site as Marsland Hill. He considered that a workman could in two Lours put the whole thing right. Mr. Hughes supported the mo'ioo, which, after soma remarks by the chairman, followed by an explaoa'ion from Mr, Dockrill, was carried.

The Chairman, then read his annua l report as follows: —-

" In looking hark over the 10 years in which this Soc : ety bas now been before; Jt he ?u'olic, we may, I tHink, con gratulate oureelvas on having done a fair amount of good in bring : ng hi for" tbe people many desat ving obj cts for preservation. Soma of these, of course, hava not proved unqualified suc:esses, but th 9 majority, wo f e! sum, wi l eventually bar good fruit.. In the natural ord-r of things, effrt< and ideas of such S cietiea as this do not present themselves to the general public of (the day) «i b any gre-it amount of enthusiasm. The work now being done will appetl more to coming generations, a-d as yens roll on, so more and moi o will the <-ff uts of S'ic'i focietiea as this, in the way of forest con ervation and the preservation of b nu'y spots, be appreciated. The local Land Board has kept steadily iq view this important work of conservation, snd we are pleasnd to see a more active int rest being shown by Lind B arch 'hrougbout the colony in the same direction. Also amongst members for Parliament a decided advance has bf»i n made on the keen interest shown by many of their number as to the preservation of our timber belts and pitches, and we miy confidently look forward to more advanced legislation in this direction at an early date. Throughout the civilised world, attention is being drawn to the wholesale destruction of timber, and the evil climatic effect that has, and is being brought about by this, in most cases, wanton destruction of forest vegetation. On all sides wa fyuar of tfy9 wonderful development in afforesting that has taken place in India during the latter half of la=t century. It has not only proved a great b nefit from a climatic -itandpoint, but financially its success is not less giatifying. Oominj nearer home, the colony of New s>'outh Wales" hag at l>st awakened to the national danger that looms before it in the wholesale and criminal d struclion of the magnificent timber forests throughout the colony, and steps are now being taken to place the whqle of the remainin" orown forest under a, nsw organised Forastry Boird, by whom a scientific system of dealing with the valuable timber Btill left will be carried j out. Within our own co'ony the | Government is doing good and lasting work in theaffaresting of Che great tree-

less plains in the interior of tho North Island. The idea of sending the better class of prisoners into the interior and setting them at tree planting was a particularly happy and far seeing one, and to whatever member of the Governra nt thh inspiration camo, we ofiVr our congi'rttulnions, and we feel confident that fuLure gunoi itiona will do honour to Ki-i r.iime.

Fr. .a a Parliamentary re'u'n we zither tint the t tal urea planted wi'h forest tiees by the St te up till the 31st March, 1900, cc .prised 18,337 acres, ard the cost was £56,717. Thei piesent estimate! value is £66,262. The amount to be expended during the present year is £3813.

The efforts of the trustees of tho New Piymonth Kecreation Grounds in the direction of collecting, planting, and distributing the native flora are deserv ing of the greatest pr.iisp. Oould they not extend this a s'.ep further, apd have the native names plainly marked and affix«d to the interesting and valuable collection now gathered together within tha grounds. Educationally, this would be a big step forward. New Forest Reservations.—During the 12 months ending Ist August, the Taranaki Lmd Board has se< aside 7260 acres as for.'sV reserves, and for the growth and pre ervation of the native flora and fauna.

Egmont National Park.—After many delays and disappointments the conservation for all time of Mt. Egmont and the a'joinit g r mges, has hecoai« an accomplished fact, the " Eginont National Park Act" hiving passed both Houses on the 20th October, 1900. With the excepts of the great " Nat'onal Park " which embraces Ruapaehu, Ngaruahce, and other peaks and the thermal springs of the interior, the Egmont Na'ionul Park is the most important reservation of its kind made in the North Island, and under able management should prove a great attraction and s urco of wealth to the whole district.

Mokau liivT. —The presai vation of the lovely vi gin for' st that; c'othes the batiks of this interes ing and historic river is of the greats'; importance to the whole -cf 'his pr.vince, It has oily to ba made known und opened up to the tourist traffics for its beauties to be appreciated. Steps have been taken by this Society to bring it under the notice of the Government and the lessts of the land have also bean approached on the same subject. Many if us fei 1 that unless a wide belt, averaging, say, half a mile in width, oo either tide of river, is permanently reserved, the attempt to preserve the beiutiful vagitation would be futile. The nature of our New Z-aland bush is such that it will not survive when left in narrow belts or f>m<>ll clumps unless protected by some natural barrier as a river or steep ridge, or on the other hand unless it is fenced nff and projected by an outer ring of imported trees from cutting winds and tbe destruction of the undergrowth by cattle. |Tbe latter is one of the mos!i destructive agents we have to contend against in tbe preservation of the New Zealand forests. At present thare is nothing definite to report on this proposed reservation,

Pari tutu.—This noble landmark, the centre around which the ancient Maori history of these parts clings, and at whose base our " Pilgrim Fathers" landed to face the hardships and dangers of the colonizition of this fair lanJ, has been once more threatened with destruction. Not by a greit upheaval as was attempted over twenty years sgo by the aid of gunpswder, but by tbe slower and surer way of quarrying piece, by piece Us heavy and historic slopes. That suoh vandalism should be,permitted wi'hout an urgent and prompt: p otest could not be thought of, and arrangements were made by this society for an infl.ien;ial dopuNtion cf ciiizons to wait, on the Harbour Boacrt. The deputation, which was introduced by the Mayor, was most cordially received, and an Assurance was given that the quarry would be at onoe closed and steps taken to p-event, as fir 88 lay in their power, auy future vandalism over and about this striking landmark, It is ban! to say what future requirements may force on oom-! ing Harbour Boards in improving and extending the harbour works, but we do earnestly entieat all inreressed in the preservation of Paritutu to d >sely watch over what is not o-,ly a loc *1 lind mark of greatest historic interest, but is elso a mark of colonial importance to the numerous shipping passing up aud down the West Coast. In the hands of the present Harbour Board we feel there is no danger, but like all otaer things human harbour boards changp, no 1 ; only in personnel, but in opinin«.

I Rot >-kare (rippling fake) or B .rrettroid lagoo'i, I have be n informed tha'. a Bid will be int odured at the present anting of Parliament with the obj 'ct of »ak ; ng and securing this charming lit le lake, with its friige of native hush, as a permanent domon r serre for the benefit of the to>vn of Nev Plymouth and surrounding districts. Wa hope the idea will ba cirri d 'hr ugh, for t ere is no more r-e iutiful sylvan spo 1 ; within a raJm of many mile-* of the town than toe Ro'O-k-i-e unl its immediate surr >uniings. We sha'l be glad to receive financialashis'an.;e towards the carcyiog out o' obj ct. Old P h Shts. —We hive kept at*adi'y iti view the farcing of snob old, beau iful or histo'ic sitei as were brought uniW our notice. '

I) stiuctioa of native fauna,—We are 8 rry t> report that th'i de tmc'-inn of the cui s ill eonticu s, ih ) chief cffendws baing the M oiis iu various pir's of the di-t-'ic". Shoo ioy is not oinfined to the Nitives, European Uds doing tl.eir share of the killing, The p lie* have been more active than he e•ofora in their a t.iinpts to stay shis destruction, but un'eas the sittlers as a body assist we can look to little being donn twards the rigid protection of the natije birds. A^emb-rship.— On all sides we hear pra : se of the work being attempted and carried out by the society, and widespread sympathy is expressed in our efforts; but hero J am sorry to say the matter ends. For the past four or five yerra we have had practically no new members joining our ranks, whilst on the other bund many have lef r, the society - or what amounts to the same thing---forgot to pay the snnll annual subscription. It has beei a marvel to how the no ;iuty came? on without funds ; enthusiasm we know counts for inuc'n, but it strikes one ns heing decidedly unkind-- thoughtless perhaps is a bet'er word—for the general public in whose interest we have be?n working for so many yours, to expect this small company to supply the sinews of war ns well as giving rnuph valuahle time and labour in carrying out the aims of thesocie-y. To become a member of the Taranaki Preservation Society it is only neaessary to forward to our lion. I treasurer the modest sum of ss, the annuil subscription. Ladies as well as! gentlemen are eligible for membership,

Mr. in moving '.hat the report be adopted and punted, accorded a tribute of praise to the president for his able, zealous and watchful efforts on the Society's behalf. The motion was carried unanimously and acknowledged by Mr. Skinner. i The following officers were then elected:—President., Mr. W. H. SkinI ner; vice-presidents, Mess»s. Btrauchon | and Govett; committee, Messrs. W. L. S. B. White, Tisch, Hughe?, Murray, Djckrill, Kerr, McDiarmid, rod C'-illis.

The meating then adjourned. At a meeting of tbe committee Mr. Osllis was re-el cted hon. secretary and treif-urtr. It was decided to s:nd b reminder to the Aon. Hall-Jones relative to the preservation of both banks of the Mokau River and to point out that apparently so far no effectual steps have been taken to prevent the destruction of scenery on the banks of the Mokau and trust the mat* er will not be, :oat sight of. It was also decided to thank the Hon. W. T. Jennings for the interest he baa taken in tbe Society's work and to enlist his further assistance relative to the Mokau.