EVERETT ROAD SCENIC RESERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 197, 18 February 1914, Page 6

EVERETT ROAD SCENIC RESERVE.

To the IMitor. Sir,—May i ask for a little of your valuable space to record my protest against .the sale anil consequent destruction of, the Everett road reserve. This forest is little known in New Plymonth; had it liven i feel no attempt would have been made to lift the reservation wisely made by the Government some twenty or more years ago. It is a. lon# narrow strip of bush on the east •side of the Everett road, and between that road and the Manganui river. The south end, that nearest the Bristol road, has been damaged to some extent by fires and noxious |>artieularly blackberries, which have spread from the liwldings on the other side of the road. In the open it cannot lie denied but that the blackberries are a nuisance, but in the standing bush, if they do make any growth it is of such a miserable etiolated character as to be quite negligible. For the most part the bush is in line preservation, and, bounded as it is by the river, makes the most charming picnic ground imaginable. It is full of bird life, both native and imported. A gentleman who interested himself years ago in assisting to get up a petition for its reservation informs me that it is of considerable historic interest. The native track from Ngat'.mam and the interior run through it. ])ow" -bis track the Maoris used to come 011. the way to Ivairoa from whence they set out 011 their long journev to the shores of Cook Strait, or coming to the assistance of their kinsmen when fighting, as they often were, at Pukeranglora. In making comparisons—and far be it from me to dccrjj any forest reserve—the difference between the reserve and, say, the wellknown one at the "meeting of the

tcrs" is, briefly, tiiat the Kvei'ett road, serve contains a rjuclt greater variety of native trees. It is greater in area, anil tile scenery much more picturesque. Again, comparing it with the lv';mout State Forest the comparison is in its favor. It lias to be admitted that the mountain' forest, beaitiful though it be, is hardly typical of the luxuriant growths of the, lewer altitudes. It is urged that the lifting of the reservation is in the interests of settlement. Bosh! Why not tell the truth and say it is in the interests of the land speculation. Draw the "lucky marble" effect certain improvements, and then sell out at a highly enhanced price! That's about the size of it. The milling timber 011 it must lie of considerable val,ue and (he fortunate selector would have struck the lucky number in a Tatfeersall's (iovernmcnt sweep, so to speak. We must congratulate o«r»clvcs that \va have more public spirit in New Plymouth than iu luglewood, or wp would have people advocating the destruction of Pukekura Park, and its subdivision into building allotments. It is a matter of deepest regret to see the wholesale destruction of the native bush througlisut the. province, and once destroyed it can never be replaced. This small reservation of llifi acres is the only one in open land and it would be the greatest pity to have it destroyed. , Thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., A LOVER OF THIJ BUSH.