VANDALS AT LARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1940, Page 3

VANDALS AT LARGE

EOTTLE-THROWERS AND OTHERS. When lhe Government decided to make a motor highway through lhe EgUnion and Hollyford Valleys to Milford Sound, it was predicted that the scenic paradise would be abused by some people. That prophecy is supported by a letter which the Forest and Bird Protection Society has received from a very active young member. Mr Don Matheson, who lives in Southland. “I was up the Eglinton Valley recently and noticed several things," wrote Mr Matheson. “There were notices warning persons not. to pull up young plants or destroy any scenery, and offering a reward for information: but to read them, or even see what they were about, we had to get out ol the car and step over logs. "I met a friend who happened to be up the valley the same day. and jokingly warned him not to pull up any trees or shoot any birds, and then a short while after I had a devil of a job trying to convince my passengers, when I found them preparing to dig out ferns to take home. Then they wanted to stop and gather rata flowers. However, I won my point, and later found them feeding robins on biscuits when I returned to the car after taking some photographs. Perhaps that will balance their evil intentions earlier in the day. "Here is another thing. People go up the Eglinton Valley for a day out. and. of course, make a picnic of it. which is quite right. Lunch is wrapped in paper; fruit carried in paper bags; drinks go in bottles. They have something to eat in the car. also a drink. Out go the bottles and papers on the side of the road. Perhaps they stop the car and throw the bottles in amongst the trees. In five years’ time the forest will be hidden by a. wall of bottles, if all the paper has not caused a fire. I kept all the bottles in our car and as much of the paper as I could. “At one place the road skirts the face of a cliff, and it is possible to look into a beautiful valley below. The cliff drops sheer from the edge of the road and is forest-clad. Our party thought it a good opportunity to dump bottles, etc. They were prevented from doing so, but I wonder how many bottles, fish tins, etc. lie at the foot of that cliff. The creeks- also offer temptation as targets for bottles, etc, not only to children but to grown folks, too.

“There were no rubbish dumps anywhere along the road and I dumped bottles, etc. at. a suitable place, to the amusement of the passengers.”