THE BRIAR NUISANCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3186, 24 November 1892, Page 2

THE BRIAR NUISANCE.

A XEW PHASE. A CLjßtocs point cropped up sit the last meeting of tlie Wnipa County Council, and over which—though involving the expunditure of a few shillings only—the Council divided before it was finally , disposed of. This was si motion hrnught forward by (Jr. Finch, asking the removal at the public cist of a few isolated sweetbriar plants from .a portion of the County road in the Mangapiko district. The point urged by the mover was, briefly, that these briars had evidently not spread from any of the adjoining lands, consequently no individual land-owner was responsible for their removal, and that it would be a wi.so policy on the part of the Council to eradicate the patch while it could b« dou« at a trifling uust. —The Chairman (Cr. Ling) coincided with this view, and instanced the late small expenditure in removing biiars fr-mi the County road in the Tnhikaramea Riding, where it was clear the weeds had been bm.ight by travelling stock, as none existed on the nnighbnnrinir lands.—The motion was opposed by Cr. Teas'iale and others, upon the principle that if the expenditure—givivt or email—was justified in one cise, it was equally justified in similir cases all over the county, and it would in the near future be a big question for tho Council to face. Cr. Teasdale instanced several places in his own district, where the briars and furxe had almost closed the roads and where it would be impossible to prove that they had spread from the adjoining lands. He asked : were the Council prepared to clear these roads? for this was where they were fast irifting to.—Cγ. Shepherd supported the motion on the ground that if it was right to compel privato landowners, to ckar their frontiges from noxious weeds spreading from their land, it was equally just that the public bodies should endeavour to clear the roads, where no such land-owners were responsible. Finally the motion was carried. We have drawn attention to this question, for, as Cr Teasdale says, it will before very long be 3 serious matter to deal with. Furze and sweet briar havn come to stay, and the soil along our puolic roads seems to suit their requirements to a nicety. In whatever form the question of their subjugation,—for we fear that their complete eradication is scarcely to be looked for, —may ultimately be settled ; we are convinced that it will be a very vital one for many of our local bodies; and that legislation will probably be necessary before a satisfactory solution is arrived at. Upon one point wo consider that our public bodies have almost shown neglect, this is in not thoroughly realising the position—with respect to furze and briars —in which they will stand a few years hence. Only those who have had, personally, to do with fighting these plants can fairly estimate the heavy and continuous expense involved, even upon a comparatively limited area. We commend the subject to the consideration and discussion of our public men, for we know of nothing—at all events in Waikuto—that promises in future to occupy the grave attention of all local bodies to such a large extent as that of furze and briais.