ROBYN PARKES
On becoming aware of the sale of 25 acres of rimu forest in Upper Moutere, owned by Mr Drummond, Perrine Moncrieff sent out an urgent appeal in August 1930 to save the bush, known locally as Drummond’s Bush.
This land sat on the left at the sharp right angle turn after descending from the Moutere Inn on the way to Motueka.
It was said to be the last of the original rich rimu forest which once stretched along the valley, which made it of high significance to be retained and made available to the public and to allow it to be studied from a scientific, botanical and scenic point of view.
Under the tall trees, seen from the road, were small plants of every kind - titoki, white pine, miro, hinau, milk trees and totara, etc., all at different stages of growth.
The land was considered to be a prime place for a picnic ground and bush reserve, being on flat land and easily accessible by car. With sale advertisements already in the newspapers and a deadline looming of little over a week, Moncrieff and the Nelson Bush and Bird Preservation Society placed the facts before the public, so that they might join in the effort to save the bush.
A campaign was swiftly organised and a subscription list was opened for £600, which was the amount required.
Mixed reactions ensued with portions of the public being in support while others were indifferent to the campaign. A lot of people had never heard of the bush, and many felt the more popular places of Snowden’s Bush and the Riwaka sanctuary were sufficient for the public’s needs. Others disagreed with Moncrieff’s assessment of the bush, stating the approach was over a bad ford way, there was no parking for cars, the entrance was covered with gorse and blackberries, trees were stunted, it was not a magnificent piece of forest, and it was not accessible.
Despite such negativity, the Cawthron Institute and State Forest Service, along with other prominent educationalists, agreed that no time should be wasted in securing the bush.
With time moving quickly there was only a week left before tenders had to be in and read.
On the 22 August the Motueka District Progress League visited the bush, finding the area to be ‘a revelation’.
They found all types of native flora and trees ranging from tiny sapling to ones of over 100 feet. Newman Bros and Gibbs Motors ran an excursion from Nelson out to the bush to give the public a chance of seeing it themselves whereby, hopefully, they would see it’s potential and subscribe to the cause.
Sadly, it came to light that a tender had been lodged at £1100. An original valuation had previously been made by two sawmillers at a much lesser amount of around the £600 Moncrieff was attempting to raise.
It was clear, with almost being out of time and not able to compete with the higher tender, the campaign to save the bush had to be abandoned and the bush was lost.
