On the afternoon of Sunday 7th Feb, the top section fell off one of the Norfolk pines at the harbour end of Bow Street. A small amount of damage was caused to a fence at the edge of the reserve. The trees were planted in the late 1910s early 1920s and by the end of the 1920s the tallest one was about 10 metres in height. They are listed in Waikato District Council’s list of notable trees.
Raglan Volunteer Fire Fighters were called out when the section of the tree fell down. Cliff Street was closed until the tree was cleared.
Council contractors did a safety prune earlier this week.
The Norfolk pines have kept growing taller since they were planted in the 1920s. Only one of the group remains with its full stem. On their home of Norfolk Island many trees are topped as it common for the top section to fall off and cause damage.
Were they planted as late as the 1920s? http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22315304, http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22645742, http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23236953, http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23199445 and http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23091411 seem to suggest they were planted before 1910.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23236953 and http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22315304 suggest they were planted before 1910, rather than in the 1920s.
Based on their height in http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22315304 it seems likely that they were planted in 1907/ 1908?? Thanks John.