TREES CHOPPED
Loss of shade angers shopper
By Charles Pitt

The mysterious, unexplained, summary execution of three trees at the Punanga Nui Market has angered one regular Saturday shopper.
Noo Heather, a noted straight talker, told the Times on Friday she is most upset that three trees which provided much needed shade were chopped down right when the hot summer months were about to arrive.
She said shoppers who regularly gathered under the shade of those trees on a Saturday morning for a chat and something to eat would be disappointed.
Heather said she thinks one of the hut owners is behind the slaying and she believes she knows who it is. When she approached Agriculture Head of Ministry Nga Mataio for an explanation, she said he admitted the workers were only supposed to trim the trees.
REQUEST
Mataio told the Times on Friday the Market committee through Manager Rosie Blake, had put forward a request two weeks ago for the trees around the Market to be trimmed. This work commenced as planned.
Mataio said he was just as surprised as Heather to learn three trees by the huts adjacent to the Manager’s office, had been chopped down. That was contrary to his instructions. However, he said it was now too late to do anything about it.
He had trusted the work team from Internal Affairs, led by the most able Henry Tupa, to carry out the task without supervision.
Neither Rosie Blake nor Henry Tupa could not be contacted prior to the Times going to print.

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