Nature Conservation, back in those days

"Corner still recalls how close he got to physical violence in those days, while striving to protect Bukit Timah. His tactic was to distract the illegal wood-cutters by tossing their hats into the undergrowth, while his Malay assistant, Mohd. Noor, would snatch their axes and throw them away too. When the Colonial Secretary received complaints from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce about a strange European harassing Chinese citizens in the forest, Corner had to explain to that their activities there were unacceptable. The Colonial Secretary then replied to the Chamber in writing that the logging was illegal, and wrote to the Gardens to say that Bukit Timah was in effect protected. Thus came the first intimation that Bukit Timah might soon be designated a proper reserve."

A snippet from a book that looks tantalizingly amazing - A View from the Summit, The Story of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve 1996. Published by NTU, NUS, NParks