HISTORIC TREES AT AKAROA

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6581, 31 October 1939, Page 2

HISTORIC TREES AT AKAROA

LIST FOR CENTENARY

At the last meeting of the Akaroa Borough Council the Department of Agriculture acting for the Centennial Authorities asked for a report of any historic trees on thte Peninsula to be incorporated in a list being made for the Centenary. The loquat trees at Mr E. X. Le Lievre's residence should be on this list as they were planted by Mr C. B. Robinson, the first magistrate at Akaroa who took office in August 1840. Another tree of historic interest is the big gum in Mr R. Brace's property up Fercy Street, Akaroa. Here the Rev. W. Aylmer held Church of England services under this tree in the early fifties before a church was erected.

Another tree which should certainly be on the list is the willow tree recently planted by Mr E. X. Le Lievre being a descendant of the willow tree planted by his father, Mr F. Le Lievre, from the slips taken from Napoleon's grave at St. Helena.

Mr Watson, the second magistrate in Akaroa made a trip to the United Etates about 1860 and brought back timber and carpenters for his house. He also brought a small catalpa tree from Rio de Janiero and this is now a large tree at the Misses Jacobson's residence.

The trees mentioned are those of historic interest within the writer's knowledge?, but there are probably more in our historic district. Particulars should be given to the Town Clerk or sent to the Agricultural Department so that these trees can be listed witth other trees of historic interest.