SOME REMINISCENCES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15016, 10 July 1914, Page 3

SOME REMINISCENCES.

AN UNUSUAL GATHERING. Whilst waiting for the ceremony to take place a representative of '-Tho Press" spoke with a, number ot those present, and found that there were several wiio were present on the occasiou fifty-one years a_o when the original oak was planted. An extraordinary coincidence was that no tower than five of those conversed with wero either o4 years of age or were m their 64th year. The ninth of July, 1863, must "have been a great day for the youth of tho city. Mr C. A. O. Cuningham remarked that ho remembered the day well—a sunny day, but showery. There had been" considerable rain, and the roads were sloppy, the mud on the Ferry road was more than ankle deep. The Prince and Princess wero married in March, but it was July before the news reached New Zealand. The trees were given, ono by Mrs John Deans and tho other by Mr William Wilson. Mr (later Sir) John Hall was chairman of the Town Board-at tho time—Christchurch bad not rison to the dignity <" *, L ]Y Council. There was considerable

speechifying on the occasion, followed by a feed for tho, young people, at Barnott's Repository, now TattersalPs Horse Bazaar. In. the Music Hall, which stood on the site of the old Theatre Royal in Gloucester street, a big luncheon was given to tho Maoris who attended the gathering. When tho troos wero plantod no. others had been plantod on what was then tho East Town Belt. There wero few houses about, and tho land in tho vicinity was in occupation as farms. Tlie Ferry road. drain, an open drain, was a feature of tho locality. At that timo tho Papanui Bush was being cut, and Deans's Bush, at Riccartou, extended over what is now tho Riccarton road. Others present yesterday who were present on July 9th, 1863, were: —Mr W. Wright (64 years of age); Mr E. J. Boirley tGI), Mr G. G. Smith (64), Mr A. E. Tavlor (64). Mr Thomas O'Connell (father of the Rot. Father CConnoll, now of Wellington), . 72 years of age, Mr Robert Wallace, 78 years of age, and Mr G. Frame, who was nino years old when tho original tree was planted.