NARCISSI IN THEIR GLORY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18184, 22 September 1924, Page 5

NARCISSI IN THEIR GLORY.

W.E.A. STUDENTS' VISIT TO OTAHUNA. A PLEASURABLE AND INSTRUCTIVE OUTING. Very appropriately the president- of the Workers' Educational Association. Mr H. P. Acland, took advantage of the occasion of the visit, on Saturday afternoon, of W.E. A. students and their friends to the lovely and picturesque grounds of the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, at Otahuna, Tai Tapu, to draw special attention to, and lay especial emphasis on, the wonderful work in horticulture, and particularly in narcissi culture, done on behalf of Kir Heaton by his head gardener, Mr -V. E. Lowe. The fruition of Mr I.owc's wonderful work, Mr Acland remarked, would bring delight to future generations. The Canterbury District Council of the W.E.A., recognising the importance of interesting the students in horticulture, approached Sir R. Heaton Rhodes some time ago for permission to visit Otahuna during the dnfi'odil season, nn.l the request was very willingly complied with, Sir Heaton's only regrets being that neither Lady Rhodes nor himself could bo at homo to receive the visitors—Sir Heaton's Parliamentary duties keeping liim in Wellington—-and that Mr Lowe, his head gardener, was ill, and would not be able to accompany the visitors on their tour of inspection and explain to them the individual characteristics of the n.tinv srpccies of his beloved narcissi. Sir Heaton's permission to visit Otahuna was very largely availed of by T\ .E.A. students and their friends, the fame of the Otahuna, narcissi, of the Otahuna gardens and shrubberies being widespread not only in Canterbury but much further aiicld. Three largo charabancs and a motor-van iitted with scats were required to transport the 140 or 150 persons who made the trip on Saturday afternoon from the city. On arrival at Otahuna they found that about 20 of the Leeston .E.A. students and their friends had arrived; and it is estimated that between o'.' and 70 other visitors arrived in their own motors. In recent years it is doubtful if a larger gathering has visited Otahuna on one day.

Something About Narcissi. Before the party from town left from in front of the Trades Hall, Mr G. Manning, secretary of the ~\V.E. A., conveyed to the W.E.A. students and their friends Mr Lowe's request that on arrival at Otahuna the visitors should confine themselves to the main walks, keep together as much as possible, and refrain from doing any damage. These requests were reiterated when Otahuna, was reached, but this was hardly accessary, as the gathering, the majority of which consisted of ladies, very scrupulously conformed to Mr Lowe's request. The visitors assembled on a j>art of the lawn near the residence, and :i short and interesting address was given on narcissi by Mr A. H. Shrubsliail. a member of the District Council, and a well-known horticulturist.

Mr Manning, after announcing Mr Shrubsliall's address, read the following telegram from Sir R. Heaton Rhodes: "Please express our regrets to members of the W.E.A. that we arc not able to be at home to receive them tori "<y. f trust that you will have a fiue day, and that ali will enjoy themselves."

Mr Shrubsliall said that when the "District Council of the W.E.A. proposed tlio outing to Otahuna it never imagined that there would be such :i gratifying response. Horticulture and the love of the beautiful as it expressed itself in gardening were important tilings which all should endeavour to cultivato intelligently. rioters appealed to all; some might say that thev did not know much about them. lie had never heard anyone say that he had no time for them. He briefly described the different main classes of narcissi—those with large tiuuipets, those with medium-sized trumpets, those with smaller trumpets, the polyanthi, and tho jonquils. The_ native home of narcissi was the regions of temperate Europe, and the north of Africa. They had spread across Asia as far as Japan. Narcissi, in course of time, had reached New Zealand, where they grew remarkably well. At Otahuna the Hon. Sir E. Heaton Rhodes had interested himself in them, and the results of tho work of Mr who wa3 rightly described as of the ablest' horticulturists in New Zealand, thev would sco when they "u»ent over tho grounds. At Otahuna a lot of %vork had been done in raising many varieties. Tour of Inspection. Under the guidance of Mr Taylor, one of Sir Heaton's stuff, the visitors made a tour of inspection of tho narcissi beds. These contain a large number of very beautiful varieties, and despite the unusually long spell of dry weather they were looking extremely well, and came in /or much admiration. The kitchen garden was seen, as was also the dairy farm. A number of the visitors walked as far as the Maori whare, and were rewarded by a view of plains and mountains that would be difficult to surpass in any part of Canterbury. From the lawn in front of the residence an excellent view was obtained of the field of narcissi beyond the picturesque bridge over the lakelet. J. his field was planted by Air Lowe as tar back as 1019, and is particularly pleasing to the eve. Mr Lowe, who was seen by Mr Shrubsliall, spoke very enthusiastically regarding the success ot this field, and stated tliat despite tlie fact that cold clay was encountered four or five inches from the surface, the narcissi had done extremely well.

Host and Hostess Thanked. The member? of the party took after; 110011 tea 011 the spacijus verandah oi the residence. Mr If. D. Ac la rid, prcsil:.'t_ ot 1.!-. W.E.A.. in rroposing :i vote ot' to Sir lIor.TMi and Lady Rhodes. sa.u tlicit until tliev had seen the bcautitu crardens. few of those present had rea>fsed the wonderful done in hornculture at Otahiuia. Sir Hcatou Rhode - was an enthusiast, and the uoiule.tu results obtained at Otahuua were due largely to the skill and intelligence ot M Thc°votc of thanks was enthusiastically carried by acclamation. On Mr Aelaud's motion, it w;is also decided to convey the sympathy or the fathering with Mr Low* m wis illness. ° Mr Manning moved heait\ thanks to the ladies for providin-: .1 + f„ sir Ileaton lihodes s conducting th, visitors through the_ » ro , u "^ s *, Mr Shrubshall for his 1 1 " inotiou was also carried bj Jeduma U Fine weather was experienced for the visit, but, as the afternoon wore on, became rather cold, and a iC\\ i rops, u rain fell". These matters d.d not, ho - ever, interfere with the pleasure ot 1 10 visitors, who obviously enjoyed t„e outing and the beautilul garuens and grounds very thoroughly. 15 The return journey to town was started about half-past four, and J.e city was reached about au hour later.