AFTERNOON PARTY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26124, 29 May 1950, Page 2

AFTERNOON PARTY

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS’ ASSOCIATION

A pleasant varied programme was arranged for the entertainment of a very large gathering of members of the Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association, held al the Caledonian Hall on Saturday afternoon. Because of the indisposition of the president <Mr E. R. Webb). Mr Theo Barker presided. An orchestra played enlivening music, songs were sung by Miss Grace Torkington and Mr Grahaemc Johnson for both of whom Mrs H. Reeve was accompanist, and a recitation was given by Miss Olive Gee. An address on “Trees of Canterbury’’ was given by Mr M. J. Barnett, director ot parks and reserves. Canterbury. Mr Barnett said, was considered to have carried out more tree-planting than any other province in the Dominion. and it certainly had a greater variety of exotic trees. Trees from almost every country in the world, except those of the equatorial zone, and even from the higher altitudes of that zone, were imported to Now Zealand by tree enthusiasts. Mr Barnett praised the foresight of the French settlers, who had introduced the willow and the walnut to Al'arqa and the fine spirit of many of ihv? pioneer families who had been enthusiastic tree planters. “Though we have beautified our towns with trees, we have not done so much in the country.” said Mj Barnett. "The road to Ashburton and Timaru could be made much less monotonous by the judicious planting of trees. We must see to it that as many of the old trees planted by the pioneers are being destroyed, such as those at Elmwood, we plant others to reolacc them.”