NEW ZEALAND DAY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND DAY

Wellington Girls’ College

A programme of songs, speeches and elocutionary items bearing on various aspects of New Zealand life was presented to the pupils of the Wellington Girls’ College on Thursday afternoon, when “New Zealand Day” was held. Miss Greig, principal, presided. Outstanding items on the programme were two groups of songs delightfully sung by Miss Winifred Hare, a pupil of Miss Audre Bevin, the music being composed by Mrs. H. H. Tombs. Miss Bevin played the accompaniments. Another interesting feature of the programme was an address by Mrs.' Knox Gilmer, who spoke on New Zealand and its future in regard to forestry. In the course of her remarks Mrs. Gilmer said that the New Zealand forest and trees supplied the authors and artists of New Zealand with material for their work. She went on to tell of the necessity of forests for the well-being of mankind, saying that trees and forests were valued in Englund, Spain, Germany and Switzerland, and that afforestation was proceeding apace in the Argentine. Mrs. Gilmer said that forest destruction in New Zealand had reached the danger point. An instance was given in tho ruthless destruction of beech forests in the South Island, this timber being exported. Among other items were: Song, “Land of My Birth” (Kipling), sung by the school; poems, “New Zealand” (Pember Reeves), Margaret Freeman; “The Passing of the Forest” (Pember Reeves), Nancy Potter; “Bird Songs" (Eileen Duggan), “The Weka,” “The Tul,” "The Bell Bird,” recited by Esther Suckling, Betty Burridge and Alma Dinnie; a verse-speaking extract suitably adapted from Pericles’ speech in praise of Athens by pupils of Form IVA, trained by Miss Doris Symes; a song, “Pokare kare,” by the school choir.

The proceedings ended with “God Save the King,” votes of thanks to Mrs. Knox Gilmer and the visiting artists, and afternoon tea in Miss Greig’s room.