TREE-PLANTING IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 256, 27 July 1939, Page 13

TREE-PLANTING IN WELLINGTON

Beautifying Society’s Work

RESTORING HILLS’ NATIVE COVERING

On publicly owned land in and round Wellington, the Wellington Beautifyin„ Society has been responsible for planting 29,000 trees in the last four years, stated the president of the society. Captain 8. Holm, in reporting to its annual meeting last night on behalf of the committee. It was the society's earnest desire to restore as far as possible the native coveting of the hills of 100 years ago. Captain Holm said that it was estimated that 25 per cent, of the trees had not survived, but more than 21,000 young trees were growing as a result of the society’s effort. The society had also several smaller achievements to its credit, such as the conversion of North Terrace, Kelburn, from an unkempt strip of weedcovered road into a beautiful dell or rhododendrons and other flowering plants, the improved entrance to the Public Hospital, the small plantation m the lost Office Square, the native shrubbery at the east end of Mt. Victoria tunnel, the west side of Rualiine Street, and several other plots, all of which improved the appearance of the city. “We are prepared to admit our achievements are small compared.with our objective, but our most caustic critic would have to admit that we have ‘something attempted, something done’ to our credit, and we are pleased to report that when our nursery comes into lull cultivation next year, we should have 20,000 seedlings raised annually for replanting,” ue said. The membership of the society, which at the inaugural meetings in July, 193 a, was 67, was 330. and one wondered why it was so small. However, it had received donations from more than 600 friends. To date the society had received ill subscriptions and donations £894/5/5 (not including the £586 Johnston Hill fund), and every penny was spent to the best advantage. Gifts of seedlings and seeds had been received and were always welcome at the nursery. Mr. W. H. Field congratulated the society on the work it was doing at its nursery. Many trees that would grow in Wellington were not represented, however, including the nikau. kaikoniako and kohikohi. He offered to supply young trees or seeds of them. Mr. Field suggested that the species of native trees be planted in their natural relationship to each other.

Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, Wellington city director of parks and reserves, who was elected to the newly-created office of technical adviser, said the society was doing good work, specially in the cultivation of public opinion, which was almost as important as its more practical work. He bad noticed an improvement in public opinion since the society’s formation. Officers were elected as follows: — Patron, Mrs. Knox Gilmer; president, Captain S. Holm; vice-presidents, the tnayors of the city and boroughs in the vicinity of Wellington, Lady Myers. Sir George Sbirtcliffe, lion. W. E. Parry, Mesda’mes Stewart, M.P., and Charles Haines, Messrs. B. Sutherland, F. IV. Dawson, L. O. H. Tripp, S. Blackley, R. L. Macalister, A. 11. Miles, C. C. Odlin, and W. Dunean; general coinn'ittee, Mesdames Du Pont and Charles Haines, J. H. MeHaren, H. le Pine, Messrs. D. Bowie, R. L. Macalister. A. de B. Brandon, jun„ H. S. B. Fletcher. 11. L. Cummings, T. G. Coventry, D. Grocott, 11. H. Miller, W. Murie, W. L. Palmer, C. Penlington. S. Natuscb, tV. H. Field, A. Sinclair, and J. Halina. Miss L. Hayes; technical adviser. Mr. J. G. MacKenzie; auditor. Mr. S. M. Hobbs; secretary-treasurer, Mr. D. R. Porter.