ARBOR DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 34, 9 August 1934, Page 6

ARBOR DAY

ADDRESS AT KELBURN

SCHOOL

Aii interesting address was given to, tlio pupils of Kolburh School on Tues-j day afternoon, on the occasion of Arbor .Day, by Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, Director of City Reserves. Mr. MacKenzie took tho children back in imagination to' tho early days when dense bush clothed tho hills. He traced' tho rapid destruction of the forest as tho settlers'felled the trees and drained and cultivated the land. The march of progress, he said, had resulted ■in the destruction to a great extent of ono of New Zealand's most valuable assets., Arbor Day was established in order to restore in some measure the loss and so to acid to the prosperity of tho country.. Mr. MacKenzio paid a glowing tribute to the work of the lato Dr. Cockayne in extending the knowledge of New Zealand flora, and said that his system of classification had been adopted in tho famous Kew Gardens in London. ' Mr. Mac-, Kenzio also referred to the scientific work which is being carried on at Wilton's Bush. The range of plant| life in New Zealand, from the giant kauri to the delicate beauty of her mountain flowers, was unique, and he' urged the children to take .1 prido in tho'flora of their native land. At the conclusion of his address "The Passing of tho Forest," by W. Pcmbcr Reeves, was recited by the piipils of Form 1, and a senior pupil recited the poem "Arbor Day" which] recently appeared in "The Post." More than 120 trees were planted, including a special collection of native trees. As a result of the Arbor Day activities last year and this year every pupil in the school has planted a tree in the school grounds. ■ .