"A MILE OF TREES"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 8

"A MILE OF TREES"

(To -the Editor,)

Sir, —-Have you ever had the pleasure of walking or riding between a mile of the same kind of trees? If you have, I need not urge you all to plant this mile on each side of a road for our 1940 real living memorial—a heritage for all who come after us. We in Hawke's Bay are lucky because of one grand old man, Mr. William Nelson, who planted a poplar mile or avenue, and you have only to go to Pakawhai now to see this beautiful memorial. He left us a great example here, and I ask Napier and Hawke's Bay and everywhere throughout both islands to follow his lead. Let the men make the fences first, and the women will give and plant the trees. I ask all New Zealand to support this "mile of trees."

I suggested to Wanganui that they plant scarlet gums. Can you picture a mile of these gorgeous trees in blossom? Tourists will be attracted, and New Zealand will be thanked for such a memorial. We are indeed blessed with good land and a climate suitable for tree planting, so let us make the most of a great opportunity. Napoleon planted each and every road in France and they are still called "Napoleon's Roads." Lately, in our travels, we motored through a mile of magnolias on each side of the road, and no words can describe their beauty; nor that of the Cryptomaria Avenue, near Nikko, in Japan, planted in memory of his son by one of the barons. Here you are asked to get out of the train and walk or drive through this magnificent avenue. We cannot forget these older countries, and can we do better than follow in their steps?

May I ask all you people to decide on this "Mile of Trees" as a New Zealand Centennial memorial? Monuments, buildings, etc., all fall into disrepair, and are the works of man. "But only God can make a tree."—l am, etc., HELEN C. LOWRY. "Okawa," Hawke's Bay.