RAILWAY STATION GARDEN COMPETITION

Evening Star, Issue 23553, 17 April 1940, Page 11

RAILWAY STATION GARDEN COMPETITION

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES On Friday afternoon Lady Ferguson, accompanied by Meedames A. Lee Smith, J. Williams, J. Blues, Misses M. Martin, 11. Allen, Messrs M'Caull, and Miller, motored to Port Chalmers to present the cup presented by the gardening circle of the Otago Women’s Club for the best kept railway station garden in Otago. This year' Fairlie and Port Chalmers were equal. Lady Ferguson, in congratulating _ the etationmaster, Mr Black, on winning the cup along with Fairlie, told him this was the fifteenth time she had presented the cup, five of which had been to Port Chalmers. She congratulated them on their success and suggested that it would be a good idea to plant more trees about Port Chalmers,. Lady Ferguson then presented the cup, also a miniature, with the date and name of the station engraved on it, and a monetary prize. _ Miss Martin, one of the judges, congratulated Mr Black on . winning the first prize along with Fairlie, and explained about the points for judging. Burnside Station, she said, was only one point behind Fairlie and Port Chalmers. Mr Scollay, Mayor of Pert Chalmers, thanked Lady Ferguson for coming to present the cup, which they were very pleased to win. He spoke reminiscently of the early days and the changes In both town. and. garden, and thanked the gardening circle for their help in providing plants for their garden. Mr M'Caul, on behalf of the Govern-; ment, spoke of the difference a nicelykept garden made to the appearance of a railway station. Mr Black, in thanking Lady Ferguson, said he could not take the praise for the garden himself ; the credit was due to Mr Miller for the time and work he had. put into- it. Mr' Miller acknowledged the plants he had i received, and said he was very proud at winning, the cup. . After leaving Port, Chalmers , the party motored to Green; Island, which had, won-the first prize''for small-gar-dens. Lady Ferguson, in congratulating Mr Clarke, presented him with a miniature cup with the date and name of the station engraved on it and a mohetary trophy. Mies ..Martin ■ also congratulated Mr Clarke, saying he had several times , been very close in the. points awarded by the judges, . ' Mr (Miller, who represented the Government, congratulated Mr Clarke on his success. and said what a pleasure the passengers derived . from . seeing a „nice]yrkept garden at. the railway station. ■ ’ - •','■■■ ‘ ■ ■ 'Mr Clarke, returned thanks to Lady Ferguson ;and ' expressed his pleasure at! being successful. The visitors were later entertained at afternoon tea.