REEFTON SEEDLING TREES PLANTED

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1946, Page 3

REEFTON SEEDLING TREES PLANTED

AFFORESTATION' PROGRESS RECORDED

(0.C.) REEFTON, Aug. 2. The major afforestation scheme in the Reefton district has been advanced a further step this week with the first lining out of seedling trees in the Golden Point area, three miles from Reefton. Planted two seasons ago, the seeds have shown remarkable growth. The first area to be covered will, it is understood, comprise some 50 acres of land, and there are ample supplies of young trees in the nursery to line out this block. A longrange plan is envisaged by the department, and in time all the hillsides around Reefton will be planted out with seedling trees from the nursery. A further area of land adjacent to that now down in seed has been taken over by the department and this has been cleared and prepared for additional seed. There have been no plantings of seed of native trees to date. This is to be undertaken in the near future, and this -season the area under seed is to be doubled. Five varieties of trees are included in the plantings of seedlings to be carried out at Golden Point this season. The work at Reefton is in charge of Mr. C. Scrivens, Forest Ranger. DISTINGUISHED SOLDIER After a period of Army service which'commenced over 35 years ago, and embraced two wars, and service with the First N.Z.E.F., the Indian Army, and the British Army, Lieut.Colonel N. F. Shepherd, D. 5.0., will return to New Zealand this month. Lieut.-Colonel Shepherd was born at Reefton. In. August, 1914, _ when serving as a territorial officer he enlisted in the First N.Z.E.F. and lie left New Zealand with the Canterbury Battalion Main Body. He served on Gallipoli as a lieutenant, and rose to his present rank after service in Prance. He was awarded the D.S.O. for service with the Pirst N.Z.E.F. In 1919 Lieut.-Colonel Shepherd was seconded for duty in India and he served in the Indian Army for some years. At the outbreak of the second world war he joined the British Army and served in France with the British Expeditionary Force, being attached to the Cameronian Rilles. He was with the British Amy until hostilities ceased. i Lieut.-Colonel Shepherd will be accompanied by his wife. After visit-! ing relatives in the North Island he win visit Reefton. Miss H. Shepherd left on Thursday for Auckland to meet her brother.