ARBOR DAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 196, 2 August 1934, Page 5

ARBOR DAY

i Planting Partes in Napier TALK ON TREE LORE Arbor Day was celebrated at the Napier Intermediate School in a most fitting way yesterday. As the result of donations from different people, notably Mr P. W. Barlow and Wilson's Nurseries, groups of scholars were instructed to form planting parties. In so doing they laid the foundations of school grounds which iu a few years to come will be beautiful with the variegated hues of flowers and shrubs, and in the heat of summer the children will find shelter beneath the native trees which were planted yesterday afternoon, A short lecture was given to the scholars by Mr Barlow, who gave an interesting cross-section of tree-lore and culture. Two classes from the Central School had marched down to 'the Intermediate School, and after they heard the address, some of the boys participated in the planting. The headmaster, Mr 11. G. Johnston, explained that “Arbor” meant “Tree”; therefore, yesterday was Tree Day. People were now realising that trees not only gave the materials tor furniture and houses; they realised the futility of what had been done in the early years of New Zealand’s history—the manner in which the native forests were fired and cleared —and were aware of the beauty which trees gave to the i countryside. In some countries it was ' the law of the land that if anyone fellj ed a tree, he should plant two in its ■ stead—a very wise provision. Mr Johnston urged the scholars to lake an interest in trees, to protect them, to understand them. 'Mr Barlow said that Mr Johnston was to be congratulated upon his initiative, and it was to be hoped that many other schools in the district would follow the example set by the Intermediate School. There should be many school grounds with small corners where native plantations could be established. To him it seemed regrettable that so many New Zealanders should grow up knowing so little of their own native trees and birds. It was this ignorance, he believed, that was responsible for such poor representations of native trees in city and town parks. Visitors from abroad were unanimous that nowhere in the world could be seen forest growth exceeding in beauty or variety that found in this country. “My work of surveying for the last 25 years has given me an intimate knowledge of native birds and trees, and I have learned to love them. It hurts me to see the birds wantonly destroyed, and to see also indiscriminate destruction of native forests,” ho added. Ho described the way in which forest regeneration was believed to be effected, from the time when a growth of fern and scrub gradually covered country kept clear from stock, till young trees of the mature stage became dominating. He gave the children some, idea of tho many trees and shrubs possessing medicinal qualities, and of others suited to house-building and like industries. “If the children now growing up learn to take an interest in native trees,” he concluded, “as well as native bird life, when 'they become men and women, taking part in the management of the country’s affairs, some proper steps may be taken to preserve patches of native hush near towns. “It will also stop the ruthless destruction of magnificent bush that is now going on for the purpose of making a little money from the timber, or the use of land for grazing a few sheep or stock.” If any of the children felt they would like to form a class interested in tree culture, then he would be pleased to explain a number of things to them. At the instance of the headmaster, the children cordially thanked Mr Barlow. The assemblage then dispersed 'to watch the planting and disposition of tho young trees to various parts of tho school grounds.