ARBOR DAY IN QUEENSTOWN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2278, 15 September 1899, Page 7

ARBOR DAY IN QUEENSTOWN.

Arbor Day of 1899 «u celebrated in Queenstown last Wednesday. On account of th« severity of the winter this annual func. tjoo had to be postponed till late this year. Bat the Council were fortunate in the day chosen, as last Wednesday turned out very favourable. Indeed so much favoured have we been of lata with good weather, that •verybody looked forward to the day turning CBt fine. Last year the proceedings were considerably marred by ths elements, and ■tt adjournment had to be made before even the trees were planted —but not before the children, who look upon the day as a gala one—had been regaled with lollies, cakes, eta. This year, as usual, the procession, conriating principally of school children headed by the Qaeenatown Braes Band and Councillors, left the Library cerner at about half past two, and after marching around the town proceeded to the Eastern terrace m route to the allotted ground which adjoins previous Arbor plantations on the Qaceastown hill. One drawback to this spot is the conaiderable height at which it is situated on the hill, and by the time one ruches the placed they feel a little fatigued. This no doubt debars many from attending. We do not gainsay the fact that it is a good position to plant as in after year* when j the whole of the trees grow up they will preeent a very picturesque appearance, especially as viewed from the Queenstown bay. The work of planting commenced immediately the people arrived on the ground. The trees planted were all gums. It was intended to have bad other forest trees bat the committee were disappointed in not receiving a consignment ordered from Invercargill, and which only arrived after the nCsir was all over. Some 300 trees ware planted altogether. Young and old assembled, sad seemed to take the greatest pleasure in the proceedings, in fact the youngsters were prone to vie with ene another as to who shoald do the most planting, which ai — that the boles in which the trees were patwere not filled op with sufficient care. Planting having been concluded the Mayor <MrF. St. Omer) addressed the assemblage as follows :—Ladies and gentlemen—lt is highly gratifying to see upon this our 7th Arbor Day, so many persons, adult and juvenile, taking an interest in the day's proceedings. Besides affording an opportunity of recreation, Arbor Day is productive of benefits that will be felt by future generations of Queenstown. When we look round we see ample evidence of the beneficial recalls that have already accrued from Arbor Day. The town is beautified and enriched, and it likewise affords us the exceedingly pleasant reflection that the labours of to-day an expended more in the interest of posterity than ourselves; and there is no duty that devolves npon ns that oan be regarded as more noble than that which is discharged for the benefit of others. lam very much pleased to see the manner in which you have responded to the invitation to take part in to-day's proceedings, and trust you will enjoy and retain pleasant recollections of Arbor Day, 1899. I have to thank those citizens who have in a generous manner given the good things, which were, no doubt, highly appreciated by the juvenile portion of the gathering. The cheers which followed his Worship's address were the sentiments of the youngsters who had been awaiting an abundance of lollies, cakes, etc., which were freely distributed, and shortly afterwards all present returned home well pleased with the afternoon's outing. A word of praise is due to the gentlemen who looked after the management of things generally, and whose efforts added very much to the success of the affair.