Arbor Bay Celebrated At Terrace End School

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6628, 15 August 1931, Page 6

Arbor Bay Celebrated At Terrace End School

SHELTER BELT PLANTED BY SENIOR BOYS,

Arbor Day was auspiciously celebrated at Terrace End school yesterday, opportunity being taken during the afternoon to plant a shelter belt along the western boundary of the playing area. In all, a hundred macrocarpa trees were planted by the boys of standards V. and VI. under the supervision of Messrs D. C. Pryor and L. Morinc. The planting of this shelter belt completes the improvements to the playing area which is such a very attractive asset to the school.

The day was gloriously fine and the conditions most favourable. Shortly after 2 o’clock the boys, armed with spades, assembled on tho ground and before the treepianting operations were carried out, woro briefly addressed by Mr. W. B. Cameron, chairman of the school committee, who stressed the significance of the occasion and the value of a tree \vell and truly planted. Mr. D. Macphorsou, Conservator of Forests, of the State Forest Service, also addressed tho boys and gave them some useful hints as to the best way to plant tho young trees. He then gave some interesting facts relating to tho work of tho Forestry Department, stating that the Service was divided into two branches, one which had to look after the native forests and the other to plant new forests to supply the needs of the country in years to come. Mr. Macpkerson stated that there had been great activity during the last 10 years, during which, time some 307,(J00 acres of man-made forests had been planted. When it was realised that this was equal to a belt of forest 96 miles by live miles it would bo appreciated that the Department had not been idle, particularly so as there were at least 680 trees to the acre. Last year 84 square miles of trees had been planted. The Department’s work, however, did not end with tho establishment of these forests, added the speaker, for the greatest precautions nad to be taken to protect tnc areas against lire. In conclusion, Mr. Mac-pherson gave the boys a word of advice about taking care of tho trees.

Other members of the committee present were Messrs W. L. Macpherson and H. It. Smith. § .