TREE PLANTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22489, 5 August 1936, Page 19

TREE PLANTING

ARBOR DAY PROGRAMME INTEREST AMONG SCHOOLS CEREMONIES FOR TO-DAY Tree planting, which is regarded as a national necessity, has been far from neglected around Auckland within the past year. In city parks, reserves and cemeteries 3400 native and exotic plants have been distributed. Tho lesson of the value of this work of preserving Nature's i groat gifts in trees has been largely inculcated in tho minds of citizens, and particularly school children, by tho celebration of Arbor Day, first recognised in New Zealand 44 years ago, after introduction in the Stato of Nebraska in 1572, It falls once more to-day, when tree-planting programmes will be carried into effect throughout the Dominion.

In Auckland comprehensive arrangements for ceremonies have been completed by tho City Council, New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and other public-spirited bodies. Tho planting will bo part of a scheme to extend the native section of tho Domain over an area at present barren of foliage. At 11 a.m. a ceremony will be conducted on tho slopo of the Outer Domain at the rear of the Now Zealand Institute for the Blind. The ehai nnan of tho Institute of Horticulture, Mr. G. F. Joseph, will deliver an appropriate address. Local Bodies' Interest Puriri trees will bo planted on behalf of tho Auckland Hospital Board, Auckland Transport Board, and Auckland Electric-Power Board; kowhai trees 011 behalf of the Auckland Harbour Board, Auckland Education Board, and Auckland Institute and Museum Council. Totaras, karakas and rewarowas will bo planted to represent other organisations, including the Institute of Horticulture, tho Auckland Horticultural Society, the Great South Road Beautifying Society, tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society, and tho Auckland Zoological Society. The City Council plans to plant 21 trees—four pohutukawas, kowhais and rewarowas and three karakas, puriris and totaras—at the back of the Winter Gardens in the Domain. School children will observe the occasion fairly widely, 200 native trees having been distributed among schools for this purpose. Pupils of the Parnell School will visit St. Stephen's cemetery to placo 12 pohutukawas on tho cliffs, and a selection of slips will be planted in Grey Lynn Park by the children of the Richmond Road and Grey Lynn Schools. Further issues will be planted at. or in the vicinity of, the four Devonport schools, which will be visited in turn by the Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, who "tvill speak on the significance of Arbor Day. Maori Method A kauri tree given by the One Tree Hill Borough Council will be planted at the Cornwall Park School, and the Mount Albert Borough Council will hold a ceremony at the Asquith Avenue entrance of Fowlds Park at 2 p.m. Council members and children fflom all the schools in tho Mount Albert area will be in attendance, and besides giving an address, Mr. V. F. Fisher, of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, will demonstrate the Maori method of tree j planting. Sturges Park will be the venue j ! for the Otahuhu at 2.30, the I speaker to be Miss L. Cranwell, botanist : at the museum. In an effort to focus attention on the importance of tree planting, the North Auckland Forest Society is having papers prepared by two experts for general interest and information as to the correct method of planting. A circular issued by the society states: "We must all recognise the vital part trees play in our national 'life. They assist in water conservation, add to scenic attraction, lessen flood damage, prevent erosion on steep hillsides, retard river and harbour silting and stop valuable top soil being washed put to sea. The removal of forest areas also harmfully affects our climate. Parts of the globe which once were fertile areas have, as the result of indiscriminate destruction, become arid wastes devoid of population." At Birkenhead and Northcote, Arbor Day will be observed at a combined function at 1.45 p.m. in the Northcote District High School grounds, where several trees will be planted. RESPONSE TO APPEAL MINISTER'S GRATIFICATION [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Gratification was expressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, at the result of the wide appeal made for the practical commemoration of Arbor Day. With the enthusiasm shown, he predicted that great headway would be made in reafforestation and beautification work long overdue in certain of the cities and provincial towns. Mr. Parry says that messages of response to the appeal made were very gratifying and encouraging. He was convinced that tho spirit of fostering tree-planting and tree-protecting would spread in breadth and depth to children through their parents as a work essential and important to the nation in keeping with tho enterprise of tho times.