TREE OF REMEMBRANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21645, 16 May 1932, Page 2

TREE OF REMEMBRANCE

MR S. W. PASCALL’S VISIT In the upper portion of the Botanic Gardens, close to the tea kiosk, on Saturday morning, an oak tree was planted to commemorate the visit to Dunedin of Mr S. W. Pascal!, president of Rotary International, on the occasion of the tenth annual conference in Dunedin of the Rotary clubs of the Dominion. About 60 local and visiting members of clubs left the Town Hall shortly after half-past 9, the number including Mr Pascal!, Mr H. J. Guthrie (district governor), Mr P. RSargood (president, Dunedin Club), Mr V. S. Jacobs (vice-president, Dunedin Club). Mr H. Teagle (president, Wellington Club), and a number of ladies. The visitors found a fine oak tree, about 10 feet high, in position, everything having been prepared by Mr D. Tannock (superintendent city reserves), and Mr Pascall at once doffed his coat and set to with a spade to throw earth on the roots of the trre. The work was carried out to the accompaniment of jocular remarks, but the worker proceeded unperturbed and finished his task by tramping the earth into the roots.

Mr Guthrie stated the object of the gathering, and proceeded to say that the idea of Mr Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, was to make a garden of friendship in every Rotary district, with a tree from every Rotary country. The idea of tiie International president was not so expansive as that; he favoured the planting of a tree of friendship wherever he went, so that by the time he-had finished his tour there would be a circle of trees planted by him right round the world. In a short speech Mr Pascall said the tree was a symbol of their friendship. It would grow green and live on, and with (hem their friendship must be fresh and strong if it was to endure. The tree would grow bigger and bigger; friendship must do the same, or it would wither away. Any tree was a beautiful thing, as was friendship. A man would do for friendship what he would not do for money. Trees had an international character, and when they talked of friendship, particularly of international friendship, the tree was a link with them all. The tree was,, long-lived, and so, he hoped, would their friendships be. He often thought that the best friendships they made were those they made in childhood and that lasted through life. Let them hope that any act of friendship they performed between man and man, class and class, and nation and nation, would live long, like the tree, and continue to flourish and spread long after they themselves had passed away. Acts of friendship never died; their fruit was evident in the years to come. They should remember that, so that in the future it might be said of them that they followed the light that was given to them and firmly maintained their principles of “ Service above self.” — (Applause.) Mr Sargood, on behalf of the Dunedin Club, thanked Mr Pascall for planting a tree of friendship. It would always be cherished, and, in the hands of Mr Tannock, would receive every attention. The tree epitomised long association, good fellowship, and friendship, and as it expanded and its brandies spread out it would represent the growth of the Rotary spirit and the spread of that spirit in the community.— (Applause.) The gathering joined hands and sang “Auld Lang Syne,” after which cheers were- given for Mr and Mrs Pascall and Miss Pascall.