ARBOR DAY.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 32, 23 July 1892, Page 3

ARBOR DAY.

V We are requested by the Department •of Agriculture to.give publicity.to the OllOWlD^ in gto D , 14th Jaiy, 1892. .g IB it has been decided to observe 'Thursday,--the 4th day of August next, :as a public holiday in all public offices throughout the colony, for the planting of trees and shrubs in suitable public :p'laces and. reserves and: in private •grounds, and for the observance of such •ceremonies or demonstrations as are suitable to the general character of the 'occasion.

T have therefore to ask that you will 'be good enough to invite the residents 6V Ohinemuri to observe the day in manner above indicated.

•■: The intention sis to make this movement a colonial one. The importance •df promoting forest-growth, the culture ■of trees,.and their preservation at all :siages! should command,the interest of ■every resident in the colony, and it is %o£ed "that the Education Boards and -'teachers and pupils of our schools will take' an active part in the of the day. [ By the annual celebration of Arbor {Day■"it. is sought to make each colonist understand how important the care of 'our forests has already become owing, to the wholesale destruction of timbertrees which. has been going on for 'many years past in all parts of the '"cpjpny; . This colony has special cause to the, lack. of trees in many districts, and to deplore—-like the State of ''Colorado- —the reckless stripping of. %rests from hills and mountain-sides, andrthe consequent diminishing supply 'pf waterin ; many streams.

As it'«is desirable that something like 'uniformity in the arrangements for the of Arbor Day should be ■^observed, a* specimen programme of the "day's events is attached hereto. ; . , \ Appended also will be found some 'suggestions and observations -on.'the mode of planting and subsequent -treatment of forest-trees, taken from the Arbor ©ay cumber -of " The Prairie Farmer," a journal published at 'Chicaga,lllinois,, , ; ■ .This movement of Arbor Day celehas for years past been taken up *by the people of the United States with the greatest enthusiasm, and also in -Queensland .and other neighbouring < colonies; and a start has already been 'made in some .parts of this colony. It * only now remains for those in authority 'to take thematter up.to insure as great =a resultj comparatively speaking, as has -already -been achieved throughout the of America.—l have, etc., " ■;;'"'.'..'.' John D. Ritchie.