ARBOR DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 5

ARBOR DAY.

The absence of any public ceremony on Friday on the occasion of the second celebration of Arbor Day might be taken to indicate that the enthusiasm of last year was absent, but it is doubtful if such was the case, and in a quiet, unostentatious way it would appear that quite as much tree planting was indulged to. The day waß not observed as a general holiday in town, but despite the gloomy weather the children attending most of the city and suburban schools assisted in the work of beautifying the reserves, and Mr A. Bathgate, the originator of the movement in Ofcago, cannot but be gratified at the work done yesterAgrwr Among the many attempts to celebrate the day, the plantation formed by the railway employes and friends deserves special mention. During the morning a number of men were busily engaged under the direction of Mr Alfred Reynolds in preparing in a systematic manner it plot of ground adjoining the traffic offices. About midday Mr Vincent Pyke, at the request of one of the heads of the traffic department, planted the first tree. That he did so with pleasure and considered it an honour to open the proceedings was evident to all who watched him plant a Senecio rotundifolio or mutton bird tree from Stewart Ishvnd. After him tame no end of aspirants to the honour of planting a tree or shrub, and railway employes and well-known citizens were to be seen by the dozen busy with a spade. The last of the planters left about 5 o'clock, leaving behind a plantation of 200 trees, shrubs, and plants where at 7 o'clock in the morning there was only a picket fence and some road metal. The trees, shrubs, and plants are exclusively natives of New Zealand, and have been procured from Stewart Island in the south to Auckland in the north, many being from the vicinity of Dunedin. The collection has some of the finest specimens it is possible to secure, Olaria augustifolia and other olearias being quite a feature in it. Seneoios,. pittosporums, broadleafs, pepper trees, cabbage trees, &0., &c. are numerous. Astehas, flax, ranunculi, Chatham Island lily, and other rare flowering plants are also to be seen. In fact the list of New Zealand flora in the plantation is endless. All the trees are carefully named. It would appear as if no end of pains had been taken to make the plantation a success and give it a most pleasing and unique appearance from the street. Great care and taste was necessary to do so in so short a time, and the result is highly creditable to all who have assisted in beautifying this piece of ground. The trees and shrubs chosen are all of a dwarf nature when exposed and taken from their native bush, where the want of light forces them to grow long and slender. This was necessary, and somewhat tied the hands of the designer of the plantation on account of its nearness to passing trains. Between 600 and 700 trees were planted at Tahuna Park on Friday by membere of the Ofcago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, under the supervision of Messrs Patrick (president), James Duthie, J. W. Wright, John Roberts, J. A. Stewart, T. Brydone, W. C. Smith, J. Patrick, and B. F. Duthie (secretary). Donations of trees were received from Messrs Sinclair-Thomson, G. Matthews, R. Charters, J. H. Pressly, Howden and MoncrieflE, Pettitt, Gault, Mrs Silk, and others. It was noticed that the trees planted last Arbor Day had, on the whole, successfully taken root, and, with Friday's work, a complete belt of tree shas now been planted round the park, which, in course of time, will afford splendid shelter and add to the attractiveness of the park as a public recreation ground. A large number of trees were planted by the Dunedin and Suburban Reserves Conservation Society on the triangular piece of ground at the junction of the Caversham and South Dunedin roads. This is a piece of ground that has always been very unsightly, but Fridays operations of the society will render it in a, few years' time a place of much beauty. # The majority of the trees planted were natives of New Zealand. At the Arthur street School a start was made at 8.30, and from that time till half-past 12 the pupils were busily engaged, under the direction of Messrs Mason (chairman of committee) and Bain, and the school staff. Over 150 trees and shrubs were planted, including macrocarpa, oak, wattle, poplar, bluegum, pittosporum, walnut, cabbage tree, veronica, juniper, lauristina and othera. Some time was spent in removing to more sheltered spots some of the trees planted last year, in trimming others, and in clearing the ground generally. Several patches in the bank in front of the school were prepared for flower seeds, and some of the poorer specimens of the trees there were removed altogether. After the conclusion of the work, the pupils were addressed by Mr Mason, who in the course of his remarks stated that he had been assured by the Chairman of the Reserves Committee that, while in former years the trees in the reserve next the school ground had frequently been damaged, last year there had not been the slightest complaint on this Bcore. Arbor Day had not been taken up quite bo enthusiastically, as he had expected, but he thought that this . was owing to an unsuitable date having been chosen. He trusted to see the Government show their practical interest in the day by running excursion trains to the country, where children of the town schools, under proper direction, might plant many a waste spot with suitable trees, the fare for such train to be a tree of approved variety and size. He congratulated the children on the care they had taken of the trees planted last year, and asked them to save their spare flower seeds for planting in the school grounds, which might thus be rendered very attractive. Mr Bain also addressed the children, laying stress on the necessity for attending to the trees, and on the pleasure that might be derived in future years by many of those present from reminiscences of Arbor Day. The High street School children planted about 70 trees on the Town Belt, behind the school, the majority being native trees, some of them of a very rare kind, such as the North Island palms and the karaka trees. A number of cabbage trees and native veronicas were also planted. The children took very enthusiastically to the work, which was done under the supervision of Mr Grant, a practical gardener. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr Hector Mercer) and Messrs Cameron, Melvin, and Farnie (members of the committee) were also present, as also were the head master (Mr J. W. Smith) and his assistants. With the exception ot about 10 trees, all the rest were brought by the children, and severaj were presented by Mr Matthews, of Mornington. The members of committee, the teachers, and the pupils of Union street School assembled in the playground at . 9.30 a.m. The chairman of the Hchool committee (Mr John Duthie) then addressed the children, saying that the committee were going to have the trees planted in order to beautify the ground and to shelter them from wind and weather. Their playground was already the most commodious in the town, and all that was wanted to make it perfect was to adorn it with

lovely trees. He then got the scholars to pledge themselves to take every care of the trees about to be planted. After this the children sang the National Anthem of New Zealand, and the patriotic song " My own New Zealand home." The tree planting in the playground was then commenced, the classes being arranged around the trees— viz., Spanish chestnut, weeping rowan, Cupressus laweoniana and macrooarpa, — and willing hands, under the experienced supervision of Mr Cousins, the gardener, quickly filled in the soil. Besides this, the mapau hedge, which is thriving so well along King street, was completed. The pupils of the King street kindergarten graced the gathering with their presence, and were initiated into the mysteries of picks and spades, shovels and plants, by their teachers, Miss Gresham, Miss Dale, and Miss Peake. The pupils were dismissed at 11 a.m., the committee giving them a holiday in order that they may retain evergreen memories of Arbor Day. The children attending the George sbreet School;continued the work, commenced by them 12 months ago, of planting trees along an avenue leading from Forth place to Maori Hill. The trees planted on the previous Arbor Day, which had died, were uprooted and replaced with new ones, and 102 fresh trees — 30 birch, 24 oak, 12 oleaxia, 12 laburnum, and 24 ashwere planted. The ground where the trees were planted had been cleared and prepared by some members of the school committee, whose chairman— Mr C. Haynes (mayor)— was present during the operations, and delivered a short address to the pupils. The head master (Air D. A. M'Nicoll) and the male assistants were in charge of the children, and Mr M'Bean, curator of the Botanic Gardens, lent valuable help in the work of planting. The pupils of the Albany street School assembled on Friday morning at 10 o'clock, and were drawn up in line at the portion of ground to be planted. About 40 trees were planted. The head master and all the members of the staff were present, and Mr Barnett represented the school committee. A vote of thanks was given to Mr Moir for his services in obtaining trees and seeing the work properly carried out. The Mornington School children assembled at 10 o'clock, and at half -past 10 they were drawn up in ranks in the school ground. After they had sung the " National Anthem," an address was delivered by Mr Horsburgh, the chairman of the school committee, who expatiated very fully on the advantages of forest planting. Not only was it a means, he said, of training the finer feelings, but trees when grown afforded shelter both from heat and cold ; and trees, moreover, had a commercial value which must not be lost sight of. The plantation consisted of a long strip of ground on the south-west side of the playground. A trench was previously dug and filled with stable manure, then topped with soil. The most of the trees planted were macrocarpas, as they afford the best shelter. Three trees — an oak, an ash, and a birch— presented by Mr Horsburgh were each planted by Messrs Reynolds (the mayor), Horsburgh, and Mearns, who discharged the duties of marshal. The children took great interest in the work— a great many boys being, provided with spades, which made the scene a 1 very animated one, although the day was dark, and lowering. The proceedings lasted about two hours. Not many parents or visitors were present, on account of the inclemency of the weather. About 120 trees altogether were planted, which included five trees presented by Mrs Robert Paterson. The Mayor of Caversham (Mr Hancock) presented 50 macrocarpas to be planted on the Caversham Library Reserve, and requested (through Mr Rutherford, the chairman of the school committee) that the children attending the Caversham School should undertake their planting ; each tree to be planted by a boy and girl. Most of the children attending the school assembled on Friday morning, and a boy and girl from each class were selected by their class mates to represent them in carrying out the work. The children then proceeded with members of the school committee to the scene of operations, where each boy and girl selected and planted five trees, under the supervision of a member of the committee or a visitor. The children were addressed by Mr Rutherford, and then dispersed for the week's holiday following their annual examination. The children of the Macandrew road School were profitably employed in replacing with new plants the macrocarpa that have died out of the hedge formed round the school grounds a year ago. The arrangements at the Forbury School were of a similar nature to those at Macandrew road. About 20 macrocarpa were provided for the purpose of filling the gaps in the hedge planted last year. . Nothing was done by the Kensington School children. The committee have extensive improvements to the grounds partly completed, and in the present state of affairs any planting would be of no use. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, and to arrangements for planting not having been completed, the celebration of Arbor Day by the children of the Anderson's Bay School was postponed until Tuesday afternoon. Nearly seven chains of trenching has been done for hedge planting. In addition, about 50 macrocarpa have been transplanted, and nearly 100 native and foreign forest trees and shrubs are to be put in. At the last meeting of the committee a general scheme for planting was agreed upon, but details were afterwards worked out on the ground by Messrs White and Nichol (members of the committee) and Mr Jeffery (the head teacher). The bank in front of the school is to be planted on the top with a hedge of Berberis darwinii, and the slope with rows of cabbage and other native trees and shrubs. The best thanks are due to the gentlemen who have contributed to make Arbor Day at thus school even more a success than last year. Mr Niohol is puttiDg up a fence free of cost to protect the Berberis hedge, and Mr Ponsonby has given a coil of wire, and posts have also been donated. Mr John Every gave 60 fine macrocarpa, six red mapau, five broadleafp, and two laburnum ; Mr Pressly, a dozen strong Lawsoniana ; Mr M'Clelland, a selection of ornamental trees ; Mr Gordon (on behalf of Mr Lee), a similar collection ; and Mr Nichol contributed a ioad of ribbonwood and pepper trees, tree ferns, &c, gathered on the Peninsula by himself. Other gentlemen have assisted in various ways in bringing the work to a successful issue. There was no holiday given to the children of the North-Bast 'Valley School, and shortly after 9 o'clock on Friday morning a large number of boys assembled in front of the residence of Mr John Begg, chairman of the school committee, armed with cabbages ani branches of trees, loudly clamouriDg for him to come out. Mr Begg in responding (having got a quiet hearing), asked them if they had held Arbor Day last year, and what had become of the trees then planted. The children, he said, had not taken the slightest care of them, and scarcely anything could now be seen of what had been done a year ago. The committee, therefore, had resolved to have no demonstration that day, as it would be worse than useless to have trees planted to ba destroyed. They therefore took this way of showing their displeasure at the way the trees had been treated. He hoped, therefore, that this would bs a lesson to ttwm. It would have been a great pleasure

to him and the other members of the committee to have carried out what the day was intended for, as the school grounds could be greatly improved and beautified by the planting of trees. However, he would ask Mr Murray, the head master, to let them have a half-holi-day. The boys then ran off to school with a cheer. As it was decided at a public meeting there should be no procession of the friendly societies, and the weather not being altogether favourable, the celebration of Arbor Day at Port Chalmers was rather a tame affair. Tha children, with their teachers, assembled in the school ground, amidßt a drizzling rain, and at 10 & m. Mr E. G. Allen (the mayor), accompanied by Mr Cook (chairman) and some of the members of the school committee, arrived, and a few of the parents and friends of the children were also in attendance. The local band played some selections, and' Mr Allen addressed the children. He, desired to impress upon them that it was the wish of the Government, and he thought of every person, that Arbor Day should be celebrated year by year, so that the hills should be clothed in, beautiful foliage instead of being in the bare condition they were now in. He asked those who planted trees last year whether they knew if they had grown or not. In some cases it would not be their fault, as many of the trees that were provided last year were not in a fit condition for planting. It was their intention to replace those which had not grown, and he hoped next year they would be able to plant that brown hill under Observation Point with some choice trees and creepers, as, although now barren, the place was at one time covered with green foliage. He bad received a letter from Mr James Mills, M.H.R. for the district, regretting not being Able to be present, but stating that he would either supply a tree or give a donation of 21s, whichever the committee thought beat. In conclusion; Mr Allen said he hoped those who were about to plant trees would take a pride in watching over them. He also thanked the gardeners for their attendance, the band, and those who had contributed towards the purchase of the jirees — some 600, which were of various sorts. ■, The children then sang the New Zealand and National Anthems, and afterwards gave three cheers for Mr James Mills, the members of the borough council, and those who had contributed. They were then supplied with trees and dispersed to the various spots, under the guidance of one of the gardeners. The proceedings at Ravensbourne in connection -with Arbor Day were confined to the school grounds. The scholars met at 10 a.m., and several members of the school committee, parents, and others were present. -Addresses were given by Mr King (chairman of the school committee), Mr Ash, Mr Maurais (mayor of West Harbour), and Mr D. Ferguson. A number of songs were sung by the scholars at intervals between the addresses. After votes of thanks and the singing of the National Anthem, about two dozen macrocarpa were planted in the school grounds by the boys. Messrs King, Ferguson, and Dunning took charge of the planting. The holiday at Balclutha was observed on Thursday, when the school children, assisted by a number of the townspeople, planted a belt of trees round the recently-acquired recreation ground, which was named Clutha Park by the mayor (Mr Thomson).— Leader. Festivities in connection with Arbor Day were conducted at Seacliff on Friday on Bimilar lines as last year, the operations being carried out under the auspices of the local District Improvement Society. Preparations had been made some months in advance, entailing a large amount of work in the way of fencing, formation, and digging, which greatly lightened the labour of planting. The children of the Seacliff School mustered in the school grounds, and marched, singing/to the railway station, where very extensive improvements have been made. The president of the society (Dr Truby King) gave a short address, concluding by referring to the debt which the society and the colony generally were under to Mr A. Bathgate, of Dunedin, for bringing 'the advantages of the institution of Arbor Day before the community. It was announced that Mr Bathgate had bsen elected a life member of the society, and that the tree df the day— a large tulip tree— would ba named in his honour. This was then done by Agnes Stewart, the youngest child in the school. An excellent lunch, which had been provided by a committee of ladies, was afterwards partaken of in Mr Kilgour's paddock, while sports were held during the afternoon. A substantial tea followed, and in the evening the society's annual ball was held in the large hall of the asylum. The pupils of tho Broad Bay School celebrated Arbor Day by planting about 100 trees, besides flowers in abundance. Several members of the school committee were present besides other residents, and great interest was manifested throughout the proceedings. The bulk of the trees were donated by Messrs G. G. Russell, D. Larnach, and Raynbird. Refreshments were provided on the ground by the ladies. In Waikouaiti, • the day was observed as a public holiday. Another portion of the bank of the east side of the lagoon had been prepared for planting the day previously, and on Arbor Day the site was planted with some 300 trees— both deciduous and evergreen. Afterwards the old plantations were gone through, and about 100 trees put in where the others had died out. Small plantationsof blue gums and of shrubs were made in other places round the domain, and a little planting was done by the childrtn in the school ground, bringing the total up to over 500 trees and shrubs planted during the day. Auckland.— B%d weather prevented anything bsing done in regard to Arbor Day. WELLiNGTON.-^Heavy rain interfered with Arbor Day proceedings, which had to be postponed. CHRiSTCHaßCii.'— Owing to a wet day and the prevalence ot measles, Arbor Day was not recognised so generally as was the case last year. A good deal of planting was done at New Brighton, and at several suburban schools treeß were planted in the playgrounds. Timaru, — The. mayoress planted the first tree (in the park, and was presented with a silver trowel. About 900 school 'children attended. J Oamaru.— Arbor Day was duly celebrated. About 1000/ children turned out, and 850 trees were planted. There was a procession through the Town Belt with the Garrison Band at the head, and the proceedings, although the day was threatening, were a great Buccess.

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