BEAUTY IN TREES

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 6

BEAUTY IN TREES

THE COUNTRYSIDE OF ENGLAND MR CUTHBERTSON DEEPLY IMPRESSED The beauty of England’s countryside and the trees which flourish in profusion in the parks of London have left a lasting impression on Mr D. Cuthbertson, who has just completed a tour of England. Mr Cuthbertson accompanied by Mrs Cuthbertson and their daughter, Miss Barbara Cuthbertson, returned to Invercargill last evening after an absence of eight months during which he visited England, Scotland, Wales, France and Belgium. While in London Mr Cuthbertson joined in the Coronation celebrations; he saw the 1937 Derby run; he was on parade in Hyde Park when the King reviewed ex-servicemen; and he saw the New Zealand cricket team play in one of the Test matches against England. “I was impressed with the beauty of England in its abundance of beautiful trees everywhere in the country and in the parks in the cities,” said Mr Cuthbertson. “And on the journey down from Christchurch today one could not but be deeply impressed by the idea that the countryside of the South Island would be ever so mucfi more beautiful if there were English trees flourishing along the road and railway routes rather than the firs which are growing. In the south of England there are huge parks of trees everywhere—oaks, elms, ashes, chestnuts, planes and other varieties. “Not only in the country areas are there such sights of beauty; they are to be found in the cities as well. In London it was astonishing to find the number of trees in the streets. They gave the streets a fresh appearance, and, being mostly planes, were themselves kept clean because their bark was shed periodically. “If we had New Zealand planted in clumps of English trees it would be much more beautiful. The South Island generally and Southland in particular would be greatly improved in its appearance to the lover of natural beauty. I make the suggestion in the hope that it will be borne in mind by those responsible for the beautification of Invercargill and Southland. The planting of English trees in Southland would make the province more attractive.” MOTOR TOUR OF BRITAIN Like many other Dominion tourists, Mr Cuthbertson made a motor tour and by this means was able to see much of rural Britain. He was greatly impressed b’ the mildness of the climate in the north of Scotland. After sight-seeing in England and Scotland Mr Cuthbertson visited Paris and Nice, and at Nice attended the Rotan/ convention. Belgium was also visited, and there he saw the areas which were once the battlefields of the Great War but which now were flourishing farms under intensive cultivation.

“The war area is not recognizable today,” said Mr Cuthbertson. “The countr has been transformed and the only signs of the war are the old ‘digger’ names on sign-posts, ‘Hell-fire Corner,’ ‘Clapham Junction’ and ‘Railway Dugout.’ I saw one German concrete pillbox and one gun emplacement. As for the rest, it was peaceful and prosperous looking. All the homes were new and clean, and trees were young.” Conditions of living in England appeared to Mr Cuthbertson to be good. The people were happy and did not appear to be unduly alarmed about the trouble in the Far East. Britain’s armament programme had given the people a sense of security. There was plenty of activity industrially, and generally the outlook was regarded as bright. The review of ex-servicemen at Hyde Park by his Majesty was an event which was the feature of the whole tour. Mi - Cuthbertson, who was a lieutenant in the Great War, paraded with the New Zealand contingent, and was delighted to meet Colonel N. W. B. B. Thomas, Colonel N. R. Falla and General Godhy, who were associated with the New Zealand Forces in 19141918.

Mr Cuthbertson also told of a Rotary dinner which he attended in London. There he met a Mr Godfray, who played for England against the All Blacks of 1905. Mr Godfray wished to be remembered to Mr J. W. Stead, of Invercargill, against' whom he had played.