Arbour Day.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3470, 25 July 1899, Page 3

Arbour Day.

MILFORD. Arbour Day was successfully inauguaur ated at Milford. Though the weather was unpleasant several ladies and members of the school committee were present and took part in the work. Mr Pyo aud Mr Drown, assisted by the scholars, first planted a row of microcarpaa along the north side of the ground, aud when this was completed the same gentlemen planted a number of ornamental shrubs in the ground immediately in front of the residence, the ladies being assigned the honour of planting the commeuoraliug Wellingtonia in the centre. While the planting was being done, Messrs Lligginbottom, Parke, Cartwright, aud Ureelish were engaged in the work oi erecting the picket fence on the south side. At throe o’clock the company repaired to the school, and tea was served by the ladies, who had generously provided an abundant supply of good things. Shortly afterwards Mr Pyo thanked the ladies for their assistance aud presence, and the teacher, on behalf of the children and residents, thanked the committee fur their efforts to improve the surroundings of the school. Special thanks are due to Mr Cartwright aud to Mr Pye, who procured the fencing material aud the trees and brought them to the grounds.

RANGITATA STATION. On account of the wet weather, the cbil dren attending the Rangitata Station school postponed their Arbor Day proceedings till Thursday afternoon, when th.y were favoured with a bright sunny day. The children assembled in the school about 2 p.m., and after a short address by the master and some singing, adjourned to the play ground, where the more serious work of tree planting began, Each child —56 in number—held a tree while it was planted. This over, the children were regaled with tea and cake, and then engaged in games till the evening shadows began to fall. The teachers’ thinks are due to those ladies whs sokiodly provided the eatables, and to Mrs Winter who supplied the tea, also to the ladies who assisted during the afternoon. AROWHENUA NATIVE SCHOOL. The Native school was closed, and the children met and weut to the bush oa the Arowhenua Estate to collect some of the beautiful native bush. They met at the school and planted several shrubs and rhododendrons. Little else could be done on account of the wet state of the ground. It is intended planting some ornamental Euglifh shrubs when the season is a little more advanced. The weather being very unfavourable for planting, little could be done in moat places. In the south it was not much observed.