ARBOR DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20802, 10 August 1937, Page 6

ARBOR DAY

TO BE OBSERVED TO-MORROW FUNCTIONS IN TIMARU Arbor Day will be observed in many places throughout New Zealand tomorrow, and in Timaru a number of tree-planting ceremonies will take place. Functions are to be held at Alexandra Square, where Councillors W. G. Tweedy, M. H. Richards and F. B. Hawkey will represent the Council; at West End Park, where the Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell) and Councillors A. S. Kinsman and A. G. Foster will be present; and at Maori Park, where the Deputy-Mayor (Cr. P. B. Foote) and Councillors"M. H. Ma th ere W. H. Hal! and J. R. Hart will officiate. Associated with all three functions, which are to commence at 1.30, will be members of the South, West and North End Ratepayers’ Associations. It is expected that tree-planting ceremonies will also be held by most of the the schools. Of American origin, Arbor Day was inaugurated in the Dominion 45 years ago—on August 4, 1882—its purpose being to Inculcate in the minds of school children the need of preserving what remains of the native bush, for the planting of other trees to replace those which have been destroyed from time to time, and to provide for future beauty, shelter, and supplies of valuable timber. For many years the practice was assiduously adhered to, and the admirable result of the ceremonies of bygone days is now to be observed in the various parks and reserves in the town.

Though there were a number of people who appreciated the worth of Arbor Day and foresaw what it would one day mean to the Dominion, the general public interest in the observance of the occasion dwindled until the ceremonies lapsed completely for many years. During that period, however, there were some persons who never ceased their agitation for the revival of Arbor Day, and mainly through the good offices of Mrs Knox Gilmer, daughter of the late Hon. R. J. Seddon, and president of the Wellington Horticultural Society, supported by the Institute of Horticulture, who sought Government assistance, the ceremonies were again instituted. The tree planting carried <•%.'. in recent years has proved very successful, instances of this being the Scenic Reserve and Caroline Bay. The trees in several streets are also making headway, and it should not be long before they considerably enhance the beauty of the town.