THE GARDENS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10824, 18 July 1913, Page 2

THE GARDENS.

PLANTING THE FIRST TREE.

Forty-nine years ago to-morrow the first treo was planted .in the Publio Gardens, in that position set aside for the Acclimatisation Society. The Government gardener, Mr Barkor. niul the workmen who were engaged in the formation of the grounds, evidently recognising that the event was of more than passing interest, decided to carry out the ceremony in a proper manner and an account of it, as published in the " Lyttelton Times 5 ' on July 21, 1864, 'makes very interesting reading. A healthy specimen of the English oak was chosen and planted amid the cheers of tho workmen and the singing of an old song "Tho Bonnie"Old Oak." That done a piece of ivy was planted at the bottom of tlio treo and entwined about the stem. Then followed two verses of a song, sung by those niusic-loving workmen. The verses were as follows:

Let us copy tho oak and the ivy green, And lilco Britons join hand in hand; As firm as cmr oaks may our sons be seen, li} the cause of their native land. May our daughters fair like tho ivy share The arms of the parent tree; May all unite in our strength and might. For home and liberty.

At tho conclusion of tho ceremony Mr Grosvenor Miles, one of the governors of the Domain Board, entertained the workmen, evidently at luncheon, for the ceremony took place at mid-day, and'there were more 6ongs such as " Woodman, Spare that Tree,' " Men. of Merry England," " Rule Britannia," concluding with the National Anthem. Then, in the words of the reporter of those days, "all resumed their work with a determination that the planting thus favourably begun should have a satisfactory termination."

Forty-nine years hare seen a marvellous transformation in that section of the Park. To-day tx-ees looking venerable with ago add to the beauty of the landscape. With increasing rapidity the gardens are being extended and planting begun so auspiciously has not yet been finished. The first minut-o book in the possession of the Domains Board records tlio proceedings, on May 19,. 1864, of the " Commission appointed to promote the cultivation and planting of the Government Domain in connection with the objects of the Acclimatisation Society." The Commission consisted of Messrs Hall, Sewell, Miles and Hill, and at its first meeting "it was unanimously .agreed that a certain portion of the ground over which the Commission had control should to trenched and planted without delay so that the present season should bo taken advantage of and with a. view of fixing the precise spot Messrs Sewell, Miles and Hill agreed to make an examination of the domain the following morning and to take measures to have the work carried out at once."

At the next meeting the Government gardener appeared beroro the Commit* sion and "gave useful information regarding thoground and also the plants which could be made available for the objects which the Commission was desirable of carrying out."