The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULL DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 1912. WORKERS WANTED.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 16 December 1912, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULL DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 1912. WORKERS WANTED.

It is to the credit'bf those who have so far successfully carried on the work :of the Beautifying Society that their pub-lic-spirited efforts have been attended ■by substantial practical results. The Society .and its helpers have accomplished a great deal of good and lasting work of benefit to the whole community. Although up to the present much that has been done has been in the nature of laying the foundation of a general scheme of -civic beautification. Several localities hitherto more or less unattractive have Ueen converted into beauty spots. There is, for instance, the esplanade at Wanganui East, with ifcs wealth of shrubs and flowers, the transformation of the bare hillside in the vicinity of the Durie Hill steps. These may to some extent ■be regarded as finished works, requiring for the future merely preservation, maintenance, and such.'improvements as may from time to time suggest themselves. On the other hand may be cited the very large amount of preparatory work that has (been carried out m the Virginia Lake Reserve, which is destined to become one of the most/ beautiful botanical gardens in the Dominion. Theso are only instauces of what has been and is hew.g accomplished. Every shrub and flower ihat ;a planted, every locality ihAi is madot more attractive, is an ad <Uvi p'«.\iMire to the citizens. Just as a pretty, wellkept garden enhances the 'harm . of home, 60 the beautificatio:i of bvr streets and public places increases tie charm of our town and ;nakes living within its borders more er. loyab'.e. .But it does even more than ;hat. To uso again the home garden 1 lustration, it follows that just as a good garden adds to the money value of a private residence, so does improved environment

tend to materially benefit fie Municipality. This argument does nob need to bo stressed. Its reason is nptjarenU People looking for a place wherein to settle aro not likely to choose a bare, uucared for town in pref 2Ct:v ;q to one made beautiful by the patriotic co-op-eration of its citizens. And every newcomer is an asset.of potential worth. Visitors to Wanganui have been pleased and surprised by the visible evidence of what the Beautifying Society has done, and some of them have gone back to their homes in other parts of the Dominion and endeavoured to induce their fellow-citizens to emulate Wanganui's isplemVid example. Having made so good a beginning/ the work must go on. It would be to the lasting discredit ojF our citizens if they were to allow the Society to languish for lack of that public-spirited support by which alone its successful existence can bo assured. There is need at the present moment for an army of helpers. For .many weeks past the Committee and Executive officers of tho Society have been busily engaged in organising th« big Garden Fete for New Year's

Day, and now in order to assure success it is necessary for all who can to come aor ward and volunteer to undertake some part of the work connected with the carrying out of the day's programme. Business men are wanted, xoung men and young women are wanted. In common fairness to the men and women who have done so mutjh for tho Society in the past—men like 'Messrs. Gibson and Walker, and women like Mrs. Suisted—there should be no shirkers now that an enterprise of public moment calls for the hearty co-op-eration of a host of willing workers.