ARBOR DAY.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1899 Session I, E-02a

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1899. NEW ZEALAND.

ARBOR DAY.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Education Department, Wellington, 30th August, 1899. Memorandum fob Teachers op Native Schools. The following reports from some of the Native-school teachers, respecting their observance of Arbor Day, together with the departmental circular on the subject, are circulated for information. Many of the teachers report that the weather prevented any planting being done. It is proposed to introduce cane-weaving and basket-work as manual occupations into some of the Native schools. Teachers are recommended to bear this in mind in future, and in suitable localities to plant osiers for basket-work. Fruit-growing is another industry having an obvious relation to Arbor Day, and simple practical lessons on planting, grafting, pruning, &c, and on the natural history of the pests injuring fruit-trees, would form a very suitable course for older scholars in Native schools. George Hogben, Secretary for Education.

Education Department, Wellington, 17th June, 1899. Circular to Teachers op Native Schools. I send herewith a Gazette notice with regard to observing the 19th July as Arbor Day. I trust that you will be able to impress upon your scholars, and upon their parents too, if possible, the real significance of the occasion, and that some organized effort will be made in the direction of planting suitable trees, either native or introduced. I shall be glad to hear from you after the holiday what measure of success has attended your efforts. George Hogben.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 7th June, 1899. Wednesday, the 19th day of July next, will be observed as a public holiday in the Government offices throughout New Zealand for the celebration of Arbor Day. In order that the movement may be made as successful as possible, the Government hopes that the Mayors of the various municipalities and Chairmen of local bodies will place the matter prominently before the people of the colony, and do all they can to encourage the planting of public reserves and other available lands, both public and private, with trees suited to the locality W. C. Walker.

From Mr. J. F. Capper, Te Matai, Tauranga. On receipt of your circular of the 17th June, with reference to Arbor Day, I several times addressed the scholars of my school on the subject of planting trees —the need and good of it—and dwelt, in simple language, upon the benefits accruing to all therefrom. I pointed out that twelve years and a half ago this school land was in fern; that now, for eight years, we have every year been making quantities of all sorts of jam and preserves ; that each year our income of fruit has increased ; that last year we had many hundredweights of several kinds of fruit—apples, plums, peaches, oranges, lemons, shaddocks, citrons, quinces, figs, pears, grapes, passion-fruit, gooseberries, &c. That in addition to this, for the past three or four years, the schoolroom and teacher's residence have burnt nothing but firewood cut from trees planted by me on the school land, which is only three acres in area. That some of these trees measured 50 ft., 60 ft., 70 ft., 80 ft., and 90 ft. in height. That we have an orchard, shrubbery, flower-garden, and firewood-bush, all planted by myself, consisting of pines r acacias, gums, willows, plane 3, macrocarpa, &c, flowering shrubs, and fruit-trees. That, as certain trees were cut down,, others were planted to take their places. That, taking all this into con-

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sideration, together with the fact that room was found for school buildings, teacher's residence, offices, play-ground, walks, grass, fences, &c, we thought that our three acres of second-class land compared very favourably with the scores of unprofitable acres all around. Wednesday, 19th July—Arbor Day—turned out a pouring wet day, so that no organized demonstration could take place. But on the following day many of the children told us that they had turned out in the rain and obtained such trees as they could, and planted them in places where they could care for them. The most interesting episode, in our judgment, was the report brought by Miss Edith Capper's class of preparatories—all very small children. They told her with enthusiasm that, in spite of the heavy rain, they went out and searched for and found trees, such as peach-trees, acacias, pines, &c, and had planted them near their dwellings, fencing them in, and begged her to come and see them. The other day several old boys—some of them married—came to me with money to make arrangements to send orders to Auckland for the purchase of fruit-trees, which they intend planting and caring for. Several of the old people have also planted trees. You will thus see that, although more might have been done, something, however little, has been accomplished, and Arbor Day, although a wet one, has been in some measure presented as an embodiment of a desirable principle before the minds of young and old.

Prom Mr. E. W. D. Matthews, Parapara, Mangonui. I enclose a rough diagram of this place, that you may form some idea of what we did on Arbor Day. I asked Piri Eaiti *to come and assist me to draw up a programme, and help to carry it through. He came at once, as he always does. The children were formed in two lines —boys in one, girls in the other. Then they marched from the schoolhouse to the west fence, thence round south fence through the gate of housepaddock, on to the verandah of cottage, and formed in four lines—the smallest in front, the tallest behind. Piri Eaiti then addressed them, telling them that five years ago this place was all high tea-tree, and no clear spot was to be seen ; it was all clear and tidy now, and what we were going to do was to still further improve the appearance of the school. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed ; the children were beaming and anxious to set to work. Every child had a tree ; but Piri Raiti helped the little ones to plant theirs. On the south side of the cottage there are one hoihere, one totara, eighteen karakas planted; on the west side, eight macrocarpa, six peaches, three lemons, three taraires, one totara, nine karakas; on north side, six karakas, eight peaches, four lemons, two hoihere ; on east side, twenty karakas, four lemons, two kohukohu, four taraire. I have promised the children to replace these trees with macrocarpa if they die.

From Mr. A. E. Welsh, Peria, Mangonui. Arboe Day was duly observed on the 19th July. The day was a very wet one, and as a consequence not many children attended for the purpose of planting. The Committee were in Mangonui, attending a sitting of the Land Court. Nevertheless, those children who did attend brought one or more native trees and shrubs, which, in spite of the heavy downpour of rain, were planted. Some five or six young totaras, of varying size, also some ten or twelve tanekaha, five or six rimu, and about the same number of kauri, and a number of shrubs and willow-cuttings—these were all brought and planted by the children. At the time of writing they look as if they will live. My family and myself planted in the garden a large number of fruit-trees, including plums, peach, apple, oranges, quince, gooseberries, and raspberries. A number, of these were obtained from Auckland, and some have been grown locally. Altogether the interest taken in the planting by the children was very encouraging, and they seemed to fully grasp the reasons.

Prom Mrs. Tennekt, Te Pupuke, Whangaroa. The children of this school engaged with great heartiness in the work of planting trees on Arbor Day. A number of them went to'the bush and procured an assortment of native trees, which they planted in the school-ground. I thought it well to let each child have a tree, to encourage them to attend to them through the summer. The ground is poor, but it is hoped that some of them, at least, will grow.

From Mr. J. Pateick, Whangaruru, North Auckland. I have to report that to-day I received sufficient assistance from some of the scholars of this school and a neighbour to enable me to get about forty native trees planted out along the boundaryfence of the school reserve. I have not yet received any ornamental or medicinal shrubs from the Department. If Idoso I shall plant them out properly.

Prom Mr. T. J. Danahee, Motukaraka, Hokianga. I explained the meaning of your circular and the significance of the day to both the children and the Chairman and Committee, and appointed a meeting. I had some macrocarpa, peach, and plum-trees ready for planting, and I prepared a very practical lesson in planting and grafting fruit-trees ; but the rain came down so heavily last night and all the forenoon that none of the elders came. I gave the children some blackboard lessons in grafting and planting : they seemed to grasp them fairly well. The soil here, being a heavy clay, is not fit to handle in such weather as this.

* An enthusiastic supporter of the school, and for many years Chairman of the Committee.

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From Majoe J. C. Clabke, Otamatea, Kaipara. I. beg to report that at a meeting of the Committee of the school i explained to them the meaning of the holiday granted as " Arbor Day." They seemed much interested, and promised to search the bush for young suitable trees. Unfortunately the night previous and on the morning of the 19th very heavy rain had fallen. However, in the evening a Maori came with about fifteen young seedlings of the Native forest kind, and I planted them round .the school premises. On the morning of the 20th six or seven adult Maoris came from the bush with the children, carrying a larger supply of the requisite plants. These we also planted, although I am afraid several of the trees were rather overgrown for satisfactory planting. I think altogether about a hundred have been planted in secure positions. The difficulty of transplanting the native trees and shrubs is so well known that I can only wait to ascertain the effect of this attempt. I am pretty certain some of the very young plants may take root. It was pleasing to observe the interest taken by the adult Maoris in Arbor Day, held here, I understand, for the first time.

From Mr. A. R. Hakbis, Te Kuiti, Waikato. Abbok Day was ushered in by stormy weather; about twenty scholars attended. We began planting at 10 o'clock, and were all very busy for about an hour, when the rain came on again: so I sent the scholars home, and finished the work myself. In all we planted fifty-eight trees, such as oaks, elms, Oriental planes, maorocarpa, and twelve fruit-trees.

From Mr. C. A. Waltbb, Manaia, Coromandel. Since Arbor Day I have been given twelve seedling peaches and four fig-trees, which I have planted out. The former 1 shall bud next year from the choice trees supplied me by the Department. I have also sown eight edible chestnuts, and the same number of walnuts. I have three seedling walnuts 1 ft. high that I sowed last year. There are also a lot of Japanese plums and good peach-stones sown, from which I hope to rear some valuable trees. I also got a consignment of seeds from the Malay Peninsula, from plants and trees from the highlands. I have kept a few of each to try and rear; the remainder I have sent to the Minister for Agriculture.

From Mr. H. Beodebick, Omarumutu, Bay of Plenty. Abboe Day was very wet, but nearly every child brought a tree the day before or the day after ; these were planted in the section. The following is the list : Titoki, kumarahou, takaka, karaka, puriri, rewarewa, tawa, toromiro, karamu, poroporo, mapo, kohi, pohutukawa, ngaio.

From Mr. J. Wylie, Fort Galatea. A pew days previous to Arbor Day my sons carted over to the school-site a wagon-load of willows and poplars. We purposed having a great day's planting on the 19th, but I regret to say that the day turned out very unfavourable —heavy showers of rain, with a cold, southerly wind. However, we have got a few trees down, and will see to getting the others planted after school-hours.

From Rev. C. C. Brown, Te Ngae, Rotorua. I have to report that, though the morning was a rough wintry one and very unpleasant by reason of heavy showers, yet many of the children assembled; they planted about two dozen trees in the grounds surrounding the house. The afternoon previously I had addressed them on the subject, endeavouring to show the benefits and pleasure to be derived from all work in connection with garden and orchard and the soil generally. The character of the weather spoiled the intended programme to a certain extent, but the trees were all planted, each one putting in his or her own tree. Great interest and not a little excitement was shown in connection with this annual event.

From Mr. A. G. Hamilton, Tokaanu, Lake Taupo. I made arrangements for the boys and girls to bring a tree each to plant as their own tree, and any others in addition that they liked to bring. The day, unfortunately, was wet, but we did as much as possible between the showers, and finished the work on Saturday. The total number of trees planted on the two days was eighty-five, made up as follows: Thirty-five totaras, fourteen rimu, eleven miro, five kawaka, eight arurangi, three rewarewa, four tree-ferns, two horopito, and three tawhiri. The girls also cleared round all the young oaks planted last year, some two hundred. Of last year's Arbor Day work, we have growing twenty-eight willows, eighteen totaras, &c, and two blue-gums. The children took the greatest interest in the matter, and worked with great energy. The Chairman of the Committee attended on the Wednesday to assist. In about a month's time I shall plant out a number of blue-gums and Pinus insignis, which I sowed last year.

From Mr. H. R. Kiekman, Waiomatatini, East Coast. In accordance with your instructions, I duly assembled the children of my school and carefully explained to them the reasons of the day having been set apart. The weather was very inclement, a heavy gale blowing, accompanied by torrents of rain. Very little could be done in the way of tree-planting. Most of the older children brought trees —willows, poplars, karakas, kawakawas, &c. These they intend to plant on the new school-site to-morrow. I have done my best to impress on the children the importance of tree-planting, and apparently it had some effect, for a good many trees are being planted at Waiomatatini and Te Horo.

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From Mr, A." Pinkbk, Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay. The school was examined on the morning of the 17th July. In the afternoon the children planted a number of trees on the plots of land near their dwellings, and seemed to be generally interested in the work. They also brought trees and shrubs to plant the school-site. The adults, too, since the school has been established here, have taken a good deal of interest in the matter, and many of them are now planting shelter and fruit trees on the land near their dwellings.

From Mr. A. Gibson, Kokako, Hawke's Bay. I BEGitET to say that Arbor Day has been very wet, making it impossible to be at all out of doors here ; therefore we have been unable to do any planting. May I add that I have some seventy or eighty young trees, which I have raised from seed, and among them some most promising Ilex quercus, the acorns of which I received last year from the Department. Next year, therefore, we should have a most successful Arbor Day planting. I should be grateful for any other seed that the Department might be able to send me.

From Mr. C. W. Gbace, Pamoana, Wanganui Eiver. Very great interest was taken, in Arbor Day. Every boy capable of doing the work planted a tree, and placed a strong wooden structure round it. The school-grounds are now sufficiently planted. As the Maoris here have only a limited area of open land, it is not probable that they will be induced to put trees thereon, especially as their cattle are turned upon it during the winter months.

From Mr. A. Wilson, Pipiriki, Wanganui Eiver. I have to report that Wednesday, the 19th ultimo, being a particularly inclement day, the holiday, not having been announced beforehand, was postponed to Friday, the 21st. In the absence of the Chairman and a majority of the School Committee, the proceedings were confined to —(1.) A short address on the value and need of tree-planting. (2.) Master and boys went into the bush to cut and carry material for fencing to conserve the work of the previous years. Search was also made for suitable-sized nikau trees, but unsuccessfully. Meanwhile the girls were engaged with the schoolmistress in tidying up the school-ground. (3.) In order that the specific object of the day might not be left out altogether, a willow-tree was planted in the school-ground. (4.) " God save the Queen! "

From Mr. D. Cossgkove, Kaiapoi. Aeboe Day was celebrated here with a great deal of enthusiasm. I bought 118 native and introduced trees —rautawhire, macrocarpa, and Pinus msignis. The reserve is 13 chains long and 3 chains wide. I dug holes around the reserve about 20 ft. apart, and on the morning of the 19th laid a tree in each hole, a macrocarpa and a pine alternately. When the people assembled I gave them a short address on the object of tree-planting, &c. The pupils then, each in charge of an adult, were marched to their stations, and the planting began. After this, refreshments were served by the ladies of the pa, and an afternoon's games were carried out, relieved by an exhibition of gymnastics and callisthenics by the Men's Club and school children—over sixty adults and twenty children. These were kept up till dark, and wound up by an entertainment in the Hall. - Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,250 copies), £i 7e.

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