“A WORKING NATION.”

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 7, 12 August 1908, Page 52

“A WORKING NATION.”

TREE PLANTING CEREMONY. .after the civic reception at the Drill Hall, the vhie-regal party, Ministers of the Crown, and American officers proceeded to Albert Park to perform the treeplanting ceremony. A large square was roped off in the centre of the park, around the band rotunda. Some thousands of people witnessed the interesting ceremony, and loudly cheered those who performed the tree-planting operations. The trees planted were all American and English oaks, known to he well adapted to the Auckland climate. The Mayor called upon his Excellency the Governor to first handle the spade, which was entwined with coloured ribbons. Lord Plunket planted the first sturdy young oak to commemorate the visit of the battleship Louisiana. Lady Plunket next undertook the planting of an oak, to bo known as the “Kansas,” and her Excelclncy, with right goodwill, piled two shovelfuls of earth around the roots. Lady Ward, in turn, was called upon to perform the ceremony of planting the Minnesota, on the southern side of the band rotunda. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, was received with hearty cheers, and ho first covered the roots of the Georgia, and next those of the New' Jersey. The earth lay loose near by, and only needed shovelling in, but the head of the Government spurned to adopt the formal method of sprinkling t.he roots with a light shower of soil, used his foot to send the spade deep into the earth in approved gardening Style, and turned several heavy layers over the roots of the commemorative oaks, amidst a burst of hearty applause. Something of an ovation awaited Sir Richard Poore, who also entered right heartily into the work, and the British Admiral's name will be handed down in this connection as having planted the Rhode Island and Virginia in New Zealand soil. Admiral Sperry was next presented with the gardening implement, and was caled upon to plant a fine cocinea, to be known as th.? Ohio. The American Admiral was also asked to plant the Missouri. and performed the ceremony amidst the ringing cheers of the vast crowd of spectators. "I am sorry to have to ask you to work so hard,” remarked the Mayor, as Admiral Sperry turned th? soil. The reply of the American Admiral was a naive one. “It’s all right,” he said; “wd are a working nation, you know.” Rear-Admiral Wainwright performed a similar ceremony in connection with the planting of the Maine and the Kearsarge. Rear-Admiral Schroeder followed in l.ke manner with oaks, which in future will be known as the Kentucky and Alabama,” while Captain Potter concluded the ceremony by planting the Illinois. The Mayor then announced to the watching crowd that the last tree had been planted, and each bore the name of an American battleship. Loud cheers were again given, and the party drove off amidst the playing of bands and the continual cheering of the crowd.