ABOUT THE TOWN

Chronicle (Levin), 27 July 1946, Page 3

ABOUT THE TOWN

T.S.

D.)

shannon side-lights

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j The first white man who gazcd i on Shannon saw a sea of standing oush with but few> natural clearings. Tracks had to be cut through I -Jtie bush for furniture to be i orought in. When the townshlp j and distriet were cut up, settlers | perforce set to work to fell the ' jimber and clear the land, and the ; resuit was that after a rew years | Shannon was practically treeless. j So, as is ever the way, residents I iecided that they must replace ; some of the trees they had so 1 iately destroyed. Under the lead- ! ership of Mr. W. C. Nation, pro- : prietor of the Manawatu Farmer, ! the first newspaper to be printed ! ioeally, a band of willing • helpers 1 gathervd for tlie first Arbor Day. j This was held on August 1, 1894, ;almost 52 years ago, and badges were printed to commemorate thc : iay. Among the enthusiasts were ; Messrs. E. Butt, E. L. Richards, W. ; uid F. Gascoigne, A. Bacon and C. ; Taticn. During the day many tf the plane trees, some of which j dill stand in the town, were plant- ; xl. The settlers made a great day : tf it, and local Maoris cooked a feast (native style) in the school ! p'ounds, and at night a dance was i"ld. in,tlie original school room. Public-spirited as evcr, thc cili- /.( 11s of Shannon sct about to form 1 recreation ground, and Mr. Jtborne, with his team of bullocks. ed the working bee which stumped :nd cleared Whittaker's Square, he site of the present domain. rhc groiuid was afterwards drain•d and levelled, and a crop of oats grown. About 1906 the ground was •eeded down as a permanent lomain. The labours of the workrs were lightened by the ladies of he village, who provided refreshnents. Gradually more trees were plant•d in the main streets of Shainion. mt it was not until 1924 that leautifying started in real earnest. .n this year extensive planting was mdertaken by the Borough Coun•il in Plimmer Terrace. Arbor Day was again revived for the town n 1938, when, under the leaderliip of Mrs. S. H. Roberts. of -Vrapeti, trees which liad been lonated by the local Women's histitute, were planted. Further ilantings were also made in the | icmain by prominent members of ",he community. Truly they plant for posterity.