BEAUTY SPOTS IN THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2203, 16 July 1914, Page 8

BEAUTY SPOTS IN THE CITY

———9 FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS THE ARBOR DAY TOILERS TREE PLANTING CEREMONIES 'Aifcor Day i\as moro of n geneia holiday josterd.iy than it has been foi many'years Doubtless this) i\ as becaus' tho day happened to fall on tho fiisi day of tho 'Winter Raco Meeting, am that-tho present week is more or less Wellington's gala season. Sufficient tt say that quite a numbei of busy foil who noiei gave Aiboi Day a thought found themselves hampeied by tho num liei of oflites m the city that were closcc for tho day. These included tho Government, insurance, and legal offices tho State schools, and. tlie city corporation offices. Needless to say then wore many hundreds of holiday-maker! ■who never planted a tree or .' ever thought of ■ pruning. a rose bush, bui ; nevertheless there.were many earnesi littlo bands of workers'in various -parts 'of tho city endeavouring to lend reality • to the "clay of tfebs." The official tree-planting . ceremony . 'took place ou the Town Belt at the head of Mein -Street, where the Mayor (Mr.'J. P. Luke) and Mrs. Luke, Mr. ; G. Frost (chairman- of- the Reserves : Committee) and "Mrs. Frost, and {{Messrs, J. R. Palmer (Town Clerk), and i.iW. H. Morton (City Engineer) were re- ■ ceived by Messrs.-: J: Castle,',H. Preston, ... land the Rev. J.Crewes(representing the South Progressive Association). Tho .boys arid i girls of the Newtown School had been at "work from an earlyhour preparing the ground, and -. {Mr. M'Pherson (the municipal forester) '.'had.cleared and partly planted the area to bo tended by the school children. 'Among the • visitors -were Mr. and Mrs. :W: R.. Davidge, of London, who are closely: associated with,..town-planning '"'.'. ivOrk in England. .:..:; \ "; ,--,-., '..::: (The Burden i:bf. Youth. '['■ Tlie Mayor said that the idea'which they should have: before 'them; that day was tlie co-operation' of the citizens -with the City Council 'iii tlie. beautifying of their city. Boys!. arid--'girls, ,hi; planting trees '~,. on this, portion .'of, tho. Town Belt,'were ..,- doing somethingthat was visible,to-day, but would bo'more visible.injlie'years to come. : Everything depenueu in tho :. future upon the/boys arid girls, andthoy should use their influence amongst themselves to care-for and-foster, not alone ■ ;lho -trees they- planted, -but also the 1 "trees were planted by other- people. In a few years,'he Veminded. them, ; they.would bo-taking .the-places of thosa 'who. were now doing tho -work. When they became members of ,the City Council and membebs'.'of. Parliament, they would' thori b'o''able'-to''look back with pleasure'to-what tliey-had done to-day ns school, children. Credit for what had "been done was duo to'the Reserves Committee, to Mr." Morton, Mr. Glen, and Mi;;',.; M'Pherson. . This . co-operatiori > among the council arid its' officers and i ithe public, was- going to make-Welling-ton a place where, .people -would como ■ with pleasured-: He urged Tipon the hoys and'girls to look upon themselves as co-partners, and by protecting their ' own trees on this reserve and tho trees planted by others they would make a great.improvement - in ..their, city,' and ■would "prevent the vandalism that was . •;J;sd .'noticeable iiv other cities of the Do- -• minion. Tho trees - 'that Mr.' -Henry yW'right' lia'd plauted'/'were evidenco of '! what could be'.done ~6n 'the Town Belt. ~ Mr?. Luie said-that if-sho could not . .sp'ealc as w;ell as Her husband,, she could , plant trees abetter than !he;c6uld, ",' as '' 'tliey would find by going to tlie. Kilhirnie School.;; - Thpy came there to-day, 'said the- Mayoress/'-to ;dq honour to the boys .and'girls' who Had' guaranteed to '"'plaiit'-and.'lookVaffer'.the. trees 'on this ;' reserver' '"'"••-''-•■'-:■'•-- -':■ ' : , r; ---.-. -Past and Future, v '"' 'CouncillbrV.G.. TPicistl, cli'aifriiari"of.'the Reserves-.Cbmmittee. : said that .87,000 ■ trees had been planted during' tho last few years in the : parks, gardens, and \ Town Belt. If the people oi Welling- ~"' ten would take riirich interest in tree- .;.' planting as; Mt. Ciewes had done in the Zoological Garden;, they ■would soon .•.beautify-, the whole of it. To-day tliey , ..were, distributing 1000 trees'amongst tho schools and. residents .for planting. Mr. Henry AVright had not alone; planted a • portion of the Town Belt,-but had given a donation of £5 towards beautifying .the entrance of the Mein Streetreserve. '- 'They wanted alittle more of that spirit. , He had much pleasure, as chairman of * the Reserves Cohiriiittee, in vesting this portion of tho Town Belt in the committeo of tho; Newtown School. ■■' --Mr: J. A; Parkinson-(headmaster of the Newtown School) said.that the'-'step ' had not been taken rashly, as the children had beeu consulted, and had expressed their willingness to plant and loolv.after the.reserve'.:,- He looked for•w.ard fo_the time when" children-would . ''he learning somo of then- lessons under the shade of these trees, though he -might iiou be there to see it... - ,', ' •v: U'he Ko>. J. Cto.wcs, Mr. Preston, arid .Mr. :Davidge also.-mado:a;few: remarks ..appropriate to tho occasion. Trees to commemoraio tho'event were then- planted. A row of chestnuts will 'afterwards be planted to commemorate ■ the names of the; Mayor, aiid,'Mayoress •■and Miss Luke;. 1 Councillor Frost and .Mrs. Frost; Mr. 'JohivSniith; Mr. H. A. "Parkinson,.Mr, A; A. George; the Rev. 'John Crowes,,Mr. 'A., Crosby, Mrs: . Castlo, sen., Mr. Henry Wright, Mr. - and Mrs. J. Castle,. Mr;™W: R. Davidgo :, (London County ' Council) , and Mrs. ..Davidge.' '"*.•■' ; .'Mr; David Pryde had kindly forwarded to tho South Wellington Progressive ". Society, a number of kowhai trees and • ,'Ncw Zealand passion fmit vines. • :■"•■'-"'r. South Wellington School. v -At South Wellington School, work,in connection - with the improveihent and beautifying of the .grounds has been r.going on Quietly for the past year. All __ ■ trees planted in previous years have ' been ..well, looked..after .and aro now .'showing good growth. The varieties ;pla'nted aro mostly Australian and Nciv VZealand sorts, including,'kowhai, kar,aka, rig'aio, totara, ribbonwood, and ::inatipo. Among tho many improveriients -.have been tho laying-out and planting i-'bf two large flower-beds. This was done •Vby tho scholars, directed by the head- ■ master, Mr.. George Flux Twenty plots ■;;liavo also beeu provided for' the cliil"dre'n, each one to bo cultivated by twe i.xhildfen. These are well sheltered fron prevailing winds, and aro on ar -■ -ideal spot for-;tlw children- for garden purpose's.' 'It' is' hoped, that th< '.children will, be ablo this year to hole '"'their. first 'flower .show of. exhibiti ".'grown on the school grounds. -Lower down the gully a small .are; - has beon laid out as a.nursery. ' Oi .' the other side of tho main path is thi .'site fov the;, proposed -sand play-housi ;-;for the infants, now-before the Educa r-tion Board. At tlie rear of the site's "beginning has been made with the erec '.'.'t'ion:of'-.a'.'rbse ; pergola.-; As the rosei •Were ■ planted' last year,' this seasoi ■•:should\seb"it"covered with'blooms. Fu 'ture operations on this spot will beii .the direetionof planting it with'nativi ' trees, about Bft. apart.' Each.tree wil -'.'be enclosed in a guard to ; protect i i'-from injury while.fhe;children' are,play : 'ing around.tho,'sarid-house. The. ugl; - :clay bank is gradually being coverei -witii creepers, but owing fb the uatur ,\of the. ground, growth is naturally slow r;;>: Brooklyn School. Brooklyn's;custom, tho, .cliil f]ren--of-rtho{-sciiool.-astob']Gd .in ih grounds in commemoration of Arho Day, and to assist in beautifying th euKoundinss hyi trce-p.lantmgj ek

After the New Zealand Ensign had heeii hoisted., the headmaster (Mr. J. B. Hopkirk) addressed the scholars. Tha joungstofs,-under superivision of their, teachers, then set to bnsiuess in'earnest.' A good deal of useful work was accomplished during the day, and will be continued until late in August. The standard boys deserve praise for tho hard work accomplished .during the past threo' weeks. Great Day at Eastbourne. If ever Eastbourne presented an animated , appearance, it was yesterday. For weeks past the children have been zealously looking forward to Arbor Day as tho day of their existence when judgment. would bo announced of tho losults of tho planting of the various sections who competed for tho shield presented by the School Committee. The idea of forming-a Juyenilo Beautifying Society'composed of tho children of the local school .was happily thought of Mid introduced by Mr. Sanson, the local headmaster of the school, who has fathered the movement with care and enthusiasm* Marks were ■ periodically awarded. ■•-,'■ At 10 o'clock Mr. Sanson, with his large family, of enthusiastic youngsters, «»j early on the scene. The Mayor and .-councillors, tho chairman of tlie School' Committeo (Mr. Chittey), and tho members of tho School Committee were present, together with: a largo number' of residents. ■ The winning group was ■• captained by Miss Norma Cook, assisted by:.G. Russell, J. Durloo, E. Haines, J. "Jackson, G. Morris, and Jeffrey ICeenan. The second group were: .Isabella drittoy (captain), D. Shortt, D. Avery, R. Chittey, G.'Godber, R. Durloo, P. Ross. Highly commended group: I. Carlyle (captain), S. Nicol, V. Ross, T. Jackson, E. «Jeck- ; son, L. Jones, R. Krobs. Commended: T.. Dixon (captain), M. Wise, L. Dur-loo,-N. Nicol, H.'Gurr, J. Butler, and E. Ross '•■•"■ The chairman-'said_ that the whole of the trees showed evidence of .assiduous care and attention, and reflected great credit on each group; So close was the ' condition of tho trees that tho judge had great difficulty in deciding tho actual winner. This.spoke volumes for ' tho work and industry of tho children. - After the presentation of tho shield, donated by the School Committee, the ' children proceeded to the scene or operations for the forthcoming year, arid; Makaro Street handed over to them 7oy the Borough. Council for tree plantrJUg. There they selected their trees, and,tho. captains, with their band of assistants, commenced the work of planting. The Eastbourne Beautifying Society, in other places' of the district, ipere busily engaged all day with an arm|y of helpers* planting, and performed gjreat work. A Forgotten Gully. Among the people who will havo, for, many: years to come, pleasant recollections of Arbor Day, 1914, aro the 'pupjls! of the Normal School. Rosidentji and ■visitors passing to Tinakori Road, by way of Sydney Street have knowii only, too well a '-blind end" situated to tlie west of 'the- .cemetery gates, an<l forming, away; back in the "seventies," tho entrance to "the volunteer rifle-ipngo in "Hunnimah's .-.Gu'ly;" Until Monday last this spot'was a thriving mi rsery for noxious v weeds. Yesterday moi.'ning its face was transformed. As a gr and finale to a scheme of Arbor Day lessons, 160 of fho senior boys and girls of, the Normal School, with.the assistance of the teaching staff, and, a group of Tr? lining College students, backed by.sovOral skilled Corporation wwknien, madei i an organised attack on the locality. "Plants wore forthcoming .from the Fores try. Departthe City Council, t he- objective was a; sloping- hank of about ten chains in length, and as proof of v/hat may be 'done" by;a combination of -enthusiasm, energy," arid,',skill, ,;tlie,. ( n pt,''result,, at sundown was that close <j>ritwo "ffioTisand shrubs were planted; and a huge pile of rubbish carted 'iff "to make room' for more useful matter." .The teaching-staff wish to acknowledge tho liberal assistance given/ to the day's programme by. the City i Engineer's Do- . paftment. It is believed that, with a .view to its maintenance, and future development, the area will be. vested in tlie,pupils of the Norm kl.School by tho ' City Council. Hutt antf P etono, Troe-planting on a small scale.was carried out yesterday "by the Hutt and the Petono District Etigh Schools, the scholars at tho former .school apparently entering more into tlu> Arbor Day spirit than the latter. Afijer planting trees and giving somo attention to last year's shrubs, the schools'closed for the afterneon.. ' .;' IN OTHER 'CENTRES. ..'■■• (By Telosraph.—P. tes* Association.! " jFoxton, July 15. Arbor Day was .' celebrated in the State school groun ils this afternoon, when an address w ns delivered by Mr. W- C. Nation, foun dcr of the Arbor Day movement in. Nov; Zealand —tho first observance being "held at Greytown in 1890. In conjunction with a represen-tative-of'-the Native race, Mr. Nation planted an oak. in honour of-, Queen Mary,iafter,which (the National Anthem was'sung. ■