ARBOR DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1933, Page 8

ARBOR DAY

SIGNIFICANCE OF OCCASION. SPEECH BY LORD BLEDISLOE,

AUCKLAND, July 15:

The beauty of the New Zealand forest was extolled by the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloe, ■ during an Arbor Day ceremony &t Birkenhead this week.

In the course of his address Lord Bledisloe said -Arbor Day was a day set apart to think -of : trees, their beauty, their usefulness and thoir in: spiration. - Sixty years ye-fl’s ago AVbor Day was inaugurated' ill the State of Nebraska, ■in' the United .States, and within .10 years it came tO' be ’ observed throughout America, ■ Cinhinatti being the ' first' Stake to bring the children to its celebration! In July,- 1892, the New Zealand Department of Agriculture made a public announcement that it ihmd been* decided to observe August !4 as a tpublic holiday .in all public offices throughout New Zealand “foj.;the planting" of ■ 'trees'-' aiid' shrubs : in’ Suitable places and reserves, as wfell : 'a s in private ground, and for. the observation of stich ceremonies' aiid demonstrations as are Suitable'to the general character ’of the occasion.” r

For 25 years oho day‘in each year Was set apart og Arbor Day and Government offices and school,s were closed. In i1916' it ceased to be observed as a public holiday, but the-Government expressed the hope' that, the planting of trees in ■•public reserve^ - and elsewhere would continue to he undertaken by the various' Ideal bodies'’ and education boards throughout l - the Dominion-. Since that time Arbor Day had been observed only spasmodically and in certain .'.ovalities, but ‘recahV.y ’ there had been developed a wholesome tendency to revive fits observance on the old systematic lines. GRANDEUR OF THE FOREST. “There is no country 'in the world which has been 'provided' by Nature with so fine ii heritage ;of varied scenery’«f 'exceptional beauty or with native'bush and forest of more dignified 1 'grandeur or greater botanic • interest than New Zealand, ” • sai d : If i s Excellency. ' “And 'there'is'probably none at) • 'highly .endowed by Nature whichhas suffered more' in days Song by Iroru the thoughtless vaindal'-sm, bred.:',of u 1 tra-cpmmerciMligin;.pf those;'who had neither the; vision ’ to' ! conipre'hie«d the aesthetic inajesty of etfoipment (or ■ even its’ true’ economic value Os conserving the moisture in the soil and thus avoiding the evil effects of drought) nor the'soul-to derive inspiration from these heaven-sent gifts d

■; “if 'Arbor Day be now • revived and jtg true meaning instilled .into the rising generation of New Zeal raid's citizens' much may be done to remedy the mistake*; of the past, ’to develop a wellfounded'sense of pride in the 'natiir.Vl beauties of the Dominion and to stimulate i;i her inhabitants. from their earliest youth that 'capacity-for observation of natural objects an<l natural phenomena which adds immensely to the interest' and enjoyment of life and to the meiifeb'alertnessaccur.py and vocational efficiency of those to whom it becomes a natural habit. He who shuts hi s eye on Nature goes, through life half blind. lie who cannot read her beauti.frul’y illustrated book is, in a, spiritual sense, Alliterate. It is paid that ‘he who loves trees loves others ■•besides himself.’ Thus, love of, trees breedg charity in the time' sense and human friendship.” The New Zealand Forestry League, added Hi.s Excellency, has made a special appeal to the "public of the Dominion to revive interest in the celebration of Arbor Day, if only to awaken in the youth of the country a love for trees and Nature study.

FAMOUS NEW ZEALAND TREES. '“As Senior Verderer of the Forest of Dean, which supplied Queen Elizabeth with the oak timber for the ships which fought and ’ vanquished the .Spanish Armada, I-cannot fail to be deeply interested in forest trees,” Lord Bledisloe continued. “The other. Dominions, notably Canada, have fine tim-ber-trees, but for ,a combination of botanic ' interest, quaint traditions, beauty and utility, the natural ‘arboretum’ of this' Dominion has no rival upon ' earth. New Zealand trees form a Wonderful link with our garden flowers end are particularly'intereeting as comprising the largest ,]ilv in the world in the cabbr.<ge-tree, the largest pea ; or bean in- the - lovely kowlrai, rought after by the tuie and the bellbirds for its nectar, and the largest violet- in' the mahoe, held sacret by the Maoris. :

; “In the majestic kauri this Dom'nion possesses not merely its o'dest living thng, gome of those in the Waipoua Forest"being over IiOO years ord, but -the largest timber-yielding tree in the world, yielding the. most generally useful timber that the-' world possesses. The totara', lovely alike as a and as a' timbe r for ornamental furniture and extremely durable, is the most historically interesting tree, as having provided the materia,! for the great war cafloes in which the Maori tribe*; came across the ocean to these shores 600 years ago.

utility timbers. “Nowhere *in the world is ihoro a more beautiful; forest tree . than the rinm, with its graceful drooping foliage. It provide the chief house-building timber- in this country. Its -main rival, the kahikatea, the tallest-of all Now Zealand trees, has' timber unequalled throughout the world for dairy produce containers and its fruits are a favourite food of the nitive pigeon-- and-the tui. The matai, with its fine-grained wood,

•furnishes' tile finest floors for'dancing to be obtained anywhere in the would. The miro, with it 8 brilliant crimson fruits,- -provides the >,ative pigeon with its ’chief winter food.

“Those gorgeous members' of the myrtle family, the rata and the pholmtukawa, or Christmas tree, the- former commencing .life as a parasite in the fork <of some fall forest tree whch it eventually ’thrott’esp and tile latter clinging with it B surface roots picturesquely to your Auckland oiffs. provide splendour of crimson adorn, mrntfo your Jandhmpo, unparalleled within the Empire. The rata, too, is the prince of firewoods. “The hi nan, the pride of the forest, with Us sage-green foliage- and profuse white bell-shaped flowers with' their cleft • petals and heavy', hard, ' durable timber,-provides olive-like berries from which' • the- Maoris extract oil, and pigeons, kakas and wild-pigs appetisfog sustenance. The glo.ss.Y-gree, n lacebark (hohptia), with- its large pure-white blosfioms, provided the Maoris with matca’fol- for . making h ts and is among the most ornamental of the smaller native trees. The kanaka, one of which I am about to plant, always brightens its environment. with its shinjng g'istening cleaves and lovely yellow berries, which, the birds love, but which, unless sonkcjd according to Maori custom, -are poisonous to human beings. The handsome -rewarewa, ‘ or honeysuckle tree, with its dark red flowers laden with IvinoY and ifo lovely grained wood, should/'be .grown more ‘ extensively for the cabinet-makers of the future. Many, of these valuable’ trees: are becoming seriously scarce. “Among numerous other,4 may be mentioned the stately silver beech, so plentiful 1 , jn the South Island, which is providing to-day the best timber in the world ; for motor-car bocVes, find the lovely tree-ferns, and last, but not least, your splendid puriri with its dark glossy leaves, pink flowers and cherrylike'- fruits, which warms the winter landscape with the richness of its cofonr and its persistent fruitage, and wh'eh furnishes a dn.rk-brown timber, attractive to the cabinetmaker and; by reaso,. l of its strength and durability, lov a luab'o' to estate owners and railway (■oinp'Miies. It makes the most imperishable '’gate-posts and railway sleepers in. the world. It is becoming all too scarce add should he planted in all parks-arid gardens. ’ , “Of Maori ffr Editions and superstitions there js no time to speak,” added His Excellency. “It must, however, be remembered that the Maoris believed that trees and mankind had a bo mm on ancestor .flamed Tame, who had to be appeased with suitable offerings when a tree was foiled for making a house or a canoc. Tane .was also the father of the birds of the foj*est. To the old-time' Maori the whole forest was Lapu’ or sacred. We need a- little Awe of this spirit to-day in our atHtudfi to our leafy friends.”