ARBOR DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 5

ARBOR DAY.

AT MANCHESTER ST. SCHOOL. Trees and flowers were one more proof of Cod’s goodness to His children, said Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick, chairman of the Manchester Street School Committee, at the school this afternoon. when Arbor Day was observed. Mr Fitzpatrick said the Bible taught ns that when God had finished the work of creation He saw that it was very good, and this was most true in regard to trees, plants, and flowers, for these gifts to us. were both useful and beautiful. Asking the children to help him, the speaker made a list of the useful things which were obtained from trees and plants—wood for building houses, ships, bridges, wood tor fuel, for furniture. Many other things were made from trees—cork, rubber, medicine, oils, scent, spices, cloth, puper and musical instruments, besides of course, fruit. “How poor the world would be if there were no trees or flowers,’’ said the speaker. Trees were also beautiful. Again asking the children lor co-operation, the speaker made a list of beautiful trees, trees which were magnificent for height, for breadth, for symmetry, for the colour of their blossoms. Then trees had other uses; they provided shade, helped to keep the temperature of the atmosphere more even, were said to help to regulate the rainfall, were used to turn swamps into good land, and deserts into productive use.

Again, said the speaker, he would like the children not to forget that trees provided feed and shelter for birds, those happy creatures.so friendly to man, and he hoped that in planting trees they would try to get those which would attract the birds and feed them. In mmc things wo had much to learn from the Maoris, continued Mr Fitz-

Patrick. The early Maoris were, of course, forest dwellers, and even the hoys of the tribe knew the name and the use of every tree, shrub and flower in the forest. The ancient Maoris believed that the sun, which they called a god, whoso name was Tane, made man and also made trees out of the earth—that the sun was the father and the earth the mother of both man and trees, and therefore trees were man’s brothers. This was a. very remarkable belief. The Maoris, believing that trees were living things, did not destroy them unless they really required the timber, and then they performed an act of worship to their god, to ask his forgiveness. They liad the othe; beautiful idea that God made the trees to be clothes for tire earth and cover her nakedness. Arbor Day was for the purpose of encouraging people to plant trees, said the speaker. Too many trees had been cut'down in all countries, and these must be replaced quickly. Tlioso who had a place in their gardens or grounds where there was room for trees should plant them there. Shrubs and flowers, too, might bo planted. There was scarcely any tree which had no use or beauty,. They could plant trec6 for use, for shelter, or for beauty. None of them would be the worse for loving trees.