WINCHESTER

Temuka Leader, Issue 1597, 21 June 1887, Page 3

WINCHESTER

The Queen’s Jubilee was commemorated in Winchester yesterday. At 3 o’clock the children assembled at the sclioolhouse and, followed by a goodly sprinkling of the townspeople and headed by the oak, marched to the Domain. On arriving in . the, centre of the park, the procession halted and formed a circle round the spot selected for the planting of the "Jubilee Oak,” The Chairman of the Dnma : r Board, Mr J. A. Young, then addressed the assemblage as to the purpose for which they had met, and called upon Mr J. L. Cooke, master of the Winchester School, to address them on the historical event of our Most Gracious Sovereign's reign. In a short address, Mr Cook alluded to the Jubilee ef King George 111., and pointed out that during that reign Capt. Cook discovered the island ef New Zealand, which during the reign of our present Queen had been reclaimed from its primitive wildness by the energy and pluck of the present generation, until it was now a fertile land, peopled by energetic toh niats, and abounding in fruitfulness, We trusted the children present won't; continue the work so well commenced by their parents and inso years hence, when the sapling now about to be planted had grown to a goodly tree, this new land of ours would have become 'powerful and prosperous, and that they wditld be able to look back with pleasae ; upon the proceedings of that day. He hoped : that theit lives might be as unsullied, and theuiiames as stainless, as was the . name of our Most Gracious Queen whose Jubilee they were now celebrating. 1 Mr J. A; Young next called upoo Mrs j, A. Young to plant the Jubilee Oak, remarkiog that Mrs Young had planted the firttoakin Winchester, and that be, as Chairman of the Domain Board, bad been ■ commissioned to request Mrs Young to Jlant the oak in celebration of the Queen s übileel ... Mrs J. A. Young then planted the tree in a most systematic manner, after which each child and many of the adults present todk the/spade and assisted in the work of covering the roots of the tree. The children then sang the following verses, composed for the occasion by Mr J. A. Young .Grow,stately oak, for ages grow, • 1 Inmeinory of tbe'past; ' Stead many a suoimer’e gentle breese, And many a winter’s blast. May the aged ait benaath thy boughs, 7 And little children play— Tell why this oak was planted here On this auspicious day. We’ll sing “ God bless our noble Queen," A 1 As'we stand 'round this three, ’Twaa planted to commemorate ■ .•; Her Year of Jubilee, i

After the Jubilee ode was sung, Mr Young briefly addressed the children, calling their attention to the loyalty of their-parents, who had that day planted ■; the tree in honor of their Queen, and he trusted the children present would follow the example of their elders, and continue loyal to their Queen and country. He hoped they wornd project the, tree, and should any attempt be made to injure it they would reply—- < “Oh master, spare (hat tree, Damage not one single bough—’Xwas loyal hearts that planted it, Oh pray protect it now. ” Tbe children then sang “ God Save the Queen,” after which three ringing and hearty cheers were .given for Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. Mr Cliff next caljed for three cheers for , Mr«j Young, who had planted the oak, which were heartily responded to. Mr Young then said be had one more duty to perform, and that was to christen the .park the “ Victoria Park,” in honor of the Queen. Three lusty cheers followed, . which the procession marched back to the township, where refreshments bad been provided for the children. It should be mentioned that tbe sapling, which was one of tbe finest, measuring , 11 feet in height, was kindly given by Mr Coombs, tbe well-known gardener of Geraldine.

At 7 p.m. the fireworks were let off, to the great delight of the juveniles, after which the bonfire wot* lr, manyv’.pongß were sung, and much merriment prevailed, the whole proceedings winding np with a free ball (the music fox which was provided by Messrs Barrattand Colville) held in Mr Carston’s Assembly rooms, kindly lent for the occasion. During the evening an abundance of provisions was provided for all. Thus ended a most pleasant day’s amusement, one which, we trust may long .remain green, in ' the memory of young " , and old, and may the lady in whoso • honor it was held long live to wear;- the crown she baa for 50 years so worthily ; filled. ;