THE BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10699, 21 August 1912, Page 5

THE BEAUTIFYING SOCIETY

WHAT IS DONE IN WANGANUI.

The Masterton Town Beautifying Society Jias received a report concerning the operations of the Wanganui Society, winch should act as an inspiration and an incentive to energetic work. The Wanganui Society was formed a little over two yean* ago. Its first task was to interview the Borough Council and ask that body for £3OO in labour, which was granted. It then interviewed the Harbour Board, and obtained permission to form an esplanade along the* river front. The Wanganui East Borough gave labour equal to one man two days a week. Members' subscriptions were £9O, and this was all they had to go on with for the first, year. In the second year a garden. fete was held, which realised £4OO, and this year another garden fete brought in about £SOO. Various: branches have been formed in connection with the main Society, and* each has been allocated a sum of money to beautify its particular district. Working bees were formed, and by this means excellent work v.as done. In East Wanganui a rustic bridge over 60ft long was thrown across a creek by working bees, constituting one of the finest rustic bridges in the Dominion. The St. John's Hill branch is beautifying tho Virginia Lake reserves, whilst otherbranches are performing equally useful service. To make the approachesto the town attractive, a row of scarlet flowering gums have been planted along the railway line from Arainoh'o. , to town, a distance of about fwl*- > miles. The Society has planted a. large number of Australian shrubs and trees, and has encouraged private: tree-planting as much as possible. InWanganui East there is a China-Jap-anese section, for which one Chinaman imported £lO worth of trees, from China. Above this is an Australian section, consisting entirely of Australian plants. Altogether the Wanganui Society is doing admirable*., work. It is hoped this year to raise£looo by a garden fete. ' ■