ARBOR DAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1942, Page 3

ARBOR DAY

CEREMONY AT WEST SCHOOL.

ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIVE PLANT MUSEUM.

Arbor Day was observed at Masterton West School yesterday by planting the first trees for the projected Native Plant Museum in the school grounds. The school children were assembled and addressed by the head teacher, Mr J. Farrell, on the New Zealand bush, its benefit to the country, and the tragedy of its disappearance. He announced that a Native Plant Club was to be formed at the school, and that each tree or shrub planted was to be the special care of one child. Before planting the first tree, Dr. Archer Hosking, president of the Masterton Beautifying Society, spoke to the children on the love for trees, their value to the community and the necessity for protecting them from the effects of carelessness and vandalism. He specially asked them to do all they could to prevent wanton damage to trees in public places, which were the property of the community, including the children themselves. Messrs Dugdale and Wright, of the school committee, Mr V. Burridge, chairman of the Parents’ Association, and Mr F. C. Brockett, Instructor in Agriculture, also planted trees. At the conclusion of the proceedings. Roger Hunter in a brief and appropriate speech thanked the visitors for their attendance. This function marks the first step in a movement to transform a piece of

waste ground into a place of beauty. The plan envisages regular planting from year to year with the ultimate view of producing as complete a representation as possible of the native flora of the Wairarapa, suitably laid out with, paths, rustic bridges over the streams and rockeries for the appropriate plants. Though this project is being carried out in the school grounds under the auspices of the Wellington Education Board, it is looked on also as an added attraction to the town worthy of the support of the townspeople.