ARBOR DAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3553, 4 July 1890, Page 2

ARBOR DAY.

Oemoastratloa at GroytoTO-

The first regularly organised teeplanting day yet held in. New Zealand ww celebrated in Greytowa yesterday, and .after the- suoces3 which attended its lostitatioa and the admittedly good results which may in the future be expeotod from it, "Arbor Day," as it 13 called, willundoubtedly become an annua}event of increasing interest as the years roll on,' and Gwvtown will not alone bear the honour of taking part in such a demonstration, for the movement is bound to bpread.. Indeed it has spread, reports from other places tell us,

The day was beautifully fine, Captain Edwin, 'although unable to respond to the cordial invitation of ji' the Secretary and come himself, had W-: sent along one of his real tip-top .' cpuipoundsintheway ofweather,and yesterday, speoially manufactured to the'order of Greytown, regardless ofexponse, was simply perfect. A dear mild atmosphere, ablue Italian, • sky, and under foot just enough of '■-.• the traces of recent inclemency to make one realise how gracious the '.. elements were in their desire to pay «fc. fespeottoGreytown'sgalft day, now y, all over. ,•.'■■ "The day, is wet and cold and '■■"-. ■'■•'' idrearyr";;', V"""'"" .- : ;, . Itrai'ns, aiid Hiowind is never 'weary,"

Tho procession started punctually at 11 a.m., anil tho proceeding lasM three hours, conoludmg»« 2 p,ra, Everything passed off well. There mis no tedious waiting, and no L± confusion or carelessness in « 16 W planting of tho trees. Today's rain should indeed nialio thorn spring up in all tho flourishing growth of a Lardy youth, for they wcreall healthy saplings. Tho total number of trees planted was ono hundred and fifty three, and they consisted of Spruce, Tuboroulata, and Pinus Marittia. The Greytown Brass Band led the procession, and then followed about 2ao school children, onch bearing » flag. A huge wagon carried the younger childron, NGxt cauio Mr A. Bowers' brake, laden with trees, and tho farmer costumed in tho iflv,. smock frook and dress of an English *' '' farmer. Mayors, Councillors, Comity / andKoad Board Chairmen, towns- ■\ people, buggies and horsemen comr pletcd the retinue. Upon arrival at the Bcene of plantation it was noticed that the protecting triangles extended from tho railway along tho Featherstou road towards tho Cheoso Factory, and it was this, tho south approach

to Greytown, it was proposed to v, beautify. There were by this time --W 'fully 400 adults and 250' children present,, and tho appearance was bewilderingly gay and alive with the air of festivity to the onlookers. Tho ohildreii as they marched along fell in to the railed enclosures whioh had been numbered and allotted to them, and soon all were busy planting tho 'tees whioh will so long survive oven the youngest of those responsible for their oxistence. The following will also be commemorated by a tree of their planting:—Mrs Wood, who represented Mr F. H. Wood, an ex-mayor, Mr Win. Beetham, (Chairman of the North Wairarapa Couuty Council and Master- £ ton Road Board); Mr H. BraithW waite, (South County Council and Taratahi-Carterton Eoad Board); Messrs Udy, senr., Udy, junr., (ex-. Mayors), Mr R. Fairbrother, (Mayor of Carterton.) Tho teachers of the Greytown school, and the natives. A tree each for Sir George Grey and Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.H.lt, was planted by the Mayor of Greytown. These gentlemen, it might to mentioned, were unavoidably absent ojr through Parliamentary duties. _ Thoy ™ "each, howover.geuerouslycontributed five guineas towards the expenses fund. Sir George Groy, in excusing his own absence, sent one of his charmingly expressed • messages fraught with the congratulatory sentiment and dolicate flattery to the recipients, which ho invariably so well conveys. Other apologies were read from influential settlers, who all commended the undertaking, Short speeches were made by several of those whose names wo have previously mentioned, and also by Mr Bunting, Tenuiorangi, (Mr Brown), and S. Mahapuka, Tho proceedings

terminated with three cheers for the j0 sohoolmaster, and the singing by all present of God Save the Queen. The crowd then dispersed. This record of the day's proceedings would not be completo without a tribute of praise to Mr W. 0. Nation, the gentleman who initiated the idea of an Arbor Day in Greytown, and who has so ably and successfully eouduot'ed the scheme to a practical issue. Mr Nation is ever ready to

Bpend his timo and bis energy in whatever benefits his township, nrnl Jlk, the unselfish way in whioh he does -J this is an example of true patriotism, if this expression may be used in speaking of one i?ho loves his country, The benefit to Greytown in making it attractive to visitors, with its future Sylvan beauty, is hard to over estimate. It is a pretty retreat now for those who are weary of a city life in Wellington, and what it will be in a few years to come, with continued nourishment, is easy to perceive by those who at all reflect. The concert in tho evening was equally successful, and completed the day's triumph. We aro unable to give a full report in this issue, owing * to want of space.