Daily Evening News - 1883-10-04

Year
1883
Month
10
Day
4
Article Title
Arbor Day

Planting the Trees on Queen Square
Author
<Anonymous>
Page Number
n/a
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
Long before ten o'clock this morning the people began to gather on Queen Square, to witness the planting of the trees under whose wide spreading branches the future inhabitants of the Loyalist City years hence will gather, when the now barren square will have assumed the aspect of the forest primeval. The trees consisted mainly of maples, with a few oaks and an occasional ash. The holes in which they were to be placed had been previously prepared, and by the time the trees had been laid in position for raising, the hoar for commencing had arrived. A dense crowd thronged the walks and evinced a lively interest in the proceedings. The 62nd Band took up a position at the Northern End of the Square and played a variety of well selected tunes. The artillery with two cannons arrived about 10.30, under the command of Capt. Armstrong, and took up their station a little east of the centre of the square. By this time numerous individual trees had been planted through the square by descendants in honor of their families, but at the firing of the salute of 21 guns the formal planting commenced. Much interest clustered around the centre of the Square where the apex of each of the eight triangles, into which the interior of the Square is divided, converged. At each of these points was raised a tree, by an old descendant of the Loyalists. Those who planted them are as follows: Capt. Carder, Capt, J. Secord, Thos. Cunard, Caleb Wetmore, Henry Melick, Geo. A, Garrison, Jas. Bustin and Wm. Estabrooks. Many, of them appeared much affected at the recollection the occasion recalled. "One hundred yeas ago,” said Mr. Wetmere, "my father and mother landed here, one aged 11 the other 14"' The square had been arranged into section, each of which was devoted to particular people and localities. To the eight original counties of the Province were trees in the centre of the outer triangles which were set up by representative men of the different places. In honor of each of the four city dailies trees were set up by representatives of the Telegraph, Sun, Globe and NEWS—by the latter also one in honor of John Ryan, the first Provincial printer, who served his apprenticeship with the father of the late Hon. Joseph Howe, and who after leaving here, printed the first paper in Newfoundland. To the Aldermen and Councillors of Kings, Queens, Sydney and Duke, the four original wards of the city, was entrusted the work of setting up the ward trees. The Acadians and the Africans erected trees in honor of their nationalities in the southern side of the Square, and the manufactories, fisheries, agricultural and commercial interests were honored by their representatives. Memorial trees were also raised to the Queen, the Prince Consort, first Governor, first Bench, first Legislature, and the first Mayor of the city. The clergy remembered the names of the founders of the different churches, and these were trees set up by Bishop Sweeney, Rev. Canon Brigstocke, Dr, Pope, David Collins and others. Many interesting private ones were set up by leading citizens of St. John and other cities. Sir Leonard Tilley, Chief Justic Allan, George McLeod, J, W. Nicholson, G. A. Parley, of Fredericton, and many others, improved the opportunity to honor the memories of their ancestors. At the conclusion the artillery were addressed by Sir Leonard, and cheers were given for Sir Leonard, for the Queen, the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governor. The transformation in the appearance of the square has been great and year by year will become more apparent, and when the holiday has receded with history, and the annalist of N. B. collects the records of his country he may well spare a page to record the proceedings of this day, which has revived so many pleasant recollections and engendered so much kindly feeling among all. The following are the person’s names who planted trees in honor of the Acadians [list is cut off]