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Railway Progress in New Zealand.
General Manager's Message.
station gardens.

The receipt of the Judges' reports and awards in connection with this year's railway station garden competitions in the South Island, affords me a very favourable opportunity to convey to the members of the railway staff who took part in the efforts to improve the appearance of railway surroundings, my very warm appreciation of their excellent work in these most desirable activities.

It also calls for public acknowledgment of the splendid spirit of helpfulness which animates members of the Canterbury Horticultural Society, the Gardening Branch of the Otago Women's Club and other groups and individuals who have taken a public-spirited interest in the improvement of railway surroundings.

I have found that in some localities the citizens, as well as railway employees, take pride in their station gardens, many of which are favourably commented on by visitors from all parts of the Dominion, and by travellers from overseas.

The Department's interest in work of this kind is well known, and it is at all times ready to assist by providing soil, fencing and other material, as well as labour in the preparation of the land. But the human interest and pleasure in gardening and its results, the opportunities for tasteful arrangement, orderliness, and skill in the preparation, care and management of these important adjuncts to the business of railroading, and the valuable reactions upon citizens, travellers and railway-men alike of well laid out lawns and garden plots in the vicinity of Railway Stations, are the features which amply reward all who actively engage in this work.

With 450 acres containing 158,000 trees upon 40 plantations in the South Island (referred to elsewhere in this Magazine) and a number of notable plantations in the North Island, the Department's interest in forestry is naturally considerable, and its Forestry Officer is in a position to assist the gardening activities on railway reserves by the selection of suitable trees for planting in settings of aesthetic value to railway premises and the areas they serve.

Only those who travel extensively in the Dominion can gain a conception of the widespread interest taken in the work of railway gardening on the various railway routes from the smallest tablet station to the spacious gardens and lawns of the Auckland and Wellington terminals. Of special interest are the gardening activities at the Department's main workshops, where, besides gardens at the works, the staff have flower shows and gardening circles.

I gratefully acknowledge the assistance rendered in connection with this work and welcome opportunities for any further improvements of the kind.

General Manager.

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