TWO FINE SHOWS STAGED

Chronicle (Levin), 8 May 1946, Page 4

TWO FINE SHOWS STAGED

[ « LEVIN IIORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY REVIEWS YEAR ' | NEW OFFICERS ELECTED The annual general meeting- of ' the Levin Hofticultural Society- was , held last evening in the Borough Chambers. There was' a fair attend- ■ ance of members. In the absence of the president (Mrs. W. J. Summers), because of- ill-health,. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. H. B. Burdekin). took the chair. Apologies were received from Mesdames Summers, Gallagher and C. Walker, and Messrs. W. J. Summers, Malcolm, Boyce and Palmer. Before the president's annual r.eport was read by the secretary (Mrs. K. Z. Lynch) , Mr. Burdekin referred briefly to the .death of Mr. P. W. Goldsmith since the last general meeting, and of the fine work fchat he had done for the society. Annual Report Mrs-. Lynch then read the repprt, which was as follows: — "gefore pre-ienti-ng the report of the 1945-46 leason, I shou-ld like to mention the great loss to our society in the death of our old friend and treasurer. the late Mr. P. W. Goldsmith. "What a gigantic task it appeared fco. be when we decided to stage our .hows in the Regent Hall. Not only was the hall unattractive, but our ;taging had been cut to s'uit the Century Hall. Thanks are due to :he various organisations that came to our aid with the loan of their ia-bles, etc. "Eventually we staged a show squal to any I have seen in the .arger towns. ' Climatic conditions jertainly did affect the quality of ;he exhibits, but even so, there were some very fine blooms. Most noticeable were the lilium umbellatums •and hippeastrums. The native flora display attra'cted wide public intefest, as did also the children 's arts and crafts section. Unfortunately, through lack of staging, both seciions werp cramped. More space should be ailotted, say from 30 to 40 feet, so that the exhibits could be built up to look more attractive. "The summer show, though attractive, was not set out to the oest advantage. At the autumn show _ the exhibits were more artistically • arranged, and present3d a picture that will be long -emembered, not only by local residents, but by visitors who came (rom the outlying districts of the Horowhenua, Wellington and Palmerston North. The gladioli "section was keenly contested, Strathnaver, ohe champion bloom, being mucii admired, as was also the champion dahlia, Pop Harris. The Women's (nstitute coufts were works of art, receiving many complimentary remarks from the visitors. "In conclusion, may I say how deeply grateful I am to the secreoary, committee, and • friends outside the society who worked so arduously to make the show the mccess that it was."

The statement of accounts for ihe year was then read by the creasurer (Mrs. Hugh Walker) . At the conclusion of both readings, Mr. Burdekin made a brief comment, in which he said that both the president's report and the dnancial statement were a fair mdicatiqn of the prosperous state of she society. He mentioned that Mesdames Lett and Smith had been largely responsible for the increased prosperity and activity, especially in regard to the increase in member'.hip, and in the encouragement of , children to take part'in the society',* shows. - Mr. Burdekin said that he hoped that the children would be iaken into consideration when the next catalogue was drafted. An election of officers was held. which resulted as follows: — Patron: Mr. H. B. Burdekin; president: Miss H. E. Bowen.; vice-presidents : Mesdames Burdekin, Hocking, Lett ancl Hunter, Miss P. Wilson and Messrs. '?■ O. Malcolm, A. H. Smith, J. Bowker and W. J. Summers; secretary : Mrs. K. Z. Lynch (re-elected) ; -.reasurer; Mrs. . H. Walker (re.lected); auditor: Mr. P^. C. Hill (reelected) ; committee.: Mesdames dlake, W. Bowker, Hayfield, S. Par,ons, C. Walker, J. Watson, H. Easlon, H. Webb, A. H. Smith, W. Donnelly, L. Mair, Cheesman, N. Thomson, Barton and Gallagher, Messrs. J. Bowker, W. Bowker, J. Watson, H. G. Smith, H. Barry, L. Lannie, P. Young, R. Cheesman and the Rev. Mr. King. Before the meeting closed, Mr. Burdekin proposed a vote of thanks ;o the retiring president, Mrs. Summers, and expressed the hope tnat she would soon be well again. The vote was carried by acclamation. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Mr. Burdekin for his capable chairmanship.