OTAKI H. AND D. SOCIETY

Chronicle (Levin), 12 February 1947, Page 2

OTAKI H. AND D. SOCIETY

Two horticultural enthusiasts, both of whom have been interested in shows in Otaki for many years, and who were among the leading exhibitors, Mr. H. L. Witchell and Mr. Frank Penn, have advised of interesting details of the early history of the Otaki Horticultural and Daffodjl Society. From a diary kept by the late Mr. W. H. Simcox, it appears that the society was formed on October 21, 1893, when Mr. Simcox occupied the chair. On November 1, the same year Mr. Simcox and Mr. Penn arranged the schedule for a show. On January 6, 1899, a committee meeting was held, and on the 18th of the same month a show was conducted and onened by Mr. Blair. Mayor of Wellington. A promenade concert took place in the evening. Mr. Witchell, who has been m communication with Mr. Penn, has received a reply stating that the particulars forwarded proved very interesting. Mr. Penn says that the jubilee of the show falls in 1948, and considers it would be a good opportunity to hold a special show, and thus instih greater interest in the society. If this was done he would be pleased," if at all possible t,n attend.

Mr. Penn has been interested in | horticulture from boyhood, and i had considerable experience in j Akaroa, where he lived as a boy, j and where his> father was a keen exhibitor. Mr. Penn states that he had i always favoured the formation of j a society in Otaki, and had writ- : ten to the Otaki Mail on the mattsr j on more than one occasion. Then, | when he thought the time oppor- 1 tune, he called a meeting and | asked Mr. Simcox to allow his name j to be at the bottomof the adver- I tisement as convener. Mr. Simcox was one of Otaki's leading citizens. j For a time he demurred, stating j that he kneiv nothing of horticul- 1 ture, btit Mr. Penn offered to do all possible to help and thus the move- i ment got under way. The meeting i was held and enthusiastically sup- j pcrted. Mr. Penn accepted the position of honorary secretary, which l he held for 31 shows. The first show ! took place in December, 1898. It I was a great success, so much so j that it was decided to hold another i in the January following, it being thought that there would be more flowers and vegetables about at that time. Then it was decided to hold two shows 'regularly eaeh year, i and for many years one show was j held in November and the other in j the autumn. Mr. Simcox was presi- j dent for some considerable time. j It was also customary to hold j promenade concerts on . show i nights. The hall on such occasions j was full to overflowing. Of the foundation members Mr. j Penn states that he can only ! remember two or three who are still alive, Mr. Harold Cockrell, of Auckland, Mr. Harold Smoll, of j Taranaki, and himself. Probablyj Mr. Byron Brown was another of j the foundation members.