GARDENING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 20136, 28 March 1929, Page 15

GARDENING CLUB

A large number of members of the Dunedin Gardening Club and Horticultural Society met iuthe Vedic lea Dooms on Tuesday evening to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs Exler, who are returning to England. Musical selections were contributed by Mr I<\ 0. Cooper, Miss Glare, Miss M'Dowell, and Mr Hawes. Miss Partridge was the accompanist. In making the presentation, Mr I. H. Holiingworth (president) said they were all very sorry that Mr Exler was leaving. He had been quite an acquisition to horticultural circles in Dunedin. His expert knowledge and success in growing pot plants had afforded a stimulus to local amateurs. He had given the benefit of his experience and expert knowledge ireelv, and horticulture had benefited greatly thereby. On behalf of the gardening clubs and horticultural friends be had much pleasure in presenting to Mr Exler a clock set in greenstone, and to Mrs Exler a greenstone-mounted silver knife and spoon. Mr H. T. Trevena, preslldent of the Horticultural Society, said that Mr Exler had won honours at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition and at several of the horticultural shows, and had set a good example for young gardeners to follow. Mr W. Tannock, Mr James Nelson, and Mr J. Passmore endorsed what had been said in praise of Mr Exler. Mr Exler returned thanks for the present to himself and Mrs Exler. He did not think he deserved all the nice things that had been said about him. He had always tried to do his best, but if his employer had not placed the necessary materials at his disposal he could not have done what he did. In regard to shows and the poor attendance of the public, he thought Hiat it was advisable to unite them with some other attractions. In England this scheme had been tried with success.