CHRISTCHURCH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 904, 18 May 1877, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A committee meeting of the above Society was hold at Radclifle’s Hotel, at half-past seven o’clock last evening, Mr W. Norman in the chair.

A draft report was read and adopted, and the meeting adjourned. The annual meeting of the Society was held immediately afterwards. On the motion of Mr Reade, seconded by Mr Gordon, the chair was taken by Mr E. C. J. Stevens.

The Chairman read the following report of the committee for the past year : The committee of the above Society in reporting on the proceedings of the past year, wish first to refer to the fact that since the last annual report was laid before you,_ special efforts have been made to place the Society on a better footing. First, by the amalgamation of the two societies then existing, and secondly by a revision of the rules. Nevertheless we arc sorry to say that our efforts have not met with that success which we had hoped for. The exhibitions during the past year have been quite equal, and in some instances superior, to those of former years. The first show was held as usual in connection with the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s annual show on Nov. 9th. Financially it was a success, although the exhibits were'not numerous, we can safely say that they were superior in kind, and we may look forward in years to come for a gradual improvement in the same direction.

The Rose Show was admitted by all to he far in advance of those of previous years, and only wanted a larger attendance of visitors to make it all that could he desired. The Autumn Show was also a fine one, but thoroughly disheartening to exhibitors and_ all concerned to find that after all the care and time devoted to the growing of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and in bringing them to that state of perfection necessary, and the labor in the getting up of the shows, to find that the public take so little interest in horticulture and withhold that support which is necessary for the, maintaining of this most useful institution. Although the society has been so badly supported during the past year, yet. we trust that it will receive more, liberal support for the future, and that tin, efforts uow made by the society to elicit the sympathy of the public may prove successful. Your committee desire to acknowledge the great indebtedness of the society to those members who have so largely contributed to the success of the shows by offering extra prizes. In reference to the shows in connection with the monthly meetings your committee can do so with some degree of satisfaction, for although they Imay have appeared insignificant to many they have answered in a measure the end that they wore established for, viz., the cultivation of many subjects that could not be brought forward at the ordinary shows, and we trust that the new committee may he able to carry out the same idea with greater success than has attended the efforts of their predecessors. From the accompanying statement furnished by the treasurer it will be seen that the society is only able to pay 6s 8d in the pound of the prize money awarded, owing to reasons before stated in our report. The statement of accounts showed that the total receipts for last year and current year amounted to £353 18s lid, and the total receipts for last year and the current yeai to £289 7s 4dj leaving a balance in hand of

£64 11s 7d for payment of 6s 8d in the £ to prizetakers. The report and statement of accounts were unanimously adopted.

The Chairman said that the next business was the election of officers, unless there was some other business which any gentlemen wished should be considered first.

Mr Rcade said that if any member wished to move any amendment to the rules of the Society, now was the time to do it. No one present having any amendments to propose, The Chairman said the meeting would now proceed to the election of officers. The Chairman said that Mr Wynn Williams, who had been President of the Society, had stated that he was very reluctantly compelled to resign, owing to his inability to attend the meeting. Therefore that gentleman, he regretted to say, would be no longer available. Mr A. Duncan said he had great pleasure in proposing that Mr Stevens be president of the society. Mr Stevens had always taken a verv lively interest in the affairs of the society and the promotion of horticulture, and he thought that when the society had it in their hands to bestow an honor, they should bestow it on Mr Stevens. [Hear, hear.] Mr Norman said he had great pleasure in seconding the nomination. The motion was carried by acclamation. The Chairman thanked the society for the honor they had conferred upon him, and said he would continue to take the same interest in its affairs as he had done in past years. [Hear, hear.] The mooting then proceeded to the election of four vice-presidents. Several nominations were made, and on a ballot being taken the following gentlemen were elected ;—Messrs Norman, Bickerton, Goidd, and Montgomery. Mr G. A. Reado was unanimously re-elected treasurer.

The following gentlemen were elected as committee : Messrs Duncan, T. Turner, Greenaway, Guntripp, T. Allen, T. Gordon, 0. Collins, W. Gimblett, W. T. Mitchell, R. W. Fereday, J. Ashton, and H. Harvey. Mr Greenaway was elected secretary of the society. It was resolved that the vacancy on the committee caused by Mr Greenaway’s acceptance of office should be filled up by the committee.

T( was resolved, on the motion of Mr Rcadc, that the committee be empowered to increase the number of patrons us they may think desirable.

Messrs J. A. Bird and 11. E. Alport were appointed auditors. The Chairman said he desired to explain that his absence from the Chrysanthemum Show the other night was unavoidable. He had considered the question of the advisability of erecting a conservatory, and Mr Duncan informed him that a conservatory could be imported from home and erected at a cost of £250. He thought that it would be very desirable to have the conservatory erected in some portion of the domain, and therefore he had made inquiries as to whether the Park and Domain Board would be inclined to give the necessary permission, and allow the conservatory to be erected, power being given to the society to charge the public for admission on the occasion of the society’s periodical exhibitions. He had received a. letter from the Park and Domain Board to the effect that they coidd not grant the request, but stating that it was their intention to ask Parliament to confer power on them to grant such a request as he referred to. The intention was that the house should be imported from England and erected in some part of the domain ; that the use of it should be given fo the Government for horticultural purposes, on the condition of their keeping it in order and clearing it out whenever the society required it for the holding of its exhibitions. These might be held in connection with archery, or something else which would prove a double attraction; and if the public subscribed the necessary amount for the purchase and erection of the conservatory, lie believed it would be the means of placing the society on a good substantial footing. This he would have stated if he had been present at the meeting the other evening. It was resolved that there should be three shows held during the year. It was resolved —“ That the committee of management appoint a standing committee to examine exhibits brought to the monthly meetings of the society, and grant certificates in deserving cases.” After the disposal of some routine business, the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.