GREYMOUTH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1927, 9 October 1874, Page 2

GREYMOUTH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Grey mouth Horticultural Society, which was held last evening in the Masonic Hall, was attended by almost every member of the Society, and was consequently in point of numbers a success. The happy idea of holding it in such a large room, was completely realised as the brilliant light made all things shown appear to the best advant- : age. Another feature that relieved the usual dreary tediousness of such meetings : was the presence of ladies, who testifiedby their expressions of delight the' pleasure that the show of flowers afforded; them. As was the case last year, Messrs' W. S. Smith, G. S. Smith, and C. Hardy were again the exhibitors, and -.the. short! of pot plants was of the highest order of excellence and beauty. These plants were placed in the centre of the room, while around on the pannelling of the walls were between 60 or 70 species of ferns furnished by Mr Hardy, and these to : connoisseurs formed not the least attract tive part of the exhibition. Amongst the* floral part, the palm of excellence must be awarded to the camillias, as also shown by Mr Hardy ; but where there was so much excellence it was not basy to award a superiority. After some time had been spent in admiring the exotics, the President of the Society (Mr W. S; Smith) took the chair, and having stated the object of the meeting in a few words, the usual routine of electing officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with. The following vas the result :— President, W. S. Smith ; Vice -Presidents, W. H. ftevell, T. Amos, F. Hamilton ; Committee, J. Orr, G. W. Moss, J. Arnott, J. Barkley, H. Kenrick, and James Kirton ; Hon. Treasurer, G. S. Smith ; Hon. Secretary, C. A. C. Hardy. The following is the Treasurer's report :— " Assets— Cash in hand, L2O 10s 6d ; subscriptions due, L 3 13s 6d ; Challenge Cup, Ll2 Is 6d ; certificates, L 4. Liabilities — Unclaimed prizes, 153. Balance, assets over liabilities, L 39 10s 6d." The Committee's report was as follows :— "The Committee in presenting the second annual report of the society, have much pleasure in congratulating the members on its success during the past season.

The statement of the Hon. Treasurer shows a balance of L 2 5133 from last year, the income of the Society as L 74 10s 6d, the expenditure as L 79 13s, leaving a balance in hand, after all expenses have been paid of L2O 10s 6d. .

" The donations for special prizes are a new feature in the Society's accounts, and have done such good service to the Society, that the Committee heartily thank the gentlemen for their donations and desire to see them maintained, thereby assisting the Society in promoting horticultural pursuits. "In addition to the special prizes in money which are shown in the Treasurer's statement. Mr Duncan M'Lean gave six pounds of tea for the best collection of fruit.

" The Society held two very successful shows during the year, which were largely atteuded by the general public, the only drawback was want of space, the room being too small for the proper display of the numerous exhibits.

"The Committee had , the pleasure of naming a number of beautiful tricolor and other geraniums ; also two fuchsias, the 'Moa' and 'Striata Inverta,' raised and exhibited by Mr J. Barker, Arahura. In order niore fully to carry out the objects the Society, the Committee have purchased a challenge cup, to be competed

for in Class D, by amateurs being members of the Society. "The Committee have to report the receipt of a parcel of seeds as a donation from Mr P. Comiskey, some of which have been distributed to the farmers in the district; the balance have been planted in ground, the use of which has beeix kindly given by the Hospital Committee." . : Mr G. S. Smith then moved that the annual meeting should be held on. the first week in March, instead of October as hitherto, alleging as a reason that it gave intending exhibitors a longer time wherein to prepare exhibits for the next season's shows. This was agreed to unanimously. He further gave notice of motion that at next general meeting he would move that some of the rules at present in force . should be amended, as now that the Society was in working order, defects in the regulations were apparent that formerly were not observable. A very cordial and unanimously expressed ;yote> of thanks was given to Mr Hardy for -_-\ j his efficient services as Hon. Secretary, nor did the proposer state one mide-K served tribute of praise. .Mr Hardy has been the heart and soul of the Society, and it is solely by his energy" and perse- : verance that it has attained the excellence and prosperity it now enjoys. The r nuv"' merous audience present; emphatically . showed by their applause their approbation of the encomiums passed on him. In closing this notice t we will endeavor ■ to give as nearly as possible the names: of <j the exhibits and exhibitors :■— Mr :G. S. . Smith showed Cinerarias,' Primules, golden variegat 3d Japan Laurel, Geraniums, Be- -,; geonia, Pelimia, and Cyclamens ; Mr W. < S. Smith showed Cinerarias, Primules, golden variegated Japan Laurel, Geraniums, Cyclamens^ Pelimia, Deeringa Amhersti, variegated Salamania, Libonica Floribunda, and Azaleas ; Mr Hardy showed similar plants to Mr G. S. Smith, with the addition of CameliaVancL, Tricolored Geraniums. Taken altogether; the Annual Meeting for 1874 of the Grey-; mouth Horticultural Society was a complete success, as we have already said, and the pleasure it afforded will long be remembered by the two hundred visitors «ho were present last evening. r ' i?