HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 926, 3 December 1910, Page 2

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of the committee of the Foxton Horticultural Society was held in the Council Chambers last evening. All the committee were present except one, and the president, Mr Alex Speirs, occupied the chair. Correspondence was read from the headmasters of Eintou and Tokomaru schools, re entries in school work for the late show and which arrived too late to be judged.—lt was decided to refund the entry fees. Mr Wighton expressed his willingness, in a letter, to supply roses to Mr H. Owen, a prize-winner at a previous show. Mr H. Witchell wrote stating that he would be pleased to refund any prize money won by him at the late show. —A vote of thanks was accorded Mr Witchell for same. Mr Eliott, who examined the drawing in the school work division, stated that the exhibits did not arrive by mail till the day before the show instead ot on the Monday, and furnished a few comments in respect to line drawing from nature. He paid a special tribute to the specimen of work done by a pupil of the local school, the drawing of a lupin.—The Secretary explained that he could not account for the delay in transit. The exhibits had been posted at Foxton on Sunday, and should have been in Mr Elliot’s hands by Monday latest. —The Secretary stated that Mr B. G. Gower

had again promised to donate special prizes of two guineas for collection of birds eggs —one guinea for the best collection and the balance to be paid for eggs at per hundred ; the eggs to be gathered within a three miles radius of Foxton.—lt was pointed out that all birds’ eggs ontered in this class become the property of the Society and had to be destroyed whether such collections won a prize or not. The object of the class was to wage war against the small bird nuisance. It was also decided to award extra prizes to those who had competed at the late show, but who were not successful in winning special prizes. —Accounts amounting to £22 ros od were passed for payment. The Secretary presented a statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with the late show. Receipts totalled £\j igs rrd, exclusive of trophies and members’ subscription and expenditure £SO 4s 1 id, which included special prize money. The Chairman said the Society had reason to be satisfied with the success which had attended its efforts. The late show was the most successful yet held from every point of view. This was in no small measure due to •the systematic work of the secretary, Mr Patterson, who had worked harmoniously with exhibitors and committee and had got the affairs of the Society in splendid order. Other members also eulogised the Secretary, but the excellent work done by the President, whose enthusiasm for the Society’s welfare has never waued since its iuceptiou, was also touched upou. The report was received, and votes of thanks passed to the president, secretary, and stewards, and the Rev Mr Mairs, and carried by acclamation. The secretary, in acknowledging the compliment, said when he assumed office he promised to do his best, and he had tried to redeem that promise. In answer to a question, the secretary stated that there were still a few members’ subscriptions outstanding. The membership roll now stood at something over eighty. The chairman stated that certain entries had been transferred and scratched out by the stewards. This was contrary to the rules, as the stewards had no power to alter or transfer entries for which the secretary alone was responsible. For a breach of this rule, a prize iu one section was disallowed. It was explained that in some sections there were too few stewards to attend to the work of receiving and staging the exhibits in the lime allowed. Another complaint made was that certain exhibits were staged for effect, whereas they must be staged only in their class in order that the judge can carry out his duties satisfactorily, and that the public can compare the merits of the exhibits in proper order. It was suggested that two supervising stewards should be appointed in conjunction with the other stewards. Objection was also taken to exhibitors accompanying judges while adjudicating, and it was stated that this would not occur in iuture. It was decided to donate half a guinea to the caretaker of the Council Chamber tor lighting up, etc. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mesdames Adams and Woods and Mr Speirs for gift of the stall used in conjunction with the sale of sweets. Several other matters of minor importance were discussed, and the meeting rose.