HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3039, 22 May 1926, Page 2

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Foxton Horticultural Society was held in Ross’ Buildings on Thursday night. There was a poor attendance presided over by the President ('Mr. D. Christie). REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual report and balancesheet were read and adopted as follows: —

During the year seven committee meetings were held, at which there was an average attendance of 13. There was a slight increase in the list of members, the number now reaching 77. Quite a new feature at the Summer Show was the children’s section for cookery. Mrs Woolf, the cookery instructress for the Education Board, gave great encouragement to the girls, with the result that over GO entries were received. Mr. Whitehead, the judge of the cookery sections, was highly pleased with the display. An improvement at the last show was the massed appearance of the pot plants along the front of the stage, also increased accommodation for the staging of exbibites, allowing better spacing for each section. The fancy-work section was again the smallest, the number of entries not warranting a points prize. 'l’lie cottage garden classes were taken off the schedule as the entries were not sufficient. Hood prizes have been offered for a class to take the place of the garden classes. It was suggested, that the doing away with the garden classes may cause a falling off in the growing of flowers, and the new class is to he for an unlimited number of varieties of blooms for the November show. The Society’s property was destroyed in the Town Hall fire last March, and the £3O insurance has been received. This loss will be a set-back to the Society, as the property was valued at nearly double the amount. The balance-sheet for the year’s working shows a credit of £25 IDs Od. This is exceptional, but may be accounted for by the judges fees being very small this year, the Hall rent less, the prize money less, (there being several trophies giv-

en) and the extra money made in competitions. It is expected that it will take both the credit balance and the insurance money to replaco the loss by lire. The committee wish to thank all those who helped to make the past year a success — those who helped by their donations and those who worked so well in connection with the shows. The secretary especially wishes to thank the finance committee whoso prompt assistane made her work so much lighter. Iu moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the President said that a year ago the Society had contemplated winding-up, hut to-day they were in a better position than they had been for many years. The credit balance was the highest it had been since he had been connected with the Society. This fact he attributed largely to the fact that in Airs Moore the Society possessed an excellent secretary. At the end of their financial year there was not one penny outstanding or owing by the Society. They possessed an excellent committee which had worked in harmony throughout the year. The result had been added interest displayed in the shows, a number of new exhibitors, and an increase in the children’s cookery section. They were looking forward to seeing more new exhibitors this year. There should he no difficulty iu carrying on now as the Society was on a sound footing financially. M]r. Perreau ’congratulated the Society on its success during the past year. Rev. Peryman paid a tribute to the energetic president (Air. D. Christie). The report was then adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron: Air. A. S. Easton; President: Air. D. Christie; Vice-Presidents: Messrs J. Lin kl a ter, Esq. M.P., AV. E. Barber, J. Chrystall, E. M. Wyllie, F. C. and J. Robinson, M. E. Perreau, J. K. Hornblow, AV. Ross, AA*. Signal, A. Speirs, F. Mason, M. 11. AAlalker, B. 0. Gower, Yeo, Scott; Committee: Alessrs S. H. Poole, AAL Nye, 0. Symons, .Tno. Ross, E. J. Murphy, J. Ross,. A Tyer, Revs. Walton, Peryman, R. Hornblow; Mesdames McMurray, P. 'Easton, E. J. Murphy, J. Barr, A. Heasnian, F. Proctor, Baker, Ogilvy, and Misses Ross and Speirs. Treasurer: Mr. A. Tver; auditor: Air. D. Ogilvy; secretary: Mrs. Moore. A letter was received from Airs Healey, tendering her resignation from the Society. In moving that the resignation be accepted with regret, the President said he understood Mr. and Airs Healey were leaving the district. The society would sustain a severe loss by the departure from Foxton of Mrs Healey. Airs Heal-, ey was a member of committee and a worker. Besides this she was an exhibitor the Society would feel the loss of at their shows. He had much pleasure in moving that the, secretary convey the Society’s thanks to Airs Healey far her work in connection with horticulture in Foxton and express regret at her departure from the district. This was carried unanimously. Azotes of thanks were accorded the following for donations: —Mrs E. Healey £5, Aliss ,T. Ross, £2 2s, Mr. AA'in. Ross £2 2s. The 9th September was fixed for the date of the Spring Show. Details in connection with the next show were discussed and final arrangements will be made at a further meeting to be held at an early date.