HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 475, 20 February 1850, Page 3

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

On Monday evening the annual meeting of subscribers to this Institution was held at the Wellington Hotel, for the purpose of electing officers for the current year, and transacting other business. Mr. Ross having been requested to take the chair, The Treasurer submitted to the meeting the following statement of accounts :—: —

Rt & O. E. ' Wellington, Jan- 1. 1850. Robert Stokes, Treasurer. Audited by H. Ross. A. de B. Brandon. Proposed by Mr. Moore, seconded bj Mr. Bradey — That the Treasurer's accounts be passed, which was carried unanimously. A revised list of the prizes to be distributed at the future exhibitions of the Society, which had been prepared by the General Committee, was laid before the meeting, which led to some discussion, when it was proposed by DrMonteith, seconded by Mr. Inglis, and unanimously carried — That the revised list of prizes submitted to j the meeting by the Committee be adopted. Mr. Moore in tendering his resignation as Secretary, said he did so with much regret, and hoped it would not be supposed that it arose from any want of interest in the well-doing of the Society in which he had ever felt the warmest > interest; but he thought it was but fair that other members should take their share of the work, and the duties of Secretary, however light they might appear, had occasionally been performed at some inconvenience by interfering with his own occupations. He congratulated the Members on the increasing interest evinced by the public in the Society, which was apparent from, the increase of the funds, and the increased number of subscribers and exhibitors, and begged to assure the meeting that his withdrawal from office would not in any way lessen his exertions for the support of so useful and beneficial an institution. It was then proposed by Dr. Fitzgerald, seconded by Mr. J. Woodward — That the following gentlemen be elected officers of the Society tot the present year :—: —

PATRONS. I His Excellency the Governor- in- Chief. His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor. The Lord Bishop of New Zealand. PRESIDENT. William Fox, Esq. VICK-PRESIDENTS. s Mr. Justice Chapman. Lieutenant- Colonel M'Cleverty. W. Swainson, Esq., F. R. S. Captain W. M. Smith, R. A.

, (COMMITTEE. - c^r. Hickson, Mr. j[. M. Taylor* Mr. Ross, {Mr. G. Moore, Dr. Dorset, Mr. Bradey* Mr. Revans, Mr. St. Hill, Major Baker, Mr. Hort, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. M'Garthy, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Ludlam, Mr. Waitt, Mr. Levin, Mr. Varnham, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Boldj Mr. Langdon, Mr. Spinks, Dr. Monteitht The only alterations in the Committee were the substitution of Mr. Moore in the the place of Mr. Brandon, who withdrew from the Committee, and of Dr. Monteith for Mr. M'Donald, who had left the colony. Proposed by Mr. Bradey, seconded by Dr. Monteith, and carried unanimously~ t - That Mr. Stokes be elected Treasurer. Proposed by Dr. Fitzgerald, seconded by Mr. Inglis and carried unanimously — / That Mr. Woodward be elected Secretary. The next exhibition of the Society was fixed by the meeting for Tuesday, the sth March. A vote of thanks was then unanimously passed to the officers of the past year for their services, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which terminated the business of the evening.

Local Steam Communication. — The Nelson Examiner of Feb. 2, has extracted from the Times of Sept. 29, an advertisement relating to Local Steam Coramuuication in New Zealand, which was also re-published in the Net' Zealand Spectator of Jan. 30 ; and our contemporary states his belief that a steamer may be expected in the Colony from England within the next three months for the purposes of Local Steam Communication between the different settlements. The Examiner has also published a circular addressed to the owners of steam vessjjls by the Committee in London, which with the concluding remarks of our contemporary will be found below : — "To the Owners of Steam Vessels — The Committee appointed to mature a plan of Intercommunication by Steam Vessels between the 'different Settlements in New Zealand, are willing to contract with any party disposed to send out" one or more vessels of not less than 300 and not over 400 tons, with powerful engines, and in every respect sound, useful, and sea-going vessels : to remain on the station three years, and to run from Nelson and Wellington to Auckland, calling at such other Settlements as may be directed. The Tender to include all expenses and charges incident to the going out and subsequent working in the colony. The Committee will be ready to receive such Tenders on Thursday, 4th Jctober next; but do not pledge themselves to accept the lowest, or any tender. Full particulars of each vessel will be required." "We know nothing of the conditions on which the vessel will be sent out, but we have seen a letter which assures us that she is coming, and, that Nelson is to be her head quarters. Whether the absentee proprietors may have induced the Company to advance any part of the Steam Fund, or to guarantee a yearly bonus from that source, we cannot therefore .-ay, but no doubt the co-operation and assistance of our Trustees is calculated upon, as well as that of the Government. The Governor has pledged himself to assist the introduction of steam into the colony with a liberal hand, and we feel sure that he will be most happy to redeem his word."

Hxpenses of January Exhibition Ditto November Exhibit : on. . . . Ditto December Exhibition. . . . 9 7 10 15 11 3 Advertizing Balance 0 18 1 30 4 £62 9 1 Cr. Jan. Ist. By Balance brought down 22 13 i Amount of Annual Subscriptions and Donation* 26 3 » Admission money at doors .... Interest on Debenture £101 3 9 i 11 : 6 Donations prizes returned .... 8 2 2 1 £62 9 1 ... — «. ,i «„*-.,.,« -issa. Jan. Ist. By Balance brought

Dr. The Wellington Horticultural Society in account with the Treasurer. 1849.