OTAKI BULB SOCIETY.

Otaki Mail, 17 February 1919, Page 3

OTAKI BULB SOCIETY.

riEST ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual meeting of the above lvas iiekl at the Otaki reading-rooiu on Friday night last, when eleven members were present. Mr H. Witehell (vice-president) occupied the chair. Apologies were received; for the unavoidable absence of the president (Major Addington), Mesdnmes ICilmistcr, Huthwaite and Norgrove. In opening "flic meeting, the chairman expressed regret that their presi-. dent was unable .to be present, he being away from home. Mr AVitehell saiu the Society had been launched in stormy times, and had received a full blast of the storm. However, they had safely weathered it, and he felt sure the Society hath a successful career ahead of it.

Eeport and Balance-sheet. Mr S. Norgrove (secretary and treasurer) read the annual report! and balance-sheet as under:— Tour committee in submitting their Jirst annual report congratulate the members on the success that has attended their efforts.

There were good entries in.both open and amateur sections, and some splendid blooms were shown. Owing to an error in preparing .the schedule the number' of open classes, were not sufficiently defined, and it was decided to duplicate all classes,from 3 to 26, thus providing for professionals as well as amateur growers. This entailed a considerable .addition to the prize money, which has been met. by the generosity of members and friends. There waskeen competition for the Citizens-’-Trophy, first place being secured ,by ( Mr T. Waugh, ' Lower Hutt, Mr 11. Poole being first for Mr ,[Witehell ’s 4 trophy for professionals. In the amateur class Mr H.. Small and Mr AV. 11. Reynolds were the most prominent exhibitors, the latter carrying off the. trophy presented by Mr Witehell for this class. There was also a good display by small growers, and it is this class of exhibitor that the Society specially wishes to encourage. Owing to the intensely cold weather the attendance of the public in the evening was small and the finances suffered accordingly, but the genevosily of prize-winners and others who contributed to the funds enabled all liabilities to be met and to carry forward a credit balance of £1 Ss 6d.

The success of tlic show was largely due to the efforts of Mr AY. H. Reynolds, who from the Society’s inception lias spared neither time nor trouble in furthering its interests, and has been ably assisted by Mrs and they are rewarded by seeing their efforts crowned with success. Tour com-

mittee also recognise the services of Mr H. Witehell, who has given nuu-h thought to forwarding the aims of the Society and inducing the citizens to take a greater interest in bulb culture, especially among growers who arc only able to exhibit a small number of blooms, and by donating a second trophy for competition in the open class helped the committee out of a difficult situation. With a view to promoting an improvement in the culture of tlic gardens of small holders our president (Major Addington) provided substantial prizes for the best kept cottage garden, for which .seven entries were received, resulting in a very close finish between the three competitors placed highest on the list. To these gentlemen your committee desire to convey appreciation of their endeavours to promote the objects of the Society, viz., to induce the residents of the Otaki district to take a greater interest in the cultivation of bulbs and in horticulture generally. To the ladies and their assistants who so ably conducted the tea rooms, sweets stall, and social, and gave their time and energy to provide funds, great credit is due, and the best thanks of the Society are tendered to them for the assistance they have so kindly rendered.

The Society is also indebted to the donors of special prizes, to prize-takers who donated their winnings, to those who have made donations to the fund, and also to the judges who often at considerable inconvenience have freely given their services .to the Society.

The Society’s assets consist of first : citizens' trophy, second trophy presented by Mr H. Mitchell open class, third tfophy presented by Mr Mitchell amateur class, and cash in bank £1 Ss 6d.

Your committee trust that notwithstanding the adverse circumstances under which the first show was held, it will prove an incentive not only to greater iuterest, in bulb culture but to horticulture generally, and so justify the Society 's existence. Tor the committee, S. NORGROVE, Secretary.

• Receipts.—Special prize money £6 Os; entry fees, £5 5s 6d; door receipts, £7 7s (id; sheep guessing, £1 10s; tea rooms, £3 16s Od; sweets stall, £3 12s I'd; donations—J. Howell £l, IV. Knight 10s, F. Penn £1 Is, Rev. Petrie £1 ss, n. Small £l, Mrs Swabev £2. Anon 3s; sale 11 owei s, 2s; vegetables (Reynolds), 15s; members’ tickets, £1 15s; cash citizens’ trophy per Mr Reynolds, £2 Ss; cash citizens’ trophy, social, per Mr Reynolds, £5 5s (id; cash citizens’ trophy, per Mr Mitchell, 3s; prize money donated, £6 17? 6d: donation T. Waugh. £2; donation, H. Poole (judge’s expenses), 17s; special prizes, cottage garden (Major Addington), £3’ 10s; entry fees, cottage garden, 7s. Total. £59 Os (id.

Expenditure, Lunches, £1 5s (id; labour, 10s; stamps and telegrams, £1 10s; petty cash, 6s 3d; citizens’ trophy. £5 ss; cheque book, 4s; Town Hall hire. £2; F. Penn, printing schedules, £S 16s g,p. j. pole, erection stands, etc., £2 9s; A. 'With, freight and cartage, £1 Ss OdjJotbrarrj'rent meetings, 17s; telephonly £2; hire tables, etc., 12s 6d; prize money paid, £lB Ss ■ 6d; _ prize money, T. Waugh (bulbs), £2; sundry accounts, 12s 6d; advertising cottage garden entries, ss; prize money cottage gardens, £3 10s; judge’s expenses (H,

Poole), 17s; secretary, salary, £5; cash in bank, £1 Ss 6d. Total, £o9 Os 6d.

Members generally expressed satis-, faction with tlie report and balancesheet, anS. Mr .Penn congratulated the Society on the excellence of its first show, and the; enthusiasm shown by a few of the most prominent supporters of the Bulb Society, which had enabled them to present such a satisfactory report.

A Larger Committee. Mr H. AVitehell moved to amend the Society’s rules, to the effect that the committee comprise twenty members instead of ton as at present, seven to form a quorum. The mover said it seemed to him that in Otaki, when annual meetings or special general meetings were called, very few outside the committee members attended. He thought that by increasing the number of committee members they would arouse more interest in the Society. Rev. Petrie seconded the motion, and thought it an excellent move. •

Messrs Reynolds and Broadway supported the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as under: —President, Major Addington (re-elected); vice-presidents,,Mrs C. V. Swabey and Mr H. Witehell; committee, Mesdamcs AA T . H. Reynolds, Hutliwaite, Hodge, J. AA r . Hodgson, L. Kilmister, S. Norgrove, Misses G. Cottorell,' N. Ivilsby and Edmed, Messrs AV. H. Reynolds', A. AY. Broadway, H. Small, AV. Summers, AYesley Kuiglit, F. R. Smith, Frank Penn, G. E. Wells, Revs. Petrie and Blatliwayt; secretary and treasurer, Mr S. Norgrove;.-hon. auditor. Mr P. Freeman.

Miscellaneous. Messrs AVitehell,- Reynolds-and Broadway were-appointed a sub-committee to revise the schedule,..and-present same to a general meeting,for adoption. The Chairman brought forward a suggestion that the Society adopt the system of class and prize tickets as recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society. This led to. a discussion, members generally agreeing that the system recommended was a good one, and in all probability it will be adopted by the Society in future shows. A number of other matters were discussed informally.