NEW PLYMOUTH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8130, 9 June 1906, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the above Society was hold in the Town Hall on Friday night, the President, Mr J. C. George, presiding. There was a good attendance of members, including a number of lady members. The President, Mr J. C. George, in his annual report, stated that the past year has not proved an exciting ono in auy respect. Owing to the liberality of the subscriptions and Mr Gilmour, the secretary, having returned his honorarium, the society was in the fortunate position of having a credit balance of £3 13s Bd. The number of members had increased very satisfactory, but one of the largest sources of revenue was the takings at the door of the Shows, and on the last ojpasion the society was unfortunate, as the weather was wet and stormy. The suoiety had recently heard with pleasure that there was likely to be a systematic effort made next year to enlist the services of ohildren and to awaken their interest in the society.

'l'he balance sheet showed receipts £Bl 19s 3d, including entrance fees £6 14s 6d, members' tickets £3l 15s, doors £lB 3s 6d, donations -. J. C. George £5 ss, E. Gilmour £5 6s, Mrs Dockrill £1 Is, Mrs Cock 10s 6d, Mr S. Percy Sjiith £l, Col. Messenger 10s 6d. The principal item of expenditure was prizes £34 2s 6d. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the President pointed out that a number of accounts which had been outstanding for years, and of which the committee had no previous knowledge, had been paid, and now the Society did not owe a penny, a result that under the circumstances he considered satisfactory. Mr Worthington seconded, and tho adoption was carried.

It was resolved that members be allowed three, instead of six free exhibits, at the shows. A recommendation was made by the committee that tho previous arrangements of accoptmg late entries, on the evening preceeding tho show, at doublo foe up to 8 p.m., be altered, and the

latest hour at which entries may be received be 3 o'clock in the afternoon preceding the show. The change was considered necessary, own;,' '.o tho inability of the secretary t > the schedule for tho printer in ilia lime permitted. The motion was lost, an amendment that late entries be dispensed with altogether, being carried. Considerable discussion took place on tho committee's recommendation that an Autumn show be held in February or March, in place of the present Spring show. An amendment moved that the prosont arrangements be adhered to, was lost.

A suggestion that two shows bo held was not followed up by resolution, and the recommendation of the committee was evontually agreed to. A proposal that olassos for amateurs, as well as open competitions in which professionals compote, be made, was lost,

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tho election of officers resulted as follows President: .Mr John Puton was unanimously elected on the motion oF the retiring president, and returned thanks ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs Dockrill and Mr Percy Smith ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr E. Gilmour; Auditor, Mr W. C. Weston; Committeo, Mrs McKellar, Mrs Paton, Mrs W. H. Skinner, Mrs H. F. Russell, Mrs Woolley, Mrs Fleetwood, Miss B. Smith, Miss Testar, Miss Hempton, Mrs Morrison, Mrs H. Gray, Miss Nicholson, Miss Godfrey, Messrs F. Pepperell, J. Paton, E. N. Okcy, G. W. Browne, W. J. Worthington, J. Gibson, Col. Messenger, H. F. Russell, E. Gilmour, McDiarmid, and MeGahey.