HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 146, 11 June 1908, Page 4

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Horticultural Society was held last night. There were fifteen members present, of whom nine were ladies. In the unavoidable absence of Air. J. Paton, the president, Colonel .Messenger occupied the chair.

T)i<! President's report stated tliat the balance wars on the credit side, showing a balance of Xo Is lid after paying the sccreUry £l2 lUs. The balance brought forward from the previous year was owing to the secretary as salary, and there was also an amount held by the Society to be expended on plant, so thut, they really started the year owing nearly X.2. Last year there were 1)3 members, showing! an increase ot 11. This was certainly encouraging, but if the Society was to be carried on sinees>fully a membership of at least 150 wa> rcijiiired, and lie could not see why that numlßT should not be exceeded. There were numbers of people who would not subscribe, stating that if was cheaper to pay at the door. Vet these

were just l-liu people who would complain if the Society were allowed to die out. Personally, he considered that every town should have its horticultural society, and he sincerely hoped that the jieople of New Plymouth would si low their appreciation of the work done, and ihelp to strengthen the Society ami increase its usefulness by becoming members. The Society hist year otiered prizes for cooking done by pupils at the Technical School, and, judging by the keen eoiu]>etition, it was a move in the right direction. There were many ways in which the Society could increase its usefulness, but they must first, of all place it upon a very solid foundation by greatly improving the plant and increasing the credit balance. It had been proposed that the judging of the table decorations should be done by all the judges, and he certainly considered it worth a trial. The children's dashes, were a feature in themselves at the last show, and it was to be hoped

that every year would show an increase in the number showing, for if the Society could get the children to take an interest in llowers tliev were doing a good work. The thanks of the Society were due to the executors of the late Mr. .1. ('. George for allowing free storage of the plant; to those who had made donations, to the judges, stewards, the Press, and to all those who had so willingly helped to make the last show a success. The principal items of receipts were: Donations ,U<> 10s, members' subscriptions £23 15s. door takings £3B 155,entrance fees £ll lis Gd. afternoon tea £4 4s od. and sundries bringing the total receipts to £B7 14s lOd. Kx* penditure totalled £B2 12s lid, the principal items being: Prize money £32 12s lid. printing and advertising £ll l()s 3d. theatre rent £7, wages £2 Ids, orchestra £2 2s. hire of crockery £2 Ilk Bd. callage £2 4s Od. The report and balance-sheet were

adopted. Mr, J. Paton having resigned the post of president, the chairman nominated His Worship the Mayor, Mr. Tisch. lie was duly elected. Colonel Messenger de» dining nomination. Mr. Gibson expressed regret at Mr. Paton's retirement, attributing to him a large share of the recent success of the society. Other ollicers were elected as follows: Vice-presidents. Mrs. Dockrill. Colonel .Messenger. Messrs. Cattley, S. PercySmith, Ma<l)iarmid, and .1, Paton; committee. Mesdames Morrison, Russell, McKellar, P-ton, .T. K. Hannah, (Jrant. (Jlasgow, and Frethev, Misses B. Smith. Percy-Smith, and Ilempton, Messrs. -1. 11. Frethcy. Gihson Pepperell, Worthington, (!. \V. Browne. 11. F. Russell. F. Uoodacre, and (j. U. McCahey; auditor. Mr. \V. ('. Weston, It was decided to recommend the committee to hold the annual show 011 a Thursday in December. It was decided to recommend the committee to 'hold an autumn show.

I'pon the motion of Messrs. Browne and Pepperill, it was decided to plaec on record the society's appreciation <u Mr. !Paton's services as president, and regret at his resignation from f.liat ufl'u A hearty vote of t'lnnk* was arvonled all outgning ollicers and in the Pre*;;.