HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 310, 27 June 1912, Page 4

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. There was a yery fair attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Ne v \"\.. .inth Horticultural Society, which was held in the Town Hall Inst night. Mr. G. H. McUahey, president of the society, occupied the chair. ANNUAL REPORT. The president's report congratulated the society on the year's work. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £l3 18s ad, which, though small, was satisfactory, when they considered the very wet day for the rose show and the excitement of the second ballot on the day of the spring show. The rose show, though equal to previous years, was nob up to expectations, while the spring *how was far in advance of previous shows in all classes, more especially in vegetables, that section alone taking over five hours to judge. The competition in potatoes was very keen and tha exhibits would have been hard to beak in any part of the Dominion. So good was the quality that the judges had great difficulty in deciding some of the classes and had to call in a referee. Special thanks were due to Messrs. N. King and G. V. Tate, whose judging gave such universal satisfaction. The • tide of success had now turned in favor of the society, and he predicted that each year would be more prosperous. Many new exhibitors staged for the first time, while the old ones still remained to show their appreciation of the management. Owing to want of space it was reluctantly decided to cut the home industry classes out of the schedule, and ha offered apologies to the many who were disappointed. The committee had ordered from Home 48 dozen greenstone flower tubes, which should add considerably to the appearance of future shows. The chrysanthemum had been a neglected flower for many years, but was now coming into favor with gardeners, and local nurserymen had received many orders for plants for September planting. The holding of a chrysanthemum and dahlia show in April, instead of the roso show in November, was recommended. The question of a suitable building in which to hold the next spring show required consideration. He also conveyed the best thanks of the society to the judges, stewards, and to all others who by exhibits or donations or in any other way had contributed to the success of the show, and also to the committer j for their support during his two years a» J president, a favor which he asked for his successor.

The balance-sheet showed that £l2 9s Id had been brought forward, and the principal receipts hail been as follows: Members' subscriptions, £34 15s; donations, £l2 12s; door receipts (rose show) £5 8s (id, (spring show) £2O 4s; entries (rose show) 18s Od, (spring show) £ll 8s Gd; unclaimed prizemoney, £3 13s Cd; which, with sundries, amounted to £lO3 16s Id. The expenditure totalled £B9 17s Bd. The principal items were: Prize money (rose show) £3 4s 6d, (spring show) *£33 14s. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman remarked that he predicted that the society would do better in future, as new exhibitors were coming forward every year. Mr. E. S. Allen, in seconding the motion, said that the society had been particularly unfortunate in having bad weather for the rosa show, and the excitement of the second ballot had detracted from the attendance at the spring show. In reply to Mr. Shaw, the secretary stated that there had been an actual loss of £1 lis on the rose show, and £2B on the spring show. It was *h« members' subscriptions and donations that kept the society floating. Mr. Shaw said that it was impossible to gauge the success of the show by the balance-sheet. He considered last year's show quite equal to, if not better," than that of the previous year. The report and balance-sheet wert then adopted. OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows: President. Mr. S. W. Shaw; vice-presi-dents. Mrs. Dockrill, Col. Messenger, Messrs. S. P. Smith, W. W. Smith. J. Paton, N. K. MacDiarmid. H. R. Cattley. F. W. Sandford, H. Dempsey, and G. W. Browne; secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. L. Humphries; hon. auditor, Mr. W. 0. Weston; committee, Mesdames Bradbury, Matthews, Paton, Russell, M. Avery, Grant, Ellerm, McGahey, N. Allen, and Morrison, Misses Hempton, B. Smith, and Percy-Smith, Messrs. J. Gibson, A. Hooker, H. F. Russell, E.W. Griffiths, E. B. K/pngdon, E. Allen, N. Allen, W. Nicoll, G. H. McGahey. W. Bendall, Ellerm, ,T. Tisch, and J." Roeh. GENERAL. Mr. G. W. Browne gave noticp to move at the next general meeting thai the rule re election of committee, h* amended by the addition of the words "with power to add to their number."

Some discussion ensued over the paragraph in the report re substituting a chrysanthemum show for the rose show, and_ ultimately it was decided that a rose' show be held in October or November, according to the season; that tin usual spring show be held in December; and that the committee also take into consideration the advisability of holding ft chrysanthemum show. Mr. Shaw suggested that the latter, on the first occasion, should take the form of a display, eliminating all prize money. He thought that there were sufficient lofvers of the flower to provide a goodf display. Afterwards thev could shape their policy according to the support received. The question of a ,hall for the next show was discussed, and it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs. Shaw and Griffiths, that it be a recommendation to the committee to hold the spring show in the Coronation Hall. Mr. J. Tisch suggested that sub-com-mittees should be appointed at various centres with a view to popularising the This was left over for the committee to deal with.