HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 41, 9 July 1914, Page 6

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MELTING. At the annua' meeting of the New Plymouth Horticultural Society last ni"ht, Mr. S. W. Shaw presided over a good attendance of members. REPORT. The president's annual report was as follows: — In presenting the annual balancesheet I have pleasure in stating tli.it after payment of ull outstanding liabilities the accounts show a balance , J the credit of the Society of £4 llis, a: compared with lis (id at the commencement of the vein. TM* has In en brought about principally by the generosity _ ■ f some '■! the prize winners at the Spring show, who Ilia not claim their pi'i/.' mc-ncy, and a!.,u by the profit from the cliry KUii iicimuu show. At the -ami, tin.. J would point, out that instead of i small credit balance at the commencement of the year, we really had a bebit of £4 4s (id, as the rent of the Had for the 1913 spring show, amounting so £o, was still outstanding, and has u, be paid this year. The spring slw.v Wv..' held in the Coronation ilall on the 4th of December last, and as far as exhibits went, was very successful, but financially it was a failure,.the attendance of 'the public, toeing very disappointing, and as a consequence the do jr receipts were small. The ehrysanthemum show held in the Good Tempi ir Hall in April wais better patronised, an I showed a . profit of almost £7. It wi!j be noticed that no prize money was given at this show, and we luave c,o thank all those who made exhibits, especially the ladies who provided tit.* decorated, tables. In conclusion, 1 would like to point out that while the finances of the Society are on a sound basis, they cannot be considered as satisfactory, for it has only been by practising the most rigid economy and bv the generosity of exhibitors beforementioned, that ive have been enabled te make both ends meet. In a town anil district like New Plymouth the Horticultural Society should especially flourish, and unless greater interest i> shown by the public in the future .u the work of the Society the association will be non-existent. This, I am sure, we should all deplore, and it would be a standing reproach that "The capital town »f the garden of "New Zealand" js not capable of supporting its Horticultural Society. I trust tnat bbisi may jiot happen and I would appeal to the members and the incoming committee to make a special ell'fti t to increase the membership of the Society and also t.j endeavor to awaken increased interest, with the public in its ail'airs. Receipts,—The principal items -wer;: Subscriptions. £33 ss; donations, £!'! ss; door receipts, spring show, £ll 17s Gd: entries, £lO Is (id; unclaimed pri',e money, £7 Is; door receipts at chrysanthemum show, £ll "is (id; afternoon tea at show, £1 13s !)d. Expenditure—The, principal items were: borough rent, £lO lis 3d; spring show prize money £53 12s Cd; rent o f ball at split!',' show, £l2 Ss, expenses at chrysanthemum show £5 17s. Mr. .1. l'aton, in supporting the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, c mimented ot the fact that since the shows had been held elsewhere than i:i the Theatre Royal tihev had been tin successful, and the question of clump/, of venue must enter into any discussion on the abandonment or otherwise of shows, lie would be very sorry t > see the shows abandoned. He pointed out that to hold the shows in the Theatre Royal meant to curtail them, whereas the Coronation Hall was too far from tile centre of the town. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elect d fot the ensuing year.—President, M*. John Gibson; vice-presidents, M.esdames E. Dockrill. C. 11. Burgess, Miss P.. Smith. Colonel .Messenger, and Messrs I A. Crook". H. 1!. Cattlcy. -I. Patoti, V\\ !•. Sandford. S P. Smith, and C. Denrv ■Brown; committee. Me-Mlaine- 1 Matthews J. Allen. .T. Paton. E'. EHerra, S. Allei. Morrison, McGahev. Coivile, Grant and i Newman, Misses Smith. Hempton, Fa Jjian. Messrs E. B. Kingdom E. Allen, N. Allen, W. P. Nicholl, J!. M. Corncy, O.N. Firth, C. W. Browne, ,T. Uocli; auditov. ilr. W. C. Weston, j The a|)])ointment of a sacrctary Wiis ' left to the incoming committee. I Mr. S. W. Shaw warmly thanked tVj members of the committee for then' loyal support at all times, without j which he could have done little. !lt was resolved that a spring f-h-.w and chrysanthemum show be held. Votes of thanks were passed to th: ,hon. treasurer (Mr. W. C. Weston), judges, Press, and all who assisted at the shows. Special vot.'s of thanks were aeeorled the retiring president, Mr. S. W. Bhi,v, and the retiring secretary.. Mr. G. 11. \ McGahev. Mr. Shaw returned thanks.