GERALDINE FLORAL, HORTICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2047, 17 May 1890, Page 3

GERALDINE FLORAL, HORTICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.

The general meeting of the members of this society was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Thursday evening last. There were present Messrs J. Williams, president (in the chair), J. Pye, J, W. Pye, A. White, G. H. Patrick, G. Stonehouse, N. Dunlop, T. Harrison, and Dr Pish. EEPOBT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The secretary read the annual report and ; balance-sheet, which had been duly audited. The report was a* follows• Gentlemen,— On this our fifth anniversary your committee have much pleasure in presenting there report on the work of the society during the past year. : It is a source of much congratulation to find tne membership increasing, thereby indicating the interest taken by the public in matters that come within the scope of your society. At the show held in January last the exhibits compared most favorable with those at the shows of previous years. The industrial section deserves a word or two of comment : The items included in the catalogue wherein prizjs were awarded by the society, and also spec al prizes given by members and others, were largely competed for, the exhibits themselves being one of the great attraction of the shows, and your committee would recommend to their successors that they should encourage industries as much as possible by increasing the number of prizes in class (J Miscellaneous, The late show compared most favorably with those of similar •societies-in New Zealand, The balance-sheet your committee now present before you, will, we trust, prove satisfactory in regard to the manner in which your funds have been dealt with. At the beginning of the year there was a balance in the bank of Ti lls 81- The then committee had considerable d.fficulty in making ends meet, and in order to have a balance in the bank on their retiring from office they subscribed amongst themselyos. Your present committee, fortunately, had no such difficulty to eont'epa with, for by pieaps of steady canvassing for members and special prize donors, the receipts of the year amounted to l£6f 9a 2d, which, together with the aforesaid balance from the previous year of

£1 lls Bd, brought the total receipts up to £69 0a lOd. The expenditure, as given in detail in the balance-sheet, amounted fo £66 7s 2d, the balance in hand, therefore, at the present date is £2 13s Bd. At the last meeting of your committee it was resolved to recommend to the members at this raeet ng that provision should be made for holding monthly meetings of the society for the purpose of enabling members to read papers of interest bearing on matters appertaing to floral and horticultural industries. Your committee consider that should you recommend this to the incoming committee for their consideration, and their subsequent approval, it will tend materially to enhance the usefulness of, and interest in the society. J. Williams, ; Chairman. ELECTION OE OEEICEES. The election of officers for the ensuing twelve months then took place, with the following results: —Pataons: Hon. L, Walker, M.L.C., Hon. W. Rolleston, S. Buxton, Esq, M.HE, A. B. G. Ehodes, Esq., M.H.E., W. Fostlethwaite, Esq., and H. B. Webster, Esq ; president: Dr E. Fish ; vice-presidents: Messrs J. Williams, A. White, and B. E. Macdonald; secretary; Mr A. Fisher; treasurer ; Mr J. W. Pye ; auditors; Messrs A, White and G. H. Patrick; committee: Messrs N. Dunlop, J. Pye, E. H. Pearpoint, J. W. Pye, T. Harrison, Griffin, A. Coles, J. Hay, W. Stonehouse, J. H. Dean, Junr., M. Coombs, 0; Eamble, H. Baughen, W. Cooling, J. Mundell, J. Cunningham, J. Pizzey, 8. Chapman, and E. Hammond.

Mr G. H; Patrick brought up the question of forming a class in the schedule of prizes for comnetition among cottagers. He pointed out that some two or three persons in the district, himself among the number, who at present were entitled to show as amateurs, had greenhouses, and consequently the cottagers or those who had not greenhouses could not compete with them in pot plants. He thought if a class such as he proposed were formed it would encourage a great many more to exhibit who were now discouraged from doing so by realising that it yvas almost hopeless to show against those who had greenhouses. The idea was considered an excellent one, and after several of those present had spoken on it it was decided to leave the matter to be dealt with at the next meeting of committee, as the schedule would need revising if any alteration were niade. Mr Dunlop thought the society might extend its border, and encourage the exhibition of a great many more things than those at present shown. The industrial department had been very successful last year but he thought that the local industries of the district, should be brought forward. He did not see why grain, wool, flax,“&c., should not be shown.

Dr Fisb thought that such things as wool, for instance, should be left to the Agricultural and Pastoaal Association in Timaru.

The matter was allowed to drop. The question of appointing one person to collect the subscriptions for the whole district was discussed, and finally it was decided to retain the system at present in vogue, namely, to supply each committeeman with a collecting book.

Mr White moved “That it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that no exhibitor be allowed to show fruit, flowers, or vegetables, unless the same were grown in his own garden, and any person found doing otherwise to be debarred from competing again.’’ It was pointed out that this was one of the rules of the rules of the society, and it was decided to strictly enforce it m the future.

With regard to the clause in the report dealing with the reading, by members, of papers on any subject of interest to the society the idea was considered a good one, and Mr J. Pye was asked to read a paper at next meeting of the committee, to be held on June 13ih.

Mr J. W, Pye said he noticed the Caledonian Society of Temuka were about getting Mr Murphy, the Secretary of the Christchurch Agricultural and Pastoral Association to deliver a lecture in Temuka, he thought it possible to get Mr Murphy to visit Geraldine and lecture there. It was unanimously decided to endeavor to get him to pay Geraldine a visit, and the Secretary was instructed to enter into negotiations on the subject. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting.