TEMUKA FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2198, 9 May 1891, Page 2

TEMUKA FLORAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting o£ the above society ivas held last Thursday evening in the Social Hall, Temuka. The chair was occupied by Mr E. Cutten, and the attendance was fair. AIOnJAL ESPOET. The annual report was read as follows; Mr President and Gentlemen,— Your Committee have great pleasure in presenting you with a report of the transactions of the Society during the past season, and think that you will admit that a great advance has been made. At the first show 375 entries were made, th's year 673 ; cash taken at the doors £ls 5s 6d, this ye<r £3O ; cash received from ail sources £54 4s 2d, this year £Bl 3a 6d. The number of members this season is IS less than last, and we think that efforts should be made during the coming season to induce larger numbers of residents in die district to join the Society, so that so much reliance need not be placed on the door, takings. Several persons said they would have joined as members if they had been asked to do so, and an energetic canvass by members of the incoming committee no doubt will show good results. The number on the roll at present is 88. The experiment of giving prizes for the best-kept cottage gardens proved a success, twelve entries being received, which was very satisfactory when the long spell of dry weather before the date of entry is taken into consideration, that cause alone preventing several others from entering for the competition. The prize schedule was considerab y enlarged, there being 226 eihibits for which prizes were offered, as against 180 the previous season, A great improvement in the quality of articles exhibited, was also noticeable. Two members of the Society, viz., Messrs H. T. Clinch and Geo. Smith, competed at the Geraldine show, and carried off a large number of prizes, and we hope the coming season will sea our Society represented at all the shows held in South Canterbury, We wish to record our hearty thanks to the judges who gave their services at the show—Mr H. Crooks, pot plants, flowers, and fruit , Messrs Langdon and Gross, vegetables; Mesdatnea IS. Brown, Hamilton, and P. Waieing, ladies’ fancy work and cookery exhibits ; Mrs Campbell and Key. T. A. Hamilton, drawing and painting ; Mr Bowman, farm produce; and Mr A. E. Love, cottage gardens. Aa an expression of opinion we think that given by Mr H. Crooks, the veteran judge of North Canterbury shows, should be of value. He said “ that aa an all-round show he had seen nothing to equal it for quality in any country district, and that even in Christchurch it would be hard to beat ; in point of attendance it was better than he had seen there for some years past.” The successful outcome nf the year’s work was mainly due to the untir-' ing efforts of our genial and energetic secretary, Mr W. N. Oathro, ;who spared neither time nor trouble in working for the interests of the Society, We also wish to thank all others who helped to make the annual show such a credit to.the district; also the donors of special prizes, especially Mr A. E. G. Rhodes and the president; MrE. Cutten, for their liberality. In conclusion, we hope that the Society will be even more prosperous in the future than it has been in the past, and that year by year it will lead to greater interest being taken in the culture of Flowers, Fruit, and Vegetables, Signed, oh behalf of the Committee, by “Philip Vvarking, “Chairman.

“E. a Uann, “ Acting Hon. Sec.

“ Teipuka, May 7th. 1891.”

The balance-sheet showed (he total receipts to have been £B9 8s 6d, made up of subscriptions £lB 12s 6 (, special prizes £24 11 s, cash taken at doors £3O, etc. The expenditure was £BS Os 6d, leaiying a balance of £4 9s 61 in hand, against which there were outstanding liabilities to the amount of £4 16s. The chief item of expenditure was £46 2s paid away in ptiz’s.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said the year had been very successful, although they had not much money in hand. They would have a debit balance of 7d after all liabilities were*paid. It was a pity the number of members bad fallen away. If they fell off next year as they had last year they would soon have none left, so it behoved all to do their best to get new members in, as they could net depend on the takings at the door. If they had a wet day they would go to the bad. Mr Herbert, seconded the motion, and it was carried without discussion. TOTES or THANKS,

Mr Rutland moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wareing for the able manner m which he had conducted the business as chairman during the past year.: Mr Dann seconded the motion> which was carried by acclamation. Mr Wareing acknowledged the compliment in suitable terms, and said that whatever he did was a labor of love, He hoped the society would prosper, but they would want more members. He would do his best in the future.

Mr Epps moved a vote of thanks to the out-going committee for the splendid manner in which the committee carried on the business during the past year. - Mr Herbert seconded the motion, and after Mr Cooper bad eulogised the way in which the show had been con* ducted, it was carried unanimously.

The Rev. Mr Hamilton moved a vote Of thanks to Messrs Gathro and Dann, to whose energies the great success of the show was mainly due,

Mr Bennett having endorsed the eulogistic terms in which Mr Hamilton bad proposed the motion, seconded it, and it was carried unanimously. Mr Dann acknowledged the compliment on behalf of Mr Oathro and himself, and said the secretary in future would not e so much to do. EHB BTLBS Tho meeting then proceeded to revise the rules, and the recommendations of the committee, which consisted of some verbal alterations, were adopted. EMOTION OB Oi'JICEaS. The election of officers resulted as follows Patrons, Messrs A. B. G. Rhodes, M.H.R, J. T. M. Hayhurst, M. Quinn, J. Talbot, J. Blyth, Sir William Blunden, Revs. J, Dickson, Fathers Fauvel and. Aubry, and J. Dellow; president, P. Warcing; vicepresident, Rev. T. A. Hamilton j treasurer. Mr E. C. Dann; secretary, Mr H. M. Miles;. committee, Messrs Saunders, E. Outten, W. G. Rutland, G. Smith, E. Herbert, GK Smith. J. Hoi well, R, Metson, and J. B. Epps. The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.