HORTICULTUUAL SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1261, 9 July 1864, Page 4

HORTICULTUUAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Christclmrch Horticultural Society was held in the Town Hull :it halfpast seven o'clock last evening. The attendance of members was rather limited.

Mr. \V. Wilsox occupied the chair, and congratulated the meeting upon the success the society had achieved from the time of its institution.

The iSiicitrrAUY then read the following report " Your committee, before proceeding to their report, wouid beg to olfer their heartfelt regret for the great loss the society has met with in the death of ihpif Vice-President. Talying a great interest in all objects of utility, thy Christclujrch Horticultural Society was one of those which he felt the greatest pleasure in ; he was one of the originators of it, and its most consistent supporter. Jlis exhibits were always superior, and objects of great attraction to visitors to the exhibitions, and the society owes much of its success to his endeavours.

" Your committee have met sixteen times since last general meeting, and have held three exhibitions according to your wishes expressed at that meeting. " The first exhibition was held on Friday, 20tli November, 1863, in Kolder's Gardens, Liucoln-road; the arrangements with one or two exceptions were satisfactorily carried out, and the articles exhibited far above the average of former years. It would be invidious on the part of your committee to point out special cases where all were superior, but to the collection of T. 11. PoLts, 11. Wilkin, H. P. G. Gould, F. Strouts, and G. Miles, Esqs., and to tlie late Veil. Archdeacon Mathias, the exhibition owed much of its attractiveness. " Thesecondexhibition was held in the same gai ( l on Thursday, 31st December, 1863, and considering the adverse state of the weather before the exhibition, its nrticles sent for competition showed that the greatest care had been bestowed upon Mc r cultivation, but from the causes just mentioned, me

number of articles sent was not so numerous as the first exhibition. " The third exhibition of the season was held in the Gardens, Cathedral square, on the 10th March, 18 54. "Your committee expected a large number of articles to be brought forward, and made all the provision in their power by getting all the available tents at hand;but the space they were able.to furnish whs very far short of what was reallv required, and many of the objeets sent were obliged to be put in places wheie they could not be seen to advantage. The pot plants were much superior to any ever exhibited before, and the exhibition of a few stands of dahlias was a new feature in our exhibitions. The fruits, as a collection, were fully represented, and the judges appointed expressed their difficulty in coming to a decision by the excellence of all the lpts, and the entire absence of anything approaching inferiority. " The vegetables require no comment at the hands of your committee, the samples tabled being much above the average of former years.

*• Your committee would propose for your consideration a few changes which are required from the increasing number of competitors : they propose to divide competitors into two classes—one class for nurserymen and dealers, and the other for gardeners and amateurs.

"Your committee have fully discussed the propriety ot establishing three classes, viz : — nurserymen, gardeners, and amateurs ; but they consider it premature at present, as the funds likely to be placed at the disposal of the society would not be sufficient to give prizes to all.

" Your eonfcnittee would also urge upon you the advisability of nominating for your new Committee of Management, practical uien—men who will attend to your interests. Your committee feels this to be a personal duty to you on their part, as their committee meetings have only been attended regularly by about half the nuufber you appointed at the last general meeting ; they would advise you to appoint an honorary committee, as well as a committee of practical gardeners, so that should any subject arise requiring large consideration, a sufficient number could be brought together to discuss it satisfactorily to your interest. " They would also advise you to have monthly meetings to discuss subjects connected with gardening, as well as to show rare objects which could not always be convenient to bring to the society's J exhibitions.

Your committee would also bring before you the need on your part to place your new committee in ■ufficient funds,|as, from untoward circnmstancesover which the retiring committee had no control, funds which should have been at their disposal cannot be realized.

"They would also recommend for the future that articles for exhibition should give precedence to those for competition; and in conclusion, they would thank thone gentlemen who so kindly returned the amounts of their respective prize money for the benefit of the society; by so doing, placing the society in a position to liquidate all their engagements."

The financial report was read, which shewed that the expenditure of the past year amounted to £115, and the income £116 16s 4d, thus leaving a balance of £\ 16s 4d in the hands of the society.

It was moved by Mr. Armstrong, seconded by Mr. Marshall—That the report of the retiring committee be adopted, and that the thanks of the society are due to the committee for the manner in which they have conducted its affairs during the past year.

The motion was unanimously carried. Mr. Hislop moved, and Mr. Compton seconded the adoption of the Treasurer's report, and a vote of thanks'toMr. Miles for the valuable services rendered bj him to the society during the past season. The motion was passed. On the motion of Mr. G. Miles, seconded by Mr. Davie, S. Bealey, Esq., Superintendent, was elected President to the Society. Mr. Duncan moved, and Mr. Greenaway seconded Mr. Potts, as Vice-President for the ensuing year.

The following gentlemen were appointed as committeemen : —Messrs. Armstrong, Turner, Barker, Greenaway, Stenson, Compton, Chudley, Hislop, Marshall, Tunmer, Clarke, Painter, Hawkes, Wilson, Brooke, Davie, Alport and Sewell. A discussion of the by-laws brought the meeting to a close.