CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10044, 24 May 1898, Page 6

CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Christchurch Chrysanthemum Society was held last night. Dr. Irving presided. The fifth annual report congratulated members on a most successful year. The most important and valuable work of tho year was the laying out and planting of the Market reserve at a cost of £25 lis Bd, converting it from practically a boulder pit to one of tho beauty spots of the city. The thanks of the Society were due to the City Council, who had furthered the efforts of the Society. In spite of the drought the late show had added another to the successes of the Society. There was still a large membership, and the financial position of the Society was sound, for, notwithstanding all unusual expenditure, there was a credit balance of £47 16s 10d. Tho balance-sheet Bhowed that with a credit brought forward of £58 16a 3d the receipts had amounted to £213 ss, and the expenditure to £165 B*. 2d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. votes of thanks were accorded to the ladies, donors of special prizes, the Press, the judges, the OiEcc-is, and the committee. Tho Secretary was voted an honorarium of £7 10s and the Treasurer of £3 3s. It was decided that the lady who decorated the fourth table at the Show should receive a prize of 7s 6d, as the votes of the public it received were so near in number to those of tho third table. Mr N. L. D. Smith offered a prize of one guinea for the next Show ; Mr Bayliss a prize for children under fifteen; which Mr Jones and the Chairman promised to supplement with easily grown varieties, and the meeting accepted these offerd with thanks. The election of the officers resulted as under—President, Dr. Jas. Irving ; vicepresidents, Rev. Dr. Erwin, Mr C. Carmichael, Miss M. M. Blyth, Mrs Chas. Clark and Mrs E. C. J. Stevens ; committee, Messrs S. Anstey, G. W. Bishop, Arthur Cant, N. L. D. Smith, A. B. Morgan and W. Baylis; auditor, Mr R. E. M. Evans ; hon. treasurer, Mr W. Pickles ; hon. secretary, Mr W. Jones. It was decided to recommend to the committee that an effort should be made to see that in future all exhibitors should use stands of regulation size, to consider the propriety of increasing the prize money in the classes of the more numerous varioties, and the encouragement of the growth of pot plants. The meeting then adjourned.