CHRYSANTHEMUMS- AND OTHER THINGS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14660, 8 May 1913, Page 3

CHRYSANTHEMUMS- AND OTHER THINGS.

REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY DAYS.

(Br Old Idkntitt.)

{RPItCIATXT TVRTTTrNT TOK "mi rRKSS."). Clirysanthenuims? "Summer's Last Smile" as they've been called. Yes, I grow them in Christchurch long before tho present generation were born, and : exhibited, too. For you young folk, and even tho middle-aged, mustn't think you started everything. Why, almost every institution you run so successfully now—political, philosophical, philanthropic and social—was started in "the early days," mostly in the 'GO's. They've grown with the population, they've improved—perhaps—and moved ivith the times. And the of them all were planted by Us, the Old Identities. Here's a few. —The Museum in 1860, of which yon IJaast may be said to have been top, bottom and middle builder, assisted by a few lesser lights, the Superintendent, M.P.C.'s, bankers, merchants, and squatters; the Hospital in 18(i2; the A. and 1 , . Association in 1863, which recalis the names of Moorhouse,' Wilkin, J. Brittan, Palmer, W. Thomson, fc> Bealey, E. B. Bisliop, Fereday, J. OHivier, J. C. Wilson, C.8., \V. Wilson, and a host of others; tho Sunuysido Mental Hospital in 188.1; the Canterbury Jockey Club in 1864, by Wakefieid, Ccokson, tho Lances, and similar good sports; tho Musical Society, wiioso jubilee we are about to celebrate; the Acclimatisation and Horticultural Society in 1864—and that reminds mc I've wandered away from my chrysanthemums. Well, I'll hark back, i'ou'il excuse an Old Identity. We're all the same. Start us on Old Times and thero's no stopping us. But really the list of good Lliings we're answerable for is lengthy, and the per contra, honestly, is short, even admitting the sparrows.. We loved chrysanthemums in the '60's, and a few of us grew them. Our Horticultural and Acclimatisation Society was formed on April 21st, 1864, at a public meeting in the Town Hall (we had a very respectable one then, though you can't raise one now), his Honour the Superintendent in the chair. He wns elected patron, Mr F. A. Weld (afterwards Premier in New Zealand) president, with vice-presidents and committee including Travcrs, Stoddart, Potts, and other influentials. Mr G. Gould was hon. treasurer, and Colonel Packe hon. secretary.

For eight years things wont on, and chrysanthemums were neglected. Then some of ns rose in our enthusiasm and. cnliod a meeting in April, 1572; result, the first Chrysanthemum Show in Canterbury on May 7th following. The judges were Travers ("\V. T. Lock© T ravers, he" as the song went), our old friend Mr Nairn, sen., still hearty, Collins, and J. Allen. Tho show was hold in Coker's Hotel (where "Warner's now stands), and was reckoned by no meAns had. It was small, of course, and the blooms, according to present measurements, likewise. Gretnaway, well-known then and well-remembored now, took first prize with • eighteen varieties. Would tho names bo known now? Dido, Maid of Saragossa, Jupiter, tiifleinan, Fairy, etc. A. McGill took second prize for some very fine flowers (ns wo thought then), including a Japanese that attracted particular atte'idon. The exhibits by tho amateurs worn ronsidcred pood. Mr Ashton took first prize with a large number of varieties, and Mr W. J. Smith second with fin»r flowers but fewer varieties. Mr Hohbs get ''highly commended" for his exhibit. Mr Gordon had some beautiful blooms, which would have taken a prize, but by accident they were staged "for exhibition only." One exhibit by Mr Spice r was of a novel character. It - .vas a well-crown specimen of Snow's Winter White Droccoli edged round with red chrysanthemums. The effect was striking. This first Chrysanthemum Show was small. The largest room in a Christchurch hotel wouldn't be big enough notv for a show, and Coker's room was a small one. Still, the seed of the present show was sown in it, small as it was. by the Old Identities. They were strenuous in those days. They identified themfpJves with the city It was theirs, and they worked for it. Much of tWir work enn't be bettered now. A!l Now Zealand can't show architecture superior to our old Provincial Hall, inside and out, or tKin. the Bank of New Zealand The statue we erected in the Srnaro as a work of art ia worthy of a pood stnrul in any city in Europe, and the present day hides it with an ugly shed.