EARLY HISTORY LACKING

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23673, 25 June 1942, Page 3

EARLY HISTORY LACKING

CANTERBURY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

The Canterbury Horticultural. Society is seeking verified information about its establishment and early activities. At the annual meeting last evening the secretary (Mr P. C. Browne) said that the forty-ninth annual report would be presented, this figure following those .in present records. There vas, however,. reason to believe that the society-had been in existence for a much longer period;, Confirmation was lacking that the present body was a continuation of the old Canterbury United Horticultural Society and the early Horticultural Society of Christchurch, The present books went back to 1903, an early cash book showed figures for 1898, while a society medal had been found bearing the date 1873. Officers of the society were detailed in a directory Opinions from old identities indicated that the society. was formed ■in the late 50’s, but- documentary evidence beyond the turn of the century was lacking, said Mr Browne. The annual report stated that in spite of the increasing demands on people’s time for war services, the standard of gardening in Christchurch had been maintained, and the society’s activities had been well supported. The election of officers resulted:— Patron, the Governor-General; president, Sir R, Heaton Rhodes; vice-presi-dents, 20 were elected; secretarytreasurer, Mr P. C. Browne; management committee, Messrs L. R. Kent, A. McNeil, M. J. Barnett, F. T. Tindall, E. Taylor, F. J. Shanks, L. T. K. Allison, J. Poulsen, J. R. Templin, C. H. Moir, H. Williams, R. C. Jaggar, L. J. Manson, W. J. Humm, Dr. A. C.,McKillop; auditors, Messrs Wm. Jameson and Son; honorary solicitor, Mr C. S. Thomas; honorary botanist, Mr C. E, Foweraker; new life members, Mr J. H. Robinson and Mrs D. Rowse.