HUTT VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3063, 26 April 1917, Page 3

HUTT VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

ATJirtJMN SHOW. The Hutt Valley: Horticultural Sofciety held its autumn show , in the Drill Shed yesterday afternoon and evening. Taking into consideration thefact that autumn is nbfc;a propitious time for securing the best results in the way of flowers, exhibition may be regarded as a distinctly interesting!one in the matter of exhibits. Among these, chrysanthemums ■occupied pride of 'place, some exceedingly fine specimens of these effective flowers being; shown. The champion bloom,' "Melinda Borrett," was displayed, by Mr. F. Westbury, and was the, object of considerable admiration. Owing tothe lateness of the season the dahlias were, rather, poor, was only to be expected. One of the special features of the"show was the stand -of vegetables displayed by , Mr. Westbury. Over 100 kinds were included, and it would have been difficult to have excelled it in variety arid quality. Their arrangement, too, was excellent, and made a fine patch of vivid colouring in the hall., Mr.H. Poole was responsible for a stand of palms; beRonias, and other foliage plants; -Mr. iWaugh, a showing of New ZealandKrown apples and pears, and Mr. Hardy, a stand of but flowers. Mr.Miller also had a similar display. Mr., iW. Barber was the judge of the chrysanthemums,' Mr. W. Hardy was the general judge, and Mr. 6. J. Chapman judged the decorative classes. Mr: Hardham was the secretary of the association. There -were a. number ■of decorated tables, some arranged (in a separate class) by girls under sixteen I years of..age. In charge of. the tearoom arrangements were Mrs/ and Miss Hayward, with a number of. assisting friends. The proceeds of the show go to the Wounded Soldiers'; Fund. For his exhibit of vegetables Mr. Westbury . won the R.H.S. silver medal. Mr. T. ■Waugh was the winner of the R.H.S. bronze medal for his display of apples and pears, , and Mr. H. Poole won the R.H.S. bronze medal for his display of pot plants. In the open class, H. Poole carried off, eight first prizes. For chrysanthemums (open class) H. Poole carried off seven firsts. In the cottage garden class Miss Pyno for her collection of out flowers (not less than 12 /varieties) won first prize. ,R. Dalton, in the amatouT; class, carried,off one first and two seconds; for - twelve blooms {distinct),. t J. obtained

first. In the fruit section (open class). W. Futter. and J. Cottle both obtained ; two first prizes each, and in the amateur class the principal prize-winners were H. S. Cuming and Mrs. Hughes. The prize-winners in the decorative class were Mrs. A. J. Hobbs, % Miss Hobbs, Mrs. Hayward, Miss Hendry, and in the children's section (under 16 years of age) Ruth Hobbs, Jean Hendry, and Mabel Cottle (firsts). A new feature of the show was the home products section, in which articles of fooU or for drinking were shown in one class, and articles of furnishing in another. " Mrs. Barber won first prize in the former section, and H. S. Cuming in the second.

There was a good audience at the Sailors' Friend Sooiety on 'Tuesday night, when an excellent concert was given by Mr. Norman Aitken, "who, with his party, did so much to make a merry evening for the men from ships in port. The competitions were particularly amusing. Mr. Moore, missioner, spoke •on Temperance. The following contributed to the programme:—Miss Thelma. Aitken, Miss Stewart, Messrs. Norman E. Aitken, Paul Latham, P. Williams, jß&ofarlane,' Samson, and Smith. Mr. Blick ably-presided at the piano. The host and his helpers were accorded ringing cheers for their kindness. • •'