Wellington Horticultural and florists' Society.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 35, 9 August 1895, Page 4

Wellington Horticultural and florists' Society.

The annual meetiDgr of the Booiety was held in the Exchange Buildings last c /en. ing, Mr. L. G. Beid (Chairman of Committee) presiding. The annual report (read by Mr. A. E. Waterson, Hon. Seoretary) stated that the Society wu again under obligations to the ladies' Committee, who, by their efforts, had Added oonßiderably to ths fundß. The Autumn Chryeanthemam Shows were amal. gamatod, and in consequence of the snocesa attending: this now departnre the Committee recommended that until the finanoes were in a. better state only two shows shonld be held each yoar. The Spring Show was not suite np kto the standard, bat the combined Show was Kf exceptional merit. The thanks of the ■fciety were due to Mr. A. P. Stuart for ■BHiraging fruit culture by giTingaspeoial

prize, which was keenly comoeted for, and which was again carried off by Mr H WilnuiEon, o£ Patea. The Comtnitteo conirratulated Miss Baudall (Napier) and Me-ars. 0. J. Hill, W. H. P. Barber, and .1. J. Kerslake on their suoeessaß exhibitors ut blooms. The special display of daffodils in September was a groat sacoesß, and the committee thanked Messrs. T. Mason, V Cooper, H. C. Gibbons & Co , and (J. H. Jzard for their contributions to it. I'lio total receipts for the year amounted to £181 1(N 7d, anil the expenditure (inelndiDg .., debit balanoe of £16 14a 9d) to J8215 7s 2d, caving a debit balance of .£33 tOs 7d, which - presonted the tntal indebtedness of tun i> «*ty. I his deficiency was partly caubud fy tho tailing off in membership, and by the *mall attendance of tho pub ie at the Spring Miow. It was evident tbat if the revenue was to be kept up to the required amount not only mußt there be an increase of membership, but Hubsoriptions must be promptly collected. The Committee tendered thanks io all who had made donations to the funda .md given special prizes, to Messrs. Casten<tyke & Focke for the use of office, to Messrs. Hosher, Gibb, Hnstwiok, Jay, M'Kay, Napier, and Wilkinson for acting as judges, and to the Wellington presß for its Bupport. I The Hon. Treasurer (Mr. J. J. Kerslake) I submitted a balance-sheet showing that the finances were JBI7 worse than at the previous annual meeting. The Chairman mored the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. He regretted I that tho Society had not had & better financial year, a circumstance which was to ! dome extent the fault of members in not paying the subscriptions promptly. He thought it was a disgraoe to the .Empire City that tho society had not a better membership. Three years ago there ware far more members, although the population of the oity was not then so great as at present. He suggested thai the ladies should be asked to assist in restoring the finances to a healthy state. Mr. C. J. Hill, in seconding the motion, said that if the ladies could be induced to take an interest in the affairs ot the society the finances would be in a more satisfactory condition. In reply to Mr. F. J. W. Fear, the Chairman said that some members who had not paid thoir subscriptions had been admitted to the thowa on their tickets, consequently they hud gone in free. Mr. Fear suggested that members should not be allowed to go to the bdows unless their tickets were stamped by the Secretary, thus showing that the subscriptions had been paid. Mr. C. H. Izard felt certain that all membera would pay regularly if they were waited upon by the Secretary or some other official. It seemed to him that the people of Wellington would not (to to any show in* large numbers if they had to pay a shilling for the privilege. The motion was agreed to. Offioe-bearera were elected as followß-.— Patron, the Earl of Glasgow (re elected) ; President, Mr. H. D. Bell, M.H.tt. (reelected) ; Vice-presidents, Messrs. A. de B. Brandon and E. Pearce (re-elected), the Mayor (Mr. Luke), the Bishop of Wellington, and Sir B. Stout, M.H.R. ; Committee, Messrs. 1. G. Eeid, A. M'Kay, C. J. Hill, S. W. Green, G. J. Clapham, K. Focke, W. Taylor, T. H. Huatwick, C. H. Williamß, D. N. W ilkinson (re-elected), W. H. P. Barber, P. J. W. Fear ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. J, Kerslake (re-eleoted). The appointment ol Secretary and Auditors was left to the Committee. Eulogistic reference was made to the services rendered to tho Booiety by Mr, Kerslake in the capacity of Treasurer. Votes of thanks were passed to the late iuditois (Meßßrs. C. W. Benbow and F WillB). On the motion of Mr. C. H Izard, it wai decided to hold another exhibition of daffo dils. The Chairman having been thanked fo: the practical interest whion he* had alwayi taken in the sooiety's affairs, the meetinj terminated.