Rock Garden Society

Hutt News, Volume 13, Issue 6, 12 July 1939, Page 2

Rock Garden Society

ANNUAL MEETING

The eleventh annual meeting of the New Zealand Alpine and Rock Garden Society was held at the home of the president, Mr, Hope i>. Gibbons, Lyall Bay, when about one hundred members and friends were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Gib-* bons. Viscountess . Galway, who is a patroness of the society, also attended, and showed considerable interest in the work of the society. Her Excellency, who was accompanied by Captain Lord Dormer, A.D.C., was wearing a dinner dress of black lame with a tailored coatee and an oyster-coloured lace blouse. She also wore pearls and a diamond pendant. The hostess was dressed in black lace girdled with fuchsia red velvet. Miss Paddy Gibbons wore a wine-red gown, and ner sister, Miss Bobbie Gibbons, was in a powder-blue satin frock and coatee striped with a gold floral design. After the presentation of the annual report and balance-sheet, which were adopted, the president expressed the delight of the society in having Her Excellency present. It gave members encouragement in their hobby of rock gardening to have the support of their Excellencies. Mr. Gibbons referred to the delightful occasion during the past year when members of the executive had been entertained one morning at Government House, and they had been able to see how deeply interested both Lord and Lady Galway were in their rockeries and gardens. Mr. Gibbons also referred to the occasion when the society had the honour of entertaining their Excellencies at the society's rockeries at Riddiford Park when commemoration trees were planted. Mr. Gibbons acknowledged the helpful co-operation received from kindred societies, especially from the Native Plant Preservation Society, which was a full brother or off-shoot of the Rock Garden Society. This society had been honoured by its president being invited to become a member of the Institute of Horticulture. It was also mentioned that the New Zealand horticulture ween was to be held in Wellington in January, and thanks were extended by a member of. the executive to Mr. and Mrs. Hope Gibbons, the ladies' committee, and to the Press. Mr. Gibbons paid a very feeling tribute to the valuable work carried out by the director, Mr. T. W. Attwood, since the inception of the society. He greatly regretted to say that owing to a disability Mr. Attwood's services would not be available to the society to the same extent as in the past, but it was hoped to make arrangements to avail themselves of his co-operation.

Officers elected for the ensuing year were: Patron, His Excellency Lord Galway; patroness, Lady Galway; president, Mr. Hope B. Gibbons; vice-presidents, Messrs. E. J. Righton, O. Dryden (Wellington), H. B. Kidson, D. Tannock (Dunedin), P. D. Marshall (Hobart), Phillpotts (Taranaki), Mesdames Tattersfield (Auckland) and Butler (Napier); councillors, Messrs. E. D. Harland, L. G. Haggett, H. B. Gordon, O. Dryden, A. J. Hodges, W. Smith, E. Hutt, J. Mitchell; Mesdames H. B. Gordon, G. P. Anderson and A. R. Gower; auditor, Mr. W. R. Robson. The ladies' committee was unanimously re-elected. New members elected to the society were Mrs. J. W. Mackisock, Mrs. J. T. Harding (Petone), Mrs. Truston, Mrs. IC. McLaren (Hinakura), Dr. and Mrs. Milne, Mr. Morgan and the Hutt Valley High School. At the conclusion of the meeting supper was served in the spacious lounges. Much interest was taken in a miniature rock garden of succulant plants arranged by the president in a corner of the drawing room, the clever lighting effect and mirrored pool depicting a veritable fairy glen.