TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2416, 19 September 1868, Page 2

TOWN AND COUNTRY.

Horticultural Society.—The monthly meetings were resumed last night at the Town Hall, when Mr W. Wilson presided, and there was a good attendance of other members. Mr Duncan read a very able introductory essay entitled "Hints to Amateurs" which excited considerable interest amongst those present. On its conclusion a vote of thanks was tendered to the essayist with a request that he would follow up the subject at an early date. In acknowledging the vote, Mr Duncan said that he would do so, and dwell upon the cultivation of some particular vegetables, and flowering plants. The Secretary was instructed to convene a general meeting of the Society on Friday next for the purpose of considering the advisability of holding a show in the grounds of the Agricultural Society on the same day as their next annual exhibition. The meeting then adjourned.

Volunteer General Committee.—A special meeting was held at the Criterion Hotel, last night. Present: Captain Lean, (Chairman) | Captain Hawkes, Lieutenant Parity Ensign Papprill, Cornet Slee, Sergt.Major Urquhart, Sergt. Stedman, Sergt, Hawley, Corporal Nelson, Corporal Gulliver, Sapper Barnes, and Private Hebden. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman said he had convened the meeting expressly for the purpose of making arrangements for a new rifle range, and td decide what Bhould be done in reference ;to a cow which had been shot by some of' the Volunteers, whilst practising on the present range on Friday last. The committee had given a guarantee to Mr Duncan to recompense him for any loss of that description. No blame could be attached toanyparticularpersonintbia case; buttherehadbeenagreatdeal of indiscriminate and irregular firing, and it would be well if this occurrence were to induce better arrangements in securing a new range. Mr Duncan claimed £lB, but Mr Hill had valued the beast at £l6. It was resolved, after some discussion, that the matter should be left in the hands of the chairman. The amount paid was agreed to be divided equally amongst the several corps. The arrangements for a new range were next considered, and, after some conversation, it was resolved, on the motion of SergeantMajor Urquhart, that the range committee be instructed to report ou the best available site for one, and draw up regulations for better conducting the shooting thereon. Sergeant Hawley and Corporal Gulliver were appointed to audit the accounts of the late treasurer. Sergeant Stedman referred to the rumours afloat respecting an encampment being held in November, and asked the chairman whether there was any truth in them. He considered that the arrangement of one was very desirable, and would be heartily entered into by the whole of the volunteers. The chairman said the project had certainly becu mooted, and Colonel Packe would enter into it with alacrity, He was willing to afford every assistance for carrying it out, and the 9th of November bad been suggested as the most suitable day. Sumner, and a plot of ground, near the river Styx, on the North Road, were proposed for the purpose. Opinion was divided as to which would be the most suitable, but he was inclined to favour the former. Colonel Packe would, however, probably make his own arrangements. Some further conversation ensued on tlio point, and the matter was eventually deferred, The meeting then adjourned,

Confirmation. The Lord Bisliop of Christchurch will administer the rite of confirmation to about thirty persons in St Luke's Church, at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon, There will afterwards be a special collection in aid of the Maori Mission. Aoricotural Association. —A special general meeting of the Council was held at Wilson and Alport's office yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of preparing the list of prizes to be offered for local manufactures at the next annual exhibition. Mr W. Wilson presided, aud there were also present Messrs G. Gould, A, Duncau, 11. E. Alport, and E. B, Bisliop (lion. sec). The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, a prize list was prepared and adopted. The list offers prizes for alp, porter, baskets, boots, candles, leather, malt, pickles, preserved fruits, rope and twine, fibre, saddlery and harness, soap, beetroot sugar, Tweed cloths, wines, cornsacks, gunnybags and woolpacks, of colonial manufacture. In every instance the price at which the article exhibited can be Bold in wholesale quantities, must be fixed for guidance of the judges; the judges in making their awards to. take the price into consideration, to have discretionary powers iu all cases to withhold, modify, or add to the number of prizes offered, and to deal in other matters not specially provided for. The prizes offered consist of silver and bronze medals, and of money. Poultry Association,—A special meeting of the committee was held at White's Hotel, yesterday afternoon. Present—Mr H. E. Alport (chairman), and Messrs Percival, Walker,Reade(treasurer),Fereday,and Davie (hon. sec). The treasurer submitted a balance sheet up to date. The receipts were stated to have been, donations, £39195; entrance fees for exhibits, £lB Is Gd; receipts at the door aud for catalogues, £32 10s; arid commission on exhibits, £1 lis 2d; total, •£92 Is Bd. For priutingand advertising,and fitting up the Town Hall, £54 3s 4d had been expended, leaving a credit balance iu hand of £3718s 4d. On the motion of Mr Fereday the balance sheet was adopted, i and deemed exceedingly satisfactory. The treasurer, in referring to the surplus funds, pointed out that no expenditure would be required for at least nine months, and suggested that they _ should be invested as a fixed deposit for that period. A number of pens would certainly be required but not until the next show, and in the meantime they might as well be receiving interest for their money. The chairman considered the suggestion a very good one, but called attention to the fact of the Agricultural Association having decided to continue their exhibitions of poultry, and asked whether it would not be advisable to purchase a few of the required pens, say to the amount of £2O, in anticipation of the ensuing show. He would also point out that the Agricultural Association had granted them a sum of money towards their first show, and it was worthy of consideration whether, when their funds were in such a flourishing condition, they would not return the kindness. A, lengthened discussion took place upon thesjb points, when it was agreed that pens coujj not be purchased at present, as the suitable style had not yet been decided upon, and that it would he: advisable to write to England before doing so. It was, however, resolved, on the motion of Mr Wilson, to vote £5 to the Agricultural Association on the understanding that it should be devoted to the promotion of their exhibition- of poultry. The disposal of the balance }n hand waß then discussed, and a resolution empowering the treasurer to place the amount iu the Post Office Savings Bank, on the terms suggested by him, The secretory was next requested to write to the secretary of the Birmingham Association, requesting him to forward a copy of their -rides and a plan of the pens in use" at the annual exhibitions of poultry. It was decided that no exhibitor at the late show in the Town Hall was entitled" to the Gold Medal offered by the President for the ;winner of the greatest number of prizes, a,ijd it was resolved that it should be offered again at the next show, under such conditions as the committee might impose. Messrs Wilson aud Fereday were .appointed to attend at their meeting of the Agricultural Association, on Monday next, and request permission to offer a prize of £2 2s, for the best sjiowpenfor poultry. The meeting then adjourned.