SYDENHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7225, 26 April 1884, Page 3

SYDENHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A general meeting of the members of the Sydenham Horticultural Society was held last evening for the purpose of considering the alterations in the rules proposed by the Committee. There was a fairly numerous attendance of members, and the chair was occupied by Mr Munnings, Vice-President. The Assistant-Secretary, Mr Page, read the suggestions of the Committee, which were adopted with some slight alterations. The third annual meeting of the Society was then held, Mr Munnings in the chair. The annual report was then read as follows: — *' In presenting their third annual report, your Committee think that the Society has made fair progress during the year. The number of members has increased slightly, being 138 for this year as compared with 128 for last year. There have been four shows and two monthly meetings held during the year, the first of which was the Chrysanthemum Show, held in the Selwyn street schoolroom on May 4,1883. It was fairly successful, both as regards the number of exhibits (27) and the attendance. The monthly meetings (held in Sept. and Oct.,) were as good as could reasonably be expected. In consequence of the success of the Carnation Show of last year, when it formed one of the monthly meetings, it was this year resolved to make a charge for admission, and as this increased the number of largo shows to five, which was considered too many, your Committee decided to hold the Spring and Rose Shows on the same date, and to keep the show open for two days. The result was satisfactory as far as regards combining the two shows, but your Committee think that it would not bo advisable to repeat the two days' show, as the expenses on the second day (the show having been held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Sydenham) far exceeded the takings. The art union held in connection with the show was very successful. The next show was the Carnation and Gooseberry Show, which was also held in tho Oddfollows' Hall, it was fairly successful, although tho number of exhibits (47) was not quite so large aB before (viz., 50). The extremely unseasonable weather, however, may have been a sufficient explanation of this. Your Committee are of opinion, however, that in future it would bo well to use the Selwyn streot schoolroom whenever possible, as, besides being more central, tho expenses in the case of the present show swallowed up noarly all tho receipts. The Autumn Show was held in the Selwyn street schoolroom, which indeed proved quite largo enough, there being only 145 exhibits, as compared with 272 last year. Taking everything into consideration, the Society has done fairly well during tho year, and it is to bo hoped that the members will strive to work together in harmony, and not allow small annoyanoos to come between them and the welfare of tho Society. Your Committee would like to

oeo more now exhibitors, especially among the working classes, and wish to urge upon tho young members of the Society to mako a commencement in growing plants for exhibition, as wo are perfectly certain that a start once made, they will find it a very interesting occupation, and bo pretty eortain to continue it. Moreover, it is to Class C that wo must look chiefly for the future of tho Society, tho other classes being replenished from it. In conclusion, your Committee would like to boo members generally moro punctual in paying their subscriptions. Tho year is now ovor, and not half of the members have paid. Tho sub-Committee appointed to award tho prizes to tho competitors for tho best cottage garden have reported as follows :—Mr J. Burns, 1; Mr Rogers, 2; Mr Oderin#, 3. Tho hearty thanks of tho Society are duo tothojudges gonerally for the impartial manner in which they did their dutios." On tho motion of Mr R. Nairn, seconded by Mr Cordcry, the report was adopted.

The Treasurer, Mr Bonnington, reported that tho receipts of tho Society for the past year had been £lO2 Is lid, and tho expenses £B2 19s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £l9 2s Id. The balance' of assets over liabilities was about £GS.

Mr Thompson moved, anS Mr Page seconded, the adoption of the Treasurer's report, which was carried.

_ The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted as follows : —President, Mr W. White, junr.; VicoPreßidonts, Messrs J. Munnings, Thompson, J. T. Brown, and J. G. Ruddenklau ; Treasurer, Mr H. Bonnington; Secretary, Mr J. A, Watts; Assistant-Secretary, Mr S._ Page; Committee, Messrs R. Nairn, J. Line, Beattie, Starkiss, Cordery, Rogers, Green, Manser, Brookes, Triggs, Hepworth, and Clothier; Auditor, Mr T. S. Foster. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers, Committee, and Auditor, and the meeting closed.