RONGOTEA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 4 June 1937, Page 2

RONGOTEA.

(From Our 'Own Correspondent.) RONGOTEA, June 2.

The annual meeting of the Rongotea and District Horticultural Society was held on Wednesday evening, where there was a large attendance. The president (Mrs A. T. Will) called on Mr L. J. Sparrow (cha'rman of the committee) to take the chair. The meeting stood in silence as a mark of respect to the late Mrs D. Young, who was a honorary life member. Oor"os’-iondence not'ficd that the National Daffodil Society’s Show would be held in Palmerston North on September 17. The Rongolea Coronation Committee requested a donation toward the King George Y. Memorial Fund, and it was decided to donate one guinea. The secretary (Miss M. Sparrow) read the report as follows: Two shows were held during the past year. The bulb show was most successful. The number of entries was 445 and entry fees realised £9 4s 9d. The prize money donated totalled £6 9s. while the amount of prize money paid out was £ll 2s 3d. The credit balance of £8 17s is almost treble that of the 1935 bulb show.. Apart from the financial aspect this show was one of die finest he’d in Rongotea for many years, several profess'onal horticulturists expressing the opinion that for quality and arrangement it would be difficult to surpass. Unfortunately a particularly early frost, the outbreak of infantile paralysis : n this district, and the v’s't of the Prime YTimVnr (Mr M. J. Savage) to Palmerston North on the same day all contributed rp reduce the net profit of the autumn show. Donations totalled £6 12s 3d and entry foes £6 17s 9d; prize money paid out amounted to £lO 11s. the credit balance heing £1 Is 3d. The entries of friut, farm roots, and fancy work were parricularly good. The total number of entries was 385. At both sbo.vs there was a pleasing increase in new exhibitors, many •oming considerable distances to show their [lowers and produce, and many veteran nxh'lv’’ r ' v s fro-p of’er r-nritres expressed the conviction that the Rongotea shows are nmon" ihe most effic ent'y conducted in the island. The report then gave thanks to the society’s helpers. The ba’ance-shcet showed that all expenditure incurred . for the past year had been paid, leaving a credit balance of £ll 4s lid. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Several members congratulated the president and secretary on the progressive nature, of the soc'ety’.s prti-iti'w. Apologies for absence were received from several interest re=i--’ents. Officers are:—Patron, Mr O. L. Hunter. M.P.: president, Mrs A. J. Will; vice-president. Mr IT. N. Rowe: secretarytreasurer, Miss M. Sparrow; management committee. Mr and Mrs W. Id. Churcbdl. Air and Mrs L. 11. Yarrall, Mr and Mrs •T, Blenkinsop, Mr and Mrs W. Gordon, Mr and Mrs If. D. Rowe, Messrs J. C. Glover, A. Ped’ov, R. Glovn, A. N. Moreom, and A. Simonson. Misses M. Wi’l. M. Hunt and M. Aroott: auditor, Mr H. V. Caverhill. The president and treasurer wore empowered to net on the hank account. The bulb svhow is to he held on September 14. The president then presented Mr R. O. Gloyn. who has recently been married, with ' a handsome crystal vase from the society. A similar gift was also made to Mr A. Pedlny in view of 1-is approaching marriage, and also to Miss L. G'ovciv who is to he marred shortly and take up her residence in Palmerston North. The recipients were asked to accept these gifts as a token of the esteem and good wishes of the Rongotea Horticultural Society. They will also bo presented with the 1937-38 season members’ tickets in duo course. Donations of cash and troph es have been offered for t.ho forthcoming bulb show, and a handsome brass bowl has been presented .for competition in the dahlia class at the nutumn'shqw. The indications are that the season will be a most successful one for the society.