NORTH OTAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1632, 13 July 1877, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The postponed half-yearly general meeting of members of this Society took place on Wednesday evening at Albion House, the Vice-President, Mr W. J. Steward, in the Chair.

MINUTES. The minutes of the last general meet^ ing were read and confirmed.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following report of the out-going Committee was react, and — on the motion of Mr Leigh, seconded by Mr Heywood — adopted :—: — Your Committee, in submitting their Annual Report to the member* of the Society, tender thanks to all who, by meant of their purse or their labors, hare been instrumental in carrying to a suooestful inue the two exhibition! vrhioh hare bean held during their tenure of office, and upon the results of which your Committee congratulate the Sooiety. The fint thow was held on December 18, 1876. The number of visitors «n larger than on any former oooation, which otrournstance tended in no mull degree to the finanoial sucoess attained. We hare ieen at previous Shows a more extensive competition in Pot Plants and Out Flowers than at either of the two showt held during ahe past year, particularly as regards the Maroh show, what success was obtained in that seotion being mainly due to one exhibitor, who was awarded two silver medals for hit oontributfans. A, new and pleating feature of both shows was the fine dwplay of Conifer*, and Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, exhibited by a local nursery firm, and for which they gained the silver medal in that olan. The vegetable productions tablod at both exhibitions were good. Hut never on any former ocossion has there been such a graiid display of fruits exhibited in Oamaru, as at the Maroh show, and your Committee question if better could be produced in the Provincial Distriot. Before oonoluding this report, your Committee may remark, that open and honost rivalry has done a great deal for the progreis of evory art and science, and it would be strange if the same rule did not hold good in regard to horticultural matters, in whioh thero is, your Committee oro glad to observe, beginning to spring up an honorable rivalry among professional and amateur horticulturists in this district. It is true that those who compete for prizes are but a fraotion of those who might do so — and the same thing may bo said of agricultural and other competitions — but whatever tlm faot proves, or disproves, it must be admitted that the publio are indebted to those who contribute by their exhibits to the success of the Sooiety's shows, whioh minister so muoh of pleasure to those who attend them, independently of their influonoe for good iv tho promotion of horticulture. The Treasurer's statement will show how the Sooiety stands financially, and will be found to be of a satisfactory nature. Your Committee* term of offioe hn« now expired, and it will be for tho present meeting to eleot their successors. For the Committeo, • A. Simmow, Hon. Sec The Hon. Treasurer (Mr Paterson) then read the following

James Patbrsov, Treasurer. Audited and found oorreot, G. P. Shoht, ) . „. , On the motion of Mr Earle, neconded by Mr Spratt, the balance sheet as read was adopted.

VOTES OP THANKS. Votes of thanks were passed to the out-going Treasurer and Secretary ; also to the out-going President, Vice-Presi-dent, and Committee.

ELECTION OF OFFIOJSBB. The meeting then proceeded to the election of officers and Committee, the following being the names of the gentlemen elected; — President, Mr Henry Connell ; Vice-President, Mr Steward ; Secretary, Mr Leigh ; Treasurer, Mr J. Paterson. Committee — Gardeners: Measri Hey wood, Simpson, Kidd, Stemson ; amateurs : Messrs Ireland, Spratt, O'Meagher, and Lemon. The Vice -President here (on the completion of the formal business) vacated the chair in favor of the newly-elected President, Mr Connell.

PRIZE CBItTIFICATEfI. Framed prize certiGcates were here presented to Messrs Stemson and Leigh, for Conifers ; Mr Heywood, pot plant* ; IMr T. Hartley, vegetables ; Mr Timlick. vegetables and fruit ; Dr Do Lautour, 'pot plants.

THB SOCIETY 8 SHOW. Mr Paterson raised the questions for discussion as to the desirability of holding one Show instead of tiro during the year; and, also, of the advisability of combining a poultry Show with the flower Show. * Mr Heywood moved— That there be but one Show held during the year, viz., an autumn Show. Mr Clydesdale seconded. A long discussion took place upon the Soint, in which Messrs Steward, Clydesale, M'Laren, Leigh, and Kidd joined. Mr Steward moved, as an amendment — That two Shows be held during the year, one in the spring and one in the autumn.

Mr Spratt seconded the amendment, L^pktelx wm carried by a large majority. The meeting then broke up, after pM§ing the usual compliment to the ohair.

DB. Juno 28, 1878, to Baltnoe to Credit 1877— To Member*' Tiokete ... December IS, 1870— Receipt! Spring Show ... ... ... March, 1877 — Receipts Autumn Show To D. Toohej, for medal for special prise „ Mra Oroft, apeoial prise ... „ Discount on acoounti paid „ Oath in Hand £ I. d. 60 16 10 45 0 0 22 11 7 14 10 0 2 0 0 2 7 6 1 15 0 2 0 0 £149 0 11

Balance Sheet for Year ending June 27, 1877. bkobipts.

BXPBNDITUBI.

OR. £ •• d. By Accounts paid (two •howi) Nohth Otago Trais, printing nnd advertising 27 12 0 „ Coloring 60 Price Certificates, nt 2s each 5 0 0 „ N. Wolfe, printing 200 certificates 15 8 0 „A. M'Corkindale, silver medals 17 12 8 „" Eyening Mail," advertising... 11 9 0 „ A. Simpson, staging and oloar* ing hall 6 15 0 „W. Peet, express hir» 1 16 0 „J. A'len, trestles 2 7 6 „F. Earle, musio and refreshments 14 13 0 „ Bent, Volunteer Hall 8 5 0 „ Framing seven certificates ... 2 0 0 „ Hood and Shennan, pink lining 1 910 „J. Soott, ale ... 0 8 0 „J. H. Milligan, pink lining ... 0 8 0 108 19 0 B»Uno« to Credit 40 1 11 £149 0 11