ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WELLINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 51, 24 January 1843, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WELLINGTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

, The Annual Meetingof the Subscribers of the Horticultural and Botanical Society wits held atfßarrett’s Hotel on Thursday evening, the 19th ’ The President, Colonel Wakefield, having been called to the chair, the Secretary read the following report Report of the Committee qf the Horticultural and ■ ' ’ \Bgtdnieal ‘Society. . Your Committee, fn presenting their First Annual Report, feel that they have "reason to congratulate you upon the progress which the Society has made during the past year, and also upon its future -prospects; and although they do not contend that all the objects, for the

.'•promotion of which the Society was instituted, have as "yet been fully carried out, they believe that the sketch of their proceedings which they have now the honour to submit, will justify them "in asserting that none of these objects have been neglected, but that some progress has been made towards the accomplishment of each of them, and that the Society is now placed upon such a firm and satisfactory foundation as will, enable those who may succeed them in the management, to extend its operations, and to fully realise all the advantages expected from it. Your Committee have much pleasure in calling your attention to the Treasurer’s accounts,, not merely as showing a considerable balance in the hands of the Treasurer, but as affording the best evidence of the great interest taken in the Society by all classes. No fewer than 132 members have paid their subscriptions during the past year, 75 of whom have given donations of 10s. each. The funds have been still further increased by the handsome donation of j£so from the Court of Directors of the New Zealand Company; an act of "munificence which must be gratifying not to the members only, but to every settler, as proving the readiness of the Directors to aid any society, having for its object the advancement of the interests of this Settlement. Your Committee have had a series of drawings executed, of the most beautiful indigenous flowering plants, which they purpose presenting to the Directors as a slight token of gratitude for their liberal assistance. Your Committee have also to tender their best acknowledgments to the Rev. Mr. Macfarlane, for having placed at their disposal a sum of three guineas, to be awarded as a prize for the best Gardener’s Almanac; and considering the great importance of our obtaining an accurate knowledge of the seasons, they would recommend that a sum be annually given to the successful competitor, for the purpose of enabling him to continue the Almanac, with a view to its ultimate publication. Your Comraitte regret that few opportunities have ocj curred of importing the production of other countries ; they have, however, already received a valuable collection of plants, seeds, and vine cuttings, from Mr. Robertson, the Curator of the Botanical Garden of Sydney. The plants and seeds have been placed in a piece of ground which Mr. Johnson has kindly given to the Society for the purpose of forming the nucleus of a Botanical Garden. The vine cuttings have been distributed to the members, at a small charge, to defray the expense of collecting native plants to send in return. Mr. Stokes has also promised to bring from Valparaiso any plants and seeds which may be useful to the Colony. And three boxes of plants have been collected, and will he sent to England by the first opportunity; one to be presented to Sir W. Hooker of the Kew Gardens; one, to the London Horticultural Society; and one to Mr. Loddige: so that your Committee hope to receive,“ in return, those plants and seeds of which the Colonists stand most in need; and if the principle he adopted, of attaching a small price to any plants or seeds which may be received from other countries, the Society will he enabled to supply the wants of the Settlement, without expense to itself, and at a very trifling cost to the members. Three Exhibitions have been held during the past year ; and whether regard he had to the spirit of competition which has been excited, or to the variety and excellence of the articles exhibited, there is ample ground for congratulation. These exhibitions have abundantly proved that the fertility of our soil, and the genial influence of our climate upon vegetation, have not been overstated. Your Committee cannot but advert, with feelings of peculiar satisfaction, to the great interest taken in the Society by the labouring class, some of whom were by far the most successful competitors at the last Exhibition ; one cottager at Wade’s Town having carried off five prizes, to the amount of 345. They would strongly urge you to take every opportunity of explaining the objects of the Society to the cottagers, as they are persuaded that, by inducing them to employ their leisure hours in the cultivation of their gardens, you, adopt one of the very best means, not only of attaching them to the Settlement, but of encouraging them in those habits of industry and temperance, not more essential to their own welfare, than to the general prosperity of the Colony.

Your Committee have the gratification to announce, that the Bishop of New Zealand has expressed his warm approval of the Society ; and has, at their request, accepted the office of Patron. Your Committee would advise that an application he made, as soon as possible, to the Corporation, to reserve a piece of ground for a Botanical Garden ; and although they are not prepared to recommend its immediate formation, they feel assured that if the same exertions which have hitherto been crowned with such eminent success, he continued ; if every opportunity he taken of importing the productions of other countries; and if the funds be economically administered; no long time will elapse before you will Jt> e enabled to form a Garden, which, while it will be source of gratification, will render your Society still more useful to the Settlement. The Treasurer’s accounts showed, that 6S/. 9s. had been received during the last year, and 661. 4s. expended, leaving a balance in his hands of 21. 55., also a further balance in the hands of the Banker 591. 125., making a balance in favour of the Society of 61/. 17s. It was moved by the Mayor, and seconded by J. Boulcott, Esq.—That the Report be received and adopted. jCoved by Dr. Stokes, and seconded by E. Johnson, Esq.—That the Members of the Society avail themselves of this, their first Annual Meeting, to request Colonel Wakefield to convey their warmest thanks to the Court of Directors for their munificent donation. Moved by Mr. St. Hill, and seconded by H. Knowles, Esq.—That the following gentlemen be elected officers of the Society for the ensuing j^ear:— Matron—-Tim Lord Bishop of New Zealand. President—Col. Wakefield. . Vicr-Presipents —F. A. Moles worth,Esq ~ W./swa*nson, Esq., F.R.S., Captain W. Smith, R.A., The Mayor of Wellington. COMMITTEE. MAJOR BAKER, E. JOHNSON, Esq. PERCY EARL, Esq., A. LUDLAM, Esq., W. FOX, Esq., Rev. J. MACFARLANE, Mr. DORSET, . Dr. STOKES, Mr. HENDRY, Mr. WILKINSON, Treasurer —R. Stokes, Esq. Secretary —l. E. Featherston, Esq., M.D. ‘On the motion of Percy Earl, Esq, seconded by J. Boulcott, Esq., Mr. St. Hill’s name was added to the Committee.

Moved by'-W. Fox, Esq., and.- seconded by the Mayor—That the thanks of the Meeting be given to the officers of the Society for their services during the past year. Moved by Mr. St. Hill, and seconded] by Mr. Boulcott—That the thanks of the meeting are specially due to the Treasurer and Secretary. A vote of thanks moved by Captain Smith, seconded by Mr. Earl, to the proprietors of the Exchange. Moved by Captain Smith, seconded by Dr. Stokes —That the thanks of the Society be given to the Proprietors of the Exchange, for their kindness in giving the gratuitous use of their Room for the Exhibitions. The Mayor having entered the Chair,, the thanks of the meeting were given to Colonel Wakefield.