HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4295, 19 August 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of members took place yesterday, in the Museum Building,—Mr. David Hay in tho choir. The meeting was very thinly attended,—The Secretary read the report, aa follows, also the balancesheet : — . Bipoht.— I Tha .Committer or the Auckland Horticultural Society, in submitting, its report for the past year, regrets that it cannot ifcord anyimprovement in tho financial position of the society, it win be remembered that at the date of the last general meeting, the society** liabilities amounted to £C 2 13s. At that time U wm considered that the receipts derived from the exhibitions anl the members' subscriptions would, with strict economy* considerably redoce or almost entirely extinguish, this amount; and the committee considers that the past liberality of the public folly justified it in forming this opinion. Arrangements were, therefore, made far holding the usual summer and autumn exhibitions. The first ex* hlbitton was held in the City Hall on November 20, The unfavourable natur* of the season precluded the possibility of a really good display, but, nevertheless, the.exhibits deserved high commendation. The colleotion of roses'were an especial feature, and must undoubtedly be conside'ed the finest hitherto staged in colony. The cut ■ flowers generally were also very good. Notwithstanding this, the attendance was very small, and the receipts at. the door hardly paid the' prize money and the immediate expenses of the 4how. The Autumn exhibition was held on March 10 and £(>« 1 Great preparations were made for this exhibition; and so; far as the exhibits were concerned, it. was certainly a success. The display of fruit, especially, deserves mention, both for general excellence 1 and variety of kinds, and afforded a good Illustration of the great advantage that 'he climate of this province offers to the fruit-grower. The collection of greenhouse plants was better than at any pre vions show, and although the cut flowers had suffered from tha drought, jret e«n In ihta cIM» tho d»hll*i were remarkably fine. From soma inexplicable rea^ lkntl

tho exhibition resulted In a heavy pecuniary loss to the lodety. The committee desires to draw the atten-' . tion of the meeting to the great want of punctuator on the part of the exhibitors, which la both annoying to the manager* and prevents any utlifactoiy arrangement of the exhibits. In future the regulations of the society on this matter should be strictly enforced. The thanks of the society should here bo given to the gentlemen who have so kindly- given their rervices u judges The Rev. B. N. Brer, H.A., Mr. ii. Abercromble, Mr. Bre win, and Mr. J. Macdonald ; to Mr. Wardrop, Mr. Macffarlane, Mr. J. Mason, and Mr. W. S. Palmer, for their services in arranging the objects exhibited, &c , and to the proprietors of the City Ball for the free nse of that building. The treasurer's statement, which will be laid before yon, shews the liabilities of the society to be inch that the committee cannot recommend a continuance of its operations, anless there Is a fair prospect of public interest in hortlcultnre being aroused. It is understood that a number of gentlemen have already made an attempt towards this end. The committee wonld gladly welcome any effort that wonld preserve the society intact, and that would be likely to place its operations on a firmer basis in the future. Baulkck-soxet.—The Treasnrer in account with the Horticultural JSociety: August, 1574, to August, 1875 Dr.: Subscriptions and donations, £35 Is: receipts at exhibitions, £32 18s: hire of marquee, £5; due to Treasurer. £5 7s lid: totil, £78 6s lid. Cr. : Prixea-paid, £31 6s 6d; overdraft at Bank paid, £2119s 2d; band, £2 ss; expenses at exhibitions, £10 Is 3d; advertisements, £fl ; Mrs. Canyan (for sewing marqaee), £6155: total,. £78 6s lid. Inabilities: Messrs. iH n Gra ham (marquee), £33 14s 4d; prizes unpaid, £16 ss; printing and advertisements (for two T-'r*" ; 1(1; sundries, £3 14s: due to Treasnrer, £5 7s lid: total £018s 4d: less ca«h in Bunk of New Zealand, £2 Bs6d : total, £S9oslod. -—Mr. T. Macffarlane, in moving the adoption of the report, concurred with the statement Jv report, as to the absence of adequate public support. The last exhibition was a most satisfactory one, and the result was certainly most disheartening.—Mr. Firth (the President) was also greatly discouraged. He had intended to have paid all arrears of prizes himself. The practical gardeners had made a reqnest that a further trial should bo made, and they on their part had promised a more active, and from what he h'*d heard, a more effective support than i hitherto. They had formed themselves into an auxiliary, for the purposes of procuring further prizes for competition.—Mr. Lavers said, as chairman 'of the.gardeners," he would make a remark or two. They had felt the necessity of some more activity and energy, andwith a view to procure prizes for competition, they resolved to collect money with which to procure three or four cups. In this wajT it was hoped that some new energy would be given to the society. _ He felt that there had been a lack of push in their proceedings, which had contributed to the present state of things. He seconded the motion for the adoption of the report.—Report adopted. Messrs. Gillespie, Mclndoe, and Lavers were added to the committee. Messrs. J. S. .Russell, T. Buddie, J. T. Jackman, J. Blakie, H. Sharpe, Warburton, E. Green, W. Marks, W. Mason, Macdonald, J. Hatswoll, Leslie, and H. Hogarth were elected members. It was agreed that a subscriber of half-a-guinea should be admitted, with his wife and two children, free to the ordinary exhibitions of the society, and subscribers of a guinea should be admitted free, with tho whole of their family,—lt was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Mclndoe, that the .annual exhibition should be held the first week in June, rather than in July.—This concluded the business.