NORTH OTAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10767, 16 May 1911, Page 1

NORTH OTAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the North Otago Horticultural Society was held last evening in Messrs Gresham, Watson and Co.'s office. There was a good attendance of ladies and gentlemen. The minutes of the previous animal meetings wore read and confirmed. . • Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. Grant, C. Grant, .Jas. Mitchell, aik] J. (>. Mackenzie. The Secretary read the annual report as published by 11s in last Saturday's issue.

The Treasurer read'th'e, balance-sheet, which showed the - position of the Society as being in a satisfactory state, tho receipts being £209 Os 6d, expenditure £175 17s lOd, leaving a surplus of £33 2s 3d;

Tho President (Dr Douglas), in moving the adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet, said that the Society was in a healthy condition. For the last two or three years the Committee had been gratified at being able to. produce' reports and balance-sheets which showed that the Society was making substantial progress. Among the new ventures that had been - introduced were spring sliows and' additional plant. He was also pleased to report a considerable addition to tho membership, which constituted a record. Although there was some stagnation apparent in Oamaru, their Society was "booming," there being 110 evidence of any "silting up." Thoir's was one of the most useful and wholesome of all tho institutions in Oamaru. Tho Society tended to keep the social life of the town sweet. One of the secrets of their success was undoubtedly the introduction of tho ladies into the working of the Society. The exceedingly low cost of membership (os) was another factor which made for the success of tho Society, and the condition of tho balance-sheet proved that it was amply sufficient for the efficient working or tho Society. llr Peter Williams, in seconding, referred to tlie improvement that had taken place in regard to the children's exhibits. Tho children's baskets were finite a feature of last year's shows, being simply beautiful. The report was unanimously adopted. The President read a list showing the increase of membership for the past eight years: 1!)04, 210; 1905, 182: 1906, 138; 1907, 163; 1908, 194: 1909, 248: 1910, 267; 1911, 318. He thought the tune had now arrived when they should have a paid secretary, and moved that he be paid £7 10s per annum in recognition of his services.

This was seconded by Mr A. Clarke and carried unanimously. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. air A. Clarke proposed Dr. Douglas as President, which was carried unanimouslv.

Dr. Douglas thanked the meeting for the honor they had done liim, and stated that he would have much sooner seen the office go to some other member, but as it was the wish of those present that he should fill the position he would be very pleased to do so. The other officern elected were presidents: aiiss Gardiner, aiesdames Douglas. Bulleid, P. Williams, aiilne, Headland, Woodward, and Wm. Gardiner, Hon. G. Jones, Messrs A. Clarke, P. Williams, D. S. Montagu, Jas. Mitchell, W. H. Paterson, Wm. Strachan, and Dr ai'Adam; lion, treasurer, air Jas. ai'Laren; secretary, air Andrew AYatson; Committee: Misses alillicent Iteid, Gilchrist, Jones, and Hossack, aiesdames ai'Douall, Burry, S. B. Paterson, Hutchison, J. S. Bee, aiessrs A. F. Stock, J". G. ai'Eenzie, Babington, Ongley, J. Kearns, E. Gebbie, junr., Jas. Rodman, and G. S. Jones: Country Committee: Papakaio—aiesdames and Duncan Cameron ; aiahciio—aiesdames W. aiacaulav and Cowio Nichols; Hampden—airs Davies : Duntroon —airs Pochin ; Totara -—airs aiacplierson ; Ngapara—Dr. Aiken, aiessrs R. A. Stenhouso and O. Bond; Weston—-aiessrs J. Isdale and Dick ; : Kakanui—air A. M. Barnett: Enfield—Mr G. A. Calder.

The Into secretary was unanimously voted as a donation the sum of £5 as a slight recognition' of.' his valuable services in the interests of the Society. . Mr. Straehan thanked the Society for their kind sentiments and tangible expression of their approval. A meeting of the new Committee will probably be held in the first week in June. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed tho meeting. Mr John M'Laren for this time of tho year hadabout a dozen exceptionally fine blooms of roses on exhibition, which wero greatly admired.