HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 435, 31 March 1860, Page 5

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

We briefly noticed in our last the exhibition of the Otago Horticultural Society, held on the 12th anniversary of the foundation of the settlement. The show was very creditable to all concerned, and far exceeded what was anticipated from the unfavourable nature of the weather ; heavy rain having succeeded an unprecedented drought. Great praise is due to the committee for the manifest improvement in the arrangements, both as to accommodation to the public and to the decoration of the building in which the show was held ; and we have no doubt when the business is better understood by the public generally, the labour devolved upon the committee, from the want of general information as to the practice and rules to be observed for competition and exhibition, will be lessened. Wo say, without the least intention of finding fault, that the arrangements are not yet perfect. Articles for exhibition require to have more information as to what they are, and why they are exhibited, attached to them ; for instance, a choice specimen of honey in the comb was thown : it had been taken without destroying the bees, and the instruments by which the process had been executed were also exhibited ; but from want of the information we have above stated, we believe but few of the public observed this article. Medlars, filberts, and nectarines were amongst the novelties in fruits. Kcd currants and raspberries were shown, which were remarkable for their lateness in the season. Apples appear to be our staple fruit, and were in the greatest perfection ; the seedlings grown in the colony showed many excellent varieties, indicating that Otago will at some future day be a cider-producing country. The specimens of stone fruits of the choice sorts, such as peaches^ nectarines, and apricots, indicate that such things can be grown ; but there was room for improvement. The show was too late in the season for plums. The flowers were creditable, but with the many villa residences in and around Dunedin something very superior ought in future to be produced', the soil and climate affording every facility. In vegetables, the amateurs decidedly beat the gardeners ; and it is to be hoped the latter observed it. As, however, we before observed, the show was most creditable ; but we are determined to stimulate the exertions of our fellow-settlers, and we shall grumble until we have arrived at as near perfection as possible. V\ c subjoin the prize list :—

GAttDKNKRS' LIST Best Collection of Giccnhouse Plants-lat puze. Mr. Q. Matthews ColUctionofVcrlieaas-l. Mr I). Thomson Ditto Hoses— l. Mr. G Matthew b. Z Aicxr HenUeibon Kaulcnci to Mr. W. C. \owv nuulcibon, Ilitto Calceolarias— l. M,- o Matthews Ditto Dahlias— l. Mr. A!e\r Henderson, 2 Air Vf 11 Cuttcn " ' fi Ilaidj Hnbaccoui.Plauts-1 Mr Alcv. Henderson ( olleclion ol Lilies— 1 Mr, G. Matthews Ditto Punsies-l Mr. Alcv. Henderson ; 2. Mr. Jag Gebbic G,lhc8 ml " IS Mr- A* 1 '" J r c ? BradlEy ' BGnk ™ r t0 M l^ T » Oillics ; „. Mr. Aic\. Henderson Ditto As.tcrh-1. Mr. Alr\. Henderson Til"' J O im ll M CGC G. t & tIOaUCCd I>liml ~ 1 - Mr - G - Matthews ; Specimen Plant— i. ifr. David Bower

2 IVachcs-l Mr Alex.Hcnde.fOii: 2 Mr. G Matthews Table Applrs— l. Mr, W. 11. Cuttcn, 2. Mr. David Bowers

Kitchen App'cs—l. Mr G. Matthews. 2 Mr 1) Thomson Collection of any other Fiuit-1. Mr. W. 11. Cuttcn 1 Melon— l. Mr Ale\- Henderson 1 Cucumber— l. Mr. W. H Cutten ; 2 Mr. Alex. Henderson Vegetable M..iiiow—l. Mr Alc\ Henderson

VI GITABLVS;. 2 Late Cabb ijjes— l Mr. W. 11. Cutten 2 Sihojs— l. Mr. J. Bradley 2 Curled Greens— l. Mr. Di\id Nicol ; 2. Mr W. 11. Cutten 2 Cauliflowers— l. Mr Dawd Thomson; 2. Mr Jamci Bradli y fi Onions— l Mr G. Matthews ; 2. Mr. James Stcbhouse 1 Paialcv Phut— l Mr Alc\. Ilcnderion 6 Turnips— l Mr. G. Matthews 12 Toils Puns— l, Mr. W. II Cutten; 2. Mr 1). Thomson U flench Beans— l Mr. W. Cutteu; 2. Mr. James Bradley 12 Turkey Beans — 1 Mr Ale\ Henderson G Carrots— l, Mr James Bradley; 2 Mi. Alcv. Henderson 2 Heads Celery— l. Mr. James Bradley , 2 Mr. Alex. Henderson Collection Vegetables— l. Mr James Bncllcy

AMATEUUS' LIST. Pelargonium— 1 Mr. J. Grahams Scarlet Geranium— l. Mr Jam-s Mills Collection Dahlias— l. Mr II Beck Ditto Hollyhocks,— 1 Mr Jaiaes MilU Ditto Stocks— 1 Mr. James Mills Ditto Hard} Herbaceous— l Mr James Mills Ditto Annuals— l. Mr. James Mills Specimen riTentlj-introiluud Plant— l Mr. James Mills Collection Tieus and bhru'ja— l. Mr James Mills

nine, 2 Pears— l Mr J C Tod.l, 2 Mr. Robert Chapman 2 Peaelie-,— l Mr. Rob, rt Cl. ipmsin 8 Sorts KiMicn Annlci— l Mr J. C. ToJd, 2. Mr. Itobeit Chnpin m 3 Sorts Table Apples— l. Air Kobert Chapman, 2 Mr John Logan Cranes -1. Mr. W.Uon

VFOTVIH.KS. 6 L:itc Potatoes— l Mr 11 F.i/aU-ily; 2 Vr Jem Hunter 2LsitrC.<bl>.igcs-l. Mr II l.i/ikcrl>, 3 Mr James Mills Heaviest C >!)!),i<;e- -1 Mr II l\i7Aei"lv ; 2 \t,- I.imeo Mills BS.IVOJ3— I Mr.Pi-ierLind-.lv; 2. Mr. II I'a/.ikcriy 2 Curled Gicrns— Mr ,1 IluntVr lC.mhlloncr-1 Mr. R T.i/akcrlv 0 Onions— l Mi (I l-.i/a!u-r!y " 1 Plant Paislej—l. Mr. James Mills, 2 Mr I\, L JciTrc\s fiTi.raips— 1 'Mr II I'.i/.ikeily 12 Pods Pc is— l Mr 11. F.i/.ikerlj- , 2 Mr II Beck 12 Trench Hems— l Mr. 11 F.u.ikcrlv , 2 Mr II Beck 12 Turkey Beans— l Mr. II Fa/altcily fi Chats— l. Mr James Mills ; 2 Mr II Tazakerlv 2 He ids Olcn —l Mr II Vi/iikcrly Collection Vegetables— 1 Mr. J;uium Mills

Spkcial Phizes— Mr James Mills, for UolKlioek Sp.kosMr. H I\i7.ikei!\, tor 2 Gourds j Mis M.ir indi'cw. lor snrrimen of the Cijaiitlnis Uampieni, Mr. J) Markeu/ir lor ds:si!»!i m How cri. For Suctlliiu Anplca -1 Mr. W. II Cutten2 Mr 1) How cis, o. Mr. I. H. llul'msliid.

From the General Government Gazette of the Ist inst. we learn that the Dunedin Militia District has been fixed as follows : — The circumference of a circle, whereof the radius extends 20 miles from the present police office in the town of Dunedin. This disti ict Avill practically include only the inhabitants of Dunedin, Port Chalmers, the suburban districts, and the Taieri Plain. Our Tokomairiro friends lately proposed -to get up a Volunteer Corps, and as they are not in the Militia district, we think the movement should be encouraged. From the same Gazette we learn that A. C. Strode, Esq , has been appointed Assistant Native Secretary in this Province, the appointment to take effect from the Ist January last.

Immigration. — Mr. Adam, our Immigration Agent, has returned from Melbourne by the Pirate. lie has, we learn, chartered the Gil Bias, and found her a full complement of passengers, to the number of 2JO : she may be shortly expected. We also learn that the Melboiune authorities do not look with favour on Mr. Adam's mission. To Great Britain we must look for our supply of immigrants. We learn from a gentleman lately returned from a trip to the northern portion of the Province that he has discovered Magnesia remarkably pure, and that he lias some specimens of copper, the value of which he has not yet tested.

A Valuahli: Cow. — A passenger by the Pirate, Mr. Hogue, has brought down" with him a pure Durham cow, the cost of which we understand w;is 100 guineas. The cow was safely landed and brought up to Dunedin on Thursday by Mr. Reeves.

Mr. Thomas Bnu'ii.— -On the- 2nd inst., Mr. Thomas Birch, a settler of eight years' standing in New Zealand, gave an interesting lecture on that colony at Stowminstcr ; R. Pettiward, Esq., in the chair. He endeavoured to show the advantages which that colony holds out to men of energy and enterprise, lie first noticed the natural advantages of the country, and described with considerable talent its geographical position, the excellent quality of the land, its productiveness of every kind of agricultural produce, its mineralogical richness, and the abundance of the timber with which a great portion of the island is covered. He then gave detailed accounts of the number of horses, cattle, and sheep that are reared, and proceeded to notice the amount of wages paid to mechanics and agricultural labourers — — amounts seeming something handsome to Bs. a week labourers. lie very earnestly and faithfully addressed that portion of his audience especially whose labour is their capital, and besought them to cultivate habits of frugality, sobriety, and industry. With such habits he assured them they would find they could speedily raise themselves to comfortable independence in New Zealand, lie then gave an interesting description of the A'oyage out, stating his own expedience and that of many others, and that it was generally one continued pleasure trip. lie concluded his lecture by referring to the proper parties to emigrate, especially recommending unmarried females to go out, assuiing them they would soon meet with most excellent husbitmls. His description of the parties who would be likely to do well in emigrating was very much a description of tho-ic who would bo likely to do well at horne — indeed, anywhere. — Australian and New Zealand Gazette, Doc. 17.

DUNEDIN COUNTRY DISTRICT.

The election of a member of the House oi Representatives for this district in the room of, Captain Cargill, took place on Wednesday. As only one candidate (Mr. T. J3. Gillies,) had claimed the suffrages of the constituency, and as that gentleman's views upon subjects of general importance affecting the interests of the province were understood to be in accordance with those of the majoiity of the electors, but little excitement has been manifested, and the proceedings passed off very quietly. The Returning Officer, J. Gillies, Esq., having read the writ, Mr. Joun Jones proposed Mr. T. 13. Gillies as a fit and proper person to represent the district. The nomination was seconded by Mr. C. 11. Kettle ; and no other candidate lm\ ing been proposed, Mr. Gilllies was declared to be duly elected. Mr. Gillies then addressed the electors. He said that it was with great diffidence that he came forward as a candidate on this occasion, as he felt that there were others who could much better afford to make the sacrifice required to be made by any member representing Otago — that there were many such who could represent the district as ably as he could; but as none other seemed willing to come forward, he felt it his duty to do so, inasmuch as there were measures which would he brought before the ensuing Assembly of great importance to this Province. On the subject of the Xew Provinces Act, he would vote for its thorough repeal, and for restoring the Provinces (if practicable) to their original integrity ; but if this could not De accomdlished, he would support the repeal of the Act or such less amount of alteration as might be obtainable. On the Boundary question, he considered that if our Provincial Government had acted with that decision and firmness which the importance of the country in dispute warranted, we would now have been in lawful and undisputed possession ; that he considered the tille of this Province to the disputed country clear, and would support this view. On the Land question, ho would oppose any interference by the General Goverument with the appropriation of the land funds of the Provinces, although it might bo advisable for the General Government to havesome say in thc^making regulations for the management and disposal of the lands. On the proposal mooted for the Separation of the Northern and Middle Islands, he was favourably disposed to that proposal, inasmuch as there wore separate, and to some extent antagonistic intercuts in the two islands ; but he

would not pledge himself to any special mode of action, until the matter were fully discussed, and the bearings of other legislation upon the interests of the two islands seen and considered. One thing had very much determined him in coming fin-ward on this occasion, and that was the hope i;f assisting to get the titles to land in this Province placed on a more satisfactory b;w.i. They were at present in a very unsatisfactory state, and he hoped that some measure might be devised for remedying the present state of matters) and for simpTyfying the mode of transfer and registration of titles to real property j To tony such measure he would give his hearty support. The niceeting, which at first consisted only of three individuals and latterly of about thirty, then separated.