ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 920, 17 July 1869, Page 11

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society of Otago was held in the long room of the Athenseum last "Wednesday. Mr C. Smith presided.

REPORT.

The hon. secretary, Mr Thomas Allan, read the (Committee's report for the year ending 30th June 1869, as follows : la presenting this their annual report, the Committee rejoice to lie able to congratulate the members upou the Society's continued success, and the increased attention its existence and operations have been, enabled to awaken in the minds of the public. Still the amount of general interest yet displayed your, Committee regard as falling far short of that which the importance of the Society's main objects should produce, and they sincf rely hope that the efforts of future commitiees may bo more successful than their own have been. Daring the year just closed three exhibitions have been held, of which, Bpeaking generally, it may be said they were m many particulars successful to a very encouraging exti-nt, and in some special instances to an extent that alike surprised and gratified, not only the Coinmittte but also members of the Society and visitors generally. The first Exhibition of the seaBon, which was held in the New Post Office Hall on 21st January and the following day, i was in every respt ct a great success. The ••cut flowers," "flowers in pots," and the general display of "frnits," vere all decided improvements, both as to quality and quantity, upon jreaous Exhibi'ions, while some of the colleutiot-B of " vegetables" exhibited were very fine — a credit alike to thoprovinco and the growers. The second Exhibition •was held in the .New Maaonic Hall, on 19tli March. This was also a decided succtsa aa regards the exhibits in most of tho departments ; but specially as regards tho display of out flowers, flowers in \ ota, floral designs, and miniature g. rdens, some of which surpassed anything previously shown in the province. The ptcuniary results of this show, how< vor. were not quite so satisfactory as miyht have been expected, owin.', prooably, in part at least, to the Bm&llneas of tho hall, which was during tho former part of the day inconveniently crowded, and possibly led to the expectation thai ie would m tho evening do more bo. Tho third hxhibition (a special one), was held in the New Post Office Hall on the occasion of a visit from H.R. H. the Duke of Edinburgh, and was opened by H It H. on tho22ndof May. Of the Kxhibitionitself little need be said, as the latcnrss of tho season, and the extreme haste with which everything hnd necessarily to bo arranged, almost precluded tho possibility of anything lika even aa avorago display. Your Committee had previously proparcd a congratulatory address to H.K.H., also asking pormiision in futuro to deoignato tho Sooioty, "Tho Koyal Horticultural -Society of Otago." This address was presented by your President in tho presenco of your Commit.teo and membera of tbo Society, <fco, on tho mcrning of tho Show, and H.K. EL wan grociounly pleased to accede to tho rcqut-ot aa. to tbo futuro designation of tho Society, and tho Committee t xprcsa their BiKcc.ro hope that the Society's futuro oaror may justify the distinguished honour confomd upon it Tho spooikl feature of this Exhibition wa* tbo setting apart of a special tablo for the raooption of " Duko'a Bouquetß," from whioh H.R.H. and other distinguished vititorm wcro invited to mako choice. A concidorable amount of interest waa created, and tho maker of tho bouquet selected by tbo Prinoo had tho honour of herself presenting it. Tho thank* of the Society art) duo to tho gontJonwn who h&vo kindly noted (oorno at oonBidora' le inoonvenionco) aa judgos ; to Messrs Mathreon Brothers, A. 0. Pnrdio, and Lam* berfc, for valuable npooial prize*, all of whioh wcro o»[>orly competed for, and carried off with much satisfaction by tho successful competitors ; alia to tho Committee of tho Athenft'um for tbo uso of a room fco hold mo» injjs in wbou mjumd Your CommitUH) hnvo provided a now tot of mloi. whtoh they bnug up with this report, ana r«oonv?iend thoir adoption. Your Committee would her© rcivT to *n offasi oi prowed desire that, with the tohodulo, should alto bo pub*

lushed the ,viwidu«t'Knoitinta .tosbe avoided as prize money. Glad, however, as the ;Oom-; mittee would, have been to ,do this, it appeared to ,them utterly impossible, unless'the Society had some permanent Bource of income altogether apart from money taken at the doors and the proceeds of members, tickets. Because it will >>c evident *hat if these should fail* as sometimes, they have failed in the past, the Society, -would, be at once reduced to a state of bankruptcy. , Still, as the Society's position in ' a peouniary point of view from time to time improves, it may possibly be able to do so with safety j or, even at an early date, it might be a question -whether it might not be advantageous to adopt the suggestion, at leaßt to the extent of announcing specific amounts for some few of the important articles in each .department , This*, however, will be matter* of consideration by the Committee to tie elected this evening. The books of the Treasurer show a balance in the Union Bank, to the credit of the Society, of L 53 17s 7d. as also LI ,5s 6d in treasurer's hands i; and, with a concluding congratulation on this point, the out-going Committee now resign their trust into the hands of .the members of the Society. A motion was moved and seconded, that the report be adopted.

An amendment ■ was moved and seconded, that the meeting adjourn until that day fortnight, without adopting the report. From a brief discussion which took place it seemed that there was a desire on 'the part of some members to adjourn before adopting the report, because it was not accompanied by a detailed statement of the accounts. The amendment, however, was lost, and the original motion carried. It was also stated that the course adopted on the present occasion in regard to the accounts was quite in accordance with /the proceedings of the Society hitherto, but that a more complete statement would be produced at the next meeting, and that the^ new rules provided for a properly atxdited balance sheet. Copies of the new rules having been distributed among the members present, the meeting adjourned until the 28th mat.