DUNEDIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 10

DUNEDIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Horticultural Society was held on Friday night in the Chamber of Commerce. There was a large and enthusiastic meeting, and considerable interest was evinced throughout the proceedings. Mr J. H. Nimmo occupied the chair. The Chairman read the following letter, which, explains itself: — Dunedin, Ist November, 1904. The Secretary Horticultural Society, Dunedin. Dear Sir, — Some years ago a society called the Central Otago Vine and Fruit-growers' Association was formed, chiefly with the object of promoting the establishment by the G-overnment of an experimental station and school for fruit culture in Central Otago. Notwithstanding promises on the .Bait of the

• Government to establish such an institution, the affair fell through, and the association became moribund. The late Mr A. C. Stronach was treasurer and I was president, and the balance of the funds were deposited in our joint names in the savings bank, a circumstance brought to my recollection byMr Stronach' s unfortunate and untimely death. I have, with the concurrence of his executrix, withdrawn the money, and as some of the members of the association are now dead and I cannot recall who the others were, I cannot consult them, and have decided to aslc your society to accept the money, coupled with the condition that it be expended in furthering fruit-growing in Central Otago — that is, the district served, and to be served, by the Otago Central railway. The details I am prepared to leave to your committee, but I would suggest that the best method would be to offer substantial prizes for exhibits of fruit grown in that district. For example, a prize of £5, with a second of £2 10s, might be offered for the best exhibit of apples suitable for export, either for one or more vaiieti«s. If for only one variety, the quantity should be large. Another set of prizes might be for the best exhibit of prune plums or apricots suitable for evaporating or preserving; whilst a third might be for the best exhibit of grapes grown in the open air. If your committee will undertake the duty, and have' the - competition at an autumn show, I think an exhibition might result that -would help Dunedin people better to realise the capabilities of the Central Otago district. I enclose a- cheque for £20; the amount of the fund referred. to, and, should you so desire, I shall be glad to confer with you as to details. — Yours 'truly, -- A. Bathgate. j _ue- Chairman explained that the £20 1 mentioned in the letter had >ome too late to be inserted iifthe balance sheet. He wished the public generally to be interested in this project, as it would mean a considerable benefit to Central Otago generally, and , prove a factor* in helping- on the Otago Central railway.