DUXEDIN CHRYSANTHEMUM CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 10

D UXEDIN CHRYS A NTH EM UM CLUB.

The ninth annual meeting of the Dunedin Chrysanthemum Club was held on the 12th in tho Chamber of Commerce Hall. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair presided, and there was a fair attendance of members. The annual report is as follows: The position of the club, compared with 1906, shows » slight falling off. A balance of £83 14s 7d is carried forward for 1907, against £88 12s 9d last year. The membership at date is 151, compared with 207, the large decrease being caused by members not paying their subscriptions, and through indifference whether they received plants or not, while a number left and are still leaving for the Home Country on a holiday trip. Acting on the recommendation made by members at the last annual meeting, the committee has pleasure in stating that it has imported 30 early-flowering and decorative varieties from England specially suited for garden decoration. The majority of the plants have done well under the care of Mr Youngson, the propagator, and they will be Hated this year foi selection by members. They were selected from the bast English varieties, and the committee has every confidence that the majority of the members will appreciate its efforts in this dnection. because after all the club must cater for tho=e members who make uae of the chrypanthemum \o the fullest extent by adopting it either for garden or house decoration at a miaimur of labour.

The season has been the best experienced itk Dunedin for many years, and never has such, a display of flowers- been seen in the gardengsince the introduction of the chrysanthemum, and it would have been even better kadi there been a more plentiful water supply, as many growers lost their plants through the drought, and by obeying the city authorities to economise in this direction. The committee desires to tender its jhanks to' the secretary and auditor for their honorary duties during the year. ; The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that one of the principal matters suggested -by it was the falling off in the membership,- which might infer that a feeling of indifference was growing up on the part of some members. The early flower and decorative varieties of chrysanthemum which the committee had been asked to order from England last year had arrived and would be available for selection this year. These plants wer,e all gaixlen varieties and lent themselves to easy cultivation by members generally who did not hteve any very great expert knowledge in the cultivation of the chrysanthemum. After all, that was the circle of members the society had to look to in the future for increased support. The report- and statement of accounts were seconded by Mr Youngson and adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following office-bearers were elected : — President, Mr J. C. Thomson ; vice-pre-sidents—Messrs Ed. Webster, S. Solomon, • A. H. Fisher, and J. Rennie; committee — Messrs Wall, Youngson, M'Laren, Hamel, -" Poole, Mitchell, and Wilson; secretary, Mr H. Adam; hon. auditor, Mr Jas. Brown. • The sum of £5 5a was voted to the secretary for his services. ' Prior to the .meeting closing, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the retiring president (who did not seek re-election) for his past services.