OTAUTAU

Southland Times, Issue 23624, 27 September 1938, Page 12

OTAUTAU

GARDEN CLUB JUDGES NOMINATEb FOR SHOW There was an attendance of 25 members at the monthly meeting of the Otautau Garden Club. The president (Mr W. J. Wesney) was chairman. The chairman extended a welcome to Mrs A. Glendinning and remarked that the club had been very fortunate for the last few months with new members.

Mr McFadgen reported that he had attended the annual meeting of the Southland Horticultural Association.

The chairman said it was to the advantage of every society to affiliate as entries from all over the province were received for the championship classes. It was decided to nominate the following judges: Messrs H. W. D. Gazzard (sweet peas), B. P. Mansfield, Invercargill (roses) and J. W. Martin, Riverton (vegetables). Mr J. Souness gave an address on cacti growing and showed some of the varieties in pots. He said his col-: lection was rather small compared with 1 other parts of New Zealand and explained the soil required and also the treatment.

Mr N. McFadgen discussed chrysanthemum growing and the methods of potting, budding and feeding. He said there were 36 entries in this section at the Winter Show last year and trusted there would be 100 this season. If they! produced something for the show bench they brought credit not only to themselves but also to the district. He stated that in the next schedule there should be a class for semi-single chry-i santhemums.

Mr Wesney related some experiences of his trip to Honolulu., The three lecturers were accorded a vote of thanks.

The chairman took the opportunity to bid farewell to Mrs Bone before her removal to Invercargill. - He said she had been one of the stalwarts of the club and had been helpful in all its activities. He hoped she would not lose the gift of gardening and that she would join one of the clubs in Invercargill. Mr Liddell endorsed these remarks and, in reply, Mrs Bone said she would miss the meetings as she derived benefit from them. She hoped to join the Garden Circle or some other organization in Invercargill. The competitions resulted as follows: Single bloom: Mrs W. Thomson and Miss Reay Campbell leq., Mrs G. R. McMillan 3, Mrs J. Kennedy 4. Collection of blooms: Mrs W. Thomson 1, Miss D. Harrington 2, Mesdames D. Mitchell and J. Kennedy 3 eq. Vegetables: Mrs J. Kennedy 1 and 2, Mrs D. Mitchell 3. SMOKE CONCERT A smoke concert under the auspices of the Miniature Rifle Club was held in the supper room, when the trophies won during the season were presented. There was a big attendance of members. .

Items were given by the following: Humorous stories, Dr W. B. . Reekie; song, Mr H. Smyth; banjo solos, Mr L. Coombes. A community sing was also: held, Mr E. J. Leckie being pianist. Dr Reekie presented Mr Harold Smyth with a small gift as a token of appreciation of his services as secretary. Mr H. Braxton presented Dr, Reekie with the cup given by Messrs A. S. James and A. Broad for the club championship, and a case of spoons given by Messrs L. Brash and F. C. Beer for the A grade handicap. He said it was pleasing to see that the older shots held their own with the young men, but after the latter had more experience he ventured to say that the older' members would not have a chance.

In accepting the trophies Dr Reekie said that although he had been shooting for 15 years this was the first time he had ever won a cup. The runner-up in the championship, Mr F. C. Beer, was presented with half a dozen stainless kriives given by* Mr W. B. O’Toole.

The winner z of the B grade handicap, Mr J. H. Mills, was presented with the cup given by A. and W. Hamilton, and one pound of tobacco given by the National Tobacco Company for the best shot off the rifle.

Mr E. J. Leckie was presented with a wristlet watch as the runner-up in the B grade handicap. Mr Braxton said that this member had been a keen and enthusiastic shot and in the final between the winner and runner-up 25 shots had to be fired to decide which was to receive the cup. After the presentation of the trophies Mr Braxton said that if the members improved at such a rate next year as they had done during the past season he would consider them equal to any six-man team in Southland, and trusted they would continue in the same enthusiastic manner when the season opened next year. Dr Reekie said that in spite of the cost of providing expensive equipment the finances of the club this year had broken even and they would start next year free of debt. He said that he had been offered three trophies for next season and that there would be a president’s cup also. A vote of appreciation was passed to the donors of trophies—Messrs A. Broad, A. S. James, L. Brash, F. C. ( Beer, E. J. Leckie, A. and W. Hamilton and the National Tobacco Company. MALE CHOIR CONCERT Music lovers were accorded a treat when the male choir, Invercargill, visited Otautau, every item receiving an enthusiastic reception. The function was in aid of the funds of the Scout and Guide movement. Mi; W. J. Wesney, chairman of the Town Board and president of the Scout committee, was chairman. He extended a welcome to the members and after the entertainment expressed his thanks for the very fine programme given that evening. Mr J. M. McCrostie replied.