PRESDENT RESIGNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 101, 2 May 1938, Page 8

PRESDENT RESIGNS

ACLIMATISATION SOCIETY j AFTER 17 YEARS’ SERVICE | TRIBUTE TO MR. H. J. DUIGAN I After 17 years’ service as president, Mr. H. J. Duigan retired from this office at Friday night’s annual meeting of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society. Appreciation of his services to the society and the federated societies i is to be recorded in the minutes of the Wanganui Society. In announcing his retirement, Mr. Duigan said that he had been a member of the society for the past 40 years and had held the office of president for 17 years. Though he was retiring from the presidency, he wished to remain as a member of the executive and would take just as keen an interest as ever in the work of the society. The Wanganui Horticultural Society, he said, was founded in 1862 and claimed to be the first society in New Zealand. “Unfortunately, owing to the destruction of some of its books in a fire, the early records have been lost,” said Mr. Duigan. “The first record remaining shows that it was reconsti- I tuted in 1874 to conform with legislation then passed dealing with acclimatisation matters and the Gazette notice still preserved shows that Mr. J. Cameron occupied the position of president with Mr. John Ballance (afterwards Prime Minister) as secretary. “There is a further gap in the records until 1887. when Mr. H. S. Harrison was the then president and Mr. S. H. Drew secretary. Mr. Harrison was succeeded as president in 1893 by Mr. W. T. Owen, who held the position until 1904. In 1891 Mr. E. N. Liffiton was appointed secretary and held that position without interruption until 1916, when he retired on account, of ill health. In 1904 Dr. R. C. Earle was elected president but held the position for one year only, being succeeded by Mr. C. H. Chavannes. Mr. Chavannes continued in office until 1908, when Mr. T. A. Bamber followed on. In 1911 he was succeeded by Mr. Donald Ross, who is still with us today and continues to take an active interest in the society’s activities. Mr. Ross occupied the chair until 1913, when he relinquished in favour of Mr. J. Allison, who is still the society’s patron. In this year I was elected to the position of vice-president. In 1916, on the retirement of Mr. Liffiton, Mr. T. 14. James became secretary and continued in this position until 1921, when your present secretary was appointed. In the same year I was elected to the presidential chair and have thus had 17 years’ term of office. Mr. E. P. V. Sealy said that those who had been executive officers under Mr. Duigan had appreciated the whole-hearted manner in which he had considered the interests of anglers and shooters alike, and the large amount of his time which he had devoted to the work of the society. He moved that the following motion should be placed on the books of the .ocicty:— “That this society desires to place on record the fullest appreciation of the devoted and untiring efforts of Mr. Duigan on behalf of sportsmen not only of the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society's district but of the West Coast societies generally. His vision initiating the scheme for planting honey-producing trees and shrubs for the purpose of providing food for honey-eating birds has rendered a signal service to the public of New Zealand and will remain a lasting monument to his 17 years’ service as president of this society.” In seconding the motion, Mr. H. Quartermain said that no man could have done more for the society than Mr. Duigan had done. Mr. Sealy: The financial position of the society to-day is a tribute to his good work. Mr. W. A. Izard, who was elected to the presidency in Mr. Duigan’s stead, said that his predecessor had done a great service not only to the society but in acclimatisation matters throughout the Dominion. He hoped that he would continue to maintain his interest in the society and continue to occupy Ihe position of president of the federation. In recognition of his work, Mr. Duigan was elected a life member.