April 16, 1908.]
HET HONGKONG HORTICULTURAL
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SOCIETY.
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The first annual meeting of the Hongkong Horticultural Society was held on April 12th at the City Hall. The Chief Justice (Sir Francis Piggott) presided, and among those present were-Mrs. Turner, Miss E. M. Bowley, Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, Messrs. L. Gibbs (secretary and treasurer), 8. T. Dunn, J. Barton, A. Carter, F. Howell, J. T. Cotton and Choa Lap-chee.
The PRESIDENT was sorry to see such a small attendance. He said the thanks of the Society were in a large measure due to the generosity of Sir Paul Chater and a small committee of his friends who had subscribed the sum of $2,000 to the guarantee fund. Their financial situation was very flourishing, as they had a balance to carry forward of $1,623. A small memorandum drawn up pointed out that although the flower show was an unmistakeable success there was still a great deal to be done. The first point he was anxious to raise was the necessity of exchanging seeds of flowers, not only with members but with others. They should also encourage the Chinese to grow vegetables in sanitary conditions; the native gardeners, who attended the show in large numbers, must have seen from the size and quality of the vegetables exhibited that our sanitary conditions were just as possible and successful as their own. He wished to thank, in the name of the Society, the Government of Mauritius for their exhibit of plants, and as the report em- bodied thanks to all those to whom the Society was indebted for assistance he would move its. adoption, likewise the adoption of the accounts. Mr. BARTON seconded, and the motion was carried.
On the motion of Mr. GIBBS, seconded by Mr. DONN, Mrs. Jordan, Mrs. Turner and Mr. Griffin were elected to the Committee.
The schedule for 1906 W88 disonssed and several changes made, after which the PRESIDENT intimated that Mr. Howell would act as secretary in the absence of Mr. Gibbs. "A vote of thanks to the President concluded the proceedings.
The report was reads as follow:— The Committees beg to present their first annual report on the work of the Society. The Society owes its origin to a proposal of His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan that the old institution of an annual flower show should be revived. With this object a Committee was formed composed as follows:-Mr. J. Barton, Chairman, Miss E. M. Bowley, Mrs. Dickson, Mr. L. Gibbs, Mrs. Hatton, Mrs. L. A. M. Johnston, Mrs. Seth, and Mr. 8. T. Dunn, Hon. Secretary. In the course of mak- ing the necessary arrangements for the Flower Show it was decided that it would be desirable to form a Horticultural Society which would in future take on the work of organizing a show. A public meeting was held on the 8th December, 1905, and the Society July formed. The Flower Show was held on the 1st and 2nd of February on the upper terrace of the Old Botanical Gardens. The preliminaries were settled by the Committee above named, and the final arrangements were made by the Staff of the Botanical and Forestry Department, on whom, and especially on Mr. Tutoher, a large amount of work devolved. The judging was undertaken by Sir Francis Piggott and Mr. Tutcher. Sir Francis Piggott has kindly drawn up the following Memorandum which the Committee wish to endorse: "In the name of the Horticultural Society I desire to tender to the Chairman and Members of the Flower Show Committee con.
gratulations on the success of the Flower Show, and thanks for the trouble and care which they devoted to it to ensure that success. The accounts show a balance of $1,623.00 to the credit of the Society and that 175 persons paid for admission. It is estimated that over a thousand came to the show during free time. These figures, are, I think, most satisfactory. The thanks of the Society are specially due to ya..E, the Governor, and to all other donors in kind, and to the gentlemen who subscribed to Sir Paul Chater's list for providing for the show The unseasonable weather for some weaks prior to the show did much to reduce the *** number of exhibits of flowers, and retarded the vegetables in many gardens; but in spite of many drawbacks, I think that all the visitors were
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE ŘEPORT.
unanimous in declaring that for a first show it was an unmistakeable success. But the objects | with which the Society was started must not be ourselves until those objects are secured. These lost sight of, and we must not congratulate objects are twofold: first, to induce people in much larger numbers to take up the culture of fowers: secondly, to purify the culture of vegetables. So far as the first of these objects is concerned, the society is. I think, justified in claiming that the show has demonstrated that
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the culture of flowers, even од is more possible than has hitherto been imagined. In order to aid in the develop- ment of the gardens of the Colony it will, I hope, be considered part of the business of the Scaiety to promote the exchange of seeds and outtings, and also the dissemination of nge- ful suggestions for growing plants by those who have been successful with any particular flower. The vegetables exhibited were in many cases of quite excellent quality, and showed unmistake- able signs of careful gardening. But there were few exhibitors. The clause disqualifying vegetables grown in unsanitary conditions undoubtedly precluded many Chinese gardeners from exhibiting their produce. It is to be hoped, however, that many of them, who have now seen the size and quality of the vegetables raised in sanitary conditions, will come to realise that their own methods can be adandoned, and that without loss of profit, but rather with the result of creased sales. The task of inducing them to take this view is not an impossible one, but it is опе which the Society individually must not lose sight of, not merely collectively and at show time, but throughout the year. We all much regretted the enforced absence of Mr. Dunn, through ill-health, at the show itself, for all felt that he had been untiring in his efforts to promote its success. | much indebted
The Society is Government of Mauritius, and specially to Mr. Paul König, the Director of the Woods and Forests Department of that Colony, for its very interesting exhibit of woods and economic plants mote exchanges of botanical Ideas and We hope to do much to pro- specimens with other Colonies; and it was in furtherance of this idea that Mauritius was invited to assist at our first show. The plants of Pandanus utilis (one of the screw pines), and the exhibit of sugar and other bags made from its leaves, seems worthy of special attention. The bags are very durable even under the bard conditions of the sugar trade and the ease with which the plant is grown leads to the hope that many of the waste places in the Colony may be davoted to its culture. The small special ex- hibit of cocoa beans and vanilla pods, sent by Mr. Lejuge de Segrais, grown on his estate at Pamplemousses, attracted much attention, and
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to the
our thanks are dae to him for his contribution to the show."
The Committee is endeavouring to arrange for the publication of weekly or monthly Notel on Gardening. It is proposed to hold the next show in the early spring of 1907. A provisionas schedule has been prepared and is now in the hands of members, Arrangements are also being made for obtaining such seeds from home as are required by members. Attached is a statement of accounts. The best thanks of
the Society are due to all those who came for- ward with donations and with subscriptions to the prise fund and also to the donors of special prises. It will be seen that without their help there would have been a deficit of about $500. Some of the expenditure will, however, go towards another show, and it is also to be hoped that, with experience of the last one, a future show may be managed somewhat more economically, and also that, as the Society becomes better known, its membership may increase. Rule 4 is somewhat ambiguous and it is proposed that it shall be altered to read as follows:-
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"The affairs of the scoiety shall be managed by a Committee composed of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and seven other members to be elected annually at a general meeting to be held not later than May 1st in each year. The present Committee is composed as follows:-Sir Francis Piggott, President, Mr. J. Barton, Miss E. M. Bowley, Mrs. Brewin, Mr. Chos Lap Chee, Mr. D. W. Craddock, Mr. S. T. Dann, Mr. E. Osborne, Mr. Seth and Mr. L. Gibbs, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom now resign, and, with the exceptions
of Mr. Barton, Miss Bowley and offer themselves for re-election.
The statement of receipts and expenditure up which amounted to $356, included: $676 gate to 31st March, 1906, showed that the receipts, money, $270 suberiptions for 1908, 9110 for donations to prise fund, and $2,000 donations towards cost of flower show from the following s Mr. V. H. Deacon, Messrs. Carlowits and Co. Mr. G. Medhurst, Messrs. J. D. Humphreys and Son, Messrs. Caldbeck, Macgregor and Co,
Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co. Mesars, §. J.
David Sassoon and Co., Mesars. Arhnold Kar- David and Co., Hon Mr. R. Shewan, Mears. berg and Co., Mr. A. H. Rennie, Meiers, Siemssen and Co., Mr. H. N. Mody, Bir C. P. Chater, Messrs. Melchers and Co., Mr. B. Fabrmano, Mr. J. R. M. Smith, Megars. Butterfield and Swire, Hon. Mr. C. W. Dickson, all $100 each; Messrs. Gilman and Co., Mr. W. A. Cruickshank, Mr. A. Babington, and Mr. T. Hough, $25 each. After meeting expenses, there remains a balance of $1,623 in bank.
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THE SANITARY INSTITUTE.
the Sanitary Institute
The members of the Hongkong Branch of visited the new works in connection with the the 7th April
Kowloon Water Supply. Mr. E. A. Hewett, who accompanied the party, kindly placed the P. and O. launch Jeanette at the disposal of the students, who, under the leadership of Mr. L. afternoon. Landing near Laichikok, they as Gibbs, A.M.I.C.E. spent a most instructive conded the bill, and entered the tunnel recently finished. and naturally its passage was of some interest, Its length is 800 feet,
Ou emerging they were pointed to the three filter beds, and informed that if additional beda were needed it was easy to use the adjacent ground for that purpose. Then they went over another tunnel, for the laying of which the hill had been cut in two, but as the material was soft it was explained that the sides of the hiil would cover the brickwork. From here they proceeded collapse when the supports yee withdrawn and along the base of the hills, following the course
water was conducted and ap to Beacon Hill, of the pipes, orossing a gorge over which the where the great reservoir is being constructed. The wall is of great thickness especially at the base, and looks strong enough to withstand a much greater pressure than it will be called
прод
350 million gallons. The collecting area. Was to bear. The capacity of this dam will be
explored, and after a lengthy tramp the overseers' quarters, where refreshments were students were glad to find themselves at the served, and votes of thanks socorded Mr. Gibbs aud Mr. Hewett,
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The party included Messrs. A. R F. Raven, R. Duncan, D. A. O'Hallaran, C. W. Brett, S. R. Boyd, T. L. Clarke, R. Hemmings, R. Hudson, J. W. White, W. 8. Bissell, Jos. B. Winter, H. E. Goldsmith, B. L. Frost, W. J. Lewington, H. J. Kuight, C. E. Frith, G. W. Coysh, and H. E. Haggard, and Mr. A. Carter acting-secretary.
HONGKONG DEVONIANS AT DINNER.
Devonian Society of Hongkong was given on April 7th at the Hongkong Hotel. Mr. A. Shelton Hooper presided over the company of twenty-two, which included three or four guests. Mr. Mowbray Northcote, the hon; secretary and treasurer, occupied the vice-chair, as he has done on each occasion since the formation of the Society eleven years ago. A representation of the county arms, and framed photographs of some of the past presidents of the Society -the late Admiral Butler, Admiral Holland, Mr. Victor Deacon and Mr. E. W. Mitchell-were conspicuous on the walls of the room. The menn represented the nearest approach Hong. kong can produce to a Devonshire dinner, and included junket and apple dumplings. In Hongkong, Devonians (and others) min real oream and real cider, on this occssion' the wine list's most appropriate beverage, to be sloe gin.
The annual dinner of the members of the
After the toast of "The King" submitted from the chair and duly
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