

February 17, 1912.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



109 



BOYAL GARDENEKS' ORPHAN FUND. 



(ANNUAL MEETING.) 



February 9. — The annual meeting and election 

 in connection with the Royal Gardeners' Orphan 

 Fund took place on the above date, at Simpson's 

 Restaurant, Strand, London. The Chairman of 

 the Executive Committee, Mr. Henry B. May, 

 presided over a moderate attendance. After the 

 minutes of the last meeting had been confirmed, 

 the Chairman submitted the Report of the Execu- 

 tive Committee, which read as follows : — 



report of the executive committee. 



The committee, in presenting its report on the opera- 

 tions of the fund during the past year, has again great 

 pleasure in congratulating the subscribers on its steadily- 

 increasing prosperity and enhanced usefulness. The ac- 

 counts presented herewith will be found to show an appre- 

 ciable increase in general subscriptions and donations, a 

 remarkable advance in the proceeds of the collection made 

 in connection with tie annual festival, and a still further 

 increase in the total yearly amount disbursed among the 

 beneficiaries. The total sum received in the form of annual 

 contributions still, however, remains much below what it 

 should be to enable your committee to meet the pressing 

 claims for assistance constantly made upon the fund, and 

 it again appeals lor a larger measure of support, from 

 gardeners espec ally, with the assurance that the smallest 

 contribution will be most thankfully received. 



At the commencement of the year the number of children 

 receiving the full benefits cf the fund was 118, and 27 candi- 

 dates waiting for elecLion weTe receiving temporary assist- 

 ance. At the annual meeting 16 children were elected, 15 

 by the direct votes of the subscribers and one by special 

 resolution. This was the very sad case of a boy, 14 years 

 of age, who (with five younger brothers and sisters) was 

 left to the mercy of the world through the death of both 

 parents within three days of each other, and at a time 

 when such a lad most needs control and guidance. Your 

 committee was able to provide a home for him in the 

 School of Handicrafts at Chertsey, where he will be main- 

 tained and instructed in the rudiments of gardening until 

 he is 16 years of age. Your committee thankfully acknow- 

 ledges the readineis with which its action was confirmed. 



During the year 18 children ceased to receive the benefit? 

 of the fund, 15 under the operation of the age limit and 

 three by retirement on leaving the country with their 

 mothers, two of whom have joined friends in the Colonies 

 and one in the United States. The committee has carefully 

 selected a list of 23» candidates to appeal to the sub- 

 scribers at the ensuing annual meeting, and much regrets 

 its inability to prudently lecommend the election of more 

 than 18. The total amount disbursed in allowances during 

 the year exceeded by over £50 the sum expended in 1910, 

 and is the largest amount distributed in any one year 

 since the fund was established. Since the first election, 

 which took place in 1888, the total sum distributed in 

 allowances amounts to o\er £24>746. 



The annual festival, on May 4, presided oveT by Mr. 

 Sherwood, one of the earliest of the vice-presidents, for 

 several years the treasurer, and from its foundation one 

 of the fund's mcist constant and most generous supporters, 

 proved by far the most successful that has yet been held, 

 the chairman's list exceeding all previous efforts by nearly 

 £350. Your committee has in the past been constantly 

 indebted to Mr. Sherwood for innumerable acts of kindness 

 and generosity, and once more invites the supporters cf the 

 charity to unite with it in expressing to him its deep 

 gratitude for the splend d services rendered in the sacred 

 cause on this occasion. Most cordial thanks are also given to 

 all who so enthusiastically helped Mr. Sherwocd in making 

 the festival such a splendid success, socially and financially, 

 and in this connection the committee especially recognises 

 the valuable help Tendered by the stewards, and by such 

 warm-hearted surporters as the members of Mr. Sherwood's 

 A ai ?v ly ' MessTs. Hurst & Son, Me?srs. Sutton & Sons, Mr. 

 Arthur W. Sutton, the Messrs. "Rothschild, Messrs. James 

 \t m & o 8ons ' Mr " Anthony Waterer, Mr. W. Atkinson, 

 ff r :., T - Smith, Messrs. James Carter & Co., the Messrs. - 

 cutfcbert, and many others. 



One of the most gratifying contributions to the chair- 

 mans list was made by Mr. George E. Messer, Hyde Side 

 in ursery Lower Edmonton, who. in recognition of the warm 

 interest taken in the charity by his late parents, and as 

 a lasting memorial to their memory, gave £100 in Consols. 

 Y 2 U * committee the more keenly appreciates the filial 

 atlection which prompted this gift from the fact of both 



£ \i " r - an<i ^ rs - Me3S€ r having been personal and 



nighly-esteemed friends of most of its mem hers. To their 

 worthy son most grat3ful thanks are accorded. 



Your committee again acknowledges with deep gratitude 

 the valued contributions of Sir Frank Crisp and others who 

 so kindly open their gardens to the public in aid of this 

 and other charities. It also mest heartilv thanks the mem- 

 bers of the Chislehurst Gardeners' Societv, the Bradford 

 Uirysanthemum Society, the Altr.ncham Gardeners" Society, 

 the Leeds Professional Gardeners' Club, the Reading Gar- 

 deners' Society, the Spen Vallev Gardeners' Societv. and 

 the bevenoaks Gardeners' Societv, 4c, who by means of 

 concerts, flower shows, and the sale of flower? at their 

 local exhibitions, have greatly benefited the fund. The 

 honorary local secretaries are also specially thanked for 

 their valued assistance and continued interest in the wel- 

 fare of the fund. 



.Your committee with deep regret Tecords its sense of 

 the heavy losses which the fund has sustained during the 

 year by the deaths of old and greatlv-valued supporters. 

 In the late Mr. James Douglas and * Mr. Alfred VV. G. 

 Weeks- two most esteemed colleagues have passed awav. 

 Mr. Douglas was a member of the original committee, and 

 Mr. Weeks joined the committee on the death of its first 

 chairman, Mr. George Deai, both being earnest workers 

 on the fund's behalf. The late Mr. A. J. Brown, of 

 Chertsey also fjr several yens worked hard in the cau^e 

 as a local secretary. The kindly efforts of one and all will 

 long be remembered. 



The retiring members of the committee are Mr. W. 

 Bates, Mr. G. L. Caselton, Mr. C. Dixon. Mr. H. B. May, 

 Mr. J. W. Moorman, Mr. W. Nutting, Mr. G. Revnolds, 

 and Mr J. H. Witty. All being eligible, offer .themselves 

 for re-election. 



Through the much-lamented death of Mr. M. Howan, who 

 had professionally audited the accounts of the fund for the 

 past 18 years, it is essential that a new auditor should be 

 elected, and the committee has much pleasure in recom- 

 mending the election of Mr. Frank Reader to that office. 



The Chairman described the year 1911 as a year 

 of general progress in so far a"s it related to the 

 Fund. The receipts and exp?nditure were both 

 higher than in any previous year. The amount 

 raised in connection with the festival dinner, over 

 which Mr. N. N. Sherwood presided, was £350 

 more than had ever been obtained in connection 

 with previous events of the kind. Many friends 

 had helped the Fund a very great deal, and cer- 

 tain societies had also made successful efforts to 

 collect money for the purposes of the Fund. At 

 the same time there was still room for further 

 efforts on the part of gardeners. There were still 

 too few subscriptions, the amount from this 

 source forming only a very small proportion to 

 the total receipts. 



They had to mourn the loss of many who had 

 helped them in previous years. These included 

 Mr. James Douglas, one of the founders of the 

 Fund ; Mr. A. W. Weeks, who was a member of 

 the Committee for many years ; Mr. A. R. 

 Brown, of the Chertsey School of Handicrafts; 

 and Mr. Rowan, one of the auditors. The Chair- 

 man could assure those present that the objects 

 that the Fund had in view were in every way ob- 

 jects that merited their support. Could those 

 who at present abstained from giving practical 

 help attend the meetings of the Committee and 

 listen to the pathetic letters which were fre- 

 quently received from the mothers of children to 

 whose support the Fund had contributed, he was 

 perfectly sure that they would receive such im- 

 pressions as would make them active workers in 

 the future. 



The resolution was seconded by Mr. George 

 Gordon, who corroborated the remarks made by 

 the Chairman, and supported his appeal for an 



CASH STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 30, 1911. 



RECEIPTS. 



To Subscriptions: General 



Local Secretaries 



£ s. d. 



[91 3 6 

 81 11 10 



£. s. d. 



»» 



Donations: General 



Lccal Secretaries 



133 

 10 



3 

 8 1 



372 15 4 



9? 



Receipts from Annual 

 Advoitisements in List 

 Dividends on Stock and 

 Income Tax returned 



Festival 



of Subscribers 



Interest on Deposit 



VZ 11 



1 



1,330 



5 



26 17 







376 1 



5 



7 



4 



I. Balance last Account 



C,266 5 7 

 807 8 4 



/ 3 073 13 11 



Note.— Investments. 



3 ^Stae^' London and County Consolidated 



I P€r , C€ £\, Canada ' stock : : : : ; : - £ l-$> 2 s ! ° 



Stocl~ W ' IUilway 4 ^ Ccnt Terence '°°° ° ° 



Gr ^enfHV^ eniliiula "^ Guaranteed "3 per ^ ° ° 



^f^ 1Tmt ; L ?: :: :: utt 8 8 



^p^^^L^^^ " 516 15 11 



S P t°ock an PaIway W per «"*• Preference 



391 



EXPENDITURE. 



£ s. d. 

 By Allowances to Orphans .. .. I.r81 15 



„ Grants in Aid 180 15 8 



„ "Emma Sherwood Memorial" .. 13 

 „ " Maybud Campbell Grant " .. 13 



„ Secretary's Salary 



„ Printing and Posting List of 



Subscribers 



,, Rent, Insurance, Firing, Light- 

 ing, &c. 38 3 



„ Printing and Stationery .. .. 49 11 9 



„ Advertising 6 18 



„ Annual General and Committee 



Meetings 23 13 9 



,, New Furniture and Cost of 



Removal 18 9 9 



M Postages 28 1 



„ Bank Charges 2 11 1 



„ Petty Cash: Sundries .. .. 7 13 10 



£ s. d. 



1,788 10 8 

 100 



39 16 8 



174 ID 11 



„ Balances: 





2,202 18 3 



Cash at Bank .. 



.. 420 5 5 



Cash on Deposit 



.. 4:0 



Cash in band 



10 3 



870 15 8 

 £3,073 13 11 



Having iisrected the Securities and examined the 

 Books and Vouchers supplied to us, we hereby certify the 

 above account to be correct. 



P. RUDOLPH BARR 

 FRANK READER 



Audi tor 8, 



increased number ef subscriptions and a greater 

 measure of support generally. The report was 

 adopted unanimously. 



Mr. R. Hooper Pearson proposed a vote of 

 thanks to Mr. N. N. Sherwood for presiding at 

 the festival dinner in 1911. He said that the 

 Chairman had just stated that the amount raised 

 at that dinner was £350 better than was the case 

 at any previous festival. When they remem- 

 bered that 1911 was a year in which efforts on 

 behalf of charitable institutions were made in 

 less favourable circumstances than usual, it 

 would be realised that the personal efforts made 

 by their friend Mr. Sherwood, who had always 

 contributed with great liberality to the Fund, 

 were worthy of their heartiest thanks. The reso- 

 lution was seconded by Mr. Alexander Dean and 

 adopted. 



The chairman next prjposed the re-election of 

 Mr. Edward Sherwood as honorary treasurer, 

 and, when the motion had been seconded by Mr. 

 George Caselton, it was adopted. On the pro- 

 position of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. J. F. 

 Macleod, Mr. Frank Reader was elected auditor 

 in the place of Mr. Rowan, deceased. The re- 

 tiring members of the committee were re-elected, 

 and Mr. Brian Wynne re-appointed secret arv at 

 the salary of £200. At this point the proceed 

 ings w T ere adjourned, and 

 pointed to count the ballot, 

 the meeting re-assembled, 

 read out the names of the 

 These were as follow 



scrutineers were ap- 

 Just before 5 o'clock 

 and Mr. W. Rates 



fortunate candidates. 



Riley 



■ • • 



Gertrude Annie 

 Edward Dodd 

 Evelvn Marie Stokoe 



■ ■ 



Annie Steptoe 

 John E. G. King 

 Thomas Lister Rainej 

 Hucrh Gunn Fraser 



■ • • 



• • * 



• - - 



■ • 



■ ■ 



Alice Lee 



Dorothy Gladys Edwards ... 

 Reginald Austin Powlesland 

 Marjorie Ethel Billings 

 William Sprackling ... 

 Ralph George Deadman 

 Winifred Grace Lockyer ... 

 Ernest James Wright 

 Winifred S. Potter ... 



Ethel Elsie Pretty 



Thomas Richard Rudge 



The unsuccessful candidates were 



Wallace Titheridge ... 

 Bertha Beatrice Mason 

 Edna May Holloway 

 Eric Arthur Lindekvist 

 Dorothy Mildred Mitchell 



■ • 



• • • 



Votes. 

 461 

 576 

 A56 

 295 

 290 

 278 

 270 

 260 

 258 

 257 

 213 

 210 

 206 

 205 

 199 

 148 

 152 

 117 



■ • • 



• ■ 



• • 



• • • 



• • • 



114 

 93 

 91 

 71 

 66 



The members of the committee met again in 

 the evening at the usual friendly supper. 



Mr. 



Henry B. May presided, and the proceedings were 

 interspersed with vocal and instrumental music. 





January 10, 19U. 



BOURNEMOUTH HORTICULTURAL. 



January 24. — At a meeting of this society, held 

 on the above date, the President, Sir Daniel 

 Morris, delivered an address entitled "A City 

 of Gardens." This was followed by an exhibi- 

 tion of photographs in colour of gardens in and 

 around Bournemouth, by Mr. G. G. Hamilton, 

 hon. sec. of tlia society, and Mrs. Hamilton, of 

 Boscombe Place. 



Sir Daniel Morris said that Bournemouth is in 

 many respects a remarkable city. It occupies 

 what was once almost an uninhabited country 

 covered with pine-woods, heather and sand. Un- 

 fortunately, there is now a danger that the pine- 

 country is getting too crowded with houses large 

 and small, and it is not impossible that there 

 will follow here, as elsewhere, an undesirable re- 

 construction of town life, with eventually the 

 loss of some of the special amenities that have 

 made Bournemouth practically unique amongst 

 English health resorts. 



Speaking of tha Horticultural Society, Sir 

 Daniel Morris said that it was started in a 

 modest way some 20 years ago for the purpose of 

 holding annual flower shews and demonstrating 

 the possibility of producing, even in this regioa 

 of pine-woods and sand, beautiful flowers to de- 

 light those with taste and fancy in that direc- 

 tion. 



As the season in Bournemouth is in winter, 

 said Sir Daniel Morris, this naturally suggests 



