Sa a) eM MBS aes Eira Ne Pe 
Soe é i 
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 17 
appeared that the lintels and even the supporting columns 
were almost as badly disintegrated and broken, although 
supported by their mutual position in such a manner that 
they were safe as long as their equilibrium was undisturbed. 
The removal of the coping for reconstruction was almost 
certain to destroy this, in that event necessitating the prac- 
tical rebuilding of the entire gateway; consequently, the 
coping was not removed, but was firmly bound with straps 
of wrought iron, and the whole was closely encased ina 
metallic sheath, the fissures in the remaining stonework 
then being suitably filled and the entire surface painted to 
give uniformity of appearance and prevent further decay. 
The gateway has been further improved by laying granitoid 
within the passage-way in place of the original rough stone 
pavement; and the ladies’ waiting room has been renovated 
and made as convenient and sanitary as was possible in the 
absence of a sewerage system. 
The gravel walks of the Garden, which, owing to the 
thin layer of rock used in their construction and the un- 
drained character of the soil, have always become soft and 
almost impassable in winter, are being remade with a better 
macadam foundation and suitable underdrainage, the un- 
sightly and inconvenient gutters which cross them at inter- 
vals to carry off surface water being rendered less necessary 
by more frequent communication with the drains. Some 
1,700 lineal feet of walk have been thus made during the 
past year, the grades being modified in places where this 
was necessary. Very muchof this work, however, still re- 
mains to be done; and it will require some time to so com- 
pact the newly made walks by rolling as to make them, — 
what properly made and cared for gravel walks are,—a 
most agreeable surface to walk on, as well as the only walks 
appropriate to a garden. 
The limits between walks and the adjoining turf or flower- 
borders throughout the Garden are marked by lines of 
sunken brick. So badly have these suffered from frost and 
the wear of many years, that they had become very un- 
