99 



about the CJardens. Beds of annuals were upon the terraces 

 early in 1879; but this form of bedding was stopped during the 

 jear on account of the expense. 



The Office had big eaves, alike for affording a shelter against 

 rain to visitors, as for ripening off plants of periodic growth. It 

 was damp, and Murton kept no books in it. The orcliid house was 

 low and covered witli creepers. The neighbourhood had been open- 

 ed out considerably by removing old trees. 



The visitor having reached the office could take the Lower 

 Eing Road in either direction, or ascend the steps to Niven's lower 

 terrace, and so reach the Bandstand, or if he cared he could pro- 

 ceed towards the Main Gate again down an avenue of palms between 

 flower beds to the Monkey House, round which new planting had 

 occurred in order to give shelter to the Monkeys, and where, as 

 said, the road would have been found broken. This break was with 

 the intention of preventing carriages from reaching the Monkey 

 House, pedestrians instead being encouraged by means of four new 

 paths one made out of the old roadway each blocked against car- 

 riages by a stone pillar.* 



If the visitor had entered the Gardens by the Office Gate, 

 he would have found leading to the left the line of a closed- 

 np road with a row of Araucarias on its gouth side. Three of 

 these Araucarias still stand. The road had been the end of 

 the Main-Gate Eoad, unintentionally so constructed as to lead 

 strangers who had entered at tlie Main Gate out of the Gardens at 

 the Office Gate. Such an arrangement, not unsuitable when the 

 visitors were the subscribers to and owners of the Gardens, and 

 therefore familiar with the turns of the roads, was unsuitable 

 when the Gardens were becoming a resort for anyone and 

 everyone: and the Sub-Committee ordered the closing of the end 

 of the road. The road to the right was that M'hich still persists — 

 being apparently the first road made in the Garden of the 

 Agri-Horticultural Society. Ascending it the visitor passed the 

 end of the Herbarium Ring Road and then had on his left Murton's 

 new palm plantation. On his right were more Araucarias in a 

 row along the side of Gluny Road as far as the old Kangaroo en- 

 closure, and a path led near tliem and gave a branch up hill to 

 the Aviaries upon Niven's lower terrace. 



The visitor would have found the roads about the Bandstand 

 much as they are now. They had been narrower and the U])per 

 Ring Road had been limited by a circular border which Murton 

 had removed, as being an obstruction upon Band evenings ; and he 

 had thereafter been able to throw an extra eight feet into the road. 

 He had also done away with many beds upon the upper terrace 

 and substituted Crotons in tubs. The lower terrace was bedded with 

 shrubs. The Aviary was upon it to the east of the Hill ; and to the 

 north-east, to which Niven's terracing had not extended, but where 



* Two of these stone pillars are still in situ. 



