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gestions. He thought the Domain was left in its present state for fear of 

 the cost of improving it, but in reality very little outlay was required 

 to effect a great amount of good. The gum and wattle trees in the 

 Domain were generally very poor, they would be well out of the way, 

 and the really beautiful trees of other countries planted in their stead. 

 Trenching on a large scale would of course be expensive, but in many 

 localities the English oak, ash and elm, might be planted without the 

 great expense of trenching, and by the richness and depth of their 

 foliage would be highly ornamental. The American rock maple, again, 

 with all the splendour of its autumnal leaves, would be a grand addition 

 to the beauty of the locality, and all these and other trees could be 

 gradually introduced at very little cost. 



^Ir. Smith thought that no great outlay was proposed, but rather that 

 everything from the beginning should be done according to some settled 

 plan. The dead and dying wattle trees were quite an eyesore. He 

 would have them all grubbed out forthwith, and the dead wood would 

 pretty nearlj' pay the expense. By this means alone many fine views, 

 now lost, would be opened up. It might be worthy of consideration if 

 a public subscription to a small amount, say £200 might not be 

 attempted. A good deal could be done with this, and Government 

 might fairly be appealed to afterwards to carry on and complete the 

 work. He would like to ask how it was that a large portion of the 

 Domain was granted to be fenced off for the new cricket ground ? He 

 hoped this alienation would be only temporary, as he had a great 

 objection to see this public pleasure ground cut into. It was a 

 disgrace that any portion of it should have been sold, and a few 

 wretched cottages, which were anything but an ornament, built upon 

 it. If Government labour was all that was wanted, surely if it could 

 be obtained for a race-course, it might also be available for the Queen's 

 Domain. 



Mr. Barxard highly approved of the proposed grubbing out of all 

 diseased and unsightly trees, and thought the sale of the wood would 

 repay the cost. He deprecated any idea, however, of making the 

 Domain too artificial in its features. He would like it kept as a natural 

 forest. He confesssd h-j liked the gum tree, still he would be glad to 

 see some of our old English trees also,^not in such numbf rs, however, 

 as to overshadow the native trees, as the characteristic foliage of the 

 Colony ought to be carefully conserved. 



Mr. Stephens remarked that the preliminary operations, such as the 

 clearing out of the old trees and opening out vistas, should be entered 

 upon with great care and judgment. These should indeed be super- 

 vised by a Committee of Taste. Government was probably afraid of 

 the expense, but if the Royal Society were simjdy authorised to 

 carry out the work according to a definite plan, he had no doubt it 

 could be done at a rery small expense. He did not agree with a 

 suggestion which had been thrown out as to planting isolated trees here 

 and there, without much preparation of the ground. If the ground 

 were not thoroughly trenched, the trees would grow small, stunted, 

 and the reverse of ornamental. Even if English grass seed were to 

 be sown over the Domain, the ground should be properly prepared 

 for its reception. 



Mr. Rule doubted if any more carriage drives were necessary, and 

 did not think the people generally would care to subscribe, as had 

 been suggested, for these. If any were to be made, he thought those 

 who would make use of them should construct them. He quite agreed 

 with Mr. Barnard in thinking that our native and distinctive trees and 

 foliage should be carefully preserved, and that the ground generally 



