a sum, at the present rate of wages, not one-third part of the ground 

 could be properly cultivated. Were £300 a year added, the Gardens 

 might be kept in a tolerably creditable condition, yet even this would be a 

 mere fraction in comparison with the sums granted for similar purposes in 

 the neighbouring colonies. In Victoria, for Gardens about twice as large 

 as ours, £7,220 were voted for the year 1876-7. In New South Wales the 

 Gardens received £4,469 ; in South Australia,-£6,7 00; and in Queensland, 

 £2,485, 



" Very recently the free labourers in the Gardens forwarded a respectful 

 petition for a small increase to their pay, which is only foiu- shilHngs per 

 day, without rations ! This very fair petition could not be complied with 

 for want of funds, and although the men, from long habit and interest in 

 their work, have remained much longer than coidd have been expected, 

 it is now known they will not continue to do so, and it would be quite 

 impossible to replace them. The urgency, therefore, for an increased grant 

 is most pressing. 



" It has been said if an increased grant were given to these Gardens 

 that similar assistance woidd be asked for other places. But this objection 

 has no real weight, as no colony could fairly be expected to support 

 duplicate National Institutions. Even a wealthy nation like England 

 does not support more than one British Museum, one Eoyal Observatory, 

 or one great Botanical Garden (Kew), It must, indeed, be evident that, in 

 an'economic and educational point of view, it must be more to our advan- 

 tage to have one well appointed and scientifically conducted Garden, than 

 to fritter away our means on several, all of which would necessarily be 

 inferior in quality, discreditable to the colony, and valueless for educational 

 purposes, 



" It may be added that in making this application for a grant of £700 a 

 year to these National Gardens the Eoyal Society is acting solely on 

 behalf of the public. It is not, perhaps, generally understood that the 

 Society receives nothing whatever from Government, and has never asked 

 anything for itself. It is in fact self-supporting, and at its own expense 

 issues its pubHcations ; maintains its continually increasing library ; and 

 keeps up friendly relations with kindred institutions in various parts of the 

 world. On many occasions it has even afforded considerable pecuniary 

 assistance to both Gardens and Musemn. As to the grants to the Museum 

 and Gardens the Society acts strictly as an agent for Government, by 

 receiving and distributing them in a correct and careful manner. 



" I have the honour, etc., etc., 



"J. W. Ag^-ew,M.D., 

 "Hon. Sec. 



" The Hon. the Colonial Secretary." 



The feeling of the meeting, as expressed by several of the members, 

 appeared to be that the Committee had done all that was possible in the 

 matter for which it was appointed, and that the future of the Gardens 

 must rest in the hands of the Ministry and of Parliament, 



The Eev, W. W. Spicer mentioned that during the interview with the 

 Hon. the Colonial Secretary he had recommended the interchange of certain 

 books between the Public, the ParHamentary, and the Eoyal Society's 

 Libraries. Each library, in fact, contained some works which would find a 

 more fitting place on the shelves of another, and the interchange wotJd be 

 a benefit to all. The Colonial Secretary had entertained the idea favorably, 

 and he (the speaker) felt certain that good would result were it acted on. 



It was agreed that the Librarians of the several libraries should be 

 reqviested to compare their catalogues, and determine if satisfactory inter- 

 changes might be made, it being understood that no such exchanges could 

 be effected without the sanction of Parhament. 



The Secretary laid on the table two copies of the Santa Barhara 



