1907 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 135 



I would again draw attention to the great lack of accommodation for the 

 visiting public. Some definite steps should be taken at once to have a public 

 house of some description built — club-house, hotel, boarding-house or some good 

 respectable building that will accommodate from two to four hundred guests. 

 The government road lending to the Park was repaired this fall and is being 

 kept in excellent condition. To make one of the most beautiful drives in the 

 Province and one which would also assist very materially in looking after and 

 protecting the interests of the Park, this road should continue through the Park 

 forest to the southern end and connect with the old lake shore drive-road at the 

 bar. An estimate was forwarded to the Department recently showing the cost 

 of enclosing 15 to 20 acres more of the bush land for the deer in captivity. 

 All the shrubbery, weeds, etc., in fact everything but the natural grass (the red 

 tops) and the trees, is killed in the old enclosure (14 acres) by the deer con- 

 tinually browsing them down. By picking up and burning the debris on the 

 14 acres, it would make a great addition to the picnic grounds, and the deer 

 would be greatly benefitted by the green bushes and undergrowth in the new 

 enclosure. 



According to instructions from the Department, notice was given to the 

 public that they would be allowed to take small pine poles, from three to five 

 inches in diameter, from the Park forest for such purposes as curing tobacco, etc. 

 I directed small trees to be taken only from where they were growing the 

 thickest, using a thinning process, which leaves the bush in a better state of 

 preservation. Some 797 poles were taken by 18 farmers at 10 cents per pole, 

 amounting to $70.70. They were allowed to take these poles during April and 

 May. This privilege was very much appreciated, I was also instructed to 

 allow a few poor families to take firewood from the tops of the trees that were 

 cut and taken for timber for the new dock, and they were very thankful for the 

 privilege. We are looking forward to having the new dock, base-ball grounds 

 and other improvements completed and in good condition before the picnic 

 season begins in 1908. The deer, game and fancy birds are looking fine and are 

 in excellent condition. The attendance at the Park is increasing each year, and 

 if the electric railway reaches here, as we expect it will in a short time, the 

 number of visitors will increase more rapidly, hence the necessity for more and 

 better accommodation. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



Isaac Gardiner. 



10 L. .M. 



