84 ST. HELENA 



The Prince honoured the Governor by dining at Plantation. 

 He attended a ball at the Castle, and sailed again on the 

 evening of the same day he arrived. 



In 1862 St. John's Church was opened on January 24, 

 and St. Matthew's at Hutt's Gate on February 24. 



Governor Drummond Hay was succeeded by Admiral 

 Sir Charles Elliott on July 3, 1863. He administered the 

 Government for seven years, and continually endeavoured 

 to advance the welfare of the island. He had to contend 

 with many difficulties, especially with the diminishing 

 revenue. White ants at this time again gave great trouble, 

 and he was indefatigable in his warfare against them. 

 Many of the government buildings were repaired or re- 

 built with stone, iron and teak. The water-works were 

 not neglected, but were augmented largely to supply the 

 necessary quantity of water in case of fire or for shipping. 



A great number of Mexican pines, Norfolk pines and 

 Bermuda cedars were reared, and Dr. Hooker, the Director 

 of the Royal Gardens at Kew, when commenting on the 

 possibiUties of the island, advised the culture of cinchona 

 plants on the mountainous parts of the island. The 

 Governor agreed with his plan, and a skilled gardener, 

 J. H. Chalmers, was sent out from Kew, and cinchona 

 planting rapidly progressed. At the end of the year 1869 

 there were 10,000 cinchona plants raised from seed and 

 cuttings in all stages of growth, of which 545 were in the 

 plantations, vigorous and in good health, approaching three 

 feet in height. These promised a great source of profit, but 

 Sir Charles being recalled, was succeeded in 1870 by Ad- 

 miral Patcv, who seemed unable to see the advantage of 

 the undertaking, and the plantation was neglected, and 

 afterwards totally abandoned. The foUovNing report on 

 the cinchona planting by J. H. Chalmers fully explains the 

 work : — 



Report on the E.xperiment of Establishi.ng the Cinchona 



Plant in St. Helena, 



From 7th July, 1868, to \yth December, 1869. 



J. H. Chalmers, 

 Superintendent of the Cinchona Planlation and PubUc Nursery. 



On the 7th July, 1868, aiter the erection oi a small propagating 



