34 



a park and recreation ground for the people, though in 1880 

 light was once more thrown on the subject, for a petition was 

 numerously signed by many influential citizens, and laid 

 before the House, when, through the exertions of members of 

 the same, the sum of =£200 was voted for improvements in 

 the Domain ; still nothing of any importance up to thw 

 present time has been done to effect the desired improve- 

 ments. I, therefore, feel it my duty to again attempt 

 to awake the interest of the public in this national under- 

 taking, and hope that from any discussion which may 

 lake place after the reading of this paper some practical and 

 lasting results will follow. 



Among the minor improvements that have taken place this 

 last year, I may mention the work done by prison labour in 

 removing imbedded stones and levelling the ground in the 

 neighbourhood of the Queen's Battery, together with the 

 clearance of surface stones in other parts of the Domain. 

 Another great improvement was the removal, or rather 

 softening down, of the rugged quarry near the High School, 

 which could be seen from most parts of the city of Hobart — I 

 shall have reason to allude to this qujtrry in my remarks on 

 improvements — and, lastly, the planting out of some young 

 ijromising trees in the neighbourhood of the Eoyal Society's 

 Gardens. This is certainly a step in the right direction, and 

 augurs well for the future. Also the preventing of cattle from 

 grazing in the Domain. I think that some modification of 

 this will very likely have to take place, as the long grass 

 will be liable in the summer months to accidental causes 

 of fire. 



I now bring before your notice some suggestions in regard 

 to the future. 



(1.) That a committee of the Royal Society be appointed 

 to wait on the Minister of Lands and explain their views with 

 regard to future improvements in the Domain, these to be 

 carried out under their control, permission being given them 

 to draw up a rough scheme or plan in order that all work con- 

 nected with the improvement of the Queen's Domain might 

 be done under a distinct system. 



(2.) That such committee should receive an annual grant 

 of, at the very least, ^8200 from Government. This sum was 

 voted for improvement of the Domain only last session. 



(3.) That the quarry in front of Government House be at 

 once levelled in a similar manner to that already done near 

 the High School, and arranged as a nursery, where plants, 

 which might be received from the gardens or elsewhere, too 

 young to be planted at once in the Domain, might be grown 

 on until sufficiently strong to be removed. 



(4.) That prison labour should at once commence near the 



