29 



Officer, who had attained an advanced age in the Society's 

 service, to retire on full pay, and are certain that they 

 will receive the full approbation of the Fellows in adopting 

 this course. As his successor in this important Office 

 they have selected Mr. Arthur Thomson, son of Mr. 

 James Thomson, formerly Head Keeper, who has filled 

 various positions in the Society's Gardens during the past 

 twenty years and has lately acted as the Superintendent's 

 Clerk and Chief-Assistant. 



The permanent Staff now consists of a Superintendent 

 and Assistant Superintendent, a Head Keeper and twenty- 

 three Keepers, three Money-takers, together with a Store- 

 keeper, Cook, Prosector's Assistant, and Head Gardener 

 — altogether 33 persons employed at monthly salaries. 

 Besides these there are 20 Helpers in the Menagerie, 

 14 Garden-labourers, 8 Artisans, 6 Painters, 9 Labourers, 

 1 Butcher, 2 Firemen, 2 Night- Watchmen, and 1 Time- 

 keeper employed at weekly wages; so that the number 

 of the whole staff may be reckoned at about ninety-six 

 persons. 



3. Visitors. 



The Council are pleased to be able to point out a con- 

 siderable increase in the number of visitors to the Society's 

 Gardens in 1889 as compared with 1888, as will be 

 seen by the subjoined Table, the total number having 

 risen from 608,402 to 644,679. The number of School- 

 children admitted free, it may be remarked, was greater in 

 1889 than in any previous year. 



Visitors to the Gardens. 



1889. 



Fellows and Friends j 167,984 



/'On ordinary days at 1«. each...' 154,164 

 I On Mondays and other days "I 



Paying-j at 6rf. each ( 



I Children under 12 years at i 

 l^ 6d. each I 



224,819 

 61,248 



School Children (admitted free) 36,464 



1888. 



176,609 

 123,746 



232,012 



49,021 

 27,014 



Comparison. 



644,679 I 608,402 



Deer. 8,625 

 Incr. 30,418 



Deer. 7,193 



Incr. 12,227 

 Incr. 9,450 



Incr. 36,277 



