22 



There has been little change in the staff during the year, 

 F. Anderson left in the month of August to take the position 

 of Orchadist in the Natal Agricultural Department, and F. 

 Jeffrey was with us for three months emplojed in budding, &c. 

 Mr. J Wylie still continues his work as Curator and takes 

 charge of the garden and nursery work, and my very hearty 

 thanks are due to him for the great interest he takes in all 

 matters connected with the welfare of the Gardens. Mr 

 Rutter, who has now been with us for 14 years, is under Mr. 

 Wylie in charge of the Nursery, and is much pressed for want 

 of a reliable assistant, while J. McAlpine has similar charge 

 ot the plant houses and propagation work in connection with 

 them, much of his time is taken up in attending to visitors; he 

 has now been employed here for more than six years. S. W. 

 Bartlett commenced work in the early part of the year, and is 

 still with us. My thanks are due to all the employees for their 

 steady and efficient work. 



In conclusion, I think it will be necessary for the Com- 

 mittee to take into considerai ion the advisability of removing 

 the houses of the Indians to a situation away from the low 

 lying ground where they now are, as since the outbreak of 

 malaria we have seldom been without cases of this disease 

 amongvt them, sometimes five or more being off duty at a time. 

 In view of the construction of the tramline now in contempla- 

 tion by the Corporation, which when completed would necessi- 

 tate the removal of ail these buildings it would, perhaps, be as 

 well to consider the matter as soon as possible. 



Once more I have much pleasure in offering my hearty 

 thanks to the Committee for assistance and advice in all 

 matters connected with the work. 



I have the honour to be, 



Gentlemen, 



J, MEDLEY WOOD. 





