8 



in the Garden. In August, however, three of the men for 

 which we had applied arrived from India, and in September a 

 fourth one, these being specially selected in India for gardening 

 work; there are still two more to arrive. In November we 

 took over ten indentured men who had been employed on one 

 of the collieries, and were found to be not suited for the work. 

 All of them were in the second year of their indenture, and are now 

 working fairly well. Fortunately when these men were offered 

 to us the building which had been errected for Indian quarters 

 was just completed, so that there was no difficulty in housing 

 them. As a result of the failure of the mealie crops, native 

 labour has lately become more plentiful, but the wages are still 

 high, and likely to remain so, and as the season advances it is 

 almost certain that the supply will diminish, and we are there- 

 fore fortunate in being in a position to carry on the work with 

 Indian labour — that is the routine work only, for any con- 

 siderable improvements or alterations we are still dependent on 

 some supply of native labour. 



The question of manure for the ground has become a some- 

 what pressing one. It must be remembered that the greater 

 portion of the ground has been in cultivation for from 40 to 50 

 years, and with the exception of a scanty supply to the flower 

 beds, little or no manure has been applied. Some years ago 

 we obtained a supply of stable manure from the Berea Tram 

 Stables delivered free at the Gardens, on the condition that we 

 took the urine also, but this eventually became such a nuisance 

 that we were compelled to discontinue taking it, and for the 

 last two or three years we have not had nearly sufficient for our 

 requirements, and now that the electric trams are at work, no 

 supply can be obtained from that quarter ; it was therefore 

 decided to obtain a horse and a light trolley so that we could 

 do our own cartage, and bring the manure to the lower part of 

 the ground, where the most of it is required, and where it will 

 not be a nuisance to visitors. A stable and cart-house have 

 been built, a trolley ordered, and I hope in a short time a horse 

 and harness will be obtained, so that we may get together a 

 stock of manure before the busy season arrives. 



As the dwelling house of the head gardener was much too 

 small, two brick-built rooms have been added to it in front of 

 the old wood and iron ones, thus not only enlarging the house, 

 but making it a little more sightly, standing as it does so close 

 to the present entrance to the Gardens. 



It has been decided by the Durban Corporation to locate 

 the new athletic grounds at the foot of the hill close to the 

 Gardens, and as it is certain that Avon dale Road, which divides 

 the Gardens from these new athletic grounds, will then be 

 hardened, with the probability of a tram line very close to our 

 boundary, it will be necessary to take into consideration the 



