8 



by which damage to them is often caused ; this is often no 

 doubt simply thoughtlessness, but has sometimes been a source 

 of much annoyance to us. Occasionally plants have been 

 abstracted and valuable flowers picked, but these cases are 

 fortunately not very common, and even during the crowded 

 state of the town in the latter months of the year, though the 

 number of visitors was enormously increased, no serious 

 damage was done. 



One glaring case, however, occurred at the latter part of 

 the year, when one of the best of the Garden seats was com- 

 pletely wrecked by two young men, who were seen to do the 

 damage by a native girl, but they had left the Gardens before 

 the information reached us, and the girl was quite unable to 

 identify them. Another serious annoyance is the constant 

 breaking through the fences in different parts ; I am afraid' 

 that examples will have to be made of some of the trespassers 

 before it can be finally stopped ; and I think it will be for the 

 Committee to consider whether the bye-law under which the^ 

 Gardens are closed to the public on Sunday mornings shall not 

 be put into force, for it is usually on Sunday mornings that 

 offences of this sort are committed. 



On the 28th of June the grass on the flat was fired, but 

 whether accidentally or maliciously we were not able to ascer- 

 tain. Before the men could get to it the fire had got through 

 the fence, and a large number of pinus and eucalyptus trees 

 were completely destroyed. The fence of " Amatungulu " 

 (Garissa grandiflora) was burned to the ground for about 100' 

 yards, but I am pleased to say that the plants have grown 

 again from the roots, and in a few months' time the fence will 

 again be quite effectual. The pinus are all killed, but some of 

 the gums may recover. 



The fence from the entrance to the southern corner of the 

 Garden has been completed and planted with " Amatungulu," 

 but we have not yet been able to ,do anything with the fence 

 along the Sydenham Road, along which there are several gaps 

 made and kept open by trespassers. It was planted with the 

 " Dingaan Apricot" (Aberia caffra), which we do not find 

 makes nearly so good a fence as the Amatungulu, and I think 

 it will be necessary to replace it with that plant after a wire 

 fence has been erected for its protection. 



I regret that the Corporation have not yet been able to do 

 anything to the road in front of the entrance gate, which 

 requires attention, the descent being dangerous for 'rickshas 

 and the space for turning insufficient for carriages, and I hope 

 that this will soon have attention. A pathway has been made 

 from Berea Road to Mansfield Road, where it ends for the 

 present ; it will be a great convenience when it can be carried 

 on to the main entrance to the Gardens. 



