29 



1875. 



Mr. Sanderson still remains President, and Mr. W. Hartley 

 joined the Committee. The Curator, Mr. Keit, in his Report 

 enumerates about 670 plants in the Gardens, many of them are 

 still there, but a large number have disappeared. 



1876. 



For this year Mr. H. V. Ellis acts as Hon. Secretary, and 

 the Committee appear only to have held one meeting, viz., on 

 February 9th. During this year the Curator appears for the 

 first time to have had the assistance of a European gardener, 

 and he reports the introduction of 10 species of Palm, 6 of 

 which are still in the Garden, a species of Coffee, which is now 

 not here, and about 20 ornamental trees or shrubs. 



1877. 



I have after this time no Minute Book of the Committee to 

 refer to, but note that Mr. J. Sanderson still remains President. 

 The year appears to have been very dry, and the Curator re- 

 ports the loss of several trees, and also that 35 species of trees 

 and shrubs have been added to the collection, only 11 of these 

 are now in the Garden. Two cases of Assam Tea were received 

 from Kew Gardens, but very few of the plants were saved. 



1878. 



Mr. Sanderson still remains President, and the Curator 

 reports the loss of many plants on account of the drought. The 

 additions to the collection number about 26, only 6 of which 

 remain in the Gardens at the present time. 



1879. 



Mr. J. Sanderson still President. The Curator reports 

 that the European gardener joined the Volunteer force on 

 active service, and he had not been able to obtain a person to 

 fill his place. The Libenan Coffee, he states, is not a success. 

 The " Ceara " rubber tree (Manihot Glaziovii) has grown well, 

 but the Hevea and another rubber tree did not survive the 

 winter. Of the Prickly Comfrey which was under trial, he 

 says that " he hears but few favourable reports," and that 

 plants of Trachyl obium Bornemanninwim had been reared 

 from seed. This tree yields the Gum Copal of commerce, 

 and is now flourishing in the Gardens. He also reports that 

 in May he obtained a European assistant, 



