8 



The brick work was commenced in March, and in the 

 early part of May the woodwork for the superstructure 

 arrived and Mr. Lansdell who had the superintendence 

 of its erection, commenced work at once, the building was 

 completed in October, but the internal arrangements 

 took some time to complete, and it was finally opened to the 

 public by His Excellency, Sir Walter-Hely Hutchinson, 

 K.C.M.G., Governor of the Colony, on the 8th December, and 

 a reproduction of a photo taken during the opening ceremony 

 will be found at the end of this Report. Though there were 

 not a large number of people present, many have visited the 

 Gardens since, and all express their complete satisfaction with 

 the building and its internal arrangements. We find that 

 many plants, such as Caladiums, Ferns, &c, have made very 

 rapid progress since they were transferred to the new House, 

 and we hope to be able to grow in it plants which in spite of 

 our so-called semi-tropical climate will not succeed out of doors, 

 but to stock the House with such plants will necessarily take 

 some time to accomplish, I have, however, several promises 

 of assistance from various correspondents, and some plants 

 have already arrived, but are as yet too small to make much 

 show. 



The old gate at the main entrance to the Garden has been 

 now removed, and a new wrought iron pair of gates with about 

 30 yards of fencing to match has been erected in its place, an 

 improvement which has long been urgently required. From 

 the gate of the Curator's residence to the corner of the 

 Observatory ground a fence of plain and barded wire with iron 

 posts has been erected, this having become absolutely neces- 

 sary in consequence of trespass by natives and Indians. The 

 material is on hand for continuing this fence below the main 

 entrance, to the southern corner of the Garden ground, and this 

 fence will be completed in the early part of the present year. 

 The fence along the Sydenham Road is at present not effectual, 

 and it is hoped that a substantial wire fence will take its place 

 during the year. 



On several occasions it has been suggested by Borough 

 Councillors and others that it would be a convenience to the 

 public to continue the Botanic Gardens Road through the 

 Gardens and connect it with the Cowey Road on the other side, 

 and I am given to understand that both the present Mayor and 

 the Borough Engineer are in favour of this being done, I may, 

 however, take this opportunity of saying that if such a plan 

 were carried out it would almost ruin the Gardens, a public 

 road, along which traffic would pass, and which would cut our 

 small area of ground into two almost equal portions, and 

 having as is contemplated a tram line along it, would, so far as 



