97 



{To H. N. Ridley, Esq., Botanic Garden, Singapore.) 

 Dear Sir, 



Herwith we have the pleasure to hand you contract for the sale 

 of the 2 cases Smoked Sheet and Biscuit ex S/S " EGYPT ".-which 

 you will be pleased to hear we disposed of at last Tuesday's sale, 

 realising the highest price in the auction, viz Q/- per lb. 



We think you will agree that, considering that many of the 

 buyers were very doubtful as to the smoking of the rubber and also 

 taking into account the very small quantity, this was a highly satis- 

 factory result, and we trust it may have the effect of producing 

 further efforts in this kind of manufacture. 



Account/sales and nett proceeds will be forwarded to you in 

 due course, and in the meantime with compliments. 



We are, Dear Sir, 



Yours faithfully, 

 ^for, Gow, Wilson & Stanton, Ltd., 



Spencer Brett, 



Director. 



THE ABOLITION OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS OF 



PENAN6. 



Nothing lasts for very long in this world, and perhaps in the 

 East changes and disappearances are more frequent than elsewhere. 

 Still we must view many of these with regret, and this feeling will be 

 felt by all Horticulturists and admirers of the beautiful in all parts 

 of the world on learning of the abolition of the world-famed Gardens 

 of Penang which, on the retirement of Mr. Fox, who has occupied the 

 post of superintendent of the Gardens since the retirement of Mr. 

 Curtis in 1903, will be handed over to the Municipality to convert into 

 a reservoir. 



The Gardens, which are the third founded and abolished since 

 the settlement of Penang by Captain Light, in 1786, were instituted 

 by Mr. Cantley, Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens of Singapore 

 in 1884 and Mr. Curtis, appointed Assistant Superintendent of Forests, 

 took over his appointment in July 1884, and immediately set to work 

 with much energy. He started a forest tree nursery and an experi- 

 mental nursery and laid out the waterfall gardens which was intended 

 to be a garden for Colonial produce. All this was effected in the first 

 year of his work. 



