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176 Proceedings, [No. 1 1, new series. 



wildly the previous evening in search of tickets, which by that 

 time were at a premium. The few that were retained in the hands 

 of the Superintendent were speedily sold in the morning at the 

 gate. No doubt there were a few who made various but we are 

 glad to say, ineffectual attempts to obtain surreptitious admission, 

 some pleading position, some poverty and others the colour and 

 the cut of their coat, but the police Cerberus while discharging 

 his duty courteously to all was deaf to either grovelling or gran- 

 diose appeals. By 11 o'clock the leafy bovvers were thronged with 

 all the beauty and fashion of Madras, but from the extended ac- 

 commodation and the various improvements in the arrangements 

 there was at no time either crowding or inconvenience. By the 

 excellent Police arrangements, the crowd of natives who in time 

 past used to obtain surreptitious entrance over rails and through 

 hedges, and formed a dark, steaming and unpleasant fringe round 

 the tents and awnings, overpowering even the sweetest gifts of 

 Flora were turned out and kept out. Under the management of 

 two intelligent and active Inspectors assisted by several European 

 Serjeants and a strong body of police, the grounds were kept clear 

 within and surrounded by a cordon of peons without. The ar- 

 rangements as to the refreshment department were also judicious 

 though perhaps some of our younger readers may not quite con- 

 cur with us. But we think it is scarcely a legitimate expenditure 

 of the Society's Funds to squander hundreds of Rupees on ices 

 and Bon Bons, especially on large numbers whose only support to 

 the Society has been, their annual attendance at the fete and their 

 liberal eating of gratuitous ices. — Altogether we are sure we speak 

 the minds of the hundreds who were present at the Gardens yes- 

 day, when we say that the Committee and all concerned deserved 

 the hearty thanks of the society of Madras for the pleasing and in- 

 teresting; fete they have provided for the public. 



As to the exhibition itself, in many respects it surpassed that of 

 any former year. The shew of vegetables was really magnificent 

 and would have done no discredit to Covent garden. And this is 

 all the more surprising and also the more creditable considering 

 the very unfavorable season. The flowers especially the roses, 

 almost as a matter of course from this cause, were not up to the 

 standard of last year. The cut flowers, however, were really splen- 



