6 
The Government had kindly allowed the services of GO 
prisoners from the IIo*use of Correction to carry out the ex- 
cavation of the lake, but owing to the small number of pri- 
soners in Jail not more than an average of 30 have been 
available, and of late not more than 10, so that your Com- 
mittee have been obliged to contract for Chinese coolies to 
complete the excavations ; it is however highly probable that 
in the course of a week the number may be increased to 25, 
in which case, as the sluice to let off the water is to be 
commenced at once, the Committee expect that the lake will 
be ready to be filled by the end of the year ; meanwhile the 
land on both sides is being tastefully laid out by the able 
Superintendent, whose exertions have been most meritorious, 
and Garden Eoad has been entirely re-metalled, and again 
-opened to the public. 
As the Lake occupies the only situation where the Coolies 
employed iii the Gardens can live, and as a residence is requi- 
red for a Superintendent, your Committee have bought the 
adjacent property, lately belonging to Adam Wilson Esq.,— 
for $ 1,700 and empowered the Trustees to raise $1,500 on 
mortgage of the newly acquired land and Superintendent’s 
house to be erected thereon, which has been carried out ac- 
cordingly. 
To construct the Superintendent’s house, the Government 
have kindly consented to allow the Society to be supplied 
with Bricks from the Government kilns at cost price, and 
as there will be no immediate necessity for the payment until 
the Society is in a position to make it, a contract will at 
once be entered into for the building. 
One of the intentions of the Society being to supply 
members and subscribers with European vegetables, and “ to 
secure improvement in the vegetable products of the island,’? 
part of the newly purchased property lias been already plant- 
ed, and as soon as regular fresli supplies of seeds now on the 
way begin to arrive, your Committee expert to be in a position 
to carry out the objects in view. 
