810 STRAITS SETTLEMENTS GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAT 22, 1885. 
Herbarium 
specimens. 
Demarcation 
of the hill 
reserves. 
Quarters. 
I would earnestly urge on the Government the necessity for action in this 
matter, w r ith a view to extending the reserve so as to take in these lands. Further 
delay may see them entirely destroyed. 
23. — With a view to obtaining a more practicable western boundary for the 
reserve, it was decided to purchase some abandoned lands which had become 
overgrown with secondary growth and brushwood. A line was consequently run 
by survey outside those portions which were believed to be purchaseable at fair 
prices, but as soon as the Government were seen to be in earnest about securing the 
lands, the native owners raised the prices and it was found impossible to agree to 
the purchase of more than one holding of about 7 acres within the year. Some of the 
proprietors will no doubt come to terms later on, but the delay caused was vexatious, 
as nearly $2,000 lapsed to the Treasury 7 . I may here be permitted to observe that it 
would be advantageous in the future to set aside annually a certain lump sum of 
money to be expended in the purchase of lands required by the Forest Department 
and for compensation to cultivators. 
24. — The collecting of Herbarium specimens of the plants of Malacca and of 
the adjoining Protected Native States was taken in hand, and about a thousand were 
sent to Singapore before the close of the year. The Overseer has taken advantage 
of his visits to the reserves to collect as much botanical information as his various 
other duties permitted. 
PENANG. 
25. — Next to Singapore, the work accomplished in Penang has been the most 
extensive of the year, notwithstanding the drawback that one-half of the year elapsed 
before the arrival of a qualified assistant from England. Mr. CURTIS reported himself 
towards the end of July, and has pushed on the work with great energy. 
The work accomplished consisted of the demarcation of the hill forest reserves ; 
the formation of a Forest tree nursery, an experimental nursery, and the clearing and 
laying out of grounds at the Waterfall for planting colonial products. 
26. — The largest reserve made covers the highest hill range in the island 
with an altitude varying . from 2,550 to 2,713 feet, respectively. This w r as consi- 
dered the most important and consequently it was the first taken in hand. 
From one-third to one-half of the elevation of this range has been included, due 
regard being paid to the nature of the soil, angle of the slope and amount of cultivation. 
The outline of the reserves as demarcated is very irregular, owing to cultivation having 
attained a higher altitude than was consistent with the general welfare. That 
no restriction should have been placed on the ascent of cultivation is to be 
deplored. To avoid including these encroachments it was necessary to raise the 
outline of the reserve higher at certain points than would have been necessary had 
there been no such obstacles, and by way of compensating to some extent for this loss 
the line was proportionately lowered in places where no cultivation existed and where the 
angle of the hill side w^as such as to render cultivation impracticable. This has been 
done at the expense of much cutting and hard climbing, and the few clearings unavoid- 
ably included within the reserve are of no great value. A list of these and their ap- 
proximate areas has been drawn up, and they have been valued with a view to 
arrangements being made for taking them over. 
27. — The demarcation line has been cut nine feet wide, of which five feet have 
been cleared of tree stumps, etc., and the upper side of the slope dug away to make a 
passable inspection path. The total length of the line thus opened, from the com- 
mencement of operations to the close of the year, is about 30 miles. The line embraces 
the whole of the main hill range of the island from western Ayer Hitain to Batu 
Feringgi, and this circle is now completed with the exception of a small portion 
between Half-way house on Government hill and Bukit Timah, the opening of which 
has been deferred pending the settlement, by purchase or otherwise, of the lands over 
the watershed of the Penang river upon which George-town is principally dependent 
for its water supply. 
28. — As the work of demarcation proceeded, it was found more economical to 
rent houses from Chinese for the accommodation of the coolies than to erect new quar- 
ters for them, 
♦ 
