2 
5. The four Forest boats used for river work were kept in the same places as 
last year. The Chan Chu Kang boat is woefully leaky, is over large and heavy for 
the purpose for which it is required, and might in no long time be with advantage 
replaced by a new one. 
6. (a) The number and result of the various prosecutions instituted in respect 
of the reserves will be seen hereunder. 
No. of 
Convicted 
Cases. 
Dismissed 
Inflicted 
Fines. 
Recovered 
Western Division 
10 
9 
1 
$500 
$250 
Northern Division 
7 
6 
1 
51 
41 
Eastern Division 
1 
1 
20 
20 
6. (b) At the XII mile Tampinis Road 4 or 5 acres of lalang were burnt. In 
the Kranji Reserve the same fate came upon acres of brushwood in April. In 
the Reserves at Ang Mo Kio, and in the Selitar Extension there were five small fires, 
but only lalang was destroyed, and the guilty escaped. 
7, Necessarily the more exposed Reserves claimed the greater part of the 
Collector’s attention, and nearly fifty per cent, of his surprise visits were paid to the 
Bukit Timah, Ang Mo Kio, and Ulu Randan Reserves. However great the vigilance 
of the staff it must be admitted that depredations do from time to time take place and 
the loss of Getah taban trees at Bukit Panjang (Reserve) Bukit Timah (Reserve) and 
Ayer I'erjun (Crown jungle) is not compensated by the fact that in two out of three 
•cases the offenders expiated their crime. 
8. The nurseries of useful trees which the Guards were to make in their leisure 
moments have not progressed very far. At Bukit Timah have been planted a fair 
number of trees (mainly Penaga, Tembusu and Tampinis) and they look well. The 
trees in the Changi nursery (Rengas Klat and Tampinis) are sickly, while the Kranji 
and Chan Chu Kang (Tembusu, Rengas and Jambu Air) nurseries are very poor things 
indeed. 
9, The Revenue from the Reserves was again nil, the Expenditure on them 
amounted to $ 1,085.15 all but $88.25, being the wages, etc. ; of the Guards. Govern- 
ment allowed the Collector to bring forward a scheme tor slightly improving the 
positions of these men and materially bettering their prospects, in the hope of 
attracting and keeping a good class of Guards, but sanction for his proposals has as 
yet not been obtained, one cause of delay being the necessity for evolving a scheme 
which will work fairly for the Guards all over the Colony. Their temptations are 
many, their prospects should be good enough to make it pay them to resist. 
10. Nothing that occurred during the year was so likely to improve the Re- 
serves as their inspection by Mr. H. C. Hill, Inspector-General of Forests (Indian 
Forest Service ). As far as regards Singapore Mr. Hill’s recommendations resolve 
themselves, speaking broadly, into the appointment of a trained Forest Officer to 
he in supreme charge of the Reserves of Singapore, with the rest of the Colony, 
the encouragement of natural re-afforestation with protection of the jungle from 
fire, and systematic cutting of the Bakau. Ho.v much Bakau will be required for the 
Railway it is not at present possible to foretell, but should there be any considerable 
surplus, the adoption of the last recommendation would give the Reserves the 
appearance of being what they will be, a paying property. I he absolute cessation 
of Government Bakau passes having raised the price of Bakau firewood trorn $6.37 
per 1,000 to $6.75 per 1,000 billets tends to show that any coupes not required for 
Government purposes would find a ready sale. 
W. L. CARTER, 
' Acting Collector of Land Revenue . 
