•3 
Sir, 
BOTANIC GARDENS. SINGAPORE. 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 
Djc ws ib er 12th. 1917. 
. 
I beg to thank you for your kind note of December 
10th and desire to express the heartiest appreciation of the 
■ 
unifoni courtesy and consideration y/ith which I have been 
favored by this Government • 
. * 
As I depart, permit me to say that I have done my 
uttermost - with the greatest goodwill - for the Botanic Gar¬ 
dens and for agricultural and scientific interests in the 
Colony. The G; rdens, as indicated by the articles of found a- 
tion , possess potentialities, which, when fully developed, must 
inevitably result in great economic gains to the Colony. At 
„ 
present, development is not only impossible but mere up-keep 
* 
has become a matter of extreme difficulty. The Director, in 
s> 
the hand-to-hand struggle'with these difficulties, has exhibited 
a loyal devotion, and a willingness to sacrifice himself, both 
physically and professionally, that ora exceedingly rare. He 
does riot believe that Government should be asked for greater- 
i 
support at this serious juncture in the affairs of-the Empire. 
I cannot possibly agree v/ith *!iim in this view, both on the score 
of the r ossible permanent impairment of his o wn usefulness, and 
because there are possibilities in the Gardens, which, if de¬ 
veloped, would be of greater service to the Colony than at 
any other time. 
Hence 1 have p repared what might be termed as "minor— 
ity report" — very condensed — based upon five months study of 
the general situation, a copy of which 1 have filea with tne 
Director, and which report X request the kind indulgence o j 
j **• 
oe noise ion to submit to you, herewith. 
- 1 - 
As.su ring 
Tl i e Colon.i ; 1 -1 ■: o * eta i y, 
m 
SINGAPORE. 
