323
No. 23
87,
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT FOR 1886.
Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government,
on the 29th April, 1887.
BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT,
HONGKONG, 12th February, 1887.
SIR,I have the honour to submit the Annual Report on the Botanical and Afforestation Depart- ment for the year 1886.
2. The Superintendent was absent on leave during seven months of 1885, and from the 1st of January to the 2nd of June of the year under report. Mr. WESTLAND deserves credit for the efforts which he made to maintain the efficiency of the Department while Acting Superintendent.
3. ESTABLISHMENT.-I have much pleasure in recording the good conduct of the Head and Second Foresters during a period of trouble and trial when their characters were put to a test. The Head Forester, Mr. Lo AQWAI, was the first apprentice taken when I instituted the system of Gården Apprentices about twelve years ago. He is now the most valuable Chinese in the department.
4. A Temporary Clerk was employed for six months to assist the Acting Superintendent and the Permanent Clerk.
5. In consequence of the Dismissal of the Permanent Clerk an examination was held by the Government for the vacant post, Mr. S. MOOTIAN, being the successful candidate, received the appoint- ment. He has applied himself assiduously to his duties, and has given satisfaction in every way.
6. As usual there have been a great many Changes in the Staff of gardeners and labourers. These frequent and unavoidable changes are very detrimental to the state of efficiency which I am anxious to see attained. It is impossible to get trained gardeners to fill vacancies as they occur, the men who are engaged are, as a rule, ordinary coolies chosen on account of moderate intelligence, good character and activity, the ordinary and special duties required of them have to be learnt after the men 'come to us. All the operations of the gardens have to be daily and constantly supervised which absorbs nearly the whole time of the Head Gardener. Such fairly good Chinese gardeners as there are can obtain $7 or $8 a month, and the men, of course, are unwilling to come to us for $6 a month, or even for $7 (which are the highest wages paid by this department for gardeners) as they know that here the men have to work harder than in private service where they have very much more of their own way. There is, however, a prospect of some improvement, as provision has been made for an increase in 1887 of a dollar a month each for a few posts in the department, and this cannot but have a good effect.
7. Provision has also been made for the appointment of a Carpenter who will be fully employed. By this arrangement the profits hitherto made by the contractor will be saved, besides securing much greater convenience in always having a carpenter at hand to attend promptly to repairs, and other work.
8. An additional Forest Guard will be employed in 1887. This increase was much needed, as the patrol of the whole island, with the great increase in number and size of trees since forest guards were appointed six years ago, needs correspondingly increased vigilance from the protective staff.
BOTANIC GARDENS.
9. FOUNTAIN TERRACE.-The improvements long projected, and referred to in my Report for 1884, were commenced in the beginning of 1885, by removing from the western end of the terrace trees which were neither very ornamental nor useful, or which were represented adequately by speci- mens of the same species in other parts of the Gardens. They were not in keeping with their position