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Office. Mr. Ford was however left in sole control of the Arboricultural Department. During Mr. Ford's absence in 1877, I transmitted to Sir Michael Hicks Beach a further proposal of Mr. Price to get rid altogether of Mr. Ford. Sir Michael Hicks Beach did not however approve of this suggestion of Mr. Price, and he transmitted to me a memorandum by Sir Joseph Hooker recommending that I should recur to the original plan and encourage Mr. Ford to enlarge the scope of his activity. Accordingly, I replaced Mr. Ford in the position to which he had been originally appointed by Your Lordship and in which he had been installed by Sir Richard MacDonnell. This was unanimously approved by the Legislative Council. It was felt to be an act of justice to Mr. Ford, and it has contributed more than anything else to the successful afforestation of the island that is proceeding, and to the present satisfactory state also of the Government Gardens.
1. The enclosed Report by Mr. Ford on the Gardens and Plantations, dated 15th April 1880, shows how well this interesting Department is now conducted.