4. For neither of these two works can I admit that I require any higher or more expensive class of assistance than that of an ordinary intelligent labouring European Gardener of the class that at present would earn from six to eight shillings a day, and as the necessity has always been so impressed upon me of keeping the expenditure under the Head of Gardens, Plantations and Staff as low as possible, I am able after a six months' careful experimental observation of the daily routine of the work to respond to that appeal by recommending, with advantage to the Public Service, the substitution of the Superintendency at £300 a year by a humbler but more practically useful Office of Head Gardener at £200.
5. I have scarcely been able to advise this before because in a change so radical as the abolition of a brother officer's post, one is naturally most reluctant to come to any conclusion until experiment has proved absolutely beyond doubt the correctness of one's conjectures, so that when in March last, Administrator AUSTIN, who it appears had from his own personal observation independently arrived at views similar to mine, was good enough to consult me about a change in the staff, I took upon myself to point out the prudence of coming to no decision until the expiration of a term of six months after the Superintendent's departure for Europe, when I thought a sufficiently long trial would have then been gone through without him to enable the Government to find out any advantage which might possibly have been overlooked in continuing such a post filled by a professional officer of Mr. Fonn's importance. I gave this advice because I thought that if there were any doubt on the matter it was only just the Superintendent should be entitled to the benefit of it, and his post maintained.
6. But as the real supervision has gradually come to be so entirely vested in this Office, it must be confessed no inconvenience has resulted by the Superintendent's absence in England, although the want of a European workman of the class alluded to in paragraph 4 continues to be felt. The employment of such a man has been, during the last three years, more than once advocated to me by Mr. Foun himself, who thought the appointment a necessity, an opinion that had my entire concurrence, but one upon which I was unable to act for obvious reasons.
7. I would repeat therefore that the man required for these gardens is not a Superintendent or gentleman-gardener but a modest labouring man taken from that class in life who are not ashamed to be seen about their daily duties in shirt sleeves, or one who will not object to turn out with the coolies very morning at day-light, remaining among them throughout the day and supervising their work in the character of a foreman, personally digging with a shovel or using the scythe, hoe or pruning file, or cheerfully doing any other kind of manual work whenever it may be necessary for their general instruction and generally training them for future gardeners by the example of personal work in the many details of their trade. If we did not engage the Frenchman recommended in enclosed letter, a man of the kind may be procured at home without difficulty and in consideration of climate might be offered wages as high as Eighty dollars a month.
8. Although my plain duty has called upon me, at the expiration of the six months, to report upon this matter, I cannot do so without expressing my great regret that it should be from myself a recommendation should emanate tending to detach Mr. CHARLES FORD from this Department; it must however have become quite as evident to the Executive within the last two years as it has to me that a gentleman of Mr. FORD's professional aspirations was sadly out of place in the constrained and narrow sphere represented by the ordinary care, under instructions, of a thirteen acre garden and as it would not be possible for him to undertake at reduced pay the duties of the working gardener described in paragraph 7, I have no alternative but to apply for a new man.
9. I may add that the project for increasing the yearly tree planting over the island, recently submitted to His Excellency the Governor, would not, if carried out, necessitate any increased European supervision, that obtainable from the trained and intelligent native staff of Foresters, aided by convict labour under my own personal management and control being sufficient for all purposes.
I have the honour to be,
The Honourable CECIL C. SMITH,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General.
230