BOTANIC GARDEN (2)
It was not until the Sixties that the Surveyor General's Department took the matter up, mainly owing to the laying out at that time of the Government House Grounds. As an extension of the work then done, the area above the gubernatorial domain was cleared, terraced, and planted up; and Hongkong's public gardens came into being. On October 7, 1861, the first Curator was appointed, a Mr. Thomas McDonaldson, who apparently was not considered quite a success, if we are to judge by subsequent remarks about him made in an official report.
It might be noted that the Gardens were laid entirely at Government expense, and after the appointment of a Curator, seeds and plants were procured from Australia and England, and the place was properly planted up, so that a few years later, on August 6, 1864, the Gardens were thrown open to the public, subject to certain necessary regulations. The place appears to have been an immediate success, and from October that year, the military bands stationed in the Colony gave periodic concerts in the Gardens. The bandstand was subscribed for and presented by the Parsee community some time in the late Sixties, and still stands, being used as a kiosk for sheltering visitors from sun and rain.
In 1870, Government introduced the Public Gardens Ordinance (No. 8 of that year), and in 1871, the energetic Superintendent, who was to do so much for the place, Mr. Charles Ford, was appointed. In January 1872, owing to Mr. Ford's efforts, the Gardens and Afforestation Department was temporarily withdrawn from the supervision of the Surveyor General, and vested in a representative Advisory Committee, in which the general public was given a voice. This greatly stimulated public interest in the Botanic Gardens, but the management reverted in December 1873 to the Surveyor General, when the Public Gardens and Afforestation office was made a sub-department of the Surveyor General's department, and the Advisory Committee thereupon became known as the Public Gardens Committee. It was this Gardens Committee that organized the first flower show in the Colony (see 19-12-33). In February 1877, this advisory body was dispensed with, and the Gardens and Afforestation Department (a name it bore for some considerable time) was again wholly vested in the control of the Survey Department, a matter that met with opposition from its Superintendent, which resulted, as we shall see later, in the forming of an independent Botanical and Forestry Department entirely divorced from the Survey office.
Before proceeding with a detailed consideration of these changes, we might note the alteration to part of the Gardens within the past two years, owing to the construction of a covered-over service reservoir.
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Continuation.
BOTANIC GARDEN ( 2 )
It was not until the Sixties that the Surveyor General's Deaprtment took the matter up, mainly owing to the laying out at that time of the Government House Grounds. As an extension of the work then done, the area above the gubernatorial domain was cleared terraced and planted up; and Hongkong ts public gardens cameito being. On Oc- tober 7, 1861, the first Curator was appointed a Mr. Thomas McDonalson who app/ently not considered quite a success, if we are the judge by subsequent remarks about him made in an official report.
>
It might be noted that the Gardens were laid entirely at Government expenses and after the appointment of a Curator, seeds and plants were procured from Austra lie and England and the place was properly planted up, so that a few years later, on August 6, 1864, the Gardens were thrown open to the public subject to certain neces- Scry regulations. The place appears to have been an immediate success, and from October that year the military bands stationed in the Colony gave periodic concerts in the ardens. The band was subscribed for and presented by the Parsee community some time in the late Sixties, and still stands, being used as a kiosk for sheltering visitors from sun and rain.
In 1870 Government introduced the Public Gar- dens Ordinance ( No. 8 of that year) and in 1871 the energetic Super-intendent who was to do so much for the place Mr. Chalres Ford, was appointed. In January 1872 owing to Mr. Ford's efforts the Gardens and Afforestation Department was temporarily withdrawn from the supervision of the Surveyor General, and vested in a representative Advisory Committee, in which the general public was given a voice. This greatly stimulated public interest in the Botanic Gardens, but the management reverted in December 1873, to the Surveyor General, when the Public Gardens and Afforestation offcice was made a sub-depart- ment of the Surv eyor's General's department and the Advisory Committee thereupon became known as the Public Gardens Committee, It was this Gardens Committee who organized the first flower show in the Colony, (see 19- 12-33.) In February 1877, this advisory body was dispens- ed with, and the Gardens and Afforestation Department ( a name it bore for some considerable time ) was again wholly vested in the control of the Survey Department a matter that met with opposition from its Superintendent which resulted, as we shall see later, in the forming of an independent Botanical and Forestry Department entirely divorced from the Survey office.
Before proceeeding with a detailed consideration of these changes, we might note the alteration to part of the Gardens, within the past two years, owing to the construction of a covered-over which had formed service reservoir.
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