BOTANIC GARDENS (3) Continuation.
He points out that he had been in charge for a considerable time before Mr. Price's appointment as Surveyor General on January 1, 1873 and explains the latter gentleman's allegations, that "angry misunderstandings and confusion had occurred." It seems that certain coolies of the Survey Department in 1873 had helped themselves (under orders) to a number of bamboos growing in the Gardens, which were required apparently for roadside planting by the Survey Office, predecessors of the present P.W.D.) without the Superintendent of the Garden being notified. There rather naturally was a great deal of friction: not lessened by the somewhat hectoring way in which the bigger department appears to have acted.
Mr. Ford had a long fight for independence, despite originally obtaining the support of the Governor, Sir Richard Macdonnell. We have already seen, in the earlier comment, that in January 1872, the first complete independence was obtained, but this did not last long. There is a point in this connexion which might be placed on record - an extremely blunt Reference, in a despatch by the Governor to the original Curator of the Gardens. This was incorporated in a paper laid before the Legislative Council, and denotes that Mr. Ford was regarded officially as a trained man competent to take full control of his department. The despatch is dated January 9, 1872, signed by Sir Richard Macdonnell, and the opening paragraph contains this comment:
"I am not aware of any reason why Mr. Ford's Department should not be altogether withdrawn from the nominal control of the Surveyor General. The interposition of the latter officer as an organ of communication with the Government may have been necessary when the person in charge of the Public Gardens and Planting was a person so uneducated and of generally such inferior personal status as Mr. McDonaldson, the late Superintendent."
This advocacy in such a high quarter evidently resulted in the brief independence for the new Superintendent which we have noted earlier.
It might be added that Mr. McDonaldson (he is referred to in some of the records as Donaldson) died in Hongkong in November 1870.
From a perusal of the Gardens records, by kind permission of Mr. H. Green, I have been able to obtain some pointers to the old days. For instance, there was at one time quite a pretentious zoo there. We find that some monkeys having been presented in 1876 to the Gardens, a monkey house was erected there, also an aviary. Among the animals which were kept from time to time were also deer and bears, reference being made to a Siamese honeybear which lived there for some years, also a Siberian bear which was giving trouble owing to its strength and fierceness. The birds included storks and emus besides many smaller ones.
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BOTANIC GARDENS (3) Continuation.
He points out that he had been in charge for a considera- ble time before Mr. Price's appointment as Surveyor Gene- ral on January 1, 1873 and explains the latter gentleman's allegations, that " angry misunderstandings and confusion had occured ́" It seems that certain coolies of the Survey Department in 1873 had helped themselves (under orders } to a number of bamboos growing in the Gardens, which were required apparently for roadside planting by the Survey Office, predecessors of the present P. W. D. ) without the Superintendent of the Garden, being notified, There rather naturally was a great deal of friction : not lessened by the somewhat hectoring way in which the bigger department appears to have acted.
Mr. Ford had a long fight for independence, des- pice originally obtaining the support of the Governor, Sir Richard Madonnell. We have already seen, in the earlier comment, that in January 1872, the first complete indepen- dence was obtained, but this did not last long. There is a point in this connexion which might be placed on record- an extremely blunt Reference, in a despatch by the Governor to the original Curator of the Gardens. This was incorpo- rated in a paper laid before the Legislative Council, and denotes that Mr. Ford was regarded officially as a trained man competent to take full control of his department. The despatch is dated January 9, 1872, signed by Sir Richard Macdonnell, and the opening paragraph contains this comment:
" I am not aware of any reason why Mr. Ford's Department should not be altogether withdrawn from the nominal control of the Suveyor General. The interposition of the latter officer as an organ of communication with the Government may have been necessary when the person in charge of the Public Gardens and Planting was a person so uneducated and of generally such inferior personal status as Mr. McDonalson, the late Superintendent ."
This advocacy in such a high quarter evidently resulted in the brief independence t for the new Superin- tendentwhich we have noted ealier..
It might be added that Mr. McDonaldson ( he is referred to in some of the records as Donaldson ) died in Hongkong in November 1870.
From źa perusal of the Gardens records, by kind permission of Mr. H. Green, I have been able to obtain some pointers to the old days. For instance, there was at one time quite a pretentious zoo there. We find that some mon keys having been presented in 1876 to the Gardens, a mon- key house was erected there, also an aviary. Among the animals which were kept from time to time were also deer and bears reference being made to A Siamese honeybear which lived there for some years, also a Siberian bear which was giving trouble owing to its strength and fierceness. The birds included storks and emus besides many smaller ones.
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