71
"But I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent to the opinions in these matters of our officials. I should of course immediately prefer to have their cordiality, but if this cannot be without sacrificing the true interests of the department then I elect to go with the department and stand firmly by its scientific work."
In 1891 the New Building, being the accommodation for the herbarium, library, offices and store-rooms as well as the residence for the Superintendent of Gardens was completed and occupied.
After years of effort both by Ford, his assistant and numerous workers, and despite the severe frosts of 1893 which severely affected many trees, the Botanic Gardens were at their best but in 1894 tragedy struck and Ford records this sombre statement on the effect of typhoons twenty years after he first wrote to Hooker at Kew on the identical subject.
"Immunity from destructive storms for many years past had allowed the general effect of the Gardens to reach a state of great beauty, which however, the last [October] storm wrecked in a cruel manner, and it will be many years, under the most favourable circumstances, before the Gardens can recover the beauty which was so greatly marred.
“Our gardens were terribly wrecked in 1874 and now they are again [20 years later] reduced to a scene of desolation. All our large trees have been either totally destroyed or reduced to little more than stumps or bare poles.
"Outside the gardens, trees on the hills have come through pretty well, but the shade trees in the streets and roads have been terribly mutilated. Most of the roads and streets were blocked with fallen trees and broken limbs."
After a long and distinguished career as Government botanist, as well carrying out the role of superintendent of the Botanic Gar-
71
"But I have learnt to be perfectly indifferent to the opinions in these matters of our officials. I should of course immediately prefer to have their cordiality, but if this cannot be without sacrificing the true interests of the department then I elect to go with the department and stand firmly by its scientific work."
In 1891 the New Building, being the accommodation for the her- barium, library, offices and store-rooms as well as the residence for the Superintendent of Gardens was completed and occupied.
After years of effort both by Ford, his assistant and numerous workers, and despite the severe frosts of 1893 which severely af- fected many trees, the Botanic Gardens were at their best but in 1894 tragedy struck and Ford records this sombre statement on the effect of typhoons twenty years after he first wrote to Hooker at Kew on the identical subject.
"Immunity from destructive storms for many years past had allowed the general effect of the Gardens to reach a state of great beauty, which however, the last [October] storm wrecked in a cruel manner, and it will be many years, under the most favourable circum- stances, before the Gardens can recover the beauty which was so greatly marred.
“Our gardens were terribly wrecked in 1874 and now they are again [20 years later] reduced to a scene of desolation. All our large trees have been either totally destroyed or reduced to little more than stumps or bare holes.
"Outside the gardens, trees on the hills have come through pretty well, but the shade trees in the streets and roads have been terribly mutilated. Most of the roads and streets were blocked with fallen trees and broken limbs."
After a long and distinguished career as Government botanist, as well carrying out the role of superintendent of the Botanic Gar-
ļ
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.