331
No.
17
99
No. 24.
HONGKONG.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION
DEPARTMENT FOR 1898,
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor,
BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 18th May, 1899.
Sir, I have the honour to submit the usual annual Returns and my Report on the work of this department for 1898.
STAFF.
2. The Assistant Superintendent was absent on leave from February 19th, 1898, to February 17th, 1899, during which time I performed his duties (in addition to my own) without remuneration.
3. The first clerk, Hur WA, was detected of embezzlement and he absconded in June; in Nov. ember he was apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to imprisonment. He was succeeded by the second clerk, Mr. WONG KWONG-MING, whose place was filled by Mr. WONG LUN-I.
4. The Head Forester, Mr. LOA QUAI, resigned on April 15th in order to commence business on his own account. He was succeeded by the second forester, Mr. SUEN TUNG. Both these men had been trained from boys in the department.
5. There was an aggregate of 380 days sickness amongst the Chinese staff of 53. Leave of a few days each was granted to 30 of the men.
6. We continue at a great disadvantage by the large number of changes in the coolie ranks of the staff, and also by the impossibility of obtaining any men who have previously had any experience of garden or forestry work; our supplies have to be drawn from the class of coolies ordinarily employed as earth coolies.
There were 18 changes of men during the year. I am frequently applied to by members of the community for gardeners to fill places, but as we cannot secure a sufficiency of trained men for our- selves it is impossible to provide any for others, however much I should wish to do so.
REVENUE.
7. The receipts were:-
From Plant Sales
11
"
Loan of Plants....... Forestry Products
$674.46
202.02
444.51
Total........
$1,320.99
BOTANIC GARDENS.
IMPROVEMENTS.
8. The old Aviary which I mentioned in my last Report as being dilapidated and unsuitable has been removed, and a new and larger one has been constructed on its site. The new one is 60 feet long by 28 feet wide; it is divided into seven distinct compartments, each one having a yard enclosed with wire netting nine feet in height, and an enclosure at the back for shelter and shade for the birds during rain and sunshine. The floor is raised about two feet from the ground. The roof is flat except that of the two end compartments, which is a ridge, and the middle one, which is a semi-circle, the highest part being 15 feet from the floor. The wire netting is stretched over bar and angle-iron framework. The back which affords shelter for the birds is constructed of brickwork. There is no woodwork except the divisions within the brickwork shelters, so that the structure will require only very trifling expenditure to maintain it, and it is, also, proof against rats and other vermin, which were very troublesome in the old structure.
The compartments are fairly filled with birds, but there is still room for further contributions, which would be thankfully received.
The aviary is a source of great interest to large numbers of visitors.
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