FIRST REPORT OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN BOARD APPOINTED UNDER AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1870 Session I, D-26

D.—No. 26.

FIRST REPORT OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN BOARD APPOINTED UNDER AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OP HIS EXCELLENCY. WELLINGTON. 1870.

D.—No. 26.

The first meeting of the Board for the transaction of business was held on the 28th September, 1869, when a Secretary and Treasurer were appointed in accordance with the Act; and subsequent meetings were held on 7th October, 21st October (1869), and 28th March and 20th May (1870). The Crown Grant for the Botanic Garden Reserve having been obtained by the Board, application was made to the Provincial Government of Wellington to sanction the fencing in, along with that reserve, of a portion of the land known as the " Wesleyan Reserve," stipulating that, in the event of the said land being resumed, tho Board should be allowed to remove all improvements that have been made upon it. In reply to this application leave was granted to include an area of upwards of forty-six acres, which has accordingly been surrounded by a substantial four-railed fence, at a cost of £120. The land thus secured is well supplied with running streams, and consists of a series of sheltered valleys containing Native trees and shrubs. Between these valleys are well-grassed spurs, and the conformation of the surface is such that at very small expense it might be converted into a highly ornamental Domain. The first improvement undertaken by the Board was the cutting of footpaths to the extent of about 100 chains, which work is now being done by contract at the cost of ss. per chain. A small portion of the funds at their disposal has been devoted by the Board to the formation of a Nursery ground, in which several thousand plants have been raised for the purpose of being planted out when the preliminary improvements are completed. It is however intended that the Native vegetation shall be preserved, and that, by the addition of indigenous plants obtained from other parts of the Colony, the illustration of the New Zealand flora will be made the prominent feature. The Treasurer's Statement of the Expenditure of the Board is hereto appended, which shows that the sum of £122 16s. lid. has been expended up to this date, leaving a balance in hand of £57 19s. 4d., to wdiich has to be added the sum of about £200 still in the hands of the former Trustees, so that the fund at the disposal of the Board to meet the works which are in progress and future improvements is over £250. G. F. Bowen, Colonial Museum, Chairman. Wellington, 21st July, 1870.

Accounts of Botanic Gaeden Boaed, from November, 1869, to 19th July, 1870.

.FIRST REPORT OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN BOARD APPOINTED UNDER AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Receipts. EXPENDITURE. To Cash (from Trustees) £ s. d. 80 1G 3 Expenses of putting up Fencing, and Material £ e. d. Ditto ditto 100 0 0 112 8 1 For Labour at Nursery, and Contingencies ... 10 8 10 £180 16 3 Balance in hand on 19th July, 1870 57 19 4 £180 16 3 A. Ludl. LM, 'reasurer.