THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN BOARD.

The Board has met four times during the past year, the practical superintendence of the Gardens having been remitted to a Sub-Committee appointed for that purpose. The statement of the accounts appended shows the mode in which the funds at the disposal of the ■Board, daring the past year, have been expended. The action which was recommended by the Board in their last Report, relative to the management of the Recreation Reserves in Wellington, was given effect to by an Act of the General Assembly, which provides for the conveyance to the Board of a large part of the Wesleyan Reserve, increasing the area which they will have to maintain to upwards of eighty acres. A Bill is now before the Legislature, providing, among other things, for the payment to the Board of a share of the proceeds of rents from the Town Belt; but as this Act has not yet passed, and as some considerable time must expire before any revenue can accrue to the Board from this source, the Board still feel some anxiety lest the funds at their disposal should, in the meantime, be inadequate to maintain the Garden, and to enable them to undertake the additional work required to fence in and improve the area now added to the original domain. The cost for the future annual maintenance may be estimated at £250, and the amount required for fencing and improving the additional area at about £300. G. F. Bowen, Wellington, 19th September, 1872. President.

ACCOUNTS OF BOTANIC GARDENS, from 11th August, 1871, to 31st August, 1872.

SECRETARY'S REPORT. Paths. —The expenditure on paths has been for cleaning and widening the existing paths where necessary. Nursery.— The item, £33 18s. 6d., for nursery work, includes the preparation of pits in which seedlings are raised, purchase of 121 dozen of flower pots, purchase of timber for drains and fencing, and cost of permanent work. Garden Work. —Under this head, £220 10s. 7d., is included all payments of wages and small contracts for trenching, draining, and planting. A belt along the Tinakorißoad has been thoroughly trenched and planted as a shrubbery, which is also continued up the main walk from the entrance. All the principal spurs have now been planted with the trees and shrubs enumerated in the attached schedule, there having now been planted out in the gardens 1,786 coniferous trees and cypresses, and 764 miscellaneous trees and shrubs. The Native bush in the gullies has been under-brushed, and the dead portions removed, so as to preserve it from damage. The flat space near the entrance that was formerly used as a nursery ground, has now been. thoroughly drained and laid down in lawn grass, and the nursery operations confined to the gully and to two patches at the back of the gardener's cottage, which have been trenched and fenced in for seedling beds. _ Ten pits, each 10 X 7 feet, have been used for raising the Goniferce seed that was obtained from California last year through Professor Killog. The seed proved to be in excellent order, and came up freely in every case : about 22,000 seedlings were raised, but, through accident and destruction by the magpies, not much more than half that number will be available for distribution. _ One thousand two hundred and sixty of the most valuable of these have been potted, the pots having chiefly been made in Wellington by Maslem and Co., who are able to supply them at 2s. per dozen.

Receipts. Expenditure. lalance in hand, 11th August, 1871 £ s. d. 56 17 10 For Paths For Nursery (including pots, frames, &e.) Garden Work (including Keeper's wages and extra labour) Purchase of Plants, Seeds, &c. Digging Holes for Plants Labels for Trees Miscellaneous items Balance in hand £ s. d. 7 0 0 33 18 6 220 10 7 37 1 0 21 18 3 5 0 0 8 10 4 22 19 2 rote for 1871-72 300 0 0 £356 17 10 £356 17 10 17th September, 1872. Walteb Mantell, Treasurer.