THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

Evening Star, Issue 8482, 6 April 1891, Page 4

THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

TO THB EDITOB. Sib, —On reading the report in the Evening Stab of 2nd inst. I find that both Cra Fish and M’Gregor are making use of language that can easily be rebutted by facta, 1. As to button-holing councillors. Though advised by some of my friends to do so, I have not done it. 2. As to the hours of labor being five per day, as stated by Cr Fish. The working hoars during eight months of the year are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from S a.m. daring the remainder of the year, so that my duties are doable that stated, which have been duly performed as per time-sheets in City Surveyor’s possession, 3. As to sympathy from friends. Well, the more the better. 4. Referring to expenditure for ornamentation. It is well the public should know that the sum total for flower seeds used in the Botanic Gardens, Dunedin, has been 20a only during the past year by the City Corporation, with the exception of donations which have been acknowledged to the town clerk in terms of instructions received on Ist October, 1886. 5. As to the opinion formed of me as being the wrong man in Cr Fish’s report, this is best explained by the accompanying letters, which will enable the general public to form an opinion as to the origin of this grievance to me, dating from my connection with the Exhibition Grounds Committee. Copy letter to Mr J. White (of Messrs Chapman, Sinclair, and White), chairman of Exhibition Grounds Committee, etc. Be Exhibition Gardens. Botanical Gardens, 6to. October, 1889. Dear Sir,—l did not attend the meeting on Tuesday for fear I should open out on Councillor M‘Gregor for coming to the Gardens here, and reporting a lot of nonsense about which he knows nothing, I deferred to him iu connection with the Exhibition Grounds, \ to.—in short, everything—on account of his being m the Council, tut as he is now becoming most offensive I will have to set lines to praicj; my own interests.—Yours respectfully. John Rl’Bkan. • P.S.—This is neither the time nor the season for strife, on the eve of the jubilee. I mention this so that my indifference may be accounted for. Be J alike Park. At a meeting of the General Corrmitteo of the Jubilee Park held at the .Town Hall it was stated (see report 27ta August, 1837) : “ The curator of the Botanic Gardens has given valuable assistance, and a most acceptable contribution of tiers from the gardens was sanctioned by the Heservea Committee.” —I am, etc., John M‘Bean. Botanical Gardens, April 4,