IOR/P/12/29 14 Feb 1828 Nos 57-59

People

• E Molony, Acting Secretary to the Government General Department
• Major C M Campbell*
• Reverend W Carey*
• Major James Craigie, Secretary to the Military Board

*Members of the Plantation Committee in addition to Wallich

Contents

No 57 [11 folios]

Letter to E. Molony from Plantation Committee, 24 Nov 1827

• material relating to end of the work of the Plantation Committee, eg. finance and employment matters, archives and records, etc.
• argues for need to research and develop unexplored and uncultivated forests and types of wood
• review of science and management of wood and forests
• problems with using native/indigenous names for trees; comparisons with similar sorts of trees
• need to address underlying problem of deterioration in Timber supply for Commissariat purposes
• recommends formation of Committee of Forests to address this issue

No 58 [15 folios]

Letter to Members of Plantation Committee from Wallich, 20 Nov 1827

• covering letter referring to two enclosures (see below)

Letter to Wallich from James Craigie, 2 Oct 1827

• refers to two specimens of wood
• seeks information in relation to these, and
• information relating to any other sorts of wood suitable to the purpose of the construction of fuzes for shells

Letter to Major Craigie from Wallich, 17 Oct 1827

• Wallich struggles to identify two specimens of wood; will investigate further
• Wallich urges more detailed investigation of a much wider range of trees;
• list of standard trees already being used (eg. Sissoo, Teak, Bamboo) often not available in the right quantity or quality
• argues that collecting specimens is insufficient without ability to identify them with specific trees
• emphasises problematic and unreliable nature of native terminology and knowledge
• Wallich proposes central office or depot for research under his direction,
• to which specimens can be sent and identified, especially relating to useful timbers

No 59 [2 folios]

Letter to Wallich from E. Molony, 14 Feb 1828

• acknowledges letter of 24^th Nov 1827
• transfer of records of Plantation Committee to Office of the Superintendent of the Botanic Garden approved
• suggestions in paragraph 4 of letter from Plantation Committee to be considered by Territorial Department

Ordered that

• extract including paragraph 4 of letter from Plantation Committee and letter to Plantation Committee with enclosures be sent to Territorial Department
• extract of paragraph 2 of letter be sent to Accountant