A NEW ZEALAND ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 8

A NEW ZEALAND ZOO.

THE QUESTION OF FUNDS. TO-NIGHT'S CONCERT. Almost overy civilised country in tho world has its zoological collection, and ono has only to visit tho capital city of any of tho Australian States to seo fairly wellequipped establishments- for tho exhibition of tlio most interesting animals and birds of the world. This country, however, has only ono or two very small collections, anil nono which makes a distinctive featuro of the singlar fauna of tho Dominion.; Few of tho people of* this country havo seen tlio wY'' • ' l )u kcko, tuatara, etc., alivo. >\ hati is wanted is a sanctuary or a properlyestablished'zoological garden in an accessible place. This, it is contended by those moving m tlio matter, can be" found ill tho public reserves of this city, -where tlicro are many acres lying waste and almost neglectcd. Tho public havo-yet hardly realised what a splendid asset they have in their Botanical Gardens,, town belt,. and city reserves. At Nowtown Park thero aro hills.and dales, a Ihko and swamp, sheltered and yet sunny places, only waiting for tho design and work of-the\city engineer to make it a -most attractive : spot, not only , for tho citizens of Wellington and visitors from other parts, of tho Dominion, but also from other countries. . ■

Tho : Wellington. Municipal .Council has. already dono a little in the direction ofshowing what may bo done, but, unfor-. tunately, no provision was mado for development, and the contributions of birds and animals by tho voluntary gifts of the citizens themselves was summarily stopped. Tho Reserves Committee wants all tho money available, ancT moro, ..for, shifting "spoil," and tho Tramways, which sinco tlio Zoo was opened liavo carried thousands of passengers overy week to what- was formerly, the most deserted park, : criuld not, without authority, advance money on what any private company would have" felt justified in regarding as a profitablo enterprise. Tho park is owned by tho people, but the management rests, with a committee which has other enterprises to foster, and what is anybody's business is often.the business of no one in particular. Tho management of this Zoo, it is contended, is a matter in which all aro concerned, arid tho neoplo. tho Council, and tho Government of the country hold ■ah _ interest. A primary necessity is tho, creation of a distinctive board of management, which would embraco persons qualified by /knowledge and interest to have a real voice, while -..under this Board should bo a competent. officer, who would direct, control, and manage tho zoological garden and its inmates, to the, very best advnntago and least possible, cost. Such a director would probably bo' an enthusiast in his science, and as a : lecturer and an authority who would do muclt for tho preservation of tho raro. fauna of this> Dominion, now fast disanpearing as the axo and Tiro of the settlor drive tlieni 'to that bourne from which no : traveller returns. ' advantages'of.a Zoo have been advanced by local enthusiasts, and are apnarent. Tho modern Zoo is not a, moro collection- of poor brutes in cramped caeca and dismal dens, but. tho animals' and birds aro allowed to jjriioy ,comparative . freedom under natural conditions, as far as possible, m artistic surroundings aiid pleasant outdoor life.

The present effort of the Citizens' ~ Zoological Gardens' Committer may seem rather ridiculous to some, hut is a sten in tlio creation of a decent Zoo for this Dominion.' and-.it is honed to secure nublic support and tho good .wishes of the community.* Many. peoplo hardly rnaliso 'what an'attraction, particularly to children and visitors, tho birds on tho lako and tlio' various animals. in tho enrres arc. . Many havo not oven yet visited tho Zoo. Others havo not b"ard- tho grand organ in tho Town Hall, but that, is not a mnttor Tvrhioh concerns either of tlinso .assets, but reflects soriously on ■ thb lack ;of an interest in naturo and art which should not bo a mnttor for boast. . ' 1 .

• .• From such r small bcrinninfrs as* theso in our city preat Joos : hnro: b«sn built un, and, thmifth th"ro may bo a humorous sid* to . an infant Zco and some measure of rjdiculo for 1 its' entbusiastuv promoters, yet their of tijiio and money aro iiot to be lightly treated. • •

Tho 'concert' to be hold this evening affords oh opportunity to tho' poorest of oOntributinp a mi to ?nrl showing his, or her,' sympathy with tho movement to promote : tht> /joo. _ llw nscellent programme, on its intrinsic, merit alono,,for,, our best artistes havo frcolv contributed to .tho people's con-cord-should command an, audience.