A GROWING ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 7

A GROWING ZOO.

THE ANIMALS AT NEWTOWN PARK. . WELL WORTH A VISIT. , On April 10, 1906, almost three years ago, a small body of men met together, and, as a consequence of their meeting, the Wellington Zoological Society camel into existence. The convener of the meeting was the Rev. D. C. Bates, who has since filled the position of secretary to the society. The primary idea which led him to more in the matter was the thought that the fauna "of New Zealand,' including ■ many species unique, many . rare and many beautiful, was dying out without' specimens being preserved in any public institution. It was common' knowledge that any person wishing to see New' Zealand's' native birds and animals could do so ' most easily by taking a trip to Australia and visiting one of the zoological gardens there. Visitors to the Dominion,, too, were often' asked when they returned' home, '(Did you see any kiwi, or keas, or tuatara lizards?" and when they- had , to answer "No," they felt that they had not "done" tho tour properly. It was this idea of creating a zoo- which would become a national asset 1 that led to the formation of the Wellington society; But there were other reaas well.' As a means of educating the children, a zoo would be of great r value, for. young people do not thirst for'natural his- : tory knowledge when they have to gather it from books. When they can, by'travel or other means, see tho birds and animals for themselves, they, have a desire'to learh more.

Public Support Needed! . So much for the aims of .tho Citizens' Zoo-, logical Committee: Its objects were praiseworthy, but for their accomplishment-money and public support were needed. These 1 were not so easy to obtain, though in institutions of a really publio character Wellington is rathor poor—in-fact,• a leading citizen' reoontly. stated that ho felt quite-ashamed of the city when lie travelled in America ; and on tho Continent and saw the public, spirit the people displayed. ■He even wont, so, far as to say that Wellington was. '.'the meanest city in the Southern hemisphere.". In Australia, things are not.so .bad, for in-,.each State. there are collections-. qf animals and birds eit icr financially assisted .or wholly maintained by ■ the-. Government. • In New South "Wales, £2500 per annum is voted, in Victoria £3500, in Western Australia £3600; and every capital city has its zoo. ''It was not expected to get in Wellington; anything liko what is possessed by Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth, but tlie idea was to make a' start.: To induce people to take an. interest in': the .matter, the subscription was. :mado, a very, small one, as' it was hoped that the interest;once aroused would not.be confined to the: society in Wellington. city, but. .would spread, as it should, all over .the colony. ;' •*. ! -, i; . Thus far;,-then,- the society had- its plan,■ and when it looked'as i£ : it were a caso of , "thus far shalt thou go and.no further," assistance came—from outside. Messrs. Bostock and -Wombwell offered: to present a lion. Looked at with unprejudiced eyes, thiß gift did'not . appear to be an unmixed blessing—some . members, .. like . Gilbert's "Judge," thought,it ratheran incubus,: but tho others persuaded the City Council to accept the gift and house the lion.< :It .was a small : beginning, - but from smaller beginnings greater institutions have grown.. Hagepbach s zoo at Hamburg—one of .tho finest, in the world—was started by Hagenbach, a fisherman, .with npair- of seals.' After the lion:'variotis other beasts and birds wero obtained, tho lake was stocked, and the out-, look or the zoo .became brighter.. Ever since there has been abundance of prosperity. Peo;ple'have realised that, thejr■>zoological gardens ar© .going. to. bo a thing ■ to : take pride, in, and-the .thought .has made then} •'take an interest..;.. ".-v.".

'Rstnarkal)!o Growth, ■ a, r«Mrt«r...waß shown round the, collection, arid no was roally surprised how f > it had grown.; First of : all there, was the lioii,.which .is soon to hnvo a mate. Then there were the camel, throe : monkeys, and two lemurs,; which attracted much_ attention, a'pair of hog deer, a pair of Rusine deer, a pair, of Timor deer, one Axis, deer, a pair of great grey kangaroos, a pair each' of rednecked and brush-tailed wallabies, threo dingoes,. some tuataras,. and . opossums, and a great variety of guinea-pigs, hedgehogs, rabbits,, etc. ' These are all kept in enclosures, cheaply but well-made, the trees and natural growth of the park being . admirably utilised,; Hadtho society' searched for years they could probably- not have; found " a;- ;place - bettor adapted : for ■'• a - : zoo' than Newtown-' tirk'f. itf.'. There aro hills, valleys, and a pond. Aoros of. ground were lying practically idle, for years j.'the pine -iieedlos' fell on' ground; which' nad. not the scenio. value of. the'.botanical gardens j 'nor'.'the value'as'a "recreation grouncTwhioh the. Basin Reserve possesses. The park was vory little visited by tho public, for,' what was there to sco? Lately as many as 10, COO people in .a day-.have; been known to" travel to 'the park, attracted by the zoo, and, go ; when-you will, you will always see sonieono 'there.-' Apart from the value of'the'gardons as an .educational asset,the. tramway trafficwhich has resulted has given, tho. City Council some return for its expenditure. 1 . In addition to tho. animals, there 'are a large' number of. rare and beautiful: birdsNew. Zealand birds,. Australian -birds, and .birds from all parts.of the world, There are black and white - swans, Muscovy, mallard, and other ducks, Chinese raaned geese,, pukaki,; half-a-dozen' different kinds of seagulls, Australian and New Zealand teal; .an ibis, terns, four onnis, a pair -of peafowl, Galifornian quail, a native pigeon, a .weka,' and a morepork or ruru, a great variety 1 of ■ph'easants, some of thorn beautifully plumaged, crested! doves, hawks; and laughing jackasses. . The tropical birds makoa - very 6nel showing. The collection'includes a great variety qf finches, ■ cockatoos, parrots,lovebirds, and Pekin robins. The' zoo-keeper, Mr. A. E. Bertling, formerly' head-keeper of the. London z00,.: is an authority on' ornithology, so the birds should thrivoVwoir under his care. Mr/. Bertling' is ably assisted by Mr- T.. ,\V, Arthur, formerly of tho Brookdale zoo.- Last but not least, of tho zoo. colleQtion .are-the seals and sea lions; : At present these are; rather cramped. in their. quarters ;by, tho, pond, but ». new pond is being constructed where more accommodation: will be available. ■ Accommodation in 'almost; all classes : is the greatest need. at present time.A good collection has been got together with some difficulty, ohiefly in regard .'to/,native; founa. ahd tho housing,of it. is,now; the pro? blom. The feeding is not (a vqry expensive matter, tho.seals, for example, can be fed oil "stale fish,'which, are secured froo. With tho winter coming on, a small mammal house is badly needed, but to secure this money must be obtained. - '

A National institution. That the zoo has so far mot with public approval may_ bo seen by Bpcakiug to ,people who have visited it, especially if tho people have children. . A number of citizens who were seen bjr a Pominion reporter, expressed their appreciation in. no unoortaiii manner. Most of them , were very enthusiastic over tjib, matter, and nowhere wm there a note, of disv approval sounded. Now a .movement is to be made to got the; Government to take up tho zoo as a national' institution, and the. City Council has been asked to join in a deputation to approach the authorities in this' regard. ' Some people think that if Wellington, receives tho support of tho Legislature, other oitics will feel'that they are, entitled to tho same' oonsidoration, but it imust be remembered that Wellington citizqns. made a gtart by themselves,' and are now asking for support for a zoo. which has . parsed tho rough initiali stages. Wellington people,' too, arc not tho only ones interested, for visitors from all parts of both islands take a great interest in tho gardons v and some havo even, mado. tho journey specially to visit, tihem. ,