ABOUT " ZOOS."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1347, 26 January 1912, Page 3

ABOUT " ZOOS."

A WELLINGTON ENTHUSIAST IN AUSTRALIA.

One of tho most eager enthusiasts to pioneer the Wellington Zoo into exister.ee was the Rev. I). C. Bates, who has juM returned from Australia with some additional live stock for Newtown Park. "The Sydney Zoo," said Mr. Bates, "is now a very popular and interesting place. A charge of 6d. per head is made for admittance, and this" about pays for the upkeep. The Government grant of .£3OOO per annum is now being capitalised for tho development of tho Zoo on a new site—at Athol Gardens, on the shores of Sydnev's beautiful harbour, not far from Clifton Gardens. The Government has set aside GO acres of a reserve at a point that commands an extensive outlook across the harbour and right down to Watson's Bay and the entrance- Every ferry boat to Manly, and every steamer entering the port passes within a few hundred yards of the new site of the Zoo, which I consider v;ill be the best in the world, and cut out for the ideal Zoo. The land rises gently from a sandy beach, a,nd is faced with outcrops of rock and scrub, which can with a minimum of labour be made a highly picturesque spot. There it is intended that fclie animals and birds shall be given the maximum amount of 'freedom compatible to their natural habits, while the undulating laud make's it perfect for attractive designs in landscape gardening. The Zoo is under the control of a conncil, which is appointed ■hy the Government and subscribers, and this council meets nearly every day to discuss Zoo -affairs. ' The superintendent is Mr. A. S. J.e Soeuf, who visited Wellington last year. They anticipate that it will take about three years to get Athol Gardens ready. "Mr. D. Le Soeuf, brother of the Sydney man, is in charge of the Melbourne Zoo. which contains many animals, purchased for comparatively small amounts, which we could well do with here. In particular I noticed a young lioness, which they panted .£BO for—the price they had paid for it in Dublin. I thought tho amount was rather large, hut was assured that that was not so. "In Sydney they are sparing no effort to populariso the Zoo. and every now and again insert pictures of the inmates in the daily papers as advertisements, and this enterprise has been amply rewarded. I would like to see something of tho sort done in Wellington." Mr. Bates brought over with him three iguanas and an Australian crane for the Wellington "Zoo," presented to him by Mr. E. M'Pherson, of G«rrge Street, Sydney. He also brought across a stuffed iguana—a splendid specimen—which he is presenting to tho Newtown Museum.