THE ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1405, 3 April 1912, Page 9

THE ZOO.

INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS. A meeting of the council of the Wellington Zoological Society was held at -Mr. Castle's rooms in Hiddii'ord Street last evening. The liev J. Crowes, the president nt the society, presided, and a goodly number of the members of the council were present. Mr. Castle, the treasurer of the society, explained what he had done in an attempt to get from Captain Amundsen one of tiie dogs which assisted him in his successful effort to get to the South Pole. 'Die meeting gratefully received the letter, and authorised the secretary to cordially thank the consul and Captain Ai-.uiiui.-.en for their great kindness and courtesy. The secretary reported that on the suggestion of the chairman and the treasurer lie wrote to Kinsey and Co., of Christchurch, the agents for Captain Scott's party, asking them if they would arrange that should Captain Scott or his party take u. dog or pony to the South J'oiO. they should bo asked to present oe : : to the society for the Zoo. The meeting approved ot what hail been dyne towards getting tho desired mementoes of polar exploration. The chairman then suggested that surely there, were in tho Wellington Zoological Society and the New Zealand Government resources sufficient to bring a dog from any part, of the world to New Zealand, seeing that Ciptain Amundsen was willing to give one, and he, the chairman, therefore moved that tho Hew J. Ward and Messrs. li. A. Wright, Castle, Hcrnblow, Chinehen, and It. Brown (secretary), and himself should bo authorised to ask the Government to arrange with any outside Government and shipping company so that tho dog shall be placed in the Wellington Zoo in Newtown Park. Mr. Crowes said lint in l> is judgment tho discovery of the ryiu'.'i J'olo was an event of first-rate importance. The Wellington Zoological Society, then, should honour the man who first achieved success in heroic efforts to accomplish it. This thev would do if they could get a certificate signed liv Captain Aiii'imisi'ii to be kopt first in the Wellington Zoo, and afterwards in one of the Wellington museums. Mr. Castle referred to a letter winch Mr. Newhouso, a member of tho council, sent to one of tho Wellington newspapers suggesting that the City Council should place collection-boxes in the Zoo, and that bands giving concerts in the park should he asked to take up collections in aid of tho Zoo. The council highly approved of tho action of Mr. Newhouso. The chairman reported that the City Council had placed collection-boxes in the park, but that as the Zoological Society had no control over those boxes or tho moneys collected in them, a box to receive contributions towards the society's funds hail been placed in Mr. Castle's shop at Newtown, and he (tho president) thought that a few more boxes might be advantageously placed in other shops or public places iu tho city. Mr. Castle reported that recently the Tramways Band oxoresmd (o Mr. I,«nzridgo their willingness to take up a collection to enable the band to present jo tne city a leopard to be a mate for tho handsome voung (ininial which the Zoological Society recently presented. 'The band gayt a selection of music which was highly appreciated, and the. band received a collection amounting to between .£l3 and •Cl''- ~ ~ , „ The president directed attention to the fact that great anxiety is felt by thoughtful men in other parts of the world about the fauna of New Zeuland. the meeting resolved that an effort snould be made to preserve some of the rare animals which seem to be Hearing extinction, efforts to bo made to protect :;nd increase the number of tuatarn, kiwis, and other animals which the people ol Now Zealand should guard as treasures of inestimable value. Mr. Castle asked whether the tortoises which are in the Zoo could not replaced in some small enclosure jn Sunday afternoons to give people an opportunity to see these verv interesting creatures. Tho meeting requested Mr. Castle to ask Mr. Langridgo to consult the gentleman who presented the tortoises and try to get the tortoises placed in a more prominent position for a few Inms v-eekly. Mr. Castle suggested that the City Council .should be asked to suspend their boxes for a day or two soon and allow tho Zoological Societv, when there is a band concert in the Park, to tako a collection in aid of a pit or yard for the bears. The meeting resolved to ask the City Council that this may be done as the society sees that while no charge can be miide for admission to tho Zoo, and many of tho people who helped to purchase tho bear and others who have noticed what was really done by the Government printers are willing to help to develop the Zoo, an opportunity such as Mr. Castle suggested is desirable. The president reported that a communication had been received bv Mr. Langridge from Mr. Lo Souef, ot Sydney, intimating that tho Eutellus monkeys he is obtaining from India for the Wellington Zoological Society may be expected soon.