THE PEOPLE'S LIONESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1689, 4 March 1913, Page 4

THE PEOPLE'S LIONESS.

ANIMAL PURCHASE FUND STARTED. It may be expected that tho publics of Wellington will take a special and particular interest in tho mother lioness at the Zoo, who is ( so busy in those days attending to tho persistent wants of her playful family. This for the simple reason that the whole of the purchaso money, amounting to .£IOO, has been subscribed by the citizens of Wellington privately. The cheque went forward to Mr. George Wirth at Auckland on Saturday, and now the lioness and her valuable progeny are the city's own. Councillor Georgo Frost, chairman of tho Reserves Committee, who ' has worked very hard to retain tho lioness, may now bo forgiven when ho says that there was never a chance of losing the lioness, as each of the members of tho City Council had entered into a guarantee to make good any shortage in tho amount to be paid. Fortunately, tho whole of tlio .£IOO was collected by Sunday, and, in. thanking all who contributed to the fund, Mr. Frost wishes especially to thank the Tramways Band and tho little ones who collocted so prettily at Newtown Park on. Sunday afternoon, when the sum of £d 9s. 9d. was subscribed by the public. There will bo a slight surplus, which will l>o credited to a new fund to be, sot up to be called, the Animal Purchase Fund.