ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2413, 19 March 1915, Page 7

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

■ —® : — ! SOME IMPORTANT PROPOSALS, An. important meeting of the. Wellington Zoological Society was held in Mr. Castle's' rooms, Newtown, last evening, Mr. T. Fathers presiding, • lie secretary reported what had been done in co-operatioi with the City Council to obtain a pair of Zebus (sacred . Indian cattle) for the Zoo. He also read a letter from the Government expressing the hope that some New Zealand wild pigeons might soon be placed in the . Zoo. .He referred to the remarkable South American cat which'the society had helped the City Council to obtain. , The report was adopted, and pleasure , was expressed at the manner in which the Government and the Wellington City Council, in co-operation with the' Zoological Society, had- endeavoured to improve the Zoo. Mr. J. Crewes, the late president, wformed the meeting that he had it from Councillor Frost that the City Council had-received a letter from the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of. Australia,' informing the oouncil that the Commonwealth Government was willing to grant a permit for- the exportation of certain birds mentioned in Mr. Frost's application to Mri Fisher .when he was ; in Wellington recently. It was intimated l , however, that the Australian Government could not supply or pay for any of the birds in Question. A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to the Mayor and councillors for the courtesy, fairness, and encouragement . they had extended to the society during ■their term of office. Special mention was made of Councillor Fro6t, who on several important matters had been brought into contact with the representatives of the Zoological Society. A member of the society referred to some new proposals whioh the Beautifying Society had made with the object of beautifying the grounds at the Zoo. After considerable discussion the meeting "That having teen asked to express an opinion on certain proposals for the beautification of the grounds of the Zoo, whioh have recently been published, this Besting expresses warm admiration of the motives which prompted the proposals, but hopes that they maj he modified to fit in with arrangements which had been in progress before the proposals were made public." j It was . also resolved that the next considerable sum of money that the City Council found it practicable to spend on the Zoo grounds, on any other matter than that of accommodation at the Zoo, should be devoted to the building of a house for tho curator or a nightwatchman. The opinion waß also held that the first' attempt at horticultural adornment should be on some spot clgsb to the proposed residence.; The opinion was expressed that the piece of land cn which the Rose and Carnation Club would like to plant roses I should be reserved as an ornamental pond for flamingoes and other fancy fowl, arid that no more than'; the birders of it should be planted with roses. It was suggested that although the entrance to the Zoo should not be shifted, the City Council should appreciate any effort that Jie Horticultural Society may he willing to make to beautify the entrance. ■ The meeting expressed the hope that as natural history clearly shows that the health of all animals depended principally upon green leaves, sunshine, and breezes, tho City Council would not permit the destruction of "trees in tho Zoo grounds, as they are of inestimable value: ' •