CHAMOIS FOR NEW ZEALAND

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2024, 8 March 1907, Page 4

CHAMOIS FOR NEW ZEALAND

THEIR ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE. LONDON, January 26. The long-looked-for eight chamois, which were presented by the Emperor of Austria to the New Zealand Government, have at last not only arrived in England, but they have also started on their voyage to New Zealand. The animals were brought from Ostend to the St. Catherine Dock, in the Thames, by the steamer Allouette, which was expected to be ■at.the wharf last Saturdey morning, and accordingly Mr H. C. Cameron went down to receive them from the attendant who had' brought them

from Austria. lint a dense fog prevailed throughout tho whole of Saturday and Sunday, and it was not possible to land them until Sunday night, when they were taken to the Zoological Gardens, and lodged there for a few days, pending their embarkation oil board tho New Zealand Shipping Company’s s.s. Turalcina.

Each member of tho magnificent herd travelled in a separate little house-shaped wooden box all the way from tho Imperial private zoological gardens at Schonbrunn, and the chamois are reported to have experienced rather an exciting number of adventures during their transit to London. In the first place, they were snowed up in Switzerland for sotno days. Then a little nearer tlioir destination tlioir train caught fire. Next a prominent official of the Austrian Emperor’s zoo., who was to have had charge of them — Inspector Krauss —was taken ill, and an under-keeper had to bring tho chamois to England. But that was not all, for tho Allouttc in which the crossing was made from Ostend to tho Thames, after being delayed in the fog, had her stern smashed in by a collision in the Thames. Directly the precious charges were available, they were taken care of by Mr A. E. L. Bortling, lato headkeeper at tho London Zoological Gardens, who is taking them out to the colony, where their destination will he tlie Southern Alps, and where no reason is seen why they should not do well there. In the course of a brief chat Mr Bortling remarked: “It is a curious thing that their favorite food seems to be mistletoe', of which several bags have been sent. On arrival in Now Zealand the chamois aro to bo turned loose for breeding purposes.” The keeper who brought tho chamois to this country is taking back with him to Austria the presents which the Now Zealand Government has sent to the Emperor. Theso include tlireo kiwis. —N.Z. Herald.