WELLINGTON "ZOO."

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 299, 11 September 1908, Page 4

WELLINGTON "ZOO."

A CURATOR APPOINTED. Mr. A. E. L. Bertling, late head keeper of. the Zoological Society s Gardens, Regent's Park, London, has been appointed curator of the Newtown Park " Zoo " for a period of two years. No less than 173 applications for the position were dealt with by the Baths and City Reserves Committee of the City Council, which reported to that body last evening that it had selected three names for consideration. The chairman' of the committee, Councillor Luko, stated that the committee wore unanimously in favour of appointing Mr. Bertling, who had excellent qualifications for the work. Mr. Bertling held for ten years a responsible position in the gardens of the Zoological Society in London, and was nominated to the position of head keeper in 1903. In 1906 ho bi ought out to New Zealand the herd of I chamois presented t-o the colony by the Emperor of Austria, all of which arrived in excgllont condition. He then accepted a-posi-tion as chicf ranger and game expert to the Tourist Department for the Motorua district. His idea in coming to TJew Zealand, so his letter of application stated, was to get a zoological society started, as he considered that these institutions were an absolute necessity from an educational point of view. He had been offered tho position of overseer of the Sydney Society's gardens, but would prefer the, management of a collection in the ccurso of formation to oho where very little improvement was needed. Ho had had at •times practically the whole responsibility of tho Regent's Park Gardens when other officials. were off dnty. Mr. Luko stated that the applicant was highly recommended by Mr. T. E. Donne, Superintendent of the 'Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. Councillor Shirtcliffe seconded tho motion for tho appointment of Mr. Bertling. Councillor Hindmarsh thought that tho applicant who rcceivcd the second recommendation of the committee, Mr., Lc Soenf, of Perth, should be appointed. Mr. Le Soenf was a well-known expert of colonial experience; he had brothers in charge of other zoological gardens, who would assist him in making exchanges; and lie had probably scon zoological gardens in the making, while Mr. Bertling had only known completed col- i lections. >->;' Councillor PlotchcrJ-sflid, thiit the committeo i had given very careful consideration to the i matter before 'deciding in favour of Mr. Bert- : ''»?• .... 1 Tho motion to appoint' Mrr Bertling' was ■ carried without dJjssent x J'j