THE MEN AT THE ZOO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 677, 30 November 1909, Page 8

THE MEN AT THE ZOO.

A LIBEL CASE. . / ; THE CHEQUERED LIVES OF BEASTS. ;; AND THEIR VARIOTS DEATHS. . A. libel action for damages, .which brought out evidence regarding tho' management of the Wellington Zoo, was commenced in the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Chapman and a commo'n jury of twelve. Thomas William Arthur, late head-keeper-at tho Zoo,'sued Albert Ernest Louie Bertling, superintendent at tlie Zoo, alleging that a libel was contained in a letter (A'pril G, 1909) written by Bortliug to J. Board,' Longdendale Poultry Farm,' Moorooka, Queensland. '■ ..■ , , ..''• '.-,.■ . , . Mr. Petherick appeared. for Arthur (plaintiff), and Mr.'Sharp for Bertling (defendant). The Letter, Mi. Petherick,: in the course of an hoar's address to tho jury, traversed the facts alleged by Arthur, and read the letter complained of. It ran as follows:— • Dear Mr. Beard,—Are you in a position to quote us for a lioness at a reasonable price? If so, will you' be good enough to let me have particulars? We had the opportunity of getting a cub eighteen months: ,-• old' from Wirth'e Circus when .it was here. The animal, however, was useless to ' me. "'.. ..' . One of our men, T. Arthur, saw the animal at the circus,'and said it was all right, but directly the animal came to, the Zoo I sent it away again, for it had rickets, or cage paralysis, as bad as it was possible to have it, and would never have been fit for breeding. It was as much' 1 as it could do to pull itself about on its front legs. Of course, Wirth was'ferocious " at losing his <£25, and a good . deal". of trouble was caused one way and another.-.A However, Arthur has since been discharged by the. City Council for his gross incompetence, neglectful and careless ways, and mischief-mnking, and we are still without our lioness, so .-perhaps you can assist\ us. ■;. ■,-.;.'■ • .•'■ '■ .'■■■.'■ * : Yours sincerely, .•' ~'-.'■ ';.:.■;.' , . A.E.. L.', BERTLING,,. .';..- Superintendent "Zoo." .. . . • . The Circus .Lioness. •'; ;.. Thomas William Arthur, plaintiff, 6aid that since 1892' he had had experience in the keeping of wild'animals. Hβ. had been head-keeper at Blackpool Tower, Lancashire, for four years, and later supplied dealers in England with specimens from India. He took part in tho breaking up of Nelson's battleship HJI.S. Poudroyant, and came to South Africa' and Australia :in ' search 'of ■ specimens, having been promised payment for: his labours by Mr. Walter Rothschild.' He knew that Bertling had boen' in charge of the birds at Hotorua for the ■,Tourist ■ ■ Department,; and he having seen'him once in the oflicdof the London Zoo. ' In his opinion Bertling had no.ex'perienco of the treatment of wild animals, and he had a merely theoretical know Jodge of .tho keeping of birds. Bertling recommended witness- to the council for' a position, and he was appointed head-keeper. Things went well until an offer of a lioness was made by Wirth's Circuß. When the matter was mentioned by witness to Bortling, the latter said,. "If Bates has anything to do with the getting' of thatlioness, it won't come up here, I assuro you." When the circus arrived, Mr. Bates, secretary of the Zoological Society, asked witness's opinion of the lioness. She was a young beast, and was shedding her coat and cutting her'molar, teoth, but she 1 had'a pretty head and promise! wall. , Her troubles were quite natural and would pass.off. They wanted a lioness;badly at the Zoo,'and ho did not. care what price was asked. This animal was worth abort 4<o. and the figure asked by-the circus-people was ;£25.' He described tho lioness as, ailing, but knew;that.she.would be all, right, soon.- : : When the animal was. brought up to. the Zoo in-: a drapery caso Bertling said he would not hjive it as.a gift.' Witness was about to-break off part of the lid for the sake of ventilation, but was stopped by Bertling, who said'that ""the case was the best. part- of it." On tho'norning'after, Bertliiig's refusal-to take delivery n the lioness he said to witness, "I have told the council-she is-paralysed; are you fjoing to stick by"Ba'tofe, , ' , or!'are ,, 'yo4 l going : to'stick by me?" .told-'them' she is paralysed you have fold them a lie. I am.not goingbto».tejlf.a-ili*>foroyoy ori Bates!""'He,said,: "If ttat'isrthff are'gotSg''Hil( do,'you' will have; to .find another■'•ahop, ehorUy:" ■ ; '.):v the Penguin; and: the-Paint Pot.^.i'^'iReverting )io the' state of things at Newtown Park;,-Arthur said-that the':birds ; were ; dyinß wholesale. The . eagles had been'-.; put. into. a place ■: that was' alive, with." parasites, arid' the'' peacock, presented by; Georgo and George; had been fed on maize,. instead , of pollard, while moulting,' Arifh fatal;results. There, had been ' 81 deaths'since' Bertling camo, 'and there re-, maiaed about the same' number of animals in the Zoo. A pair of. deor, had: been purchased for £2i, and one had been starved ■'■'to death. InstnioHons had, been given by the City Cpun-. oil,'the only authority, that' the ; body of. every, animal that died, should bo taken to the. Newtovm Museum. If, an animal- was diseased or starved, its body was sent to destructor, or buried in the nursery. If it had died naturally, and was all right for setting up, it would go to tho museum. Fifteen penguins arrived from the Snares in a bad condition.' Witness proceeded to wash them, and 'had- finished•■ four when Bertling came along and protested) saying: "You are-killing them." All but, tftoso four died/and they were housed in a.'stable' with the grass-mower; The first was cut by the mower, the setond was drowned' in a tin of kerosene, the-third fell into a pot of red paint/and the fourth was jammed in the door. Ten might .'have survived. -No complaints had ever been made,about witness's .work. People sometimes made, foolish complaints: they said that the lion had no water—because ■ they did'not get up early' enough to see him have it. The '^Virth. lioness-was now in : the Sydney Zoo, in the pink of condition , . . Its purchase would,have beeria good investment for the Wellington Sopioty. ■ ■: ' . ■ . '

Tho Lion and his Moods. Mr.'Petlierick: Had you' any influence over the animals that Ber tling hadn't t—"l knew, how to look afjar them ana what to give them. , How, about, tho libn?—"Dick would take no more notice of him than fly. He could not get him to stand up. I would get him up by just speaking to him." ■. v '■ ■•■..■ ■•-..- Havo you seen the lion, lately ?r-"Sunday."- . Did he know you'then?—"Yes." : "..'■:' How do you know?—"As soon as I gave him a signal he was up and at the bars. They remember you\for yeais, if you are kind to them." :. ■•,'■■: ••' •,' ; -.■..■-. •■ ;, . ■" Is there anything against you for the past thirty, years." .', . . . ; -- '..:■' .■■-'. . Were you a member of a school committee? ■—"Yes, at Eakaia, and the people presented me.with a gold medal and an illuminated addross." , ".,■ '; ■ -,-■■ •■■' •'-.•.' ■- • v ■;'■ : Cross-oxamination was proceeded \ with in the afternoon. . ' ' : Mr. Sharp: Did you tell your fellow-em-ployees that Bei'tling had "sacked" you ?— Witness; "No, he told them . ho; had." ; Do you know that the chairman of the serves Committee reported- upon two .men?— "I don't lcnow anything, about that.";- . -' You know that tevo men had left—yourself and Jackson?—" Yes, I left 'at my own,:request.'.' . ' -~.-, '. .■- .-:"', ■ ... .■■;■.'.■ '.' • Do -you. know that Mr. Quinnell' , recdmmpnded. you for reinstatement?—"lhaf is news to me.":••' ~ . ,:.*.;■,..' '■■:■< Is it a fact that you left the animals unfed frequently on Sundays, and that instead of having, their evening meal 'no meal was given ■.them? —"Never, unless on one', occasion when thero was nothing to give theml" '.-. .

~ Of Many: Deaths. Is it not a fact that tho superintendent told you not to allow the penguins to go near the water P—"Yes." And that you immediately washed b..me of them ?—"Four , ." And that, anyway, those foor died P—"Thoso four lived; thoy survived." Aro they alivo now?—" No." Then they died ?—"They wore killed." Is it a lact that tbo animals under your charge were kept in a filthy state?—"No; novel a complaint." Is it a fact that you wore in tie biibit of .striking tho camel viih a thick stick to make him lio down?—" No." ■ But the inspector of tho Socioty for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals called'on the su peri ntenden t ?—' 'Yes." Had the lion a gash over its eye, and blood flowing?—" Not when I loft." Is it a fact that the door wcro in your special care, and that two days after you left one died?—" That is corioct." Bo you know anything about tho death of a dmgo P—"Yea." i< Was that through you?—"Ho, through Mr. Bertling's carelessness.' Is it a fact that a sea-lion died?—" Two died." Did thoy die through your carelossncs?— "No, fivo months after I left." Helped to Break a, Battleship, ~ Is it not a foct that tho Blackpool Tower is a dancing room ?—"-l"t lias tho finest dancing hall, in tho world, which cost one and a quar;ter ..miliiofts."-

It is a'musical hallP—"lt is a.- monagcrio ':....V and aquarium; '.tho nuisio. kail ie'separate.-■::: They hayo tho, finest'carnivorous ■■ collection in ■ V ; : Groat. Britain. :Wo killed two/'horses.id'.day,.'..-. .. to feed tho animals. - " '■"■'■'• .S- >■ ■ You have also been a gardener?-"" A gar- ; , deuei'l 1 don't kuow a cauliflower from a car.: , rot!": (Laughter.). ■'.■■'•■ ■.■■-> v/ ; . ; '.■■': How old are you,?—"Eorty-six years:" ;■■;.:;.; : : " You were a sailor?-r-"I w™ out as an ftp.,,prentice when I was 12J years old." ''.. ; ;.; \ .You nave beoni an .hotolkecpeirV'Eor- two ;;,.-.".. years." •■■■■.■■■■ '■ . . ' ■ >.!■■•..V: '■"[- And el hall porter?—" Yos. ,■■.:-. '■•■■;■'- •" Now foreman.on the railway?—" Yes. ,, ■.-:':;■ You helped to break, up his batOoship?—"Wo, it was her Majesty's at tho time.'! ; ; (Laughter.) ■„. ... :: , , •- . May I say that you ; aro very entertaining; •. \y : You wore also employed by Mr. C, A. G, ' Hardy?—" For two years and a half. . : •'. '■ . Who. is ho?—" You ought to-know him; he ■'■■■:■ is the Opposition. Whip. : ',■,,'-'' And you. have, done some bridge-building; in your spare time P—" Yes." ■ ■.'■.-■'■"■ ■■:■■<' :. So' that you, havo been only five years ro ';■ •-' ; charge of animals?—"No, I was selling..mon-:-..-.•■ keys to the London Zoo twenty years agov? (Laughter.). ■. .' ~' ' ; V V v The Rev. D. C. .Bates, meteorologist promote* .-'.'..■ and secretary of the Wellington Zoological So- X ciety, said that he knew Blackpool had » notable collection of animals. ,; •; ;:, '. Mr. Pethorick;. And my; friend is, wrong when he doubts Arthur's statements aboot it?— Witness:. "Ho shows his ignorance of th«, , matter." . : . '_ "'. ' '' .;: '■ : ": If the Dinnoes Had Got Out. '; • i. Were you satisfied with the manner.in vrMch ->.;.. v Bertliiig managed Zoo?-;"No, but I did V not lilie U> coinulaiij.'. liertUng's manner did •■■ not invite one to g'/e'him advice. Ho wouM :,. not take advice from* anyone." I did toll him , that the dingoes would get out, and that tk\t . wouid.be a serious matter, il the animals; got ~-'• out on Terawhiti Station and such places.. ; J" ■ have lived in country that has been einiplj: , devastated by diagocs." "■'■'.; ' . '.' :i- . His , ' Honour!' You warned him of. tho, 00. , currenco?—Witness: -" I distinctly, warned ; him." -.'.. •' ■ ■■. •...., .. ,'-.. - ..",- ,■■•... . 'In-reply to Mr. Potherick, witness farther;:, stated that he found Arthur always ready,and \; willing to do what he could, and he.wjs ,■ competent to manage tho animals. The birds! hau not been properly loofcod after, somevof . them having died quite needlessly, > Bottling seemed to bo discontented regarding his .work, and salary, and everything—he was ."up everybody... Ho took, no,-interest..-in.V his work, and was always speaking about r» signing. ■■ His attitude towards, the society ww", one • of L indifference,: and,, later, ■ antagoman; :■ Witness had' never seen him with his coat off,; and.Arthur did twice-as much:work.,;Arthuii had done all:he.could to assist Bcrtling. The. gardens had been -a source of -grievous, disap-. ■ pointment; BertJing hod put them back .tea', years.'. Witness would deliberately express ths : ; opinion that ho,.was unfit for the position,ofv superintendent.".-.Abovo all,; ho was with people; he did not socin to understand. ! . men.-. He was not a scientific or literary maUi., ■• ;..•'•' ...';, Mr.. Wifth's Opinion. ,'..'.. ,' The society had been loyal to BertJing right J up to the tinie he"turned" on themeuddcnlj ,, , ■",- over tho lioness;'• He said she was rickety au«: : paralysedj''and unfit to live. He made' it-apj , pear that .Mr.' Wirth was trying -to pabn'ofl' ' f a oeeless animal, simply for the money. Aftei , the inspector of the. Society for the Prevention ■ of Cruelty,-to "Animals ,■ .had . 'inspected •!■ the -.''•: lioness, at Bertling's suggestion, witt a view'. to shooting it, Mr. Wirth said:"l dont know/ ■ what: I have done to the public here to be . treated like this; -I would not do such; a dirty thing-to my worst enemy." At thai > !time, he said he would not take for the' lioness. It was a painful thing for witness to ■' 6ee animala at the Zoo dying by inches ho- ' cause of neglect;, some were being eaten to death by lice., .; ... r. >.■■.' -•.,,■■;', ~../:■: John B. Palmer, town clerk, eaid that th« Reserves Comnrittep. decided that, in order io relieve the friction at the Zoos Arthur should /' be removed to the Botanical Gardens. Ho was -. not dismissed. The committee received'a let.' ■• ■■■ ter from Bcrtling recommending ArtiruT*B- '■s&'.■ missal. .'..'..>■,',... i •.;''>".■■■■■.'■■':. ~;- " .... '..;..,:;!■;.. . John Forest' Glea, Superintendent of City Reserves,, eaid. that, he, found no fault with': Arthur.. ...'.:... ~ -'■.'. ■■■"..-. : ■....■.■■■ •..,:■.

'■ Frederick Seed, Inspector .'of the Societyjor. the .Prevention .of Cruelty to Animals, eaid that he.had,been at tho Zoo on several occa- >, sion's; in .consequence of eomplaintsi' : BertJing -' treated him in an off-hand and he did not appear to bo a lover of animak. Aβ for the lioness, ho; did not see anything to war-, ,rant his'interfer^nce;' he "could 'see,:, nothing: • resuAef ki'' 18.31) this, morning.. ■: '■'!,. .:, ■ ./■;■. . „