OUR ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1239, 22 September 1911, Page 9

OUR ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

FIRST YEAR'S REPORT. A PERIOD OF STEADY GKOWTIL Interesting (o many will bo the first annual report of Hie Wellington Zoological Society and the doings at our City "Zoo." It reads as follows:—

Rather more than a year ago this society was formed to promote the Zoo in Newtown Park, and to extend the popular study of zoology. Later the society passed a set of rules, elected ;\ council, and appointed officers. His Excellency the Governor, tho Right Honourable ,Johii Poynder Diekson-l'o.vnder, Baron Islington, accepted the position of patron; anil tho following officers were elected:—President, Rev. J. Crowes; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. Janson, and C. J. Lockwood; secretary, Mr. Barnes; treasurer, Mr. J. Cn-stlo; auditor, Mr. Chincheu. In the eaTly stages of its existence, tho society was aifected by circumstances which somewhat retarded its growth. It has, however, steadily discharged its duties; and by so doing, lias attracted the attention of the public, contributed materially to the improvement of tho Zco, and awakened a widespread interest in .that youug establishment. Acquiring the Lioness. The success that the society has achieved is very encouraging. Soon after tho society was formed tho president accompanied tho president of a kindred society to interview the Prime Minister, and asked him whether tho Government would endeavour to get from tho Dublin Zoo a young lioness, in exchange for some birds which were to be sent, by tho Government, to Dublin. Sir Joseph. Ward replied that, under tho conditions on which tho birds were to bo sent, our application could not lie granted; but he intimated that if our society wished it ho would ask the Dominion's High Commissioner in London to conduct any negotiations that our society might desiro to carry on with tho Dublin Zoo. Soon after this oiler was received, howevee, our president was informed by the managers of Wirth Brothers' menagerie that their firm would lend f-o the city a lioness, on tho understanding that it was to the whole eity, and that they were ready to pass it on to Councillor Frost, who had interviewed them.

Your council congratulates Councillor Frost on the success of his effort, and would take advantago of this occasion to express to the Mayor, the City Council, and all its officers cordial thanks for the Rood-feeling they hare evinced towards onr society, "touv council reports also that tlio society has been treated iivith kindly consideration by members of all political parties, by residents of all parts of the Dominion, and by all the neiyspapers 'of Wellington. Before the society was started, a house was built for ostriches, hut no ostriches were placed in the Zoo. Tour council, through Mr. '. A- Wright, M.P., a deeply interested and energetic member of our society, appealed to the Helvetia Ostrich Farm Company for a pair. Mr. Masscy, M.l'., ono or the directors, promptly placed our application before the company, and the son of thi! manager of the farm brought down two fine young birds. Unfortunately, the excitement of the journey proved too much for onq of the ostriches, and it died on the day'after the one on which it was placed in the Zoo. Later, Mr. Wright went up to the Helvetia Farm to buy another bird. Our president, on receipt of a notification of the trouble that Mr. Wright was taking, telegraphed asking him to bring another bird,' which the society would purchase. Mr. Wright brought the two, but a week or two ago oneof them was accidentally killed.. However, as the result of the efforts mentioned, there are two lino young ostriches •ti the Zoo to-day. Mandarin Ducks. Sonic time ago your council saw an opportunity to purchase a pair of Mandarin ducks—ducks unlike *Jncks o£ any other d. The president appealed to the Mayor and a lew other citizens for donations with which to buy the ducks, and thry were bought. There they have been much admired, as they are two good specimens of the. most beautiful species of duck in the world. later the council authorised the president to buy another pair, in the hope that from two pair some young ones might be bred. Rut before i.'io pair could, be taken over the duck was killed by a dog on the premises of tho dealer from whom we were purchns:vg. This was meutioned to a representative, of the New Zealand Tourist Department,, and, through his good offices, tho ■ Government has kindly consented to givo a, duck to our society. The Tourist Department has also intimated tho willingness of the Government to try to meet tho wishes of our society bv lending us a pair pr two of kiwis for experimental purposes. Golden Pheasants. ; Tho council also thanks Mr. W. W. Smith,, of Tarannki, for a wcka and <i vahiablo domesticated kiwi. Mr. Smith has thoroughly studied New Zealand bird?, and is a highly valued member. Ho was in Wellington a few weeks ago, and went with onr president through Hio Zoo. The council highly appreciates nlfo tho kindness of Mr. Nicholson, of Boslvn, for promptly exchanging a pair of liis beautiful golden pheasants for a young male silver pheasant. As Inst year the silver pheasants and tlio hybrids in the Zoo bred successfully, but tho offspring of tho golden were too weak to arrive at maturity, and our president asked Mr. Nicholson whether he would kindly exchange a pair that we might introduce some new golden blood into our collection. The promptness of Mr. Nicholson in sending a pair is worthy of high praise. Educational Activities, In tho first year of the c-xistenco of such a 'society most of thu time of its meetings has to bo spent in the discussion of the ways and moans. The society has, however, commenced educational work, and has awakened a wide interest in Zoological questions. Mr. Love read to one of the meetings an interesting paper, and the discussion which followed on it was profitable. The president read a paper, which was attentively listened to, and was followed by a practical discussion. Reports of the society's discussions and proceedings have been published fairly and at good length in the local newspapers; and two of the illustrated papers, while amusing their readers with rather t'mmy . cartoons, have thereby directed attention to our operations. The president has delivered his lecture on tho Zoo to critical audiences outside our society meetings, and some of their members have questioned him keenly, and assured tho lecturer that thev had received a great deal of instruction. To describe all that tho society has dono would make our first report much longer than we could afford to. Wo have classified all the animals in the Zoo, and been thanked by the City Council for what we have done and given.

Society's Utility Otherwise. It will be seen that the society has, in thu few months since it got into working order, besides paying all its expenses (the initial expenses of a society arc generallv considerable), cla.«ifyi!ig the animals in the Zoo. giving free lectures on them, and publishing a good deal of educative information through, the pre?s, been enabled lo present to the city animals which, at a very low valuation, must be valued at over £10. The following are the lists of tho animals presented by and through the society.— Animals' presented by the society.—l rufous neck wallaby, £3; 2 kiwis, £2; '.' Textor weavers, .CI fe. ; ;! mandarin ducks. £3 10s.; 1 ostrich, X 5; carriage n.ml othor expenses , JEI 10s. 3d.: total, £W 7s. 9d. Other animals, presented per the society.—l bridle neck wallaby, .£1 10s.; 2 whydahs (Mr. Foglia), £\ 10s.; 2 ostriches (Helvetia Ostrich Farm Company), .£10; 1 ostrich (K. A. Wright. Esq., M.P.), JES; 2 finches (Mr. f.'opp), 10s.; 1 kiwi (Mr. W. W. Smith), ,C 1; 1 polden pheasant (Mr. Nicholson), ,C 1 10s.; 1 cardiml (Mr. Stevens), 155.; 1 mynah (Anonymous), 7s. Gd.; 2 honey-eatcrs fAuonymoiis), 10s.; 1 weka (Mr. W. W. Smith), £l; 2 tri-colour finches, 5?.; 2 hen budgerigars, 55.: total, <St 2s. Gd.