ZOOLIOGCAL SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1768, 5 June 1913, Page 5

ZOOLIOGCAL SOCIETY.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. A social evening in connection with, the presentation of prizes won in the rccent art competition inaugurated l)y the Wellington Zoological Society was held iu the W.C.T.U. Rooms, in Constable Strict, last evening, the chair being occupied by the Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke. The Mayoress was also present at the gathering. The l!ev. J. Crewes, president of' the Zoological Society, briefly introduced Mr. Luke. In congratulating the society upon its enterprise, the Mayor spoke of the interest which had I cen provided the people of Wellington and visitors to (lie city by the Zoological Gardens. Jn. addition tu befhg an object of great interest it was also educational, for it created an interest in animal and bird life. Ho was not there that evening to discuss the financial aspect of the matter, That was for others to deal with, but most certainly lie would do nothing that would help'to retard the usefuluess of the society. Personally he had leanings more towards tho acquisition of bird life than that pf -animal, the latter being a continual charge upon tho city. Mr. Luke also referral to tho work that had been done by Councillor frost. Mr. 11. M.Gore, president if tho- I'inu Arts Academy, was the next speaker. Ho expressed the pleasure he t'clt at being present on such' an occasion, for it gave opportunity of seeing the various specimens of birds and beasts in a. little picture gallery devoted to tlioso tilings. Who krew but that there might ho upon tho walls of the room tho work of .some future Ixuulseer, Lucy Kemp-Welch, or Rosa Bonlicur, and, if that were ever to be tho case, the Wellington Zoological Society would have played ail important part in their career. He was rather surprised that more students from the Technical Schcol did not compete, as their training fitted them for the work. Mr. Hindmarsh, ■ Jl.P.j then presented the prizes, a word of consolation to the losers being contained in 'his statement that sometimes only a very little difference iiv merit separated tho winner irom the loser. 1-Ie also congratulated Mi. Crewes and Mr. Castles on the success that had attended their efforts in working up tho society.

The Rev. J. Crowes, the president of the Zoological Society, then spake. 11l the course of his remarks lie stated that he had found that 011 c of the greatest -difficulties was to start things, but, now that this society had been started, tio was convinced that it would go On for a lons period of time. It had been felt as a great honour that as soon a» the Academy of Fine Arts had been asked to ullow the art competition to bo lipid under its auspices, it had at onco consented. Mr. Crewes also described the difficulties that were sometimes faced in obtaining animals for the Zoo, and, referring to the Mayor's predilection for birds instead of beasts, said that the society had presented fifty animals to the city, and out of this fifty inoro than forty had been birds.

Other speakers were Mr. M'laren and Mr. H. A. Parkinson, M.A., both of whom 6])oke of the educative value of tin- Zoological Gardens end its inmates.

Intersparsed between Hip speeches worn fciiks contributed by Miss Castle and Miss Jlona Castle, a duet by the Misses X. Castle and A. Gamble, recitation by Miss Belle Luke, n gramaphonc selection, and also a gramaphono speech on "Melcy to Dumb Animals," spoken by the Hoii. Stcp'hen Coleridge. A vote oi' thanks to all who had assisted towards the pioRrannne was proposed by Mr. J. Castle, and seconded by Captain Cozens.