AT THE ZOO

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 5

AT THE ZOO

ELEPHANT OFFICIALLY VISITED GIVEN NICKNAME ‘‘KUTHA” The Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood), who returned irom Auckland yesterday, witn Mrs Norwood, several mem-* bers of the City Council, and Zoological bociety, paid an official visit to the Zoo yesterday to inspect the new elephant, which received the party with impartial equanimity. Mrs. Fathers, wiie of the president of the Zoological Society, named the elephant Nellikutha, but as that name is too long to win popularity it was shortened to "Koota, though the children visiting the Zoo .have already caught on to the “trunk” of the name —“Nelly.” Mr. Fathers made a few interesting remarks on the history of the Zoo, and mentioned the generosity of the Union Steam Ship Company in bringing the elephant from India .tor tlie trithug cost of £lO. , , . Mr. J. Castle referred to the history of the Zoological Society, and the contributions it had from time to time made to the Zoo. He mentioned the various efforts which had been made to procure an elephant, and expressed ’ the thanks of the society to Sir James Allen, whose services had been largely, instrumental in securing “Nelly” from the Government of Madras. Mr. Castle concluded his remarks by handing the Mayor a cheque for £25 to cover thf cost of bringing the elephant and her mahout from India. The Mayor thanked the society tor its material co-operation and assistance in making the Zoo collection as complete as it was. Some of the councillors had expressed themselves against further building u» of the Zoo, holding the view that it was not humane to cage wild animals, but the society and the curator (Mr. J. Langridge) could be relied upon to see that the best conditions were maintained. When the council felt that was so, and certain amendments to the legislature were made (the right to charge for admission oil Sundavsi there was no reason why they should' not build up one of the finest zoological collections in the Southern Hemisphere. Councillor W. J. Thompson (chairman of the Reserves Committee) stated that the suggestion had been made that the Zoo should be removed from Newtown to Wilton’s Bush, but he felt that it would be an unwise policy to as the shift would entail a cost of £30,000. and on such a remote site there would not be the number of visitors as there were at present. ' Personally he did not favour the Sunday charge, as the people of Wellington paid for the upkeep of the Zoo through the rates, and if such charges were made they would not get the present attendances. Finally Councillor Thompson paid a compliment to the curator (Mr. Langridge) for the able manner in which he carried out his duties.