ESTABLISHING THE ZOO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 8

ESTABLISHING THE ZOO.

■ / -t— —■«»■ •-.- r - PREPARATORY WORK IN HAND OPENING IN DECEMBER. Tlie -work of preparing the site for the zoo at the Western Springs is being actively undertaken by the. City Council. On Tuesday morning the Mayor,-Mr. J. H. TSunson, accompanied by the chairman of the Parks Committee, Mr. J. A. Warnock; and the parks superintendent, Mr. T. E. Pearson, visited the site, and the whole position was again considered on the ground. Good progress is being made with the preliminary clearing of the fencing lines, and Mr. Pearson expects to commence planting in about a fortnight. Work on the boundaries of the area and the planting of shelter belts should be completed next month. Tenders for fencing, comprising one mile and a-quarter, will close on Tuesday, and the work will be immediately undertaken. The boundaries of the property for present development have been fixed by the Parks Committee. They embrace an area of 27 acres, of which five acres will be occupied by shelter belts to provide suitable environment and climate for the animals that will be placed in the area. Mr. Gunson stated yesterday that as far as can be seen at present ihe essential preparatory work would be completed about llhe end of November. The committee hoped to be able to achieve sufficient progress to enable the zoo to bo opened in December. "It must not be presumed for a. moment," said Mr. Gunson, "that -tihm the grounds are first opened for the public even the original plans will be anything like completed, "that will be a long process, and will entail a policy of progressive development " Referring to the Boyd collection, the Mayor said the animals would be taken over by the council next Tuesday. The Onehunga Borough Ccuiacil would be requested to allow them to remain in their present location till the zoo was ready to accommodate them. Gratification was expressed by the Mayer in having been able to obtain eminent expert advice in regard to the zoo. Mr. C- Hedley, F.L.S., a trustee of the Sydney* Zoo, who was a through passenger by-the Niagara last, week, spent Friday in Auckland. He reported favourably on the council's project, and approved of the plans for the development of the zoo. As Mr. Hedley had been associated for a considerable time with the Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney, added Mr. Gunson, his advice should enable the council to avoid wasteful expenditure, and it could proceed with confidence that it waa on right lines.