THE ONEHUNGA ZOO

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11249, 29 June 1922, Page 6

THE ONEHUNGA ZOO

PROPOSED PURCHASE BY COUNCIL. POLL TO BORROW £IO,OOO. The decision of the Auckland City Council respecting the Onehunga Zoo was promulgated by the Mayor (Mr J. H. Gunson) in an interview with a “Star” reporter, and the result is that the council proposes to take a poll of ratepayers to raise a loan of £IO,OOO, to purchase the animals from Mr Boyd, -and also an area of land at Western Springs for the establishment of zoological gardens and pleasure grounds. “The question of the acquisition of the animals of the Zoo,” said Mr Guneon, “has again been brought under the council’s notice by a representative deputation, and since the oommittee comprising the whole council has fully examined the question. The purchase of the animals does not involve a large amount, and can simply be effected. But after the- purchase the real obligations -only commence. The council has considered exactly what i 6 involved — namely, the establishment of zoological gardens on a scale commensurate with the city’s other interests.” “It has,” the Mayor continued, “unanimously resolved to put the whole question to the ratepayers, and the poll will be taken on July 26th, when the issue then to he submitted will be a loan proposal to borrow £IO,OOO for (1) the full purchase of the animals, for which an option for two months has been secured': (2) the suitable preparation and laying out of zoological gardens and pleasure grounds, for the two cannot be dissociated. The site selected by the council is an area of tO acres of the Western Springs property at Grey Lynn.”