ZOO NOT WANTED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14234, 6 March 1914, Page 4

ZOO NOT WANTED.

A hkn Mr Boyd had his Zoo at Aramoho he complained that the Wanganui Borough Council did not give him very much encouragement, and instanced their dilatoriness in providing a decent footpath to 111? Aramoho Gardens and ■ heir disinclination to press the local bands to give concerts at the Zoo so as to attract visitors. Evidently the enterprising zoophilist is receiving less encouragement in Onelninga, whither the animals from Aramoho were shifted, for what will probably be regarded ns a declaration of war against the Onehunga Zoo was made the other night by the Onehnnga Borough Council, when it was decided to take the necesiary steps to prevent the exhibition for profit of animals which are wild by nature in Onehunga. Shortly af;er Mr Boyd transferred his menagerie from Aramoho to Onehunga residents in the vicinity of the Zoo complained of the noise made by the lions roaring at night. Other nuisances were also alleged, with the result that the presence of the animals was regarded by i ome people as a menace to the public health and also depreciated the value of property, lire Borough Council was asked to abate the nuisance, but «t that time it had no power to dc so. A special meeting of the Council was held the other night to make amendments and additions to the borough by-laws. One of the new clauses has special reference to the Zoo, and reach' as follows: "From and after the coming into effect of this by-law it shall be nnhvwful for any person to keep within the borough for show or exhibition for profit any animal, reptile or bird which is wild by nature, save and except in the case of any travelling circus or menagerie, which may be licensed at the discretion of the Council to remain in the borough for a period not exceeding seven days.” It was explained that the power to pass this bylaw Is derived from an amendment of the Muhicipal Corporations Act passed at the last -session of Parliament, whereby ' all borough councils are empowered to pass by-laws for the regulation ot zoological gardens. The Act ic also retrospective, and applies to all zoological gardens a ready in existence in Now Zealand wh»T it w’as passed. At a later stage of Hie proceedings the Council was -asked to ap*. prove plans for new buildings proposed to be erected by Mr Boyd at the Zoo The Mayor (Mr J. Kowe) said the Conner war in a dilemma, seeing they had passed a by-law to close the Zoo, and on hifmotion it was decided to defer the planf for a fortnight and to send a copy of the new by-law to Mr Boyd before ho erect* any more new buildings. Mi' Boyd nil la allowed six months in which to remove his animals after the by-law bar been gazetted. _