228 THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The Committee examined all the principal officers and 

 employees of the Society, and on their evidence drew up a report 

 containing a number of recommendations. 



The selection of Mr. W. L. Sclater as Secretary received some 

 attention from the Press, to which communications were made 

 by several prominent Fellows. Thus it was made known to 

 the Fellows generally that, in accordance with the bye-laws, 

 the selection of a Secretary by the Council need only be an 

 appointment ad interim. Notwithstanding the long services 

 of Dr. Sclater a number of Fellows, including some influential 

 Members of Council, thought that a more decided change in 

 the management of the Society was desirable than would be 

 likely to follow if Mr. W. L. Sclater succeeded his father. An 

 animated public controversy followed; eventually two candi- 

 dates — Mr. W. L. Sclater and the present Secretary — were 

 proposed to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. 



Mr. W. L. Sclater was presented to the Monthly Meeting of 

 January 22 by the President as the new Secretary. The most 

 important business was the reading of the recommendations of 

 the Reorganisation Committee, and their ratification by the 

 Fellows present. The President gave a brief outline of the 

 work of the Committee, and Sir Harry Johnston then read 

 the Report, of which the principal points were : 



That the Garden Committee should consider the Report with respect 

 to the question of dilapidations. 



Definitions of the duties of the Secretary. 



The retirement of the Superintendent on March 31, 1903, on a pension 

 of £200 a year,* and the appointment of Mr. W. E. de Winton, a Member 

 of Council, as Acting- Superintendent for a period of twelve months. 

 He would confer with the Garden Committee, and with them under- 

 take the reorganisation. t Till some progress had been made, and the 

 Council had become acquainted with the work of the new Secretary, no 



* Mr. Clarence Bartlett, who was in ill-health at the time, died on May 1 ; 

 and a gratuity of £100 was granted to Mrs. Bartlett. 



t Necessary works mentioned in the Report, whicli has not been printed and 

 distributed, were : Improvement of the Fencing separating the Garden from the 

 Park and the Road ; protection from fire, and telephonic communication with 

 fire stations ; immediate attention to general dilapidations ; the reconstruction of 

 the giraffe house, hippopotamus house, bears' dens, small cats' and small mammals' 

 houses; alterations at the monkey and anteloj)e houses, the fish house, and the 

 polar bears' dens and the provision of a paddock for wild cattle. 



