Annuans or 1874. eS Cae CEs ds 
New Falcon’s Aviary (balance) ............ fxs 202» 0), .'0 
Repairing damages of Explosion (balance 5 8 8 
One 
Works or 1875. 
New Lion-house and works connected 
HL OveW Aten acas Reb ca entmt anaes 6966 1 3 
New Framing-ground and Potting-sheds... 232 16 7 
New Tortoise-house 105 14 3 
TNS 27 MWVENPE S071 ee Ae ee a I 94 8 6 
ELOY 
£7429 93 
seta a 
It will be observed that the greater part of this sum has 
been devoted to the new Lion-house, which, as mentioned 
in previous Reports, the Council have had long in prospect, 
and of which the main portion has now been completed 
and opened to the Public. 
The plans for this important building having been pre- 
pared by Mr. Anthony Salvin,. the Society’s Architect, 
after consultation with the Secretary and Superintendent, 
and approved of by a special Committee of the Council 
appointed for the purpose, the construction of the main 
fabric of the building was entrusted to Messrs. J. Simpson 
& Son on the 13th of February 1875, under a contract to 
deliver the building complete on the Ist of November for 
the sum of £7280. This contract was efficiently carried 
out, and the building (with a few trifling deficiencies) duly 
completed at the time mentioned, although it was not 
thought advisable to move the animals into it until the 
commencement of the present year. A separate contract 
was made with Messrs. Weeks & Co. for the warmine- 
apparatus (which was necessarily of a rather extended 
kind) for the sum of £321 6s., and was likewise carried 
out in a very satisfactory manner. The clay dug out from 
the foundations of the new building and from the adjoining 
walks and paths was removed to a vacant space near the 
Reservoir and burnt into ballast, at a total cost of 
£446 1s.10d. This amount may seem large; but when 
it is mentioned that by this means a quantity of ballast 
estimated at 4150 cubic yards was obtained, of which the 
ordinary price delivered in the Gardens would not be less 
than from 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. per yard, and that the large 
expenditure involved in carting the surplus clay out of 
London was altogether saved, it will be manifest that it 
was really a very economical proceeding. 
