6 
spite of every care died in about five weeks after arrival. The second 
Tapir died at sea near Port Darwin, and the Rhinoceros in Mr. Le Souef’s 
charge reached Sydney in safety and apparent good health; unfortunately 
he had there to tranship all the stock, and was detained for several days, 
the weather being both cold and wet; the day before he left Sydney the 
animal was attacked by acute inflammation, brought on by the great 
change in the temperature, aud died in a few hours. The death of these 
valuable and expensive animals has been a considerable loss to the 
Society. Mr. Le Souef brought back a number of other specimens 
which have enriched the collection in a desirable direction, and the 
Gardens are now very attractive, the collection being larger and more 
valuable than it has ever been previously. 
It is, however, much to be regretted that the number of paying visitors 
to the Gardens during the past year has been slightly below those of 
1883, the numbers in that year being 79,541, as against 76,590 in 1884. 
The Council attributes this falling off to the free Sunday, the atten¬ 
dance on that day continuing to increase, and is a most serious hindrance 
to the onward progress of the Society. The Council has no hesitation 
in affirming that had the Gardens been open only to subscribers on 
Sundays as in London, or a charge made as in Continental and 
American Gardens, this Society would now have taken its place among 
the leading Societies of the world, and the Gardens would have become 
infinitely more attractive than it is possible to make them under present 
conditions. It seems to the Council that if the present arrangement is 
to continue, the Government and Parliament should at least double the 
present grant of ^1,500, as that sum is a most inadequate compensation 
to the Society for the immense crowds of visitors, estimated at over 
200,000 annually, who visit the Gardens free on Sundays. 
On September 8th last, the Brunswick and Coburg Railway line was 
opened, and gates were erected close to the Royal Park Station and duly 
advertised in the press, but after a trial of three months the receipts were 
found not to pay the gatekeeper’s wages, and the gates have therefore 
been closed. Until the connection with Flinders Street is effected, these 
gates will only be opened on public holidays. 
