6 
the Melbourne Zoological Gardens the equal and the friendly rival 
of the splendid garden of a similar character to be found in many 
of the great cities of Europe and America, and the Council is glad 
to report that they are steadily advancing in that direction. During 
the past few months a substantial and well arranged reptile-house has 
been erected; a very ornamental rockery and pond has also been 
constructed opposite the bear house ; the new Refreshment Room 
has been enlarged and improved ; and the old Refreshment Room 
near the main gates has been added to and converted into a 
milk-house, where fresh milk from the cow can be obtained at a 
small charge ; and a new and commodious shed has been erected on 
the Elephant walk. The improvements effected during the past year 
have been of a permanent character, as well as ornamental. 
The Continental Concerts, under the same management as last 
season, have been again continued. The music, under Mr. Siede’s 
direction, is excellent, and visitors are loud in their praise, but still 
on the whole the attendance has so far been rather disappointing. 
Steps will be taken in view of the intended International 
Exhibition to be held in Melbourne next year to make the Gardens 
as attractive as possible, especially with regard to the Fauna of 
Australia, which it is intended to increase. A varied and well 
arranged collection of the Australian Fauna will have a great 
interest to European visitors. It is also intended before the opening 
of the Exhibition to re-establish the Native Encampment in the 
Gardens, as such an exhibit will be interesting to the many scientific 
men who will doubtless visit the Colonies next year. All the details 
of the encampment of the aborigines who possessed the country 
where Melbourne now stands when the white men first arrived will 
be faithfully carried out. 
During the year about 80,000 full tickets have been sold at 
the gates, which, including children, would give an attendance for 
the year of over 100,000. The attendance on Sunday being free, still 
continues very large, and probably reaches 200,000 in the year or a 
total of over 300,000 visitors. 
