Council considers they will thrive better in their present 
environment. 
The female Hippopotamus arrived at the gardens early in the 
year. The Society now has a pair of these interesting animals. 
A new yard, with a capacious tank, has been made for their bene¬ 
fit, in front is a double iron fence in order to prevent visitors 
from getting too close to the animals, and at the back a wall has 
been made, and between the wall and yard, vegetation planted. 
The sleeping house is made principally from concrete. The 
Hippopotami are growing fast and evidently thriving well in 
their new surroundings. 
The old wooden house beside the present Hippopotami’s yard 
has been removed, and the vacant space planted with palms and 
shrubs. The various eucalyptus trees in that neighbourhood 
have all l^een topped, bark taken off, and creepers planted beside 
each tree, and in course of time these will form a very beautiful 
and attractive exhibit in themselves. 
The paddock between this enclosure and that of the Polar Bears 
has been made larger, drained, laid down with grass and plant¬ 
ed with various shrubs, and a stone house erected therein for 
the use of the occupants. The banks of the large pond and island 
therein, adjacent to this have been relined. Round the pond and 
also on the island fresh shrubs have been planted and the level of 
the water raised. 
Three more concrete Deer-houses, representing natural rock, 
have been erected and are in occupation, also the back portion of 
all the Deer paddocks has been well drained and a double row of 
shnibs ])lanted alongside, and in about two years the new build¬ 
ings will be practically embowered in vegetation and the fence 
covered with creepers, as the Council recognises tlie great value 
of vegetation in improving the appearance of the Gardens. 
The Snake-house, which was erected many years ago, will 
shortly be altered to enable its occupants to obtain more sun and 
fresh air than they get at presant. At one end of the building a 
wire netting structure has been erected, and a pond made therein; 
here the larger reptiles are able to bask, and the huge Python, 
over 24 ft. long, is able to take its prey in a less restricted area 
than was formerly the case. It is the intention of the Council to 
erect a similar wire enclosure at the other side of the Snake-house 
