CIRCUS SHIFTING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 9

CIRCUS SHIFTING.

ELEPHANTS AS " HANDY MEN." QUICK WORK AT THE WHISTLE. ALL BY THE TORCHES' -FLARE. Tho baild strikes up nt tlio pignal of thrco whistles; tho incrediblo tight-s-clad lady js contorted in mid-air; under tho big main canvas the perforinanco has begun. Tho last small boy is dragged past tho Inst regarding tigpr in tho monagorio tpnt adjoining, and ,a Binglo whistle, long nnd shrill, calls a dozen brawny follows to tako part in the performanco that begins outside. It is tho [list night of tho circus, tho night of shifting camp. Under tho big white donio tho king of beasts cowers under a brown man's eyo and whip, performing his equestrian trioks. Beneath the smaller dome, his tawny mates ami cubs aro .shifting house. / Sharp on the whlstlo's shriek, half a dozen men aro pulling down tho walls of the menng'erio tent on tho sido furthest from the wind, and loosening pegs. The cages of tho beasts are coupled up in a long lino, and . run out by tho elephants. Leo felis, yawning: from his "turn," is irheejcd to join his mates. Down : comes tho leeward canvas, then tho windward, then tho .top, When the performing tigers ]e«vo tlio ringed nron.i, tho pionagorio tont is on tho ground, It pan be taken down and packcd with nil accessories on the wagon in twenty niimites, (ind put up_ again in an hour. Already a um'quo procession lias commenqod to wind down"JerJfois Qnay. The restivo wilder bessts; in their joined''cages, aro trailing to tlio railway, station,'drawn by tho wise and-patient elephants. "Half price now to tho oircusl" Horses and Elephants. Tho .menagerie tent, 300 feet in circumference,; is being rollod by skilful hands; tont pegs of various dimensions aro. bestowpd in soparatc, lorries, grooms aro 'feeding the ' ponies, tethered along a line of fence. Coatless,., bare-armed men scurry hither and thither, kicking up tlio sand; largo acetylene .torches, hissing and flaring in the wind, show them -where t-o avoid tho tont ropes; an elephant, waiting his nest task, looms up raguo and monstrous against tho groy wall of, the tent. ..Tho "property" tent, which half an hour beforo contained tho gear and hundred trappings of the circus, is rolled up on a'wagon; work now for tho elephant, who is .trumpeting his lveariness .of inaction,! Tho tent' and its accessories aro wheeled round to tho entrance of tho ground; tho Indian with stolid shaggy faces framed by their wide harps, nro tethered t-n the logon's rear, tho elephant trudges off, drawing his load, and the buffaloes shamble after, to the station. Tho two horse tonts aro undisturbed;, each'tent is divided lengthwise .by ;y wall of canvas, and tlio horses munch their provender from cunning bags sewn into tho canvas wall. They will be tlio last to go; in fact, they will not go till Sunday, Clever little Lady Morcton is well nigged to protcct her from tho cold. A p«3ty pcjoiatlan. It is an easy shift to-night. The train will ■ leave for Carterton at 2 a.m. on Monday,'but there is no more sense than propriety in working Sundays, and busily t'fl# clearing up goes on. The space before th« m-iin tent is a dusty desolation, with torches flickering to and fro. carried by in on *hp knovr their eiTand, and elephants waiting for fresh tasks. •Tho elephant is tho "handy man " of the circus—navvy and. artist, too. Ho can daiico a waltz step or assist to roll a tent with equal • dignity and composure; .he can play a mopth organ or shift a ton; ho is ,-ih example of docility to all the boasts; inscrutable, im» perturbable, how much. mnro than man he is ,tho master of his soul. Ho'js not pffp.nded when the nervous'visitor shrinks i)APk from his insinuating hand. Ho is capable of de-, vouring Thb Dominion- whole, and ijs >bout to do so, ]iis ivatchful keeper snatches it from his "trunk. . It. is iold.liotv... ones in. Lithgow, New 1 South Wales, . when half an .'inch of ice..cpyering,tho it impossiblo for tbo 'mon 'to fglrit/ the elephants perfnrmed.tlio.tasjc', .. Jrj willd.V; iovps, .liko Wellington, tlip circqs tiQ.nfc is sp'eeinljy stayed by storm,guys,.'.'.avhich; go .from,peg. to-ppi.nt, : and point to peg all rqi'md its/grent <?.ire«m- •' forene'e. ..Twirl, and quip ar? still. going on. inside;; but .men aro rpuiovjng -these additional stay ropes. " ' ' Clearing the SMaln Tent. The circus disgorges its multitude of plep-sure-seelcors; tho bands of workers hurry in.. "All you men to those, chairs!" In ill' credibly short time, the chairs aro doubled up .and on a.van, Tho lighting man.-with his. assistants, is pulling down tho double square of lights above tho arena; a single square ' goes up to light tho operations. The cross above tho wooden platform is pulled down, • and does not go u'nJagfjih. Several scores of, burners set . into these .crosses, must be tcarefully'..detached 'and stowed in their reoepr tacles. Tho torches, carried hither and thither by brisk men, nugment the light that comes from the diminished centre frame. The big :iron. c's»ge in which the animals perform is at .the station long before, ,- 'Whtn tho tigers .made their it was pulled" -apart, by ; understanding hands, and aticked high on a lorry, .. : > . . Now,, as before this, ovei-ything is dona hy method. Half a dozen men aro taking dnwil the walls of tho great tent; ten minutes show a long gap, with the smooth sea shining-; just beneath and lights dancing to rc-. fleeted lights on the far side of tho harbour. Way. now'., for tlio elephant?! One of them slowly. draws the "board" wagon, as it. is called, round thp inside of tho tent to take the seats which a gang of pten are rapidly ! removing. Another 'follows, trailing ' the. '"loop" .waajonj which must take the "stringers" (seat-supports) jp quick process of removal' by -another gang. . - ■ Outside a. man is ruling up tho "jacks"-—V-ebaped structures that support, the "stringers"—as fast as they arc detached by a third net. The "storm pegs," big thick wooden, pegs, that surround tho tept, are outAbeforo thjs, but hammers.aro still loosening the iron pins, 6ft. 4in. long, and ?teel pjps 3ft. Pin, lotig, which hold the other, tent ropes. 'These go into the staae w.niron, which an elephant is: drawing round. The great "king" poles, which support its outer roof, and other poles have all their special guardians and places. The king poles; ouarter poles, and canvas of tli? big tent make a burden .of seven tons.. One elephant can'mill the "jinker," or licavv. wagon, loaded with this weight, but he is .allowed assistance. In the performers' tont, behind -their entrance to tho-main tent, t,|io "artists" are busy packing up 'their smaller belongings, and getting into common clothes. '.-.'Strange Seines at'the Station. The big tent is 138 ft. in diameter; <|0 men, knowing each his task, have the seating and plntfnr'm packed, the canvas down, and "tolled"tip .in six sections on a w'agon, and everything in ordT for the station in a little ovr-r two hours. T'n° horses are left picketed tili the' morning. ' The •entertainment programme was rupljod t|irp\Hi on this last niaht to enable the real wprk to proceed, and it'ls hot much over midninht when the last load arrives at tho railway station,. There, too. surprising seenos h.ivc been enacted, witl< elephants strain in thp wain-rol^s. "Whero is Al'ce?". w?s demanded by 'a fireman when tb" t-icfors sot, out to caHi tKelr t.r»in, And.+he'answer eame, strnigely, "Oh; Aliee is leading the ..giraffe.'' Alice is a ladv elephant who is of great assistaheo when the animals, entrain, because she works hiird M'ifhput any foolish' hustle. And tlio other elephants, ladies and gentlemen alike, give their services in the calm, capable nyinnnr, vheri the nhafing timers, the imnalionesses, the "toueh-mc-no't" giraffe, with her sir of sofpe mineinij, dolie.i.te fine lad'-, the elnmsy buffalos, tlie zeljn, and other o-iii'inls are ready to entrain. "Heavv rails make a slnninrt'?ongwav from the platform tri ""eh truck. Tho cages with the animals ar" plaeed unon the. rails- and the ohli"'n" el"p)nnt.s push them up, The wheels ore taken off tho lercor cages; so that they, mav not bo ten high to go thrniiTh tunnels ; the'wheels of the lower eages are blocked un, nnd vacant portions of the truck tightly, wedded up, so that the oa"es may not shift. In all the heavier-op-rations the elephnets plav op intelligent. n»vl almost, iiulisppnsah'o part. The hiifF.«loes prd three camels share.jj.trunk. M«* Ladv Giraffe has a special enrriaee to, herself; with a man-servant lo attend, on all her wants; tlio elephants, when j

their turn comes, go two to a truck, "head and tail" fashion, like children of a largo family, which tliey am. Tho '"mo" earrios with it about 30 wild animals, o\'er 40 horses, about 50 workmen, and close 011 40 '"artists," besides tno managerial stiilT. A few ot tho workmen mako "shakedowns" for themselves at tho station, so that they may know if anything is molested. Workmen and managerial staff go' through to Carterton by the special tram at 2 a.m. on Monday, the performers .following by an ordinary train. Quick Work at the Other End. Usually, porformer3 arc timed to arrive at n show t-own about 11 a.m.; on arrival tliey will usually find tho tents orcctcd, and pre-, parations well in train for the evening's show. No act is left out of tho programme at tho smallest town, nor any of the animals at . tho railway station. Otto and Emil arid *tho Itodoriques Brothers rehearso their act liko the humblest learners, and are keen on finding out now tricks. Tho feeding and physiekjng of tho live stock is a large responsibility, The seven elephants consume among them a ton of oaten chaff a day, and 4 bottle of whisky in a bucket of water is tho sovereign remedy when an elephant takes a chill. Threo weeks from now, the company will know a little more about the art of shifting camp than they do at present, if that is possible. During that period the circus will show in a different town each night. RIFLE SHOOTING. 6 THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING, ABOUT 500 ENTRIES RECEIVED. Evsrything points to a most successful gathering of riflomen at the great annual oarnival—tho Now Zealand Championship Rifle Meeting—which opens on Thursday next. So far, about 500 entries have been received. Wellington contributes 282; Auckland, 59; Dunedin; 44; Nelson, 30; a batch of 50 from Canterbury, and another of 30 from Wellington are on the | way, the total number of known entries being 435. There pre a few odd ones still to come, so that the meeting will open with 'as large (if not a larger) attendance as that recorded last year,, when 501 competitors were present. The Wellington Entries. The number of entries from the Wellington city and suburban corps (volunteers and rifle ulubs) is the largest on record. Up to the present every corps but the College Rifles, lielburn* Rifles, and the Highlanders is represented, tho list to date being as follows:— City Rifles,—Sergt. V. H. ■ Baker, Corpl. Fes«ay, ptos, Dpdd, Wiren, Nieass, Tumor, A. J. Jackson, Pitcher, Lang, Lane, and Price—ll men. . Post and Telegraph Rifles,—Lieuts. Collins and Bolton, Sergt. Gilbert, Ptes. Jones and Davidson—s men. D Battery—Lieut. Skelly, Sergt. Wickens, Gunnorfj Foeke, Plimmcr, and Cottcrill—6 men. Wellington Navals.—P.O. Jaffray, P.O. Cainan, Gunners Gibb, Day, Hosie, and Boon—6 men, Civil Service Pti'les.—l.ieut, Hawthorn, Corpl. Joplin, Ptcs, Fisher, Butcher, Lowe, and. Abbott—G men. Wellington Guards.—Sergt. Tinney, Corpl. Smart, Ptos. Barnes and MacWhirter—4 men. Permanent Force.—Gunners Otton, Farr, Watson, and Milroy—4 men, Zealamjia Ififles.—Sergt. Hugo, Corpl. Renkin, and Ptc. Dalton—3 men, Hntt Valley Rifles.—Lieut. Hollard, Ptcs. Routley and Wood—3 men, Cycle Corps.—Sergt. Jolian. Engineers.—Sapper Rogers. . Johnsonvillo lijltes.—Lieut. Merrleloes. Karori Rifle Club.—Riflemen France, Halliday, Lewer, Bnlford, Marshall, Maisey, Aston, Hpddqr, Marehant, Judd, Randall, Burns, Green-wood, and Tarr—l4 men. Teton? Rifl? Clnb.-Captain Ross, Riflemen Thomas, Roberts, Henderson, Mellor, J. G. Wilson, and G. 8. Prin«slo —7 men. Upper Hntt Rifle Cliib.-Riflemen ICitfchen, Paul, prtgg, Boyd, C, MTiiteman, F. Whiteman, 31111., Tukc Whiteman, J. Whiteman, . fnomps.on, : and Wilkin^ip,,mcn.:. One of the reasons 1 adduced for this substantial ijjcrsasp in the representation of the Wellington'garrison tjqrP'3 ! ' fs : 'tho 1 "inttrrost ■ taken during tho past'season by tho officers, who assumed control of tho Garrison IJjfle Association .early in■ the season. ' - i , ExiChr-mpions. : So far, the following ex-ohampions have forwarded entries:—Rifleman W. J. Milroy, Nelson Rifle Club. (1905); fiiergt. J. W. Chin". Wai-' rnea Rifles (1904)! Lieut. R, M. Irvino, Nelson Riflesl (190P)I Riflenian R. J. King, Opa|:i (1903); and Rifleman G. Hydo, Opaki (the present holder). ; The substantial increase in tho number of envrie? from tho Auckland district is duo to the opening of tho Main Trunk line. Sir John Logan Campbell, of Auckland, has presented a handsome shield for battalion competitionteams of 20 men oa'ch—to be. fired for under Kolapore 'Cup conditions, ?t 200, 600, and GOO yards, New Features. The principal innovations this year are, as has already been stated, tho alteration of the number of ranges in the chnmpionsjiip matches from three to two, by which a saving of time Will be ■ effected, Twenty • additional prir.es nayp been added to tho lists in the championship match, and to tho first twenty-fivo arm badges will ho winner to reoeive « gold badge, the next three, silver hadges, and the remaining twenty-one, silk badges. Three new service matches have been added -it ? fiff'"' o targets in these lr !ll be khaki coloured on a parti-coloured * .® - being eolonred green, The "Service Championship" is another new feature in the pi'ogrnmme; in (he surprise target' events there will be three targets, each with six "dummies," at unknown from 500 to 1000 yards. 1 or^s staff hfts been busily engaged, at,tile range putting matters in order-for the carnival. Owinj? to the recent dry treather the turfing opei'(|tionp on the reconstructed mounds have, jn one or two cases, not been so successful- as might have been, tho turf not having had an opportunity of "striking." Tho putts pave received attention, and tho cover on the bommcrville trench removed; the work of the markors should, therefore, be much'pleasnnter. % 1 Ihe canip water pupply has also been improved ; the new raaorvoir, however, will not be ready in time for this year's meotin». A lavatory, wjth hand basins, has boon installed jo'' 'he use ot the men, thus ending the bucket, system of ablutions. Trflin Arrangements. On Monday, Tuesday, ar,d • Wednesday tlio morning train from Masterton to Wellington. \ mail trnin, ivili jtop at Defence biding to set down competitors. from the north, From to-day until March 13, all passenger and mixed trains, with the exception of tho mail trains, will stop at the aiding if required. On Saturday next a special tram has been, arranged to leave town at 1.40 p.m., returning at 6 fares. The events on that 'day will be the service matches, \vhich should be interesting for spectators. Weather permitting, the lung's Pri2c and New Zealand Rifle Championship will bo decided on Friday, March 12, at 3 p.m. Tarin arrangemen.ts tor that day wjll be qnnonyicod later.Their Excellencies Lord and Lndy Plunket have signified their intention of beiiig present to witness the ovent, 'nnd will pfterwarfjs present the prizes. All train tickets to competitors lyill lie availoblo for return up to nnd including March 17. The ammunition supply for the championship meeting has been specially packed and branded "C.A.C." Trentham, Colonel Collins, V.D., Chief Executive Officer of the Dominion Rifle Assopintion, Captain C. Jlnrcourt, secretary of the Range Committee; and Captain F. Burton Jffibiq, Qnnr'ormaster, visited tho range on Saturday, and found matters pi'ogrosnin? very satisfnetorily. As .Captain Morgan and Lieut. Stan'dish have nijable to arrant to he present on the staff, then-places will be taken by Captain Hall and Lieut. Miokle.

WELLINGTON NAVALS AT MIRAMAR. The Wellington Navals held (heir ninth competition for the company's belt anil medal on Saturday. The resul's of the match gave Gunner Boon a lead of 22 points in tli« aggregate, \\-ith one match ta £0. The "Martin" challenge bgdje* \v-jre again won by Ounlier Boon's team, with a total of 171 points. P.O. ll'Kay's team scored IGS. Giipner F, Martin won the B Glass trophy outright, and Gunner J. 11. ■\Villiauis the C Class special trophy, Results: A Class. 500 000 yds. yds. T'l. 'Gunner Day ... ... ... „. 27 2" 51 fGunner Boon , ... ... ...' ill -2.T 51 'P.O. Jaffary ... 23 21 U F.O. it'Kay ... 21 18 3a

B Class. 500 GOO a ~ yds. yds. T'l. ••Gunner P. Martin 21 16 :)7 r.O, Steel 22 13 .15 , fGunuer A. Burns 16 10 20 C Class. v £01) GOO vds. yds. T'l. "tP.O. Calnan '. 21) 2:! 52 Gunner Ilosio 25 21- -i 0 •Gunner Crpxton 29 20 49 "Gunner J. H. Williams ... 2S 17 45 Gunner Stevens 30 15 <5 Gunner Forsyth 24 19 ID fl'.O. Bishop (21—10), '10; Gunner Murphy (29—11), 40; |Gunner Atkinson (21—18), ,19; 1\ O. Williamson (22—15), .17; Gunner Clnyden (20—H), M; Gunner J. Sinclair (13—16), 29; Gunner Tolley (12-15), 27; Gunner Barber (814), 22; Gunner Deirar (11-10), 21; Uunner H. Sinclair (13—7), 20. *Legs-in; ** trophy outright; fbadge holder!?. Pvt. U'Whirter, YTelljnilon Guards made (28-22), 10. PETONE RIFLE CLUB. The Pctone Rifle Club continued its competitions for the Championship .Shield, and aggregates on Saturday at their range at Waiwetu. The conations for the shoot were favourable, the light being good and tho wind steady from Jho right, J. G. Wilson, an old 1 etofre clubman, put up a splendid performance* notching one short of r» ten-sliot oossiblo at 000 yards, and Retting -15 at SOO, a total of 94 out of a possible 100. Scores (ten shots at GOO and 800 yards)-.— A CLASS. COO EOO -t n TT'I y( !S' y(ls ' H ' p - T ''- ~,T. G. Wilson 19 45 0 94. ''A. Honderson IB 44 3 87 C. Bird 4u lIS 3 87 J- Carter 45 4] 0 B{i A. Balhnger 42 43 0 S5 C. Mellor ' ... 39 41 0 83 J. Roberts 43 30 0 73 B. Bird 35 31 5 71 J. B. M'Lachlan 27 34 2 03 B CLASS. GOO 800 T yds- yds. iip. T'l. M rn ,'n 31 33 11 78 .'IS. Ivmeht 44 .29 0 73 P. J. Town HO ,15 n 71 •H. Ayson 29 27 9 05 J. Cahvpll ... 22 42 0 04 E, .TnluiSO!) ... 27 '34 2 G3 G. Faulkner 35 27 0 G2 W. Cook 22 14 10 4G W. Maud. ... SO 0 12 42 c Logs in. tPinal wins. SOUTH ISLAND MEETING. THE KING'S MATCH. (hi Tr.Lf.Giui'ii—rnrlss association.) Christchurch, February 27, Tho South Island Rifle Association's meeting continued to-day. The King's Match, being the aggregate of matches Nos. 1, 2, and 3 added to a final match of ten shots at 500 yards, open to the twenty-foi\r hifhest scorers, the winner to held the South Island Championship Belt (presented by the Licensed Victuallers' Association, of Christchurch) for one year; first priie, •CB, tho championship belt, and a gold medal; second, £5, and silver medal; third, -Co; two prizes of £2; and five prires of -£1. Scores: — Sergt. Bradley, North Dunedin Rifles (39) 225 Lieut. Timbrell, Linwood Rifles (45) ... 223 Sergt,-Major Evans, Christchurch Engineers (38) 222 Ljcut. Ongley, Oamaru (43) 221 Liliut. M'Cormick, KB. Mounted Rifles (42) 221 Pvt. Jones, Dunedin City Guards (46) ~. 220 Cant. Jordan, Rangior* Rifles (38) ... ..; 220 Ritlemi 1 Henry, Opaki (40) 219 Rifleman BnAtln, Christchurch (35) ... 210 Rifleman Liddle. Lincoln (41) ' ... 217 Rifleman Dijthie (40) ... ... 217 ' DEFENCE CADET MATCH. Seven sluts at 200 yards; cne prize of £1; ono of 15?.; four of 10».; four of 7s, fid-; nino of ss,—Colpur-§orgt Oliver (Ashbnrton High School), 32; C»dot Bro'.k (Rangiora), 32; Corr pnral Rpuntres (Ashbnrton High School), 31; Cadet Barclay (Waitaki High School), 30; Sergt, Senior (Ashbnrton Hi»h School), 30; Corporal Miles (Rangiora), 30; Sergf. Stringer (Waitaki High School), 30; Cadet Harris (Christ's College), 30; Lieut, Jones (Ashbnrton High School), 29; Corporal A. Deans (Chrisf.chureh Boys' High School), 29; Corporal Church (Ashbnrton High School), 29 ( Pvt. O'Connor (Rahgicra), 29; Sergt. Nayler (Waitnlri High School), 29; Corporal Devril (Wailaki High School), 29; Cadet Manning (Christ's College), 29; Bugler Moss (\Vaitpfci High School), 29; Corpora! Boyes (Christchurch , Boys' High School), 28; Cadet Pari, (Christchurch Boys' .Jljgh Sohool), 23; Sergt. Mmin (Rangiora), 27. •SOUTHLAND MATCH. ■ Ton shots at COO yards; one prize of £Sj two of i£2; two of ,C 1 10s.; four of jCI ; six of Ifls.; ,and t six tyro prizes of 10s. each. Results:— Rifleman Hayloelc (Wainui), 48; Sergt. J. Bradley (Dunedin), 47; Japce-Corp. Butchcr (Dunedin), 46; Lanoo-Corp. Jordan (Christchurch), 45; Sorgt. F. Hogg (Oamaru), 40; Sergt. Wills (Southland), 45; Pvt. Jones (Dunedin), 45; G'npt Jordan (Rangiora), 45; Corporal Henderson (Wainiakariri), 45; Rev. A. H. Karris (Christchurch), 45; Rifleman J. C. Bpjtr (Riversdale), til Colour-Sergt. Dewar (Oamaru), 44; Q.M.S. Noonan (Christchurch), 44; Lieut. Ongley (Oamaru), 4-i; Pvt. C. Sonntag (Dunedin), 44; Sergt.-Majpr Evans (Christchurch), 44; Rifleman Buntjn (Chnsteliurch), 44; Rillamau Henry (Opaki), 44; Lieut. Sar.dl'ord (Christchurch), 43,