UNUSUAL SCENE AT A CIRCUS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 856, 30 June 1910, Page 4

UNUSUAL SCENE AT A CIRCUS.

THE PARSON AND THE BUCKJUMPER. It is not often that one hears of a clergyman who is an expert rough-rider (writes our Auckland correspondent), but at a recent performance of Jones Bros.' buck-jumpers at Whangarei the audienco had tlie somewhat unique- experience of witnessing a member of tho cloth comfortably seated on an "outlaw." Tha ring-master had called for volunteers to ride a wiry-looking animal named Lively Kitty, when much to tho astonishment of the audience a parson came smiling into the ring in tho person of the Rev. Jasper Calder, of Whangarei. The proprietor stared blankly at tho somewhat small figure in black, but said nothing, and assisted the young man to mount. After two unsuccessful attempts at mounting, due to the restlessness of tho horse, Mr. Calder got safely seated. In an instant Lively Kitty showed that her title was justly earned by putting in a few good straight bucks and some nasty twists," but the reverend gentleman showed himself to be an excellent horseman by sitting calmly in the saddle and smiling in perfect caso until his mount had had enough. The audienco cheered the rider to the echo, and the proprietor was so delighted that he announced his intention of presenting Mr. Calder with, a special gold medal for his unique exhibition. The following night the memento was duly presented before a crowded audience (mainly from the back-blocks) amid great applause. Tho medal bears the following inscription: "Presented by Jones Bros, for rongh-riding to tho Rev. J. Calder, 'the little minister'." Mr. Calder is a son of Archibald Calder, of I'onsonby, Auckland, one of the most popular and unconventional clergymen of the Auckland diocese, who can tell many 1 a good story of his own experience in bygone days as a country clergyman.