ELEPHANT’S ESCAPADE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1923, Page 4

ELEPHANT’S ESCAPADE

j AN ENTERTAINING SIOEY. AI'CKI.AXJ). July 27. j An entertaining account of Hu j idio-yiui'asics of Auckland's new eir- | phi.nt. Jiinr.ma. and her fnndii<-ss for , h*-r Indian keel -r was given to the City Council last evening in a report I silbmilled hr Mi' i.. T. Griflin. Ibis j was bused upon an escapade nl the aui- ' mal on a re-ent Sunday I At about 7 p.m.. said Mr (I'niilit, .iumumi 1 roke out of her temporary stall at the Council depot at Eieemao's Lay. near the destructor. In the absence of A ter Ali. Imr keeper, or mahout, she tin'll proceeded to pull down the dnwiipip.'.x on various buildings, also sundry water taps. AI lerwnnis. sh" proceeded to the mahout's reolti. broke the holt id!' the door, and ate all his (lour, sugar, butter, milk, and everything else eatable there. While sh" was busy at this, the night-shift men at the destructor blocked the passago-wav with carts and waggons, thinking to limit her wanderings. However, as she came back, she first tore n pipe and water tap off the side ol the destructor house, and broke the window of the men's eating room, and llieu calmly and with the greatest of care pushed all the waggons out of the passage, turning one over and damaging it. At this stage all the nightshift men at the destructor mounted to the top of the boilers and stopped there pending the arrival of assistance. Jtimiina then proceeded to smack down the large double gall's, and partly .succeeded. After Ali returned at 10 p.m. she settled down at once, and the men on the too of the boilers were relea-otl, and relumed to their data -;. ‘‘ Alor Ali seldom leaves i la> elephant,'’ continued Mr Grinin. '' 1 mlist say he looks alter her weii from one week's end in lh" of her. lull he tills me that when he i- there the elephant is very good, hut when he goes away then she is very had. lie is dissatisfied with the stable she L in. and says he cannot he answerable for her in such a place. [ have now ordered her to he chained lore and all to the floor. The mahout is fpiifi' satisfied with (hi- arrangement. The* incident showed fairly conclusively that Jiimuna would he r handful were her present keeper to leave Auckland. That contretemps was in

some danger i f J;;ifini;. It appears .Ator Ali lias been receiving £H> a month, hut lie recently notified t!.•:* Parks Committee of the Council that lie could not. accept. that nnnmnt ns n permanency. Ho wanted £4 Ids a v.opk, exclusive of quarters at the Zoo. and a uniform. If this were not "ranted ho requested that the Council should arrange for his return to India. Mr Griffin reported, however, that he hud persuaded the mahout to take £ll a month and uniform. On the recommendation of the committee the Council agreed to these terms, anti to have the keeper at the Zoo instructed In assist with the elephant- when she is taken then'.