CHIARINIS GRAND CIRCUS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 257, 10 November 1879, Page 2

CHIARINIS GRAND CIRCUS.

(Auckland S'ar.) For some days now the excitement in consequence of Chiarini's Circus being in the town has been at its height. The Circi.3 has been the theme of conversation everywhere, and the excellence of the horses and ferocity of the wild animals were fully discussed. At eight o'clock !a3t evening the pavillion was well filled, and the Artillery Baud, which has been engaged for the occasion, Btrikes up and announces that the performance has begun. The pavilion, which was very prettily decorated with profuse festoons of bunting, presented a very grace*ul'appearance, and the inauguration evening had been fittingly, honored by so much display of taste. The first entrance of the circus troupe consisted of four ladies and as many gentlemen, superbly dressed, and mounted on splendid grey horses, who, after executing a number of manoeuvres, were joined by Miss Nellie Reid and Signor (hianni, mounted on tfro beautiful black ho_rses, which were admired by all present. After the customary evolutions had been gone through, Signor Bartolo waa introduced. 1 his gent eman, who is styled " L'Homme herpent in the programme, fully justifies himself being so called. His contortions are excellent, and he has the power to put his body in any position he chooses. One of his best tricks is putting his head on tbe ground and then making his body revolve round as if it were on a pivot. Mr Fred Watson, who manifested great skill on horseback, was a very pleasing performance, and was successfully accompanied by the clown Siegrist. The equestrian changed his clothes, successfully changing himself from a sailor to Rory O'More and Rob Roy. Siegrist's jokes, and in fact those of the other clowns, had the special merit of being new, and the absurdities they perpetrated sent the audience into fitß. We forgot to mention that Mr Sylvester introduced into the arena two beautiful isebras, which he had tamed. Naturalists have gone so far as to say that the zebra is impossible to educate. This was proved to be a fallacy last evening, as Mr Sylvester had perfect control over hia charges, they being obedient to bis slightest call. Miss Nellie Reid then introduced the Chilian colt " Garibaldi," and made it go through a truly wonderful performance. It executed forward and retrograde movements, and walked first with its fore and then with its hind legs round a table. Miss Jeannette Watson was very successful in her equestrian act jumping through covered hoops, and doing other difficult things. Signor Chiarini exhibited two powerful jet stallions, whose training and education was truly wonderful, Miss lergus performed very gracefully on the swinging trapeze, and was loudly applauded for- her efforts. Mr Harry Lee as the wild Indian gave evidence of his powers of " rough riding," and the clown, J. Holloway, caused great merriment. Signor Chiarini, on his splendid browu horse Monte Cnnste, made it step in time to several tunes, and gave some excellent exhibitions of buckjumping, such as would have sent into ecstasies many an old Australian stockrider. The preceding feats of horsemanship were totally eclipsed by Miss Rose Lee, who performed some excellent juggline tricks while flying round tbe ring on a barebacked horse. She performed the plate spinning trick to perfection, keeping four plates spinning at one time. She was loudly applauded for her performance. Messrs Bartolo and Dunbar in la perch equipoise were excellent, the one perfoiming on a pole while the other held it. The celebrated boy rider, Charlie Watson, then pleased the audience with his clever horsemanship, and the entertainment was brought to a close by the exhibition of three Royal Bengal tigers by their tamer, Mr Charles Warner, who went in among tbe tigers and showed himself quite at home with them.