CHIARINI'S CIRCUS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1163, 8 January 1880, Page 2

CHIARINI'S CIRCUS.

Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus, admitted to be one of the finest combinations of the kind that has ever visited the Colony, arrived here this morning, and opened this afternoon. As showing the expeditious manner in which the movements of the circus are carried out, we may mention that a performance given at Timaru last, evening did jnot conclude until a quarter to 11, but before •half-past 1 o'clock the whole of the animals, .paraphernalia, &c., were placed upon the railway trucks —very quick work when it is considered that the lot took up 10 cattle itrucks and 15 ordinary goods trucks. At 4 o'clock this morning the train, with the addition of two passenger carriages, left Timaru, ;and Oamaru was reached at half-past 6 : o'clock. By half-past 9 o'clock the tents for the circus, covering several acres of land, were erected, and everything put into proper order for the afternoon performance :by mid-day. It was a treat to note the sys- ■ tematic mannerin which everything was done. There was no rushing or bustle, the work being carried on quietly and with clockwork regularity. The best of arrangements have been made for-the-accommodation of the public. On each side of the entrance are long rows of seats,, those on one side being carpeted and set aside as second seats, while those on-the other, side .are. used, as "the pit." In front of these are plated rows of comfortable chairs, railed off and made select in every respect; - these form the reserved seats, and are certainly a long way superior, to anything we; have seen in connection with any circus in Oamaru. With a view to as far as possible avoiding a crush at night, special arrangements have been made to have a conveniently-situated ticketoffice at one of the windows of the Northern Hotel, where tickets may be obtained throughout the day. This evening there will be special trains to Hampden an 4 intermediate stations, and Ngapara arid stations, while to-morrow evening the convenience of residents on the .Duntroon,line will be considered, as the performance will not be commenced until half-past eight o'clock, the time of the arrival of the train from Duntroon, and after the entertainment is over a special train will ' be despatched. These arrangements will give the residents on the Duntroon line a fair chance of seeing the whole of the performance. The arrival of the circus and the perfecting of arrangements caused, as usual, no little excitement, a large number" of persons, young, and old, collecting on the vacant ground opposite the railway station. -We had scarc.ejy believed that there were , so' many unemployed men and idle boys in the .town. The several trains from the country to-day brought in a goodly number of- children to attend the performance this afternoon, which was only moderately patronised, principally by young children. Of course, a cirous cannot be judged by a mid-day matinee, for it is deprived of much of. its attractive nature by the absenbe of brilliant lights to show up the bright costumes of the performers. 'We shall■ not, therefore,* attempt, to give a detailed ci-iticism of the performance, merely stating that -ihe tr-oupe is a very good one in all departments. There ; are good displays of acrobatic skill and equestrian daring, and clever performing animals, i added to funny clowns and all the usual' concomitants of a first-class circus. Another: performance will be given this evening, and: there will be another matinee to-morrow, afternoon, attwo o'clock. ■ ' i: ■