CIRCUS HANDYMAN

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 30, 6 May 1938, Page 4

CIRCUS HANDYMAN

ELEPHANT’S ROLE PUSHING! THROUGH SLIPS Further details of the progress of Sole Bros.’ Circus and Zoo around the East Coast district- were supplied by the Te Araroa correspondent to the P.B. Herald, as follows: — Residents of tlie coastal lands southeast of ' Opotiki and .in tlie neighbourhood of Cape Runaway liad their first opportunity of seeing circus performances in their own localities during the past week, a. wellknown Australian circus having journeyed down the coast and given displays at Te Ivalia, Raukokore, and Cape Runaway settlements in succession. The animals of the zoo section in the circus , were of tremendous interest for the Maori population, and the elephant wa s the outstanding attraction of tlie show. This animal’s role of handyman about the circus was demonstrated effectively when the show was en route between Cape Runaway and Hick’s Elay, and faced the passage of a much-damaged! section of the highway.

'"v • V • : ''s* - *?.*!■*« ' Inquiries made previously, by Mr JST.,. St. Leon, advance, a gent;tor the cir-j cus, had held out the hope that, thee show might" hot reach Hick’s Bay before the worst of the damage had keen made good, or at least until repairs had advanced far enough to permit the circus to pass without delay.: On Friday, however, the travelling "'show had to plough through slips op more than one part of the route, and: at these points, the elephant was given a task whichCinust have appealed to him as a welcome change' the. daily routine.

Wlien any one of the nine big lorries and two cars of' the show; found progress impossible, the 'elephant was hitched on, and slowly but surely pulled the vehicle out of trouble. Progress was slower than was expected, and the circus reached Hick’s Bay too late to show dh Friday night as was intended, but the elephant saved the day| so far as reaeliing the destination was concerned. Tlie circus officials met large gangs of men working to clear the slips, and! vAre informed that 80 men in all are engaged under the Public Works Department’s supervision btween Te Araroa and Cape Runaway.