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Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1915, Page 11 (Supplement)

Seven performing sheep, a bucking ram, two young gymnastic pigs, and a German on parole, comprise collectively a proposition that is occasioning considerable bewilderment to the heads of the Victorian Intelligence Department (says the Melbourne Age). The Gennan is the owner of these somewhat extraordinary animals. Prior to the war the troupe had been appearing in nil quarters of the globe. But owing to the war the owner has found himself stranded in an enemy country, and, with his collection of trick animals, ho has thrown himself upon the protection of the military authorities. He has asked to be interned, but his request bristles with difficulties, inasmuch as he refuses to be parted from the animals. The regulations contain no provision applicable to the internment of performing cheep and pigs. A suggested solution that the sheep be turned into mutton and the pigs into pork, was rejected as hopeless on the owner's admission that the youngest sheep hid reached the mellow age of 10 years. Further, he has asserted that their value has Increased rather than deteriorated with age, and he places an upset price on the lot of £-200, The authorities have their own ideas on this matter, 'So far, however, they have come to no decision regarding the disposal of the menagerie, and the German ia still abroad wife his flock