BOSTOCK AND WOOMBWELL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8125, 26 April 1906, Page 5

BOSTOCK AND WOOMBWELL.

OiRCUS AND MENQAEKIid. Bostock and Worn cell's circus and menagerie—an institution of some 100 years standing—opened their season in Masterton last evening, and it must have been highly pleasing to the management to see the gigantic canvas structures on the vacant site between the Waipoua Bridge filled to their utmost capacity. The menagerie is a ehow in itself. It is a mangifloent zoological oolle iion, and includes many rare animals, the most valuable and the most admired of which is a ohimpanzee. Passing through the menagerie tent into a more Bpaoious marquee the publio were introduced to a high-class variety performance, and it must be said that every artist is a "star" in his particular line. The entertainment opened with an overture' by a strong Italian band, after which came the Pastor Bros. This is a musical "turn," and the clever brothers can extract music from almost any bind of instrument. While engaged in playing a musioal instrument they are performing clever acrobatic tricks" as well. Two very clever dances were neatly exeouted by Miss Mona. Mons Mehier, the human ostrich, showed the audienoe a simple way of making gas. He ate ooaJ, candles and liquid fire, and drank a quantity of kerosene. Afterwards one end of a gas-pipe was placed in his mouth, and a light was apolied to the other end, and the result * was a beautiful light. "Jackles" introduced two very clever dogs, one of their feats being to climb uo one side of a ladder and down the other, while it was being balanced on the performer's legs. Later on in the programme "Jackles" was seen in the role of a masioal entertainer. Uproars of laughter were caused by Jarvis and Oampbell in their scientific and comic juggling act. Both are very clever artists, and their comic byplay was good. Gungi and Dolwi, two Danish clowns, played on musical tables, bells, tobacco, pipes, and showed themselves to be very clever artists. Their "turn" was encored. One of the most daring and astonishing items on the programme was the equllibristio performance on ladders by Signor Bertani. He placed a ten-foot ladder in the centre of the stage, and olimbed up one side and do>?n the other. Then he went up it baokwards, and balanced himself on the top, where be did some juggling and played a concertina. He also climbed up a twenty-foot ladder. The performance was loudly applauded. The Liukushima troupe of Japanese were remarkably good in their balancing and aorobatio feats, and it is safe to say that a ''cleverer oombinatioa has not visited Masterton. One of the members has a oord about 15 feet long, and on each end of it is attached an open calabash of water. By oareful manipulation he lifts the water from the ground, and gets a swing on the rone. The movement increases in intensity until the rope with the calabash stands out at full length and is whirled around either on the performer's head or hands,, and not a drop of water is spilt. Another olever feat is one in which a member of the troupe balances a bamboo pole on bis shoulder, while another member is at the top of the pole performing numerous and olever balanoing acta.

The performance is ibrought to a conclusion by Professor Bonner and his patient, Mr S. 0. WiiliamF. Last evening the latter was hypnotised by the ' Professor and laid across two trestles with a huge block of Oamaru stone, weighing nearly three cwt., aoross his chest. The Mayor and Crs Eton, Morris and Messrs W. Gillespie and F. C Cooper, and representatives of the press, were on the stage -while the feat was being performed. At a given signal Mr H. Babbioeton, Bn employee of Mr T. G. Hoar, of Masterton. smashed the stone into eeveral pieces with a his hammer. Herr J. Houenadiil and his group of three peforming Nubian lions gave an exhibition in the menagerie. Altogether the circus is an excellent one. There will be a motinee at 3 o'olock this afternoon, at which children will be admitted to all parts at half price to all parts, and this evening pt 8 o'clock the final performance in Masterton will be given,. The announcement made by the management of Bostock and Wombwoli's circus that Professor Bonner and his wonderful subject, Mr S. 0. Williams, would perform a hypnotic drive through the streets of Masterton yesterday afternoon, was the means of drawing into the streets a very large crowd indeed. At the appointed hour, 3 o'clock, a Committee, consisting of the Mayor, and Town Clerk Mr R. Brown. Crs E. G.Eton. E. Foist, T. G. Hoar and W. Morris, and Messrs A. Hatnaway, F. C. Cooper, W. Gillespie and T. MiUer and representatives of the press, attended at the circus tent, and having received their instructions as to the modus operandi the Mayor, Town Clerk and Cr Eton and Mr Hatfaaway drove away along the following streets:—Queen Street, Bruce Street' Dixon Street, Cross Street, Queen Street, Church Street, Dixon Street, Bannister Street, Queen Street, William Street, Dixon Street, Ross Street, Queen Street, Smith Street and Queen Street. On the route the brake was driven round the lamp post near the New Zealand Clothing Factory, and finally the article a pooket knife was hidden under the table cloth in a room at JBrodie's cordial faotory. The party returned over the same route to the circus tent. In the* meantime a committee consisting of Crs Feist, Hoar and Morris, and Messrs Cooper and Gillespie, were keening a close surveillance • over the : patient at the tent. Mi Williams was then hypnotised by Professor Bonner in the presence of the committee. The patient was then placed in the drag, and was connected with all the occupants of the vehicle by means of a copper wire, Mr K. Brown being elected supervisor, whose duty it was to guide the patient, who had charge of the reins from sustaining a collision. With the exception of enoiroling the lamp post at the New Zealand Clothing Faotory corner t/ie exact route as that taken by the committee previously was passed over, and although blindfolded, Mr Williams safely negotiated 15 corners. Arriving at Brodie's cordial factory'' the patient jumped from the vehicle, and being still connected by wires with Mr Brown he unhesitatingly led the party to the room in the factory, and discovered the pocket-knife. The managment then entertained the committee at the Central Hotel The Mayor, on behalf Df the committee, stated that the oommittee were thoroughly satisfied with the genuineness of the test, and thanked the management for their hospitality.