FILLIS CIRCUS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2960, 29 April 1893, Page 2

FILLIS CIRCUS.

AN ENORMOUS SHOW—"THE MODERN BARN DM,

" The Circus is coining !" is the joyful cry of the schoolboy, and the words are ' endorsed by the bill-posters who have been "decorating" the town in every available spot. There is, probably, no lorm of entertainment in New Zealand so popular as a circus, and when a menagerie of performing wild animals is added thereto, the attraction is doubly increased. During the past ten years the colonies have been visited by several large organisations, such as Chiarini's, Bailey's and Wirth Bros. 1, but none of these, it is suid, can either in point of size or quality 44 hold a candle " to the Fillis' Circus and Menagerie. And it must be remembered that Fillis has come a<, a time when bank failures are as plentiful as oyster shells, and there is a consequent depression that has no parallel in the history of Australia. But to what extent this depression has affected the success of Fillis' Circus and Menagerie may be gathered from the fact that although the Australian tour has now extended over eight months, only three cities have been visited—Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide—a sufficient guarantee of the excellence of the show, The Melbourne season was curtailed in consequence of Mr Fillis' determination to visit New Zealand, and his reception in Invercargill and Duaedin must have convinced him of the wisdom cf his judgment. In Dunedin on Monday night week, upwards of 4500 persons paid for admission, while hundreds were unable to obtain even standing room. Our contemporaries in that city speak in the moat glowing terms of the entire show, and proclaim it in every way far ahead of anything hitherto witnessed in New Zealand. After a week's season in Dunedin the t4 big show " moved on to Oamaru by two special trains, and thence worked north, performing in Ashburfcon on Thursday next. Xwo performances will be given—one in the afcernoon at three, the other in the evening at eight. The programme to be submitted at each representation will be an exact repetition of those that gained for Mr JFi'lis his present celebrity. The lions v, ill be put through their thrilling performance. The performing royal Bengal tiger will be seen playing about in her cheerful way in the centre of the arena. Loose? Yes, but safely guarded from the aui > ..ce by a ten-feet iron railing which encircles the ring. The elephants-—large And small —will delight the youngsters, while a formidable array of panthers, leopards, zebras, gorillas and monkeys make up a splendid menagerie. Lovers of horseflesh will see some beautiful specimens in the stables, notably the Arabs, Hungarians, and the Cape horse Victor, all of which are as near perfection as possible. Coming down to the artists, of whom there are no fewer than seventy (all chosen by the proprietor himself from the principal circuses of London and the Continent), Ashburton will be treated to the very best talent that the circus world can boast—brilliant riders (ladies and gentlemen), gymnasts, clowns, tumblers, anJ, in fact, every possible description of circus attraction" is included in Fillis' Circus. Notwithstanding the cares and troubles of' his other duties, Mr Fillis fi«ds..time to take full charge of the rjng, aud himself be his principal performer. As a horseman, he js a finished performer; his baie-back jockey act 13 a perfect revelation, Many wonderful horsemen have appeared in days gone by, but Fillis can hold his own with the. best.