COLE'S MONSTER CIRCUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3220, 15 November 1880, Page 3

COLE'S MONSTER CIRCUS.

THE wharf yesterday was crowded trom j the time the mail was signalled until late at , night by persons of all ages and degrees. The attraction was no doubt the expected landing of Cole's Monster Circus. All the t animals arrived in good condition and were < conveyed from the steamer to the whart ; without accident. Tbu elephants and camels especially attracted notice. On j learning of the dispute between the City Council and lessees of the Improve- , ment Commissioners' property, Mr Colo at once intimated that he had no desire to i incur any trouble, iuconvenience or law. His object was to amuse the people, not annoy them, and as his agent, Mr Cooke, had made an alternative arrangement for Fairburn's paddocks in Upper Symondsstrcet, near the junction of SymoncU-street, with the Newton, ICyber Pass, and Mount Eden Roads, Mr Cole immediately decidod to occupy that ground leaving the Council and their lessees to settle their own disputes with the tenants. The work of erecting the monster canvas was commenced without delay on the site mentioned, which is now tho centre of attraction to a large crowd of admiring juveniles. The opening night is fixed for Saturday next. The American press speaks very loudly in praise ot the combination of the menagerie of educated animals and circus attractions. A Ban Franciscan paper gives a bird's-eye sketch of the performances. Frank A. Gardiner, says the writer, leaps 34 feet over an object 14 to 15 feet high in tho centre, consisting of an elephant on a fourfoot pedestal, and flanked by ten camels and five horses. He has a New York "Clipper" record of a 32-feet leap at Gilmore's Garden-the biggest in print—wbich he has beaten by 2 feet 3ince, and he says quietly that he intends to go over more horses still while he is in 'Frisco. His ockey act is marvellous, and the best worked-up finish ever seen. Fe concludes the act by three jumps on to his horse when at full speed without using his hands, the first sideways, the second straddling, and the third clear to.his feet, the horse, of course, at full eallop all the time. Fred Barclay, the somersault and pirouette rider, is equally clover iv his line, and the Levingston Brothers do some very difficult somersaults on shouldeis aud pyramids. The horizontal bar act by Dunbar and Reno, turning somersaults from bar to bar, is excellent, while the company of lenpers is exceptionally strong, consisting of Messrs Long, Kichardson, Kennedy, and others. Of the lady riders, Miss Addie Austin is graceful, and Miss Maggie Claire has an act Sailed tho flying rings, wbich is sure to be a favourite, being as pretty as it is difficult. A description of the fine horses and animals, the lion act, and the aerial bicycle acts of the De Comas. A very elegant rider, too, is Willie O'Dale, a y<rang gentleman just arrived at man's estate, who does a fivehorse barebacked act very cleverly. The clowns are graphically described, and of the proprietor a few words are favourable. W. W. Cole is quite a young1 man, only 33 years of age, although he has < had this combination for ten yeara, increasing his vast stock every year, and constantly making improvements. He never allows a pad to enter the ring all the acts are bareback, and most of them never seen here before. His company are remarkable for their gentlemanly demeanour, an absence of all professional display in private, and they create a favorable impression wherever they go. We await the event, which will enable us to Bpeak from experience.

L. .