THE SAURIAN MONSTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 269, 15 November 1887, Page 8

THE SAURIAN MONSTER.

A Hoax at Hamilton.

(BY TELEGKArH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Hamilton, this day. Last Saturday a hoax was perpetrated on the Hamilton public by a so-called exhibition of the great sea lion captured at Raglan some short time since. Two or three gay young sparks engaged the old mart and posted the town with placards stating — " Saurian monster on view to-night; admission 6d." A bellman was "sent round early in the evening announcing the fact, and long before the doors were thrown open a large crowd had gathered in the front of the building. When the doors were open a rush ensued. At half-past 8, the curtain was raised, when lo and behold, instead of exposing the Saurian, there was nothing to be seen but a bag of chaff with a bullock's head poking out of It, whilst for a tail a trunk handle covered with straw was made to answer the purpose. JTor'a few moments the audience seemed paralised but upon regaining consciousness commenced to shout and yell, whilst some portion of the younger community reached the monster and tore it to pieces. It is needless to say the curtain commenced to rise the money-taker made tracks. The only redeeming feature in connection with the'aflair is that the takings amounting to 17s 6d were banded over this morning to

the Secretary of the Waikato District Hospital. A Hamilton resident who had a claim upon one of the proprietors of the real monster had taken out a writ on Saturday evening, and the sheriffs officer being armed with the fatal document proceeded towards tho building with a view of seizing it, but upon examination the monster turned out nothing more than chaffi, ,*