SALE OF A MENAGERIE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 133, 5 June 1907, Page 2

SALE OF A MENAGERIE.

THE LAST OF FITZGERALD'S CIRCUS.

. "KflHi. gentlemen, what em I offered for the lot?"

The speaker -was-Mr-Humphrey Oxenham, who addressed a small gathering of sporting-looking gentlemen, yesterday afternoon In the grounds of Wonderland .City, Bondi. What he comprehensively termed "the lot" consisted ol a miscellaneous collection of wild animate, the last survivors of the disbanded circus of Messrs Fitzgerald Brothers.

They were a very mixed lot. There was the lioness Q-neenie, who has been in tlie circus for IT years, and has brought terror and delight to successive generations of youngsters all over Australia. There were four splendid young leopards, Which were reared ia the Zoological Gardens, a pair of treacherous hyenas, a dis^usted-looking camel—described in the advertisement as "splendid for show purposes"—and a number of chattering monkeys.

There was no reply to the auctioneer's question, save a chorus of protests from the cages. Mr Anderson's lion, ancient and careworn, who had an uninterrupted view of the -proceedings, couched in muffled sympathy. The monkeys, busy with their toilettes* turned their backs on the assemblage.

"How much the lot?" repeated Mr Oxen ham.

Tho first bid was £200. The bidding then advanced by stages of £5, with frequent pauses, until £235 wae reached. This bid was made on behalf of Mr Anderson, and it was expected that the final purchase would remain with him. Uut .Mr Anderson changed his mind, and called ofE the bid, and eventually the lot was knocked down to Mr George Wirth for £230.

"A very .cheap lot," said the auctioneer, "and I hope you'll have luck with it. Why, their liree. are .insured for £280, aud the policy is not up till June."

A large quantity of circus pictures, which had been imported by the Fitzgeralds for display "on* the hoardings, was then put up, and.was sold.to Messrs. Wirth Brothers at 4d per sheet.

There was very little competition for either animals or posters, the bidding being confined to the representatives of Uireu shows.

"I cannot understand it, gentlemen," said the auctioneer, by -way of final- protest, "with this turnout anyone might go round the country and make ah easy" thousand a year."