ELEPHANT BEATS 50 LIONS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 1

ELEPHANT BEATS 50 LIONS

About 50 members of the Christchurch Lions Club met their match yesterday afternoon when they pitted their joint strength against an elephant. After apparently being dragged back a little at first, the elephant gathered his strength and slowly but surely pulled the men forward—-

“And he was only playing with us,” one said ruefully. The “Lions v. Elephant” tug-of-war was part of an afternoon of entertainment arranged by the Lions Club with the assistance of Ashton’s Circus and Zoo, and the Christchurch Police. A crowd estimated at more than 5000 went to Hagley Park to watch the fun. The proceeds, about £2OO, will go to Birthright. The first event of the after-

noon was an elephant race. The “jockeys” were the N.Z.B.C. announcers, Virginia Miles, Arch King and Norm Allen. Mr King’s mount was a clear winner.

The tug-of-war was the next attraction. After some grunting the elephant dragged the perspiring Lions for some distance. The final attraction was a police dog demonstration, under the supervision of Senior Sergeant E. S. Tuck, the sup-

ervisor of the Christchurch police dog section. Two dogs took part—the four-year-old Arras with his handler Constable N. Watkins, and the two-year-old bitch Jena with Constable L. Bruce. Constable B. Thomas acted as a fugitive.

While the ring attractions were in progress, entertainment was provided by the Woolston Junior Brass Band, and, for the teen-agers, by the Echophonics, a pop group.

Birthright, which has been in Christchurch for about three yeans, assists families where one of the parents is missing. At present the organisation is looking after about 130 families which indude about 280 children. It is at present trying to raise sufficient money to put up two holiday cottages at Spencerville for the use of these families.