SHIPPING A CIRCUS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1032, 23 January 1911, Page 4

SHIPPING A CIRCUS.

THE PATEENA'S CARGO. During the 6mall hours of yesterday, morning, when, all was quiet and stillj the Taranaki Street wharf presented ai" animated scene —Wirth's Circus and Menagerie was shifting camp by the Pateena. From midnight until early morning the road leading from the Site of the hugh white tent to. the wharf was traversed by vehicles. of all descriptions. No horses were used, for the team of .six elephants did all the hauling that was to bo done. All night long the scene at ■ the vessel's side 'was one of bustle. Aa the various cages containing the animals came along they were hauled aboard and deposited in the ship's hold, on deck; or" anywhere where there was space totake them.. Next came the-elephants and horses. At this time the vessel was about three feet away from ths wharf, and about the same distance above it. Without any fuss or trouble the six ponderous, elephants stepped" aboard one- by one. No staging or gangway was used, and it was a peculiar sight to,see these animals quietly reaching across to the steamer's deck with ona large foot and then stepping on board. When "Toby" came to go on board, as soon as he landed on the deck, the Pateena heeled over, and when, he walked to the other side, over the vessel went again. By the time the six elephants were al) on the one side of the vessel she had a considerable list 'to starboard. However, this was counteracted when. "Lizzie""and:her. "house" ..and several other animals were placed on the oppoj site side. When the Pateena left th 9 wharf last evening her decks presented a novel siglit,-. for they were packed witlf horses, cages, tents, and all' sorts' of 'gear,- 1 hot forgetting, the feed. of the animals. The vessel still had a list to starboard as she steamed down the. harbour l bound for Picton, but "Toby"i and his mates did not' seem to trouble about it—thajf . were being fed..