CIRCUS LIONS.

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1929, Page 4

CIRCUS LIONS.

Cage Over Bank. IN BULLER GORGE. Perry Bros.’ circus was held up yesterday morning by a serious mishap in Buller Gorge that might have had a still worse result. About 10 o’clock, at a point a mile on the Reefton side of the Twelve Mile (Rosenberg’s Hotel), the cage of lions slipped off it® carrier and rolled over the bank towards the river. After it had fallen about 25 feet, it luckily was checked by trees, without coming asunder. Otherwise it would have fallen into the flooded stream. The cage was on a trailer drawn by an A.C.E. lorry, and the trailer got too near the edge of the road, thus precipitating the cage down the declivity. Newman’s service cars from Westport were able to pass at 11 a.m., but Gibbs’ cars were later, and the tackle in use to recover the cage delayed them a couple of hours. The circus was further delayed by another lorry being unable to negotiate Burley’s Hill, necessitating the big elephant being brought Lack a distance of six miles to give it a push. The lions’ cage was somewhat damaged, and it is reported that one of the circus hands had an arm mauled by a lioness while engaged in restoring the cage to the road. For this work the Public Works Department’s men and tackle had to be utilised. The circus was not expected to reach Westport in time to give a display last evening. It is fortunate the cage remained intact, O r else a lion hunt might have had to be made.