AMUSEMENTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 24 January 1911, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

WIRTH'S CIRCUS

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS

The first specimen of that uncouth and powerful amphibious monster, the hippopotamus, or the river horse, introduced into Australia, is '"Lizzie." which arrived in Melbourne by the German liner Annaberg on the sth October, 1910, direct from Hamburg, where it was purchased by tiiose enterprising circus proprietors, Messrs Phil and George Wirth, who paid -t 0 Carl Hagenbeck, of tne Hamburg Zoo, £1250. The animal which is only 'a little one, two years old, and weighs three to;ns, arrived in the best of health in two huge boxes, which were kept on deck; one served as it. s ba'th, being lined fith zinc and filled with fresh clean water daily, and the other served as its cage, where it returned every evening into a nice dry bed of straw. These animals live in water by day and on dry land at ni,g'ht. and require great care and attention, for although not so delicate as the giraffe (the firm's previous venture), it must have a man continually in attendance, and special food .and regular hours for dining. There can b« no doubt a s to 'the rapid extermination of this animal, as it is easily siiot, and as it lives m or near water tt is much sought after. The flesh :.s considered good as an article of food, the hide and tusks are of considerable value, and it s presence in the rivers is considered undesirable to boatmen and others.. _ln a very ffw years the total extermination of this leviatha n species (which is not likely to be domesticated, or rendered serviceable to mankind, like the elephant), may be predicted. When these animals become excited, or out of temper, the strange phenomenon of the "blood sweat" appears on their skins. The pale, chocolate colour of their skins becomes densely covered with globular red spots, which look like plums in a huge plum a nd leave a stain upon a handkerchief or cloth. The circus will open in Nelson on Friday and Saturday, 27th a>nd 28th (two nights only), and a matinee on Saturday afternoon. BAZAAR AT WERNETH. Aqpeeial prize for bicycle trick riding has been offered in connection with the bazaar which will be held at Werneth to-morrow P fternoon. The competition will take place as near five o'clock as possible. A large attendance is looked for to-morrow, and a very pleasant afternoon may be spent in Ma*. Oldham's "beautiful grounds. lIAYWA-RD'S PICTURES. There was a ilarge attendance at the Theatre Royal last evening, the various pictures comprising the current Hayward Picture, programme being greatly enjoyed. The programme will be screened for the last time >this evening-, the Boy Scouts beiner present. There will be a complete change to-morrow evening, when the nameless picture competition con-, eludes.