FITZGERALDS' CIRCUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9990, 29 November 1895, Page 5

FITZGERALDS' CIRCUS.

All preparations for the opening of Fitzgerald Brothers' Circus are being pushed vigorously forward, and nothing nooossary to ensure the complete success of the first performance on Saturday night will be lacking. All tho performers not already in Auckland will arrivo by the Alameda today. One of the most interesting of tho many attractive novelties of the circus will bo the wonderful performances of Mahomet, "the talking horse," as be is called. During one of tho performances in Sydney the Premier and Mrs. Reid were amongst thoso present, and at tho conclusion of the show Mahomet was put through a number of tests by Probasco, his trainer, as a compliment to Mr. Reid. The Premier wrote some figures down on a piece of paper, but Mahomet was nob to bo beaten by even the Treasurer, whose figures may sometimes baffle politicians. While in Sydney it was decided that Mahomet should bo photographed, and the " operation" is thus described by tho Sydney Morning Herald " Mahomet having nodded his consent to the ordeal, his trainer, Mons. Probasco, mounted him and rode from the stable at Redfern into town. Directly the horse emerged from the stable ft crowd gathered, and, in order to avoid the tedium of a sort of triumphal entry into town, M. Probasco asked the 'prophet' to trot, which he did at such a pace that the crowd were left behind, M. Probasco rode tho horse up tho marblo steps of the Hotel Australia, through the vestibule, and into the bar, amid a scene of excitement. In a few minutes such a crowd gathered that) the assistance of several police had to be obtained. Tho hotel was thronged, and so was that part of Oastlereagh-street in its immediate vicinity. So great was the crowd that Mahomet, with his trainer, came out by the side entrance. After paying one or two calls in town, Kerry's Photographic Studio was reached, and some doubt having been expressed an to the most desirable spot in which to take Mahomet's likeness, M. Probasco settled the matter by saying, 'Just wAlk upstairs, Mahomet,' which Maliometjdid, to thedelightand astonishment of the spectators. Having answored correctly how many steps he had mounted, the horse was photographed, and returned to the street bjr the same way he came without displaying any concern," The feats of this wonderful animal are of course only one attraction among tho scores of novelties which Fitzgerald Brothers have in store for the public of ' Auckland. There are, for instance, the sensational dive by Professor Charles Peart; the clever performance of tho : Eclair Brothers; the pracetdl feat of La Belle Rose ; the tumbling and asrial acts of, the Altons; and the other items which add considerably to the attractiveness of the show,