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Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8759, 22 April 1890, Page 2

We understand that Vol. McGregor, of the Wellington City Rifles, has won the gold medal given by the Government for the best shot in the North Island, making 83 points at 200, 300, and 500 yards. Also that Vol. McGeoch of the Hawera Rifle Volunteers has won the gold and silver medal for the second bestshot, also making 83 points at the above distances.

Mr Sydney Taiwhanga, member for the Northern Maori electorate, was in town on Saturday and Sunday. He left for Auckland by the Takapuna on Sunday afternoon.

The Australian Illustrated Neios for April is an excellent number and may be obtained from Mr T. Avery, the agent. It contains a coloured picture of " The morning after a bush the" showing the remains of the homestead after the fire had passed over it.

Mi 1 Albert Birdlin, of Little River, Canterbury, who was recently taken over the Recreation Grounds by Mr J. Paul, sent by the s.s. Takapuna on Sunday a pair of fancy ducks for the ornamental lake, the receipt of which the Secretary has requested us to acknowledge.

Speaking of the treatment of their horses, Mr Manager Wirth, of the circus, says :—: — " Wo ncvor treat horses cruelly, never. I don't deny that we use tho whip, but we only use it when it ia necessary to correct or subdue a fractious or obstinate horse. As soon as the animal learns obedience, the whip for corrective purposes is discarded." Horses to be really useful in the circus line, must be well bred. Blood horses are susceptible of the highest training, and stallions are altogether the best and most docile. Tho memory of a horse is as marvellous as his quickness for picking up " cues." An illustration of this occurred recently. One of the horses had been trained in Soutli Australia in another company. Wirth Bros, acquired him, and used him, but of course his cues wore altogether different, for "new masters, now measures." Recently, however, one of the South Australian company joined Wirth's, and recognised the old hcrse, and one evening, in the middle of a performance, ho gave the anitnul one of the old cues (quietly, below his breath), and it responded instantaneously with an unrehearsed performance. It did exactly as it was used to do three years before. Looking at the horses in the arena, a stranger's attention ih apt to be divided botweon admiration of thoir condition and horror of the bearing roin. Yet when it is enquired into, they hnd tho horses are well s tabled, and fed, and trained, and that tho bearing rom is no more oppressive to tnem than a dross coat is to a man. Horses, once trained and subdued, . are the most docile creatures." Those wonderful trained lioraea will appear with Wirth's colossal circus at the matinee on Saturday next.