George Wilder (a national sensation)

                 George Wilder (a national sensation)

Three times George Wilder escaped over prison walls. First from New Plymouth and twice from Mount Eden in Auckland. On his first break from Auckland, he lowered himself over the prison wall using knotted sheets. Each of his escapes was in the 1960s. He soon became a national sensation with his ability to stay free, evading police and public. 

In September 1963 a popular musical group, the Howard Morrison quartet, released a single called " George, the Wild(er) New Zealand Boy", And, despite being banned by New Zealand's state owned broadcasters. It still went to number 1 in the charts and stayed there for ten weeks.

He travelled over all manner of grassy land and tundra doing his best not to get captured.

George stole food and clothes and a horse and even floated in a dinghy across a water course to help stay free.

And he almost rode a bike into a police barricade but dropped the bike on the road and disappeared out of sight.

He had a passion for cars, especially Jaguars and once converted one and drove it through a traffic cordon, then abandoned it, taking flight on foot.

At one time he was reported to have joined in a shoulder-to-shoulder search for himself, then slipped away from those hunting for him. It was after that time some people referred to him as a bobby-dazzler.

Wilder ran across undulating paddocks, slinked back and forth through undergrowth and bush. 

He travelled over rocky bluffs and through bracken and fern. He went down dry river courses and across shingle divides, encountering eerie silence at night.

To get into buildings, he broke door locks or got through windows. He often left apology or thank you notes after stealing food or using the accommodation. When George's popularity grew larger some people started leaving food out for him

Then he got on his way and hid in remote parts of the country where he saw hermit sheep and bush cattle.

And when he was close to wild creatures, he moved carefully so as not to disturb them and give his whereabouts away.

Whether he sometimes carried a sharp stick or other weapon to ward off aggressive animals like wild boar or stag is hard to know.

There were intermittent storms and heavy rain and thunder but he was never stopped by these problems. He also broke into shearing quarters when he needed shelter.

Eventually he went closer to civilization where supplies of food were more easily found. No doubt he ate mushrooms and wild berries and sometimes harvested fruit from orchards. Wild turkeys would have been a easy catch at night, when they sat on fence tops in the evening light.

Once, some who followed in George's wake saw him break from cover. And later they found him hiding in a hole by a road side.

He got in many conundrums but he used many skilled advantages to get ahead of those looking for him.

He used trees as lookouts, giving him reassurance and less doubt about where those stalking him were. Twice, police dogs were used to track him.

When avoiding cops or other passing foe. George lay low and silent waiting for those searching for him to leave the area. And it is said he was never violent.

His tenacity enabled him to push on through all manner of hardship. At one time, he traveled 2610 kilometres and whether he sneaked rides on goods trains for part of these journeys is a debatable likelihood.

At times, George looked gaunt and haggard. especially when he travelled for a time without food or because he was exhausted.

On his third and last escape, he got clear from jail with two other accomplices; one brandished a sawn-off shotgun. They kidnapped a prison warden and hid in a house in Auckland but were captured after three hours.

But, a cell in maximum  security was often waiting for Geoge. He had dates with magistrates when he could run no more. He had been in the can and was not a remittance man but became a guest of the state.

Then, when his life finally changed for the better, he retired in the hamlet of  Weber in the east coast province of the Wairarapa.

James Fagan
40 Chippendale Crescent
Palmerston North
(06) 3552861
jjfagan26@gmail.com

Number 38

State house revival 

Number 38 has shoes and sandals cluttering the front door, 
reflecting the absurdities of life within.

A homely kitchen is a place that ensures the survival of 
the most necessary tradition; where spices and herbs are 
used for their delectable properties.

The living area is engorged with luminous red walls that 
have an ethereal glow about them. They look futuristic. 
Here the lounge and dining room are integrated.

The lady of the house smiles at me, as she sits on the sofa 
by an Italian dining table and a distressed cabinet that 
have a captivating charm. She watches Astar on 
morning television.

To the right, a sideboard shelves tasteful Clarice Cliff 
and Devon china. Other aged oddities are scattered 
throughout the room, giving a link to a vanished 
era. The room is interesting and ambiguous, a 
place where rules don’t apply.

After Viv makes coffee, we look at the main bedroom.
It is a busy web of complexity, impregnated with
curious bohemian possessions and other
treasures from the past. But for me,
the aged brass bed captures my
interest as it stands close to
where small insects have
banged along the
window glass. 

The rooms further back in the house are curious.
Tonight the stars will wink through the windows 
while young people are protagonists of their 
own dreams. 

James Fagan
Palmerston North

This Blog

The History Blog was constructed to share written text and photos about historical topics that I am interested in.

My other Blogs

The Elizabethan Recitals blog consists of Shakespearean works that I have been involved with over the years. I have recited them in secondary schools and to the wider public.

The poetry blog was published to introduce the text of some of the poems I have written over the years. Photos that have also been included.

The New Zealand Back Country Recitals have been included on this blog with  the idea of reciting a small range of  poems I have written. Each of these poems has a rural country focus.

The New Zealand Country Poetry Recitals have been put on this blog with the intention of reciting a small range of New Zealand country poems that were written by other New Zealand  poets.

Recitals by the Sea are presented here with the intention of celebrating seaside poems.

*The Melbourne Cup

cildrens poetry blog

Wellington- Manawatu Railway

    Between 1871 and 1873 a wooden tramway was laid between Palmerston North and Foxton. There was also an earth bank for a stopping site in Palmerston North. This was outside the old post office on the eastern side of the square in main street. In those days, horses pulled the trams and were used to assist with the tracks construction. The railway line would help develop the sawmilling and flax dressing industries, as products were able to be delivered by rail to Foxton for shipment to other parts of the country.

   
    A steam locomotive was tested on the line in 1872 but the engine ' was too heavy for the wooden rails. Consequently, the rails were replaced by iron ones and two locomotives were then used on the line. The first of these was referred to as the “Skunk” with the second named “Wallaby” however, the Skunk was not a structurally successful engine.

                              Photo of one of the railway engines to run between Palmerston North and Foxton.
                                              Courtesy Palmerston City Library. Ref 2007N-R1_Epn_0284

     

    In the late 1870s, Wellington to Palmerston North railway line surveying began. The coastal area was mainly forest, flax and swamp. James Wallace, a Lambton Quay grocer, first interested Wellington Members of Parliament in building a railway route to Palmerston North. Then in 1879, the line construction began. However, Sir John Hall and his conservative supporters came to power and condemned the idea of a train line. They felt too much of the land was still in the hands of Maori and the value of the land was still far too high. This caused many Wellington merchants to become disheartened as they had hoped a railway to the north would bring new trade.

                                                                  Wellington and Manawatu Railway and Staff at Paekakariki 189

                            Courtesy Palmerston North City Library, Peterson papers, R36  RAILWAYS: General.

    

    In 1881, it was decided that “a joint stock company be formed for the purpose of constructing ‘a railway to connect the city of Wellington with the Manawatu”. Many prosperous Wellington businessmen within the commercial quarter contributed to the railway’s success. William Hort Levin and GV Sannon were among this group. To help, the Government made grants of Crown land to offset construction costs. On 23rd August, the Wellington and Manawatu Railway was registered. At first, £5 million in £5 shares was available. On 20th March 1882, the company had a contract with the Government. This was required by the Empowering Act. In return, if the railway was completed within five years, the Company would receive 210,500 acres of Crown land. So construction soon began on the line at both ends.

                      The Belmont Viaduct. 190-? R31- Railway: General. Accession Num 832. Paterson collection.
                                                                  Courtesy Palmerston North City Library.

    The rail line was to be about 84 miles long and pass over one viaduct and five bridges, it also went through 13 tunnels. The line wound by ranges and hill tops, rising and dropping to a variety of levels. It would eventually connect with the Government’s Foxton and Wanganui Railway at Longburn. In November 1886, nine months before the line was contracted to be finished, Governor Sir William Jervois performed a ceremony where the last spike was driven in at Otaihanga, south of Waikanae. Seven hundred people attended the ceremony from Wellington and 300 from Palmerston North. Now, with the swamp and forest land opened up, there was more growth in the local settlements and hope for the Manawatu swamps to be drained. This gave the potential for access to nearly five million acres of productive farmland giving the opportunity for more valuable revenue to be earned by the railway.

    At that time the northern terminus of the Wellington Manawatu Rail line was 900 feet south of the Longburn overbridge and a station was built there in 1905.

                                                                                       Metal Loader, Longburn Gravel Pit. 1908-10. 
                                                                      Courtest Palmerston North City Library Ref 2007N-R19-Wor-0120

    
    After the Wellington to Manawatu rail costs were resolved over a five-year period, regular dividends were paid to shareholders. However in 1908 the line was taken over by the Government and helped form part of the Main Trunk Line. This increased Palmerston North’s importance as a rail junction.

    Manawatu’s population grew steadily from 1871 to 1878. This was because of railway construction, when the line was built to Foxton and Wanganui and was repeated from 1881 to 1891 when the  Wellington to Napier line was constructed.

    By 1889, there were dual tracks in Palmerston North. The Western tracks taking traffic north and the eastern tracks going to the Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. By now, with more rail lines and traffic, there was better access to New Zealand ports and townships.

    As Palmerston North grew, the rail carried larger quantities of goods. All imaginable items were transported, including Wool and livestock.

    There was also a tablet station in Palmerston North near Miller Street. Eventually, lights were installed along the length of Main Street. Trains now waited for clearance to enter the Palmerston North station yards. This was because of the continual congestion. After 1891 it was obvious that the railway yards needed to be relocated but it was undecided where.

    When bush was cleared between 1870 and 1900, pastoral industries in the Manawatu were established with the freezing meat works industry and dairy factories having been created in the 1880s and 1890s.

    In 1875, Mr W J Roberts had a contract to construct a passenger station in Palmerston North. This was to have a timber platform, station master’s house and engine shed. It was situated in the centre of the Square and remained there until 1899, when it was relocated on the western side of the Square in Main Street. With the trains going through the middle of town, horses sometimes shied or spooked because of train Whistles or steam coming from engines.

    Over the years the Palmerston North locomotive sheds, goods sheds and rail yards were relocated soon after the main railway station was moved.

                      Derailment in the Manawatu Gorge. Engine KA 951. Courtesy Palmerston City Library Ref 48

   
    It is hard to substantiate when a station was first erected at Terrace End. But a station there was later slightly resituated to make way for the Hawkes Bay line to proceed. Then, in 1940, a quarter of a mile north of Terrace End, points were installed. It is known a rail track went through Terrace End for about 87 years. During that time the trains often caused the buildings and clothes on the washing lines to become covered in soot. Then in July 1959 a line connected Roslyn with Longburn.

    An Awapuni siding was built in 1904 and a station would also occupy the spot. From there, a track ran over a bridge above the swamp into the Manawatu Racing Club. This was about a quarter of a mile long and only used on Race Day. The siding was eventually closed on October 1939 and the Awapuni station was shut down to traffic in July 1959 and was demolished in January 1962. From 1936 till the mid 1970s railcars also operated in the Manawatu area, there once being a railcar halt in the square.

    The trains eventually became longer, heaver and more cost-effective. Steam trains were used on special occasions and diesel and electric power went on to become the new mode to power rail engines.

    New construction first began on a rail deviation at Milson in 1921 but ceased in 1929 because of the Depression. Work restarted in 1938 but was halted once more because of the Second World War.  Then, in 1957, work commenced for the third time and the passenger station was finally opened in 1963. The goods area was operational in the following year.

            Dutch Railway migrants constructing Milson Railway 1952. Courtesy Palmerston North City Library.

                                                                             Accession Number 2006/120
    Front Row: Peter Koning, Will Van Der put. Back Row Peter Schellvis, Andre Zentveld, Bill Terbake, Frank Gerbich, a New Zealand, leading hand, Hugo Muller, Bert Jansen, Peter Westerhuis, Phillip Lagewaard.
    
    A Milson village railway settlement had also been constructed. This had 66 houses that were rented to railway workers and their families for reasonable prices. Consequently, a Milson School had been built in 1928 and in December of the same year the Milson overbridge was completed.

                             

Polish Refugee children meet us at Palmerston North Station

    “During World War Two, I was a young school boy living in Palmerston North. At this time, many Palmerstonians raised money for those in service overseas. The revenue was used to provide envelopes and writing paper for soldiers.

    We also raised money at school. This was to buy food parcels for unfortunate children living in England These children had also been badly affected by the war.

    One day, the students at the school where I attended were told that we were going to gather at the Palmerston North Railway Station with members of other local schools. This was to welcome a group of Polish children who had come from Iran and were victims of the war. The children were being transfered to a Polish children’s camp in the township of Pahiatua.

    The Polish people were our allies in the war and had sometimes helped our soldiers in their overseas struggles. This meant we had a special interest in the Polish nation’s welfare. The day soon came when we were to meet the train and the members from each school made their way to the railway station before the train arrived.

    After waiting for some time, the train eventually appeared, full of Polish children and helpers safeguarded them. The Children‘s faces looked sad and I could see they had endured much suffering. They had shaven heads and wore khaki clothes and could not speak English. We finally began handing them food, sweets and toys. Soon, small glimmers of happiness occupied their faces as they began enjoying themselves. The train stopped for longer than anticipated. But the time eventually came for us to say farewell. The event had been a time of mixed emotions and we felt sad as we waved and watched the train leave. ” (Paraphrased, from an Author unknown )

Polish children arriving at the Pahiatua Railway station, 1 November 1944.

Courtesy of the J Zawada collection.

                            Courtesy Palmerston North City Library. Digitisation ID no : 2007N_RAI_0664  1927

    I also remember arriving in Palmerston North on a train for the first time in the late 1950s. We had travelled from the Taranaki and were moving down Main Street looking at houses and commercial buildings through the windows of the train. It was a wondrous sight. But nothing was more so, than when we entered the Square and saw the attractive gardens on both sides of the track.

James Fagan

Palmerston North
New Zealand



Rodeo in New Zealand

    Rodeo contenders pay their own way as they travel extensively following the circuit. The prize money is won by a small number of competitors who excel on the day. It takes $40 to enter each event and the money gathered goes to the top four prize winners in a section. The hosting club also makes its own contribution to the winnings. The prize money is usually between $400 and $1,000.

                                     International photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

    After the chutes open in the bucking events, it’s the cowboys’ job to last eight seconds till the hooter sounds. If the ride is rough, riders have better opportunities to earn more points. The animal can score up to 50 points for their performance and the rider operates on the same scoring system.

                                              Photo by Andrew Mackay

                     Above, Rodney Ruxton rides bareback at the Outram Rodeo,
                                                Mosgiel, February 2007.

    The cowboys experience a dangerous adrenaline rush, but they live for the opportunity to show their honed talents. Soft tissue damage due to sprains and fractures is common. Far more extensive injuries can also be expected from dislodged riders.

                                                Photo by Andrew Mackay

                   Above, Steve Houston rides a bronk at Waikouaiti, February 2008.

    After the hooter sounds, the daring pick-up men ride their horses close. They lift enduring cowboys from their bucking mounts and return them to the ground.

    Some of the rodeo events include saddle-bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, steer riding, steer wrestling (bulldogging) and barrel racing.

    Originally rodeos were known as “buck jumping shows”, but this changed in New Zealand during the forties.The horses used in the bucking competitions are usually ones that have been difficult prospects for general breaking and riding. Others have been bred for the sport and are contracted out.

    Bucking bulls are considered the most difficult to ride and are mostly Friesian and Friesian crosses. However, most riders consider Texas Longhorn Ayrshire crosses to be best for the job. Some bulls weigh in at close to a ton. Creatures like the well-known Tyson have weighed in at 620 kg.

                                                 Photo by Andrew Mackay.

                              Above, the rider tries to stay on the wild bulls back.
                                   The 50th Southland rodoe in February 2007.

                                       International photo courtesy of Wikipedia.


    The rodeo clowns give added entertainment as they run about. It’s their calculating task to distract enraged bulls.

    Bulldogging” is an event when the steer runs from the chute and a cowboy rides on its right side to keep the steer running in a straight line. The wrestler rides on the left side and dives from his horse, grabbing the steer by the horns and brings the animal to a sudden stop, before putting it on its side.

                                                 Photo by Andrew Mackay

                               Above, Haydon Church steer wresting at Miller Flat.
                                                          December 2006.

                                                  Photo by Andrew Mackay.

         Above, Don Tisdall and son Roy roping a steer in the twin Rover Jack Pot Rodeo.
                                          Winanakarua in December 2007.

    

   In the "calf roping ", the riders and horses follow the calf as it comes running from the chute. The calf is roped and the horse stops as the rider slides from it to throw the calf to the ground and tie any of its three legs.

    The cowgirls and their horses are barrel racing experts and the competition can be close. The barrels are put out to make a triangle. Then the riders are timed while riding as quickly as possible making a full turn around each barrel and being careful not to knock any over.

                                                 Photo by Andrew Mackay
              Above, Steve Church competing in the national finals at Millers Flat 2007.

    
    For each event, it is the top eight competitors who earn points towards a chance to compete in the New Zealand finals.Urenui Rodeo is the last opportunity for partisipation to earn points each year.

   The cowboys and girls look debonair in their flamboyant western clothing, silk scarves and Stetsons.

    The Church family have been involved in New Zealand rodeo for over 40 years. Merv Church was the first to initiate his family into this rugged sport. He began competing at the age of 13. Merv has been inducted into the American Cowboy Hall of Fame. He has also received an Order of Merit at New Zealand Government House for his contribution to the sport. Over 16 years (1970–1986) Merv won 15 national all-round titles. This enabled him to be recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. Merv’s six children, brothers, nieces, nephews and other whanau have all competed in the gruelling sport. All take an intense interest in their relatives’ riding and competing. It’s a love for family and sport combined that earns respect for them from around the country.

                               Photo courtesy Rotorua Daily Post, 12th Sep 2011.
     Above, Dion Church competing in the bareback comptition at Rerewhakaaitu Rodeo.


    When the rodeo folk travel their circuit, horse trucks and other mobile accommodation carry fridges, stoves and mattresses. These are cheap homes away from home and there is often fresh mutton and other accompanying kai to contribute to succulent meals.



James Fagan
Palmerston North
New Zealand

Working Farm Dogs in New Zealand

Published Memories Magazine issue 82 February / March 2010

Additional photos added.

    From the early nineteenth century, settlers have travelled to New Zealand to acquire land that would be stocked by sheep and cattle. Some opportunists laid claim to all they could see, rushing to the Lands Office to fill in a Depasturing License. Some of the properties covered thousands of hectares. To work the stock, land owners and shepherds imported dogs from suitable blood lines.

    Many of the sheep and cattle dog lines in New Zealand now share the same ancestry. This originated from the Border Collie, Old Hemp. He was bred from a mating in 1893 in Northumbria, England, between a strong-eyed dog, Roy, and the bitch, Meg. Old Hemp’s working ability was reputed to be exceptional and he sired over 200 pups that inherited his outstanding ability.

    James Lilico came to New Zealand in 1895 and imported many Border Collie dogs. His first import, Captain, was a descendant of Old Hemp. Captain’s blood flowed through to many of the famous Heading and Huntaway offspring.

    There have also been other Collie types documented that had a significant influence in New Zealand blood lines. They mostly came from the United Kingdom. Many were different to the Border Collie in appearance and in the way they worked.

A view of a farmer droving a flock of sheep up a hillside on Akara Peninsula.
Photo taken by unidentified photographer.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull  Library. Ref: PA Coll-8163-06dd caption

    When I was a child, I sometimes went with my father, collecting wool for Beder Brothers who were wool merchants. We went to farms within a large radius from Palmerston North. On occasions, I remember seeing flocks of sheep being driven along back roads. There were dogs moving behind them, barking when necessary and driving the stock forward. We would slowly journey through the flock, being careful not to cause too much disturbance as we went. “There will be a dog up ahead,” my father would say and sure enough, when we got towards the front, there it would be, standing or crouching or moving back and forward, making sure the flock wasn’t moving ahead too quickly. Versatile working breeds like the bob-tailed Smithfield Collie or shaggy Bearded Collie were ideal for this type of work as well as heading breeds.
 

Bearded Collie. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia encyclopedia.

    The Smithfield got its name from Smithfield market in London, where they drove stock to slaughter. They were also used by drovers to take the stock to and from the market. The Bearded Collie was also an old drovers’ breed and both work well as Huntaways.

Smithfield Collies.Photo courtesy of stockman50@icloud.com

    The Border Collie and other heading breeds specialise in bringing stock to their masters and are also used for turning or steering large flocks of sheep or cattle. Their lack of noise when running out is ideal and doesn’t cause unnecessary disturbance. I vividly remember the first time I saw a small Border Collie, run out on a very long head. The small black and white spot of a dog climbed higher and higher into the hills then curved its run to turn the front of the flock through a gateway. What a spectacular sight to witness.

    The silent heading breeds have also been the predominant lambing beat workers. Ewes sometimes require assistance when birthing and may need to be caught. Silent dogs are ideal for this. I have also heard priceless stories of the odd Huntaway that naturally knew to work silently on the beat. One had the knack of putting ewes gently on their side if they needed to be caught. There is always the odd dog that does things outside its breed requirement.

    I remember when the cattle wouldn’t go up a race to load onto a truck. “I’ll get them up there!” shouted a willing enthusiast and he whipped his Huntaway onto a beast’s back and the dog snapped and snarled along the cattle’s backs as they shot forward up the race and onto the truck as easy as bees into a hive.

With the introduction of shipping opportunities and refrigeration, there was gradual change towards sheep that produced more meat. This meant that heavier, slower moving breeds began to appear and there was a need for more dogs that produced noise. It was then the New Zealand Huntaway gradually evolved as a breed.

 
     The New Zealand Huntaway is intelligent and a good worker. It developed from local farm dogs and imported breeds that had a tendency to bark. There are now several strains within the breed. The straight Mustering Huntaway barks all the time as it works. It mostly stays behind the stock, to drive them forward. The ‘head and hunt’ type drives stock forward, as well as steering them and bringing them. There are also many handy Huntaway strains able to do most types of farm dog work.

New Zealand Hunterway. Courtesy of James Fagan collection

                     
    Most Australian farm breeds also originated from the Border Collie. As with the New Zealand Huntaway, the Australian Kelpie is capable of all-purpose work and can be seen working efficiently on New Zealand farms. There is a variety of strains with some having strong eye characteristics.

Red Kelpie. Photo courtesy of  Wikipedia encyclopedia.

Blue Merle/Queensland Heeler. Photo courtesy of  Wikipedia encyclopedia.

    The Australian Blue Heeler (sometimes referred to as the Blue Merle or Queensland Heeler) should not be confused with the Red Speckled Heeler. Both are seen working on New Zealand farms and stations. They are bold and able to move aggressive cattle. The Red Speckled Heeler is reputed to be more staunch and harder to train.

Red Speckled Cattle Dog. Courtesy of Wikipedia encyclopedia

 
    It is often said that some of the Australian working strains have Dingo blood. Unplanned matings occasionally take place and some of the offspring are trained to work stock.

In 1889, sheep-dog trials first began at Hakataramea, in South Canterbury. The New Zealand Sheep-Dog Trial Association (Inc) was set up in 1957. By 1965, there were 107 clubs in the North Island and 80 in the South Island, with approximately 9,000 members.

    Shepherds and dogs are tested in circumstances similar to those experienced in shepherding. Trial areas are on steep hill faces that meet flat land. The season begins in February and ends in May. There are usually four events at each trail. These are the straight Huntaway, the Zig-Zag Huntaway, the Long Head and the Short Head and Yard. The first five places in each event win prize money and qualify for points to compete at annual championships.

James Fagan
Palmerston North
New Zealand 

Drovers having smoko?. Date 1920 - 1940
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: WA - 25186-G.

Rural scene with cattle droving, Date [ Ca 1910 ]. Photo taken by Sydney Charles Smith. Location unknown.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: 1/1-020199-G

Droving sheep along a road at Mt Edgecumbe from Cape Runaway centre. Date 1946.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref:PA Coll-816383

Droving sheep on Commerce Street, Kaitaia. Date 1910. Photograph Northwood brothers.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: 1/1-010626-G

Droving sheep to Gisborne showing the southern end of the Waioeka Gorge between Opotiki and Gisborne.circa 1952. Photographer unknown. Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. Ref: PAColl-5469-037

 Two pack horses and three dogs walking behind a flock of sheep.
Photo 1920 - 50 Leo White. Courtesy Alexander Turmbal Library. Ref: WA-25 179-G 

Man and two dogs droving sheep with horse and cart. New Zealand location unknown. Photograph by Leo White.
 Date 1920 - 1940. Courtesy Alexanbal Turnbull Library. Ref WA-25 168-G

Four men on horseback with sheepdogs droving sheep along road near Awake.
Photogragh taken by Albert Percy.
Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library New Zealand. Ref: APG-1639-1/2-G 

Man and two horses and dogs lead a huge flock of  sheep at Pakowhai, Hawkes Bay.
Photo Samuel Heath Head 1920?. Courtesy Alexander Turmbull Library,. Ref: 1/1-007287-G 

Sheep drover, North Island New Zealand. Photo Leo White 1938.

Courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library. WA-03106-G

The History of the Circus in New Zealand

Elephants,  International Act, Credit, Andrew Levy

    

    The modern circus began in England in the mid-eighteenth century. At first, open air horsemanship was presented in the fields on the outskirts of south London.

    Australian circuses were among the first to tour New Zealand. In the mid-nineteenth century, when the gold rushes began, they often visited the mining areas where there was new-found wealth.  Gold dust, or a nugget, was enough to allow the “diggers” to enter a circus performance.  In those days a circus troupe travelled with animals and apparatus in covered, horse-drawn wagons.  It was a hard life, but these people had also travelled in Australia, appearing in cities, towns and out in the bush.

Fitzgerald Brother Circus and Menagerie, Dunedin, c.1894.
Credit: Te PaPa Tongarewa Image number TEPGO2O89 dd caption

    If a particular circus venue had been well attended, they often gave a last night “benefit” performance, to help with a worthwhile community cause.

    In the late decades of the nineteenth century, many acts were drawn from the music hall.  Some of these were trapeze artists, jugglers and tight wire walkers.

Photo Trapeze artists. Courtesy Wikapidia 

    Children also performed in the circus.  In 1893 Fillis’ Circus had Master Taylor, an eight-year-old boy who walked the tight wire and in 1918 Bartons Circus had Little Mona, performing as a trapeze artist.

Little Mona is advertized on the left of the poster below.

    

     At the same time as Master Taylor was performing, Fillis Circus also had four Nubian lions that had been captured in an African forest as cubs. Their diet had become butchers’ beef and as a treat mutton or bullock’s blood. They also had a four-year-old tigress that was born in captivity and was bought by Mr Fillis when he visited India. She was easy to train and was the only tigress anywhere that appeared in the open ring. This caused considerable excitement in its audiences.

     

     By the early twentieth century, the pictures were a newly-popular entertainment, as were vaudeville and variety shows.  However, this did not affect the viability of the circus.

     In 1905 Wirths Wild West Circus saw Chifalo, the “Demon”, performing an incredible feat of skill.  He would ride a cycle from the high tent top and sped down an almost perpendicular incline on to a short plank.  He then shot into the air and across 42 feet of open space before landing on a two-foot wide plank.  This was billed as one of the best acts that had ever toured the “Colonies”.

    
    At the 1906 Christchurch International Exhibition, Barton’s circus was joined by McNeill and Jones, a show that began in the Taranaki. They had a horse called “Maori Jack”, an outstanding buck-jumper that had not been successfully ridden.  Mr Barton believed his friend “Queensland Harry” of aboriginal descent could ride the horse and placed a side bet of £200, winner take all.  McNeill and Jones accepted the challenge enthusiastically.  When Barton took Harry to the circus ring he found “Maori Jack” standing with an English hunting saddle onboard.  A cattle dog was also waiting to bite the horse’s heels to keep him bucking.  Harry rode the horse until he would buck no more and he became famous throughout the country as an outstanding buckjumping rider.

Queensland Harry sitting on a grey horse.

               

Wirth's Circus train. Courtesy Palmerston North City Library

                                 
    With rail becoming more accessible, circuses were able to travel further more quickly and were not limited to moving as little as 20 miles per night.  By 1925 three trains transported Wirths Circus.  When circus trains passed through towns, families rushed to rail crossings or platforms where they saw cattle trucks full of domesticated, wild and exotic animals as they sped past; some peering out, while the Indian/African elephant trunks swung over the top of crates.  At the station sidings, the elephants hauled huge animal cages from the railway to the circus ground.  Sometimes a dozen animals helped position cages and some helped to erect the tall tent tops

A photo of a Circus Tent Palmerston North, New Zealand 2015

    In small towns most of the population would turn out to see the circus. They could fill as many as 2,500 seats for an evening performances.

          
    By 1939 most staff and performers had volunteered to contribute to the Second World War effort, which caused most shows to close.  However, to boost the morale of the people the authorities allowed Wirths Circus to operate on a smaller scale.

Two circus lions. Evening Post newspaper.
Ref : EP 1955/2083-F. Alexander Turnbull Library,
Wellington New Zealand.

                  

     With the introduction of television in the 1960s, circuses declined to an extent but some innovative circus entrepreneurs were able to keep viable enterprises touring.

     

                       Japanese circus

    Over the decades, Russian, Chinese and Japanese circuses toured New Zealand. There were large successful New Zealand ensembles like the Ridgeway and Whirling Brother circuses as well as the small Rowan Brothers Circus, a humble entertainment troupe that toured New Zealand with carnival rides.  They appeared at agricultural and show days. When some of the performers became older they managed carnival activities.  George Carian no longer rode his “trick horse”, Chief, while he reared and walked on his back legs, but operated carnival activities such as the merry-go-round.

His wife, Ruby, eventually stopped walking the tightrope and went on to supervise the Laughing Clowns caravan.  The Leonardo’s and Robinson’s family circuses were successful small New Zealand circuses that mainly presented at schools.

                                

                            
                                             

Myself  who performed circus clown and mime acts at schools,
Libraries and Palmerston North Esplanarde. Date: Late1990s. 

    Sometimes the circus/fairground folk were treated as gypsies and outcasts. When they settled in a particular place, the children were sent to school where they were often bullied.

A child at the Circus            Poem published in Heritage Matters Magazine  Issue  27 

 

It does't seem long since the circus  
came to town, when I was a child, a  
mischievous little hound.

There were big red trucks, parked in a circle 
and a circus tarpaulin rigged in the middle.

And over to the side, ponies were tethered 
to the ground, where children stood and
jumped waiting for a ride.

The elephant swung his trunk high in
the air. Standing with its leg chained to
the ground, where people listened to its               
trumpeting sound.

The lion moved in a straw-laden cage,
roaring out loud in a kitty catty rage.

Yes, I was a child, who stood among
the crowd, looking all agape as monkeys 
chatted out loud, holding their babes, 
with faces in a daze. Some climbed around, 
looking out their cage.

Then came the time to file into the tent, to
sit on planks which were tiered above the ring. 
Watching the ringmaster cracking his whips,
then swinging them around down by his hips.

The clowns each juggled hoops in the air, 
and then skipped around the ring, 
doing tricks and high jinks.

The tiger tamer showed his skill, directing 
cats as they jumped through rings. They glided 
along like cats on wings.

That was the circus when I was a lad. 
Now I go there as a granddad, watching trapeze 
artists, who swing from their knees. 
These men catch lady acrobats, high above a net  
that sags below.

James Fagan 

Palmerston North
New Zealand