SIDELIGHT ON THE WARATAH

Among the passengers who embarked on the Waratah at Melbourne were Mr Ernest B Page and his wife, Ada. Mr Page's occupation was given as 'showman': he was taking two champion axemen to England to demonstrate their skill at wood chopping. Page himself was also known by his stage name, Professor Bonner, and toured New Zealand as a hypnotist in 1906/7 with Wombell's (or Wombwell's) Circus - as the advertisement below reveals:

Professor BONNER
Late of Bostock and Wombwell's Circus

The absolute MONARCH of HYPNOTISM, and MASTER of MESMER'S MYSTERIOUS ART, in his HYPNOTIC ENTERTAINMENT.
Not a single weary moment, but Smiles, shrieks, roars, yells, and convulsions from start to finish.
Dull care utterly and completely banished.
POPULAR PRICES

The Orange Leader, 4 March 1907, p.3

Source: http://www.nla.gov.au/anplan/heritage/1907.html