The Laing v. Smith Contest

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 124, 25 April 1889, Page 2

The Laing v. Smith Contest

The contest with gloves between Harry Laing and Wm. Smith, of N.S.W., for the ohampionship of New Zealand, came oft on the Wanganui Racecourse yesterday afternoon. At 8.18 both men stepped into the ring, Laing stripping slightly the best. Smith was in grand condition, bat lacked the physique of his antagonist. He took all Laing's blows in the face just as he would a "small beer" ; but his own blowß Beemed to* lack weight . The 1 fight lasted until the beginning of- the 13th round, when the police stopped it— and j here is where the public got .lost. Had. they stopped the fun in the fourth or fifth round, when Smith was- covered with blood, the action could have been under* stood. As to the fight itself, it was a real good one, and it will be a long time before a better " mill " is seen. Smith seemed to lose the use of his left. At the end of the twelth round both men were arrested for conduct calculated to provoke a breaoh of the peace. Inspector Pardy informs ua that he stopped the fight because Smith was badly scarred about the neck, and his left eye was bunged up, and he could not close one hand. Fardy considers it was an exhibition of brutality. — Chronicle. LPIB UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION.} V\ anganixi, This Day. The case against Laing and Smith dismissed, the Racecourse not being a public place within the meaning of the Act. It is believed the fight will be fin- : ished in private. ' :.