THE WRESTLING MATCH.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 728, 17 September 1870, Page 4

THE WRESTLING MATCH.

[TO THE EDITOR.]

Sir — In your paper of the 15th inst. Cowen has thought fit to hand to you the letter that we gave him on Saturday night last for publication, so that the public may draw their own inference from it. Now, sir, so that the public may the better judge, it is nothing but fair that they should hear what we have to say. When first Cowen's challenge appeared in the paper, we agreed to back Peadeu to wrestle him. When the articles were being made out Cowen proposed Thomas Jones as stakeholder, and we objected, and wanted the money lodged in your hands, because Jones was only a stranger in Greyniouth, was not in business here, nor had any tie to bind him here, but we were told he was going into busiuess immediately, so that you see, sir, there was objections in the beginning to a stakeholder in Jones' position. And as to us being afraid, or "skeared," as he calls it, we have perfect confidence in Peaden's professional skill and ability as a wrestler, when pitted against any such man as Cowen; and it does not look as if we were afraid, when the money is down in your hands for the match with him or anyone else. He says the money, -when demanded, was immediately handed over. We say it was not, or the letter he has published would never have been sent to him. Cowen objected three different times on Saturday night last. He would let no one act in conjunction with Jone3, nor let the match go on and put the money in anyone else's hands, nor would he let us draw it. He said we might go and summon him for it. We were coming down the street, when, near the Union Hotel, a party asked us if the match was all right, and we explained the matter to him, and he wrote the note ; and why it is called an invalid agreement was, that, not thinking of the new Stamp Act, and never thinking that there would be any pointing like this to get out of it, the agreement was not on stamped j>aper. In fact, Cowen would never have challenged Peadon, nor made a match with him, only they thought that he would agree to their terms and be their tool under the circumstances m which he is placed. But every credit is due to Peaden as a wrestler for his integrity and the respect he has for the honor of being champion wrestler of New Zealand in the Cumberland style. Hoping that you will please insert this, and excuse us for taking up so much of your space, we are, &c, Peadne's Backers.