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Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 45, 3 October 1863, Page 2 (Supplement)

Maori Ingenuity.—The New Zedander of the Bth inst, has the following.—A Native woman entered Mr, Hassan's boot and shoe establishment, in Shortlaud-street, yesterday, and offered a sovereign for about a shilling's worth of what are technically called' eyelets.' Suspecting something wrong from the extravagance of the offer, Mr. Hassan refused to let her have them, and on enquiry ascertained that on the head of a lucifer being inserted, they farmed a perfect substitute for percussion caps. The fact was made known by Mr Hassan to some of the authorities, who were utterly incredulous until some of them were exploded in their presence. Escape.—-On Saturday week, the 12th inst., a man named Thomas Barron, who had been committed for trial on a charge of horse-stealing, managed to escape from custody on his way to town by slipping his handcuffs while the party were camped, during the depth of the night, near the Deep Stream. The " levanter" has not yet been taken; and it is expected that he managed to escape from the colony. Two of the proteges of our cabbage-tree and swell mob met at Port Hacking, early in the month, and there tried to flatten each others already far from handsome noses, to punch each other's bullet heads, or do each other bodily harm. One of these paragons of humanity is known by the name of young Sullivan, while his opponent is popularly known as the Launceston gosling, or Georgy Dodd. The fight was a failure in every respect. The champions were afraid of each other, or afraid of imperilling the bets, (£l5O a-side), so the battle after a harmless two hours' sparring, was drawn. This affair has broughtdeserved contempt on the ring. It proves that even that kind of "sport" is becoming mercenary, and that, probably, a true bona fide tiial of strength and skill does not occur twice a year amongst the athletes of the u fancy." The mob of riffraff and ruffians which accompanied Sullivan and Georgy Dodd to the trysting ground, proves that Sydney is still full of the old admiration for this kind of degrading spectacle. This allusion to prize fighting, and record of a prize fight would not have been made by me, if " the sport" were only patronised by the moneyed ruffianism of Sydney, but when it is generally known that lawyers, University students, and, probably, a clergyman or two (in disguise) were present at the last currish encounter here, it is quite time for all men to raise their voice or use their pen against such degrading exhibitions. —Sydney correspondent of the Daily Telegrqpk*