Sunday in Taihape.

Manawatu Herald, 3 May 1904, Page 2

Sunday in Taihape.

Under the heading of “A Quiet Sunday in Taihape ” the Taihape Post writes:— At the risk of being accused of discrediting Taihape, we feel that the events of yesterday are worth chronicling. The day broke fine and clear, and all Nature was joyous and gay. A special sitting of the Police Court was held, and two Justices, two constables, and two doctors met and settled the fate of two men, one an ordinary or “ garden ” drunk, and the other a lunatic. After liberating one, and committing the other to Porirua # Asylum, we presume that the Court and all in attendance went to Church. However, soon after mid-day, Taihape went down to the Recreation Ground, and there a very exciting game of football was played. The yells of the players, the cheering of the spectators, and the shrill whistle of the referee, filled the air, and lent quite an air of gaiety to an otherwise alleged dreary day. Bet, in a paddock not four hundred yards from the main street, a very different scene was being enacted. Here, in the presence of over half a hundred sympathisers aud supporters, two men, stripped to the waist, fought savagsly for the doubtful honour of seeing who was the better of the two. But the whole affair was a farce. The spectators had really assembled to see one man pound the other’s face into a jelly; there was no fight, for the loser was never on his feet long enough to even raise his hands. His opponent wittily remarked as he gave the knock-out blow, “Now, old man, you won’t be able to chew meat for a week or two,” and there was a roar of laughter from the crowd. The half-unconscious man was then taken away by his friends and washed, and after getting all the blood and broken teeth disposed ot, was taken home. It was a very enjoyable day!