PEDESTRIANISM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 215, 11 September 1871, Page 2

PEDE STRIANISM.

0 A large number of persons collected at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday afternoon to witness the performances of the professional pedestrians, who are on a visit to Nelson. The ground, owing to the rain that bad fallen on the previous night, was exceedingly heavy, and must have added considerably to the labors of the two men . The first event of the day was a mile race between a boy named Braham, who is being trained by Austin, and two local competitors, but the professional proved too many for hia opponents whom he beat easily, accomplishing the distance in 5 minutes. After some little delay, young AustiD, who had undertaken to run 10 miles within an- hour, and Edwards, who was advertised to walk 7 miles in the same time, made their appearance. Austin wh© is 20 years of age, stands sft 1\ in., and weighs Bst \2\, is a fine powerful young fellow who appeared to be in excellent training and well fitted to accomplish the difficult task he had undertaken. Starting at 4.15 p.m. he went off at a smart pace, and very soon convinced the bystanders that they were looking at a runner of no ordinary powers, but before he had completed his seventh mile it became perfectly clear that the heavy state of the ground was telling upon him, and that he could scarcely be able to get over the distance in the prescribed time. In the last mile this influence told still more severely against him, and when he arrived at the winning post he showed symptoms of being greatly distressed, but, although he was a few minutes over his time, every one felt that he had dor.c his work honestly and gamely, and he was heartily cheered accordingly. Had the ground been in anything like favorable condition there can be no doubt that the ten miles would have been run in le3s than the hour. The following is the time of each mile as supplied to us, but there is a little difference of opinion with regard to it, some parties who timed it stating that the time occupied was 4 minutes less than that which we now report. Ist mile, 6 rains. ; 2nd, 6| mins. ; 3rd, 6£ mins. ; 4th, 7 mins. ; sth, 7 mins. ; 6th, 6| mins. ; 7th, 7 mins. ; Btb, 7£ mins. j 9th, 7\ mino. ; 10th, 6J. Total, 1 hour 8 minutes. Edwards, who started at the same time as Austin, is also 20 years of age, stands sft. 7-^in., and weighs a trifle over 9 stone. He certainly is a splendid walker, and every now and then, when he put on a spurt to show what he could do, the pace at whch he slipped over the ground was something astonishing. The heaviness of the course was much against him, but as will be seen, he accomplished his distance in a very few seconds over the promised time. The miles were passed as follows: — Ist, 8 mins.; 2nd, 8£ mins.; 3rd, B^-mins; 4th, 9 mins.; sth, 1H mins.; 6tb, 61 mios.; 7th, 7| mins. ~ Total, 1 hour 15 sees.