GREAT BICYCLE RACE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 245, 15 October 1874, Page 2

GREAT BICYCLE RACE.

On August 10 the race for the captaincy and sub-captaincy of the Middlesex Bicycle Club took plane from Bath to London, a distance of 106 miles. The start was from the front of the Abbey, and all the competitors were up to the time. Mr Sparrow (who accompanied the race) started them at eight minutes past five o'clock, and, owing to the great number of people assembled, there was some difficulty in passing through the crowd. In a few minutes, however, they were out of the town, and the running was very sharp. Walker and Tyne were leading. .Some of the competitors had to dismount and walk up Box-bill. They all passed through Cliippenham at the rate of fourteen miles an hour, and Came (nineteen miles) w.is reached in an hour and a half. No stoppages were made until Marlborough was reached (thirty-two miles), Walker, Tyne, and Leaver coming in together, the distance being got over in two hours and three-quarters. From Marlborough to Newbury (eighteen miles) Walker and Tyue lei the way. At Hungerford, Goulding's machine gave way, through striking a large projecting stone while going down hill. After an attempt to repair it he got as far as Thatcham, where he waa compelled to take th^ train for Loudon. Walker and Tyne performed the journey from Bath to Newbury (fifty miles) in four hours and three quarters Walker soon after made a spurt, and Tyne saw no more of him The arrivals at the Club room at Kennington, were as follows: — Walker, 313; Tyne, 3 40; Spencer, 5-12; Percy, 658; Leaver 7 35. Waiker [ had been somewhat jaded at Hounslow, but upon his arrival at the goal, he started after a few minutes' rest to meet the remainder of the competitors. The time made by Walker is one hour less than the fastest stage coach ever performed the journey from London to Bath in, and is alao the best bicycle travelling on record, the pace of the winner exceeding 10$ miles per hour, including stoppages. " Mr Sparrow, the starter, although upwards of fifty years of age, followed the competitors on his bicycle, and performed the whole journey in 15 hours, including stoppages.

The following is from the Tarrengower Times:— "A clever dodge is reported to us of a man well to do in the world of Maldon, who has successfully carried through a eort of new " Quieting of Titles Bill." A director of a certain gold-mining company, holding shares to the tune of a cool thousand, permitted himself to get in arrears for three calls, and then, allowed the shares to become forfeited. The director Jhen became the purchaser of the same Bhares at public auction at the price of one call only, thus making a clear profit of the price of two calls for a thousand shares. 9 The "Taper Stick" is the latest novelty for pious pilgrims across the Channel. To all appearances it consists of an ordinary looking walking. Btick, but on unscrewing the bead out pops the statue of a saint, holding a lengthy taper in his hand, which, when lighted, will last long enough for a procession or a church service. The proprietor of the Irish Times newspaper — now a leading journal of Dublin — has made a remarkable proposition to the Corporation of that city. The purification of the River Liffey, which flows through the capital, has been for some time under discussion, 11 nd a plan had been proposed by the Lord-Lieutenant, but the Corporation have been very dilatory in approaching the actual carrying out of the work. In (his state of things, the proprietor of the Irish Times has etepped in, and offered to carry out a modification of the plan at his own expense, and at once to set a thousand men to work ! Well done the Irish Times. "The French Assembly," cays the London Times, "is the worst form of ita kind ; it is a mere delegation, representing with dangerous — one might say with vicious—fidelity all the pasaions and prejudices and follies of every class and school. It is France that is now waging a civil war within the walls of the Assembly. Aa a general rule— indeed invariable in our own experience — a Representative House is elected upon some question of interest. The result is, that it represents opinions to a very definite form, and pledges adhesion to political men and measures. Hence, too, a majority, and a minority, with broad lines of difference. There may be original sections, and subsequent formations ; but that there should be two principal Parties, and that this difference should override many other, is deemed essential to success. At present there is nothing of the kind at Versailles. That Assembly is split up into a number of Centres, Rights, and Lefia, that really tax the intelligence of an ordinary Englishman, Compact bodies of thirty or even twenty men manoeuvre under chiefs of the most marked and varied characters, each plotting and contriving to convert his little principality into a sovereignty, if not an empire. There really are as many Parties in the Assembly as there are castes in India, and each one iahoi a to be distinct and incompatible. If they would even condescend to acknowledge affinity and consort with those most like them, that might simplify the question, but when Legiti- i mists, Imperialists, and Communists, all join to prevent the Moderate Republicans from doing so much as decide the order in which several measures, all

admitted to be necessary, shall be dificuaeed, it is plain that the only point we are all agreed on is that no one Party will allow any other to lake the lead. Every one of them sees ruin staring it in the face in ihe possible triumph of anoiher. One faction sees the dreadful apparition of Henry V. entering Paris next month ; another is hounted by Napoleon IV ; another sees Pane once more in the hands of the Commune ; but what the msjority fear most of all is a sober, steady, and safe Republic, warranted lo last a good many years."

(For remainder of News see fourth page.)

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