A GREAT SELL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 287, 4 December 1877, Page 4

A GREAT SELL.

[Otago Daily Times, Nov. 26 ~[ Ihe Groavenor Hotel waa yesterday afternoon the scene of one of the most amuaing incidents which for a long time have occured in this town. Ma Meikle has imported from Melbourne a bull-dog made of earthernware, which he intends to place in the hall as an ornament. It is certaialy a splendid work of art being the finest model of a bull dog that well could be imagined, but unfortunately it got considerably injured in the case in which it waa packed, three of its legs being completely smashed Yesterday afteruoon it was placed chained up ; in a corner of the room off the bar, with a mat hiding the broken legs, aud there was no one who saw it butfelt convinced that it was a real living ferocious bulldog uniil he had been a long time admiring its beauty, and had expressed wonder at lhe fixed motionless, manner in whioh it stared. When about ten or twelve people had collected* a certain prominent citizen arrived on the scene, who, when he saw the apparently ferocious dog, exclaimed, « What an ugly brute !" •« I will bet you a pound you won't take away that mat away from his lege," challenged one of! those present. " Done," was the reply, und the first man thought he bad put his foot in it, until recollecting himself be amended his bet by adding thut he would not take away the mat and leave it a live dog. The second man eaid he would, and so the bet was made. Having fortified him3elf with a glass of Moor's beer, and contemplated hia ferooioua looking antagonist for about five minutes, the J gentleman who had betted that ha j would lake away the mat waa seen stepping through the door, intimating at the same time that he would soon return. Many were the speculations as to what he was going to do, but all doubts on that head were soon dispelled by his reappaarance with a long-handled hayfork. Amidst a boisterous roar of laughter, he proceeded gently at first to pull away the mat with the hayfork, but soon expressed his surprise at the quietness of the dog. At leugtb, findout his mistake he stood up, cast one glance around at everything and everybody, and perhaps finding the temperature of the room rather sultry , he made a rush for the doqr, and left, oonvinced that Jhe had been thoroughly sold.