THE SETTLING ON THE MELBOURNE CUP RACE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 288, 5 December 1877, Page 4

THE SETTLING ON THE MELBOURNE CUP RACE.

The settling on the Melbourne Cup Meeting, which took plsce yesterday, was the most sensational affair of the kind that has occurred in Victoria, The bookmakers are heavy losers over the meeting, and it was conaidered not at all unlikely tha& some members of the ring who had' speculated above their means would not appear at the settling. These fears proved to be groundless, as the known members of the ring all met their engagements in the most prompt manner; The most exciting incideot during the day was the payraeac by Jdte'ph Thompson of £10,000 to the representative of the hon. J. White, the owner of Chester. The bet was made some time ago in Sydney, £10,000 to £400 against Chester for the Melbourne Cup. The payment was made in Colline-s(r«et yesterday morning, in £50 and £100 bank notes, the transaction being witnessed by a large crowd of interested arid, no doubt, envious spectators. This is the largest bet ever paid by one member of the ring in Australia. Immediately afterwards Thompson paid £6000 to another backer of Chester, £2000 to another, and the next claim made was for £3000, which alstfttret; This bookmaker paid over in four bets £21,000 before receiving £200. The backers of horeos are paying up fairly, but some oi the large losers are said to require time. The settling was carried on during the day in Collins-street, under the Verandah, and at Kirk's Bazaar. In the evening there was a dense crowd at Tattersall's rooms, where the scene was a very excited and busy one. The street in front of the hotel was encumbered by a crowd of unsavoury- loafera, who seemed to derive great satisfaction from seeing at a distance rolls of bank notes passing from band to hand.