BUSTED!

NZ Truth, Issue 141, 29 February 1908, Page 4

BUSTED !

TEDDY TAYLOR TURNS TURTLE. Paddy Jocks Jack to Victory. A Basin Reserve Record Broken. The much-discussed, privatelyarranged foot-race between those two lwtbes of the wood (out of which barrels are manufactured). Teddy Taylor, 1G stone more or less, but principally more, and Jack White, who once stood on a penny weighing machine and promptly disorganised the earthquake registering . gear m New Zealand observatories, was contested at the Basin Reserve last Monday afternoon. The few ladies - who patiently sat awaiting their swain and the nursemaids tending to the perambulated bratsi and the solitary policeman, who measured his steps as he tra jrsed the asphalted walk through the "city's lungs. " mtfst indeed have wondered" at. the unwonted activity of thing's generally. Not a tramcar halted at the Caledonian or at Kent terrace, but did. some mighty wobbling hunk . of prosperity eagerly vault to earth and hell-for-leather make for the green sward. Not a hooded vehicle pulled up at the entrance gate than did some person interested m beer amble amiably to the centre of that reserve, and— break it gently, not a few bob changed hands on , the contigency (to use English 1 legal phraseology), which didn't, as events prove "contingent worth a farthing." Was it not further pardonable, that the aforesaid young ladies, not even forgetting the nursemaids, should snipger and ask themselves what those silly men meant with giving one another piok-a-back rides, and was it not still more reasonable for the lonely limb of the law to pause and ask himself if Mt. View had got ahead of itself and shifted its ciuarters, and whether m the interest of public peace it was not advisable to arrest somebody on suspicion or general principles, or for "righteous" behavior or something ? Evcrv thing and everybody was excusable because they didn't know. How were theyVto know that Teddy Taylor had backed himself for a fin to give Jack White 50 yards m 1(10 and beat him, and how did anybody outside the beer trade m, Wellington know that Jack White had to carry Paddy GHffin over that 50 yards, and how the hell rlid anybody know that Paddy Griffin doesn't come within the 6st 12fl> class and wasn't a resri stored jockey, and that the owner sternly forbade the use of spurs. The distance was duly measured off and ''Baby 1 ' Charles Levers was appointed,, starter, and Councillor FalH Cohen; and a x timid person named Dennis hung on to the tape with grim determination, while Jack McKinnon the ticker. "They're off," cried fully forty voices, m dreadful discord. It was a false alarm though. "Baby" swore dreadfully at the alarmists, and m a voice, the nearest human approach to a fpg-horn, warned the midgets to be ready, and gracefully dropping the wipe, effected a start that would make Harry Piper green with envy. Paddy Griffin, on Jack White, was the first to get going, and sloaning I his mount, got him into a cross between a dog-trot and camel strut. Teddy Taylor was slow to begin. His tummy seemed to be m the way. and after going fully ten yards, wobbled woefully and next turned turtle, _ having given himself a nasty wrench. Paddy Gtiffin, perceiving that Teddy bad stumbled, then steadied his mount, and though this jock was riding a patient and waiting race, his prad jogged home the easiest of winners. The time given was lO^secs., but there was no check pn the time-keeper, who, however, -is noted for his "Truthfulness." Tumbled. Teddy was .next seen to, and just rose from the grass to greet Jack Curran, who rushed across breathlessly, cursing somebody or other for having put him on to the 2.30 lay. Then came challenges galore. Everybody was windy, but there was no business, excepting that Billy Brannigan reckoned he'd do better than Teddy Taylor over the distance. Jack Whitworth, jockeyed by Paddy Griffin, took up the defi, and the result was an easy win for Jack Whit" worth, who wa& nicely handled by Paddy, who afterwards held a levee on the lawn. • . Next everybody darted over to the Calrdonian, where "Truth" left them and is unable to record subsequent events. This much, however, "Truth" can vouchsafe, on the authority ot an axnateur athletic authority official, both Teddy' Taylor and Jack < Write' have- forfeited their amateur status. They're disqualified' fcr two years, whWi will give 'em ample time to train m. '