CHAMPION PEDESTRIAN MATCH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1070, 6 May 1882, Page 3

CHAMPION PEDESTRIAN MATCH.

The mile race for the championship of .New Zealand and £soa-side, between AV. J. Burke, of Dunedin, and Eagan, of Christchurch, came off on the 29th April, at Dunedin, on the Caledonian Ground, in the presence of nearly 2000 people. Burke, being the local man, was a popular favorite, but amongst knowing people Eagan was fancied, and as much as 2 to 1 was laid in his faror. The result was a complete surprise, for, at any rate, a close contest was expected. Burke took the lead at a good pace, and held it for the first lap, of which there were five to the mile. When Fagan deprived him of it, not more than another lap had been done. Then Fagan began to labor, but he kept Ids lead by a couple of yards or less till three laps were over. Then Burke got level with him on entering the last lap, and just as the race was expected to become exciting Burke put on the pace, and Fagan answered for 10 or 20 yards, but immediately got into difficulties, and Burke left him easily. Not another 30 yards had been got over when the Christchurch man, already 10 or 15 yards behind, stopped altogether, and Burke did the last 300 yards alone. There was great enthusiasm at Burke’s victory. Heisof unquestioned honesty, and has an almost unbeaten record, locally, during many years for long distances. O'Brien, the Australian ehampion, was, however, able to run clean away from him ; and although be was altogether out of training at that time, this had a good deal to do with Fagan being the favorite on the present occasion. The time was 4min. 46 2-ssec. The race was run on a cinder track, which, with recent rains, was a little heavy.

The story of Belva Lockwood, the female lawyer of Washington. A witty fellow was once her opposing counsel, and when he desired to refer to Belva, was perplexed. He could not say “ my brother,” as he did when speaking of the lawyers of his own sex. He did not like to say “ my sister ” out of respect to that expression. He caused a smile by referring to Belva as “ my sister-in-law',” but she certainly looked daggers at him.

A disgraceful scene is reported by the Melbourne Aye to have taken place on the vacant piece of ground adjoining the South Richmond Free Library recently. On this ground several members of the Salvation Army stationed themselves, and they soon gathered round them an assemblage of young men and women and children, and among the gathering ■was a goodly number of the larrikin class. 'These amused themselves by throwing tomatoes at the members of the “ army,” and were, as « rule, unerring in their aim- “ The Soldiers of tle Cross,” as they delighted in calling themselves, bore the attack bravely, continuing their preaching, though rotten tomatoes rained like hail upon them, the seed being scattered all over their faces and bodies. One of the band having received a part icularly large and decayed tomato in the eye, after carefully wiping away the mess, loudly cried that he ■was ready to sutler martyrdom for the sake of Him whom he served ; and just as he had given vent to this utterance a dead rat was thrown at him, striking him in the face, while a small boy dashed under his legs and set fire

to a quantity of ” crackers ” and squibs. The mob then began to jostle the “ army,” and to do this several sham fights were improvised by the larrikins. The “ army ” was knocked down several times, but were no sooner on their legs again than they renewed their exhortations. The whole scene was a disgrace

to a civilised community. Blasphemous utterances and disgustingly filthy language filled the air. The “army” occupies this ground about three nights a week, and on those evenings the quietly disposed people who wish to improve their minds in the library are deprived from doing so.