JEM MACE ON “CHANGE.”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3041, 27 December 1882, Page 3

JEM MACE ON “CHANGE.”

The following story about the pugilist Mace is narrated by' the correspondent of the Thames “Star I'llaines people cut their eye teeth early and when someone gets to windward of a man from Qnartz>polis, the fact is we 1 worth recording. The teller in the Auckland branch of a New Zealand bank having its headquurters in London, is a thorough Thamesite; he sucked in ’cuteness with the invigorating breeze of the Hauraki Gulf, and he—oh ! it cuts me to the quick to write it—has been had. It was ihuswise : Just before the last mail steamer _ went to ’Frisco, the renowned pugilist, Jem Mace, Esq,, ex-champion of the world, &c, waized into the bank, and, producing a roll of notes and some silver, asked the smart young teller to change it for go'd. Now, the teller was not bound to do this, as none of the notes of his bank were in Jem Mace’s roll, but to oblige the great man ho gave his willing assent. “How much is it?,’ asked the banker. “ Sixly-seven pounds was the reply. The ’cute Thames man counted the money in a somesvhat perfunctory manner, and handed over the 67 sovereigns. Mace had not been gone many minutes before the young man thought he would have another count, and—oh, horror! there was only £57 in Mace’s roll. Hastily informing one of his superi'.ra, ho clapped on bis hat and rushed off to find the exchampion of the world. He found that worthy sipping a cocktail in u Queen street bar, and without more ado informed him of the mistake. Mace pooh-poohed the story, though from his manner he knew something about the money. The teller consuited a solicitor, but found he had no redress. The services of a detective were then press.-d, with the view of ‘ bluffing’the money out of Mrce, but he merely laughed at the threats of the minion of the law. Our young banker then ph adod to the great man in forma, pauperis , when Mace said, “ We J, you're an honest looking young fellow. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give you live quid, and to«s you who lias the other five.” Could “cheek” go further? In vain the young man protested that the money was not liis ; Mace was relentless, saying, “If you d >uT like to do that you can go to ,” well, to a place where you don’t require overcoats, arid where continual summer—yes, very continual summer —reigns. To cut a long story short, the Thamesite was glad to take the “ fiver” just as the steamer was casting off. He doesn’t think Jem Mace is a very great man now, and freely expresses bis opinion.