THE SIX DAYS' WALKING MATCH. (From the " Auckland Star.")

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 31, 5 January 1884, Page 3

THE SIX DAYS' WALKING MATCH. (From the " Auckland Star.")

Dec. 31. The six days' walking match between Edwards, the Australian champion longdistance walker, and the three' local peds., the brothers A. and J. Hendry' and Hu ckqtep, 'commenced 'at the Theatre 'Royal at one o'clock- this morning., 'As 'our readers are aware, the match' is for £100 a-side, ' and - the conditions are that while ' Edwards shall walk the whole time, with,* like ' Burnham, " occasional intervals for rest and refreshment" while the local men are only, required to •walk twenty-four hours alternately. If the localmen win they will receive besides the stakes one-third of the entrance money, and if they lose they will be allowed training expenses and a bonus' according to the various distances covered. The track has already been described. The scoring arrangements are excellent, enabling all visitors to see at a glance the position of the match. There were about 100 persons present at the start, and Mr George Belcher introduced Edwards and his first opponent to the audience in a neat speech. He said that Edwards was on his road to America, where he was to be matched to walk Vaughan and O'Leary for the championship of the world, and there was not the slightest doubt in his mind but that he would beat allcomers in the land of the Btars and stripes, and would return to New Zealand with the proud title of champion of the world. Referring to A. Hendry, he predicted that in a short time he would be champion of Auckland. He then started the match at one minute past one o'clock. The first match was covered by Edwards in lOmins., 35secs.,£and by Hendry in 12mins., 35secs. At two o'clock, this score stood — Edwards,- 6 miles : Hendry, 4 miles, 20 laps. At three o'clock —Edwards, 11 miles, 21 laps ; Hendry, 9 miles, 7 laps ; and at four o'clock — Edwards, 17 miles, 7 laps; Hendry, 13 miles, 24 laps. At 8.20 a.m. Hendry left the track for the first time, and remained away 20 minutes having 31 miles to his credit. Edwards kept on and had completed 40 miles by 8.15 a.m. When he retired for 30 minutes at 10.40 a.m., Edwards completed his 50th mile having had no further rest. Hendry had a record of 44 miles 7 laps up to that time. Hendry retired at 11.26 a.m. having completed 48 miles, and returned to the track at 12.13 p.m. Edwards retired at 12.12, having walked 5S miles 5 laps. He returned at 12.40, and his 60th mile was completed at three minutes to one o'clock — the sixty miles having thus been completed in three minutes under 24 hours, an average of five miles an hour for that time.

3.30 p.m. Edwards retired at 3.10, and is still off the track. Score : Edwards, 71 miles jA. Hendry, 63 miles 29 laps.

January 2. The walking match continues to attract great attention. The Theatre Royal last evening was crowded, and to-day a large number of people'attended, including many ladies. In our last issue (Monday) we stated that Edwards had returned at 3.10, and that at 3.30 p.m. the score stood : Ed wards, 71 miles ; A. Hendry, 63 miles 29 laps. Edwards returned to the track at 3.35. Hendry retired at 3.42, and came back at 4.8. He again retired at 5.40 for tea, having accomplished 72 miles. Edwards retired at 5.55, having then 81 miles 11 laps to his credit. At 7.10 Hendry returned, followedat7.2oby Edwards. Three minutes before eight Hendry completed his seventy-sixth mile, Edwards's score then standing 84 miles 24 laps.* Hendry retired at 9.15, and returned at 9.27, and Edwards had a spell from 9.28 to 9.40. Hendry had accomplished 86 miles at 10.30, when he became unwell, and left the track for his first 24 hours. Edwards continued, and completed his 100 miles at 11.10, twentytwo hours ten minutes from the start. Edwards kept on, and at midnight was joiued by James Hendry, brother to the man who had previously retired. Edwards accompanied him for two laps, and then retired Score, 104 miles 3 laps. He returned at 2.22 yesterday morning, and walked for 5 hrs. 1 mm. James Hendry kept on the track till 6.52, increasing the joint scores to 115 miles. He then retired till 6.40, Edwards retired at 8.5, having completed 130 miles, and returned at 8.35. Hendry completed 50 miles in 12 hrs. 10 mm., and then retired. Edwards retired at 12.12— distance, 146 miles 1 lap. He returned at 2.5, and 50 minutes later had completed 150. Hendry did notresume until 4.5, when Edwards was doing the last lap of his 155 th mile, having done 19 miles more than the joint score of the others. Hendry retired at 5.25, having raised their score to 141 miles. Edwards kept going in good style about five miles an hour till 6 p.m., when he left the track, his score standing at 163 miles 6 laps. He took the track again at 6.35, and Hendry followed at 8.10. He appeared much refreshed. Edwards retired at 10.30, and came back at 10.45. At 12 (midnight) sharp J. Hendry left the track. The joint score then showed 159 miles 12 laps.' Huckstep then took up the walking, and went off at a swinging pace. Edwards left the track at 12.10, and resumed at five minutes past 3 this morning. Huckstep walked in good form all night, and at 6.12 he had raised their joint score to 187 miles 7 laps. He then retired till 6.45, while Edwards kept going till 8.20, when his score was 209 miles. He retired at 5.45. Huckstep was off about 9 o'clock for a few minutes in order to change his shoes. He walked very strongly the whole morning, and brought the joint score to 200 miles at 10.5. At 11.20 Edwards retired for 1 5 minutes, and Huckstep retired at 11 andr'eturnedatl2.26. Edwards left for hi? mid-day meal at 12.55, Huckstep still going. Edwards returned at 1.45, and at five minutes past 2 the score stood : — Edwards, 227 miles 5 laps ; joint score, 214 miles 13 laps. At 4 o'clock this afternoon, the scores stood : — Edwards, 232 miles 5 laps ; combined, 221 miles 17 laps.

Our Tongan correspondent writes that a, ' dentist has been doing a good stroke on 'the'" island fitting up royalty and numerous chiefs with new grinders. The natives ex- ] p^ess their astonishment where all the '. teeth come from. > Tonga boasts two brass bands,: and there is talk of sending a / native cricket team to Auckland. 1 The" ' Crown Prince has just issued a circular'coh-' taining < a ,copy of ■ a letter signed v by the' King and by all the' members of the Privy Council that were present at they' 1 Council meeting, and „ addressed" 'to the Wesleyah Conference, Sydney, asking^. . for ' the „ recall • of the Rev. ' ' Jf.jE; Maulton, and slating that if he be ; not recalled ffcheiKing will seek a minister. L 'dfi another denomination^ ;to' 'occupy the" >! pulpit in his new. cjburdb, which is snortly „ to' be opened. Great anxiety exists as to ' the reavut oi the' decision 'of tne Wesleyan- '' CiUvHfch in Sydney on< these matters, for on. the course taken^ by the Wesleyan Co»-/ fevehce* .wilY depend the future welfare off that. Church dn these islands.) ■ \, ' i ", i' Boun^ to make a man cross. -^-Getting tQ the other side of the street.