THE RECORD LOWERED. GEORGE, THE ENGLISH FOOT-RACER, MAKES A VERY FAST MILE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 173, 9 October 1886, Page 2

THE RECORD LOWERED. GEORGE, THE ENGLISH FOOT-RACER, MAKES A VERY FAST MILE.

The one-mile running race at Lillie Bridge, on August 23rd, between George and Cummings, was won by the former. The attendance was variously estimated at from 6,000 to 12,000. Cummings wore an elastic stocking in the race. George had the lead of a yard at the quarter-mile, which he made in 59 seconds, and also at the half-mile, which he reached in 2 02. Their positions were not changed until the three-quarter post was reached, when Cummings forged ahead. The time for the three-quarters was 3 072- A desperate race followed to the seven -furlongs post, when Cummings slipped, George finishing alone, in 4'l2f, the fastest time on record.

London, August 20th, 4 p.m. The Exhibition. The guarantors of the Colonial and ludian Exhibition, who up to the present have felt fairly comfortable as to the financial success of the big phow at South Kensington, are looking painfully glum over the Prince of Wales's philanthropic scheme for admitting working folk at something less than half-price duringthenextthreemonths. 11 It is all very well," say they, «• for Royalty to gracefully confer 'an inestimable boon' of thia.sort on the maafe?, but if (aa seems probable) the dead loss incurred: during thi3 period means a balance sheetr showing a serious deficit instead of a surplus, who will pay the piper ? Certainly notH.RH." None of the guarantors would for a moment grudge the people their cheao tickets if Sir Philip Cunliffe Owen could, assure them that a surplus ot some sort was a certainty. But this is just what that wily gentleman declines to do Talk to him, of leviathan takings or probable profits, and he talks to you of heavy expensesand unforeseen outlays. 'Tis the same with all the Executive. One cannot get over the impression that they desire to pave the way for unpleasant disclosures. Meanwhile the Exhibition is crowded from early morn to^dewy eve with vast hordes of Bightseers from "working London," who (to the despair of Spiers and Pond) usually come well supplied with provisions, ana prepared to spend a long day. Most of them return home between 7 and 9.30 in the evening, and the horrors of the Underground Railway during this time baffle description. Seventeen and eighteen persons are often crushed into compartments licensed to hold 10 or 12, the platforms boil over with swaying, crushing, cursing crowds, and free fights abound. Police and porters, survey the scene smilingly, as if it was all a good joke. Some- night there will be a horrible accident, I'm afraid,. The daily papers are full of the subject, yet nothing seems being done. Illness of Mr Hnrst. Mr and Mrs W. J, Hurst, of Auckland, arrived in Liverpool yesterday from New York by the Arizona, and came straight on to London. They are staying at the Hotel Metropole, which is not precisely one's ideal of a quiet residence for a 'sick man, but I suppose some American fellow-pas-sengers persuaded Mr Hurst to §£o there* I called at the Metropole this morning, and found two doctors going up to ccc Mr Hurat, who is very bad indeed. Mrs Hurst saw me for a moment. She said Mr Hurst was very ill during the journey across America. They went to the Metropole because they thought South Kensington too far off.