THE PEDESTRIAN MATCH AT GREYMOUTH.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 714, 22 September 1870, Page 3

THE PEDESTRIAN MATCH AT GREYMOUTH.

J (PEOM OUB OWN COBBESPOXBENT.) Saturday. An event which has been the cause of some excitement and speculation in [porting circles for the past month, das, on last Saturday, brought to an [gsue. The pedestrian match between IVohill and Howe, viewed perspecirely, assumed gladiatorial importmce. Besides the couple of hunIred pounds at stake the belt and •kampionship of New Zealand (the ralgar absurdity, too readily imported nto every social public event, obtained, rith a certain class, regarding the rational colors worn by the competitors). By them it was interpreted into some indication of national superiority or inferiority according as access or reverse should decide the lay for green or blue. During the forenoon little knots of sportsmen and partisans gathered in tie streets, and might be heard eagerly ! canvassing the probable result of their speculations, or busily seeking someIhing good in the matter of long odds. Sowe, the Hokitika favorite, commanded the largest price, and those hrb.o were even friendly to Twohill did not care to risk too much on pm. The former was well-known Is a " Bpanker" while the latter is merely in his noviciate. I I |noticed a few Hokitikans of iknown sporting proclivities, on the [ground. In speaking of them they be generally termed the "knowing |raes," but, as things turned out, this |sip did_not pay. I itoth competitors had been undergoing a rigid course of training for She last four or five weeks, and accordingly each came to the scratch in good Condition for his work. Twohill the green sash and Howe the iblue. I Twohill is of slender build in the pody, but he has long and well-built pimps under him. He showed the effect of careful training, displaying lota M muscle and not an ounce of superfluous matter anywhere. Howe is guch shorter, and firmly put together. pe looks a tough one for a long jjourney. At three o'clock both men bade their appearance on the course, tad, after taking a preliminary canter to stretch themselves, were then fought to the scratch. The first pistance to be run was two hundred hails, and a pistol report was the ■greed signal for starting. Both made •good start and kept toe and toe for the first eighty yards or so, Twohill jften gradually crept to the front, the bxertion evidently putting him on his Best metal. Howe was running pluckily lut his opponent made good opportunity of the advantage he had gained N gradually widened the distance to $e winning post, when he came in a pinner by four yards. | The next race was one hundred and ifty yards. The admirers of the green pere now giving the odds, while the favorites of blue were shy to bite. Bowe, at the start, had decidedly the advantage but the long strides of his pversary soon equalized matters. PwhiU's pluck and training here evilly showed themselves. About »e Bame distance from the scratch as pthe last race tbe green sash took the E 4 with apparent ease. As soon as We saw his opponent in front he ifently felt his cause hopeless, as he frhially gave up without even trying Jo come in a good second. pounds to eight were now • reely laid on TwohilPs winning the ; latch, and the blue was in bad odour rith any odds against him. The Wit heat to have been run was twoiundred and filty yards. Howe failed a come to the scratch and gave his opponent an easy victory by allowing iim to walk over. This decided the Mtch leaving the one and threetandred yards uncontested. A warjsut of arrest for debt had been taken N against Howe. Being threatened nth its execution during the time he fas on the ground his spirits were Neby considerably damped. As atters now stand Twohill will have P seek elsewhere than New Zealand ''his match. It is rumored that a aallenge is to be sent to Australia ■ibis behalf, and, if he makes up his jod to adopt pedestrianism as a proton, with training and practice he Ml prove an ugly rival in the arena pinst either the English or Austra--1 champions.