MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume 356, Issue VII, 25 August 1874, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

On the first of June last a numerous company assembled a« tho Lillie Bridge Ground to witness a great pedestrian contest, The occasion was the three-mile walking match, for the championship and £50 aside, between Joseph Stockwell and William Perkins ; and the inference is, that when there is really something good and straightforward to be seen, even the metropolitan public will patronise professional pedestrianism. There was a general expectation that something extraordinary in the way of time would be done, and that anticipation was amply realised. Stookwell, who is now 30 years old, has been long before the public, having come out first of all in 1862, and for some years has been regarded as tho fastest and one of the fairest walkers in England, his stylo, when once he settles down into his stride, being one that aspirants may well copy. His last match previous to that of Monday was with Hurley, for the championship, in May last year, when he won. For the match, he trained in comprny with F. Jenny, at Esber. Perkins is only 21 years old, and stands 5 feet 4 inchos— 3 inches less than Stockwell. He gradually made his way to the front rank, and by his defaat of Hurley last March, established a right to challenge Stockwell for the championship, which the older man Ihen held. Spectators began to flock into the ground long before the time announced for the start—halfpast 6— and by the time the men were ready there must have been close on 8000 persons present. Mr E. Smith, having been appointed referee, pave the signal for tho men to go, and Stockwell dashed off with one of those tremendous bursts almost peculiar to him, Perkins, kowever, keeping close at his heels. After going about 100 yards Perkins put on the steam, and, going with the utmost fairness, clashed right in front as they turned into the back-stretch, and soon was leading by a dozen yards. At the end of tho first lap (three to the mile) Perkins was over 20 yards ahead, going in magnificpnt style, and, keeping up a cracking pace, he finished the first mile in tho unprecedented time of 6 , minutes 25 seconds still gaining; he was between 70 and 80 j arda ahead at the end of the second mile (time 13 mm. 28i sec.) Commencing the third, he drew still further ahead, but Stockwell now made a plucky effort, which had the effect of reducing the gap, though he failed to get quite up, and Perkins, getting away again, won by 50 jards, tho time for the whole distance being 20 minutes 50 4-5 seconds — the best on recond. — Sporting Life. T/ie French penal colony of New Caledonia has its Marquis of Carabas in the shspe of a capitalist nnd universal trader of the name of Eglinson, of whom the Temps gives an account. He provides the Government with flour and beef from Melbourne, and the public with groceries, issues notes which he will take as payment for his own goods and accommodates his clients with anything they require from a bushel of apples to a church or a. factory. AH the wine in Noumea it in his cellars, in anticipation of the clay when the Government will need a supply ; meantime he lets a friend have a barrel at 350 francs which sold last year at 185. Having once, while visiting Sydney, met two young musicians of merit, he induced them' to come to Noumea, promising them receipts to tho amount of 5000 francs. Seeing them under his patronage, the Freemasons of the place gave them a ball ■where the young musicians performed for 2000 francs — so much off Eglingson's guarantee. A big diamond is Jnow on exhibition in Boston. It is alargo as a hazelnut, and is worth six hundred tons of raili way iron, 300 tons of sugar, or 5000 barrels of flour. A Western paper chronicles a marriage in this suggestive style :— " The couple resolved themselves into a committee of two with power to add to their number."