Our Sydney Letter
Observer, Rōrahi XI, Putanga 663, 12 Mahuru 1891, Page 11
Mō tēnei niupepa
Our Sydney Letter
My Sydney correspondent, writing at the end of August, says : — The Feather-weight Belt subscriptions are coming in daily from members of the Amateur Gymnastic Club, towards purchasing a belt to be given to Griffo, our champion feather-weight. Chid Ryan and Jimmy Murphy have been matched to fight at the Sydney Amateur Gymnastic Club, on Sept. 9th, for a purse of «£75, neither man to weigh more 9st 4lbs. This ' mill ' will attract a large attendance, as all lovers of boxing know ' Chiddy ' to be exceptionally clover in the art, and as far as science is concerned, he comes closer to Griffo than any man in Australia. It will be interesting to know what sort of a fight he makes. He is training out at the Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany, under the watchful eye of Jack Hannaford. Jim Murphy is located at the Brighton Hotel, Manly Beach, where his muchexperienced brother Billy superin ends the course of preparation. Jim Murphy has never yet fought in Sydney, but brings from America the reputation of being a clever fighter and a very hard nut for any of his class to crack. It will be remembered the S. A. G. C. matched him some time ago to fight the light-weight, G. Me Kenzie, but through an accident to Murphy's hand, the affair fell through. f Chiddy ' has a tough job, but will make a determined effort The S.A.G. Club has secured Mick Ives and Jim Barron for a match on Sept. 23. They will fight as light weights for a puree of ,£SO, and should make a rattling good go. Tt will be borne in mind that Barron fought the Victorian crack, Williams, when the latter fluked his opponent on the jaw in the first round. .Barron afterwards met and defeated two or three olever lig-ht-weights, and now avers that if he had another chance at Williams, the result would be different. Of course every follower of the sport knows that the best man in the world is liable to be knocked out easily by a flukey blow, and many think such was the case with Barron. However, if Ives fights up to his Exhibition form, Jim Barron will have his work cut out. The match will be a good one, j and should create a deal of interest. Arrangements have been made to match ' Champion George Dawson against Tommy Williams, of Melbourne, for the Lightweight Championship of Australia, a purse of ,£250 and a side wager of ,£SOO, the affair to come off in the Melbourne Athletic Club about the end of October next. Williams's backers have already deposited the sum of .£IOO with the Melbourne Club, and Dawson will come to that amount immediately. Williams is the man who defeated Jim Barron and Ben Seth both in very short order, bat he will ftnd George a much tougher morsel than any other man he would pick upon. The
making of this match will interfere for a time with his departure for America. The two big guns Jackson and Goddard are no nearer being matched than they were months ago. Goddard does not seem anxious to come to terms. The S.G.C. offered .£IOOO, and he asked for .£llOO, and also refused to put up as a guarantee. Jackson it is understood is willing as ho always is. It is quite on the cards that Mr Piesse, Slavin's English backer, will induce Griffo to shortly leave for London to meet Johnson, the best feather-weight in that part of the world. Mr Piesse has promised to pay all the Australian's expenses and back him heavily m the fight. It is also understood that Mr Jack Dougherty of the M.A.C. will make all arrangements in Mr Piesse's behalf, consequently the Koeks Boy has the chance of his life, and would be very foolish if he did not make the most of it. There is nobody else for him to conquer here, and whatever feather-weights are in the field at the present time must first get over Billy Murphy, who will prove a lion in the path for the best of them, and never refuse to meet any man in his class and for that matter many pounds beyond it. Jack Fuller having retired from the boxing arena as far as fighting is concerned is now engaged in bookmaking. He still fills the position of one of the light-weight instructors at the S.A.G.C. Sid Barnes of N.Z. got beaten at the Olympic Club by Charley Paynter, after a very lively go. Barnes fought as game as a bull-dor while he lasted, the other man being much taller and heavier. Old Jim Bui-i>e better known a,s Iron Bark Jimmy beat George McKenzie at the Olympic last night after a determined fight of 31 rounds The only way to beat Burge is to do it with a meat axe.
— Albie Braund was very properly chosen captain of the rep. team. — When do the Regatta Committee purpose holding their next meeting ? — McGregor, who got hurt at the Thames, had his ribs broken and his ankle severely hurt. — Messrs T. Henderson and O. Wells accompanied the Auckland team to the Thames. — Not even an approach at a cheer was given to the Auckland footballers on their departure for the Thames. — The team selected to meet Taur&nara is a particularly good one for second raters, and should easily score a win. - The takings at the football match on Saturday last between Auckland and Thames amounted to <£37 13s. Ladies were admitted on payment of a smile. —During' the Thames match, Freddy Gaudin collided with J. McGregor, of the local team, with/ the result that the last named had to be taken to the Hospital. — The Wanganui Rugby Union have disqualified, for twelve months, from taking any official part uider the Union, an umpire, for having betted on a match in which he was engaged. — L.he death is reported in Wellington of Frank Dixon, of the Poneke Club, and brother of Loo Dixon, who used to be an attache afc the Columbia rink. He was only seven and twenty, and his death was caused by a short but acute attack of inflammation of the lungs. — The new wonder in the English jumping world is G. W. Rowdon, a Devonshire man, who, by all accounts, even eclipses Joe Darby. He claims a high jump of 6ft 5f in (which, by-the-way, the authorities will not accept), and on a stage he cleared 6tt 2in over a bar 6ft 6in high, taking off from a 4in block. Off the block, with one foot on a stooping man's back, he jumped a 9ft bar ; and has been known to clear six men seated in chairs in a row : whilst ov<_-r three men, nearly, if not quite 6ft in height, he took a flying leap as clean as a cat. — x'he man, Evans, whom young Campbell recently whipped at the Zealandia Athletic Club, came forwaru on Thursday evening last with a challenge to fight the young 'un to a finish. This of course was simply a bit of bravado on the part of | Evans, who knew quite well that ' Campi bell' was unable to accept owing to the fact that his father had taken steps to prevent his appearance in tne ring, a fact that was advertised in the Star and also mentioned through these columns ' Campbell ' informs me that h.^ would willingly accept if he were of age, and will do so most wiJingiy then, if the man is to be found. — On Sa;urday last a team of our juvenile footballers, by name the Excelsiors, journeyed out to Papakura to engage in a friendly match with a team of junior ' ballists 'of that district. When the respective teams linad out the young 'uns anticipated a severe drubbing at the hands of their opponents, who were much superior in weight, but on entering into the game evinced a very mediocre knowledge of the Rugby rules ; the finish of the game leaving the Excelsiors victors to the tune of 3 points to 1. To give me an understanding of the existing difference in weight, my informant tells me that several Papakura youngsters who were watching their ' paters ' play, would clap their hands and ejaculate ' Go it, daddy, give it to 'em!' whenever one of those individuals made himself conspicuous by a clever run i or some other manner oi ; brilliant pay.
— Dave Stewart was simply invaluable for the Thames. — The Thames people were greatly taken with Jervis' play. — Albie Braund played well at the Thames, but the Thames forwards breaking through frequently spoilt his passes. — Mr W. Swinnerton, of North Shore, who is a staunch adherent of the JRugby game, went South with the team. He always accompanies the ' boys ' when they leave home. , — The injuries sustained by J. McGregor, one of the Thames 'reps.' in Saturday's match, have turned out to be less serious than anticipated, and are principally confined to a sprained ankle. — Dr. Girdler, who gave his evidence at the inquest on poor Tommy Sibbin, said .he did not think football should be put down, and thought it was a very manly game. — Freddy Gaudiu played a very disappointing game at the Thames, in fact the worst ba^k game on the ground. He was always kicking rolling balls. It is questionable whether they will play him down South. —A passenger who came up from the Thames with the 'reps.' says the boys were on their best behaviour, as if standing in awe of the Selection Committee. Some were evidently afraid of being overlooked. — I was pleased to see the name of Harry Stephenson included in the team chosen to meet Waikato. It certainly looked as if he had incurred the displeasure of the Selection Committee. — ' Dandy ' Cole played a good game for the second ' rpps 'on Saturday. He seemed to have made up his mind that he had lost the Taranaki trip, but would try hard for a place in the Tauranga team. — ' Jockey ' Nreen is now included in the j third team to do battle against Waikato, but he does not deserve the honor. I have nothing: to say against his play, neither is it my intention to go over the same ground as that referred to in last issue, but I can inform Breen the public do not view his actions in a favourable light. — The following will represent Auckland in the forthcoming match against Tau|ranga:— Full, C. Stichbury ; threequarters, Cole, Hill, Pearse ; halves, Khodes, Pearse, Brady; forwards, C. Marshall, J. Poland, Loomb, Ca-ntley, Gordon, Airey, W. Williamson and Williams. In all probability Mr ' Al ' Cotter will pilot the team. — Nearly 2000 people witnessed the Thames v. Auckland match last Saturday, which ended iv a victory for the latter by 11 points to nil. From what I can gather, the game was anything but good, and the Thames forwards were far and away superior to our men. Their six men more than held their own in the scrum against our eight, and had it not been for our backs the result would have been different. —Mr Ballin, of the Eden Vine Hotel, Mt. Eden, has laid out an excellent quoit ground on hia premises, and invites gentlemen desirous of indulging in this enjoyable pastime to visit his grounds, which are stated to be the best in the suburba. A man is kept in attendance, and I have no doubt but that this interesting game will soon attract a large circle of patrons Visitors wishing the best of accommodation ani every home comfort will find themselves suited by ' patting up ' at the Eden Vine. —Johnnie Mullagh, the veteran aboriginal cricketer, who visited England with the aboriginal team in 1868, was recently found dead at Harrow, in the western district of Victoria. His cricketing powers were well known throughout Australia. Mullagh has been the mainstay of the Harrow Cricket Club for many years, and of late, though weak and stiff from age and exposure, he was a keen batsman and lover of the game up to the last. Although he had been ailing for some weeks, nothing serious was anticipated. — From time to time we hear of fighters making their appearance in the Australian prize ring, and announcing themselves as being from New Zealand. This appears to be the pass word, and the new-comers are at once taken in hand on the strength of their bare assertion. Now, in too many instances, the majority of these are thorough paced rogues who perambulate the country searching for ' slinter fights.' The other day I saw by the Sportsman that a Mr S. Wisby' had arrived from New Zealand, where he had a big reputation, having fought Barney Donovan and others. Never having heard the name mentioned before, I communicated with Barney, who promptly replied that he never knew anyone of that name, let alone fought with him. Who is he anyway ?
