FIGHT WITH A TASMANIAN HYENA.

Evening Star, Issue 6054, 7 August 1882, Page 3

FIGHT WITH A TASMANIAN HYENA.

The ‘Devon Herald,’ Tasmania, says:— “A gentleman from Kcntishbury has ro ceived a letter from Waratab, in which the writer says that whilst Messrs Hall Brothers and Exel were at work on the Bischoft and Gorina track, a large hyena, either from hunger or ferocity, attacked the party, and a very exciting fight took place, those engaged in tho defence only having sticks to keep the animal off. After two or three attempts by tho hyena to seize hold of one of the Messrs Hall, that gentleman struck the brute a severe blow oxx th 3 nose, which bled profusely. The animal then made oft into the scrub, but after a time crept back again to the attack, and the battle was renewed fiercely, but this time the hyena was despatched, and on measurement his was found to be sft, exclusive of tail.

The Prince of Wales did a graceful and politic act recently in telegraphing his request. seconded by the Princess, that the remainder of a sentence of a week’s imprisonment and hard labor upon a man who endeavored to shake hands with the Princess on the occasion of the recent royal visit to Leicester, should bo remitted. The telegram was sent to the Mayor of the town, who immediately oi'dered that the prisoner should bo brought before him, and when this was done, told him he was in possession of his liberty. The Mayor, however, was unconsciously exceedingly the limits of his office. Tho Prince’s wish could not legally take effect until the Secretary of State had ordered the release. The governor of the gaol happened to be out at tho time when tho prisoner was surrendered to the Mayor. On his return ho was astonished at what had been done during his absence, and, telegraphing to tho Home Office, received the formal instructions necessary to make the Mayor’s compliance with the royal request legal. “One of Them,” writing to the ‘Argus,’ thus refers to tho Lancashire match: “ Bomior became Blackham’s companion, and at a quarter past five tho ‘ giant ’ made the winning hit, and we had gained a victory by four wickets over the champion county of England—a county that last season went through their whole campaign without sustaining a defeat. The weather was delightful on the first day, somewhat dull and cold on the second, and very gloomy and wet to-day. Luckily the rain did not prevent the match being finished, but it is only fair to tiie Lancashire men to say that while the last JO runs were being made it was raining in a manner that has otten caused the field to be cleared in Melbourne and Sydney. Mr Hornbyg however, with the true spirit of a sportsman and gentleman, kept bis men in the field, and afterwards admitted that the best team won. Just after the stumps were drawn the rain came down in torrents, so that it is quite correct to say the match was very nearly resulting in a draw instead of a victory for Australia. Thirty-live thousand persons paid for admission during the thieo days—l4,ooo the first, 14,000 tho second, and 7,000 to-day—and each day the applause was impartially bestowed. On tne morning of the second day Mr Hornby invited all our fellows to breakfast with him at the Albion Hotel, and right hospitably he entertained those who were able to go. It afiords me much pleasure to say that from start to finish the match was played as cricket should always bo played—that is to say, without the slightest sign of bickering or unpleasantness—and our fellows one and all agree that we shall have very pleasant indeed if we continue to meet such gonial and thorough cricketers as we have met here in this great city of Manchester.’