LA YCOCK'S VISIT TO TYNESIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6004, 14 February 1881, Page 6

LA YCOCK'S VISIT TO TYNESIDE.

The following are some extracts taken irom the Newcastle Clironicle on the visit of the Australian oarsman to that place:—"So quiescent have the Tyneside people been for some time in regard to aquatic affairs, that amongst many people an. opinion has been formed touching the decadence of the old feeling of enthusiasm -with which the leading professors of the art were xegarded. All such ideas must, however, be abandoned in view of the extraordinary reception accorded to Elias C. Laycock at Newcastle and North Shields yesterday. The manly Australian's progress through the two towns and intervening district, was in truth a triumphant one, and considering that he has rowed no race on the Tyne, and that he was personally almost unknown to the people of the neighbourhood, no parallel can be found for the warmth and heartiness of his reception. It was known "that Laycock would reach Newcastle by the train arriving from the West at 10.45 a.m., and by that time a crowd of over 2000 people occupied tho Central Station. A cheer was set up that shook the very glass in the roof as Laycock stepped from the train. No sooner had the visitors arrived outside- the station than the noise of the continued cheering brought people from all sides to the spot, and Laycock, to his intense astonishment, found himself surrounded by a crowd of between two and three thousand persons, every single individual of which was bent upon shaking hands with him, or upon wishing him —intheloudestpossiblefashion— good fortune in his coming match. The Australian was so overcome by the warmth of his reception that he was unable, except by bowing, to express his thanks to the enthusiastic peoplewho were shouting themselves hoarse in his' honour. TO LAYCOCK. " Laycock was presented with a massive gold medal during his visit to Newcastle. . The presentation was made by .Mr.' Arthur . Lloyd, at the Lynn Concert Hall, who.said. , that Laycock, at his own expense, had come • to this country, but in every race in which - he had taken part he had been favoured with . success. (Cheers.) And they could not too much' admire him for the manner in which he had elected to incur risk and inconvenience in order that lie might make an effort to gain the championship of England to take home with him. He had great pleasure in handing to Laycock the yift of a few friends —a beautiful gold medal, on one side of which were the arms of Newcastle, and on the other a suitable inscription. Loud and , prolonged cheering followed. Laycock, iii replying, said that owing to the extreme heartiness with which the people had received him in. the North, it was . rather difficult for him to find suitable terms ; in which to address them. In fact, he would ; ! rather row a race any time than make a ' speech. (Cheers.) It was with feelings of great pleasure that he stood there to thank the people of Newcastle for the enthusiastic * and kind greeting he had received. A « warmer-hearted people; than they it had never been, his lot to meet, and he hoped ] that this would not be his last visit to tne c North. (Cheers.) He must not omit to specially mention those six Durham pitmen —cheers— who; proffered their mite to e help him to meet Hanlah, and to ° thank them for their generosity. (Cheers') He thanked his friends in Newcastle for' ? the kindnesses he had received while in the town. ; He might 'tell those who had the hardihood to back him for his race with Hanlan that.they would get a fair show for their money. (Loud cheers.) If he \ -* was defeated, he would at once wend his ; way quietly over the big sea to Australia —(cries of " Success to Laycock ")■ —but if he was successful in his effort to arrive at Mortlake before his opponent, he thought he s could hardly go awsy from England without visiting his Newcastle friends. (Cheers.) In response to calls, the ex-Champion, William Elliott, also addressed the audience. He said that on previous occasions, when lie had stood on that stage, he had defied the world, but his day was past, he could do so no. longer. (Cheers.) He had never in his life seen any sculler row with such pluck as did Laycock in the final heat for the Hop Bitters Prize. , (Cheers.) In that race the Australian received a strong backwash from = his opponents for three miles, yet, by shear pluck, he beat them at the finish. (Cheers.) - And he did not doubt that when Laycock 1 met Hanlan for the championship of Eng- J land it would be a race all the way. (Loud cheers.) Ihe party then .quitted the stage amidst the hearty cheering of the audience. , Read this, all sufferers from Rheumatism : -» —Testimonial, Ruakaka, Waipn, Sth February, ISSI.— i> Mr. Sykes: Dear Sir,—lt will be in your recollection that [ was a patient at your establishment in March last imffering from acute rheumatism. Previous to conmlting you, I had taken an Auckland patent medicine x>r three weeks, and found I was getting worse, and md to take to my bed. I then had visits from a loctor, who prescribed for me, with no better result. '. made up my, mind to try the Turkish Bath. I W reached your place when unable to walk without issistance. I remained in your establishment three veeks, and left it with only a little stiffness in one land, wliicli soon disappeared. I had no appetite "< before taking tho baths, but in a few days could eat ilmost anything. I never had better health in my ife, and am quite free from rheumatism, which gives ne great pleasure to testify. lam quite sure that the ■ rurkish Baths did cure me, and no person will havo ■eason to regret giving them a fair trial. I may add ra I virile in yourplace I was surprised to see the remark- .. iblo cures effected in such a short time. I will only neution one of a. lady, who told me she had been laid ip for twelve months with chronic rheumatism. She lad to be carried into the baths on a chair, and before , '. left I saw her walking with only tho assistance of a taff.—Yours truly, F. W Kuddeij.. The Auckland . Curkish Baths Company (Limited), Office No. 5, New ' 'ealand Insurance Buildings. J■ .