ANECDOTES OF SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1862, 29 July 1887, Page 26

ANECDOTES OF SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

(Licensed Victuallers' Gazette.) Malt and Mortal*.

When Alderman Harvey Christian Cootnbe, the " friend " of Gentleman Jackson, and the most ardent patron of pugilism that ever lived, was retiring from office at the Mansion House, November 8, 1800, a rather curious incident occurred. His successor in the Lord Mayorship was Sir William Staines, who from being a bricklayer attained that high position, and who, as might be expected, loved his pipe and his glass as heartily then as in the days he carried a hod. On the other hand, the great brewer, Mr Ooombe, had received the education of a gentleman, besides being a gentleman by nature; so in yielding up his place and honours to his successor the late chief magistrate good humouredly proposed that he and Sir William should enjoy their pipe and glass together. And so they were seen after dinner lighting their pipes at one candle, reminding the other guests of the Duke of Buckingham's two Kings of Brentford smelling at one nosegay. Sir William Staines, we may add, during his mayoralty was courageous enough to propose that, instead of Londoners spending a large sum in fireworks and illuminations in honour of a great naval victory, the money should be given to the widows and orphans of the seamsn and marines who had been killed in the engagement.