PETERSFIELD.
FRACAS IN THE MARKET—On last market day (Wednesday), a scene, luckily of rare occurrence between men holding positions of respectability, took place about 9 o'clock in the morning in the Market-square. The parties engaged were a well-known Portsmouth butcher and a sheep salesman of Havant, which commenced with words and ended unmistakably in a real set-to with ground ash sticks, and attracted the attention of the large number of business men there assembled. It appears the row originated relating to the offer of some sheep which the salesman had given to the butcher previously, and had afterwards sold them, the latter stating he had at the time a letter in his pocket authorising him to do so. This was denied by the butcher, who thereupon presented the salesman with a blow to the face, and at the same time invited him to fight. The latter, however, being the least man of the two, declined the invitation, but said no man should drive him from the market with a stick, upon which the rencontre commenced in real earnest, the ash sicks were brought into full activity, and cur-ling blows were delivered plentifully by both, till the salesman, who scientifically handled his weapon, brought his man to mother earth with a cutting stroke on the side of the face, inflicting a serious weal along the face and ear, which was painful to look upon. The bystanders then interfered, and the parties were separated, after one of the most earnest give-and- take scenes ever witnessed in the Market with sticks.