Skating in Olden Times - We used to have some fine skaters 30 or 40 years ago. Stephen GEROW, Samuel GARDINER, who are both living; Oliver GOLDSMITH, who had charge of the Commissary Dept. in Saint John and afterwards went to India; Thomas PADDOCK, who lived at Kingston (Kings Co.) and a man named BELYEA of Indiantown (St. John) were among the best. Belyea was the fastest skater ever seen in Saint John and never was beaten. Thomas PADDOCk was a graceful skater, but so were Robert FROST and Harry FROST. Miss LYONS of Kingston was the first lady ever seen with skates on and Miss Paddock of the same place appeared shortly afterwards. It was then though (1837) very vulgar for a lady and they were the talk of the town. There was a man up the (Long) Reach by name of Wm STARRETT who could go like a cat on a gridiron. Larry McMANN was a very fast skater (see original)