SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. AUSTRALIA.

July 21st—Victoria Racing Club Steeplechase Meeting. / November '3rd, 6th, Bth, 10th—Victoria Racing Club Spring Meeting. f

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Scbsoi Sporf Sum won? G.S.-J- Platl

rtiBER, Ponsonby. — E. Williams rodo ;'tsman in the Steepleohase at the A.R.C. mer Meeting o£ 1881-82, which race was ' by King Don. 'So far. the winner of the Maribyrnong !Bhas never won the V.R.C. Derby.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The VHawke's Bay Jockey Club have issued the for their Spring Meeting, wbicjh takes place on the 9th of October. •It is! much the same as last year, with the exception that 25*ovs. have been added on to Ahe Flying Handicap, and the objection ' abTle feature of a Hack Hurdle Racs intro duced Instead of the Trial Plate (for two ye^ar-olds). The added money amounts to ' £580, distributed thus :— Hawke's Bay 1 Guineas, Oilos-ovs., 1 mile (closed); Handt i «ip Hurdle Race, of 7550 v«., about 2 miles ; ' Spring Handicap, of 200snvs., 1J mile; Back lurdles, 300v5., 1* mile ; Maid»n Plate, of . einvH , 1J mile ; Flying Handicap of 100 i oys., | mile; Hack Hare, iOsova. Worni a-(Unions for the spring Handicap (2aovs.), ' J^-Jying Handicap (lsov.), and Hurdles {li{jov.), dose on Tuesday, 14th August, tae •weights for the thr^e events being due on thijs 21st of the same month. -TH understand that Alick Sutherland, who i* ode Kalo in his double victory at the Taka paua Birthday Meeting.is to take charge of 4ne oolt, and prepare him tor future engage ments. If the son of Yattendon give* satislactioQ when put in work, it is moat likely he will be shipped to Chriatchurch to take part in the -Neu Zea!aod Cup cod test. Hia impost in that event U 7st 21b. The New Zealand Stud Company hay nominated the foil nving youngsters for the V.X.C. Mates' Produce stakes of ISSS: — Br c, by Musket—Bergere ; V c, by Mus ket—Onyx ; brf.by Musket—Clytemnestra; b or br f, by Mu-ke: -Sister Agnes ; br f, by k-Vtuaket - Sylvia. Mr V\y. uouglas's well-known nreeplechase mare Venture, a more than average per former at- the "illegitimate game," and winner of i.jhe Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, ISSO, and f n Wangaoui Steeplechase, 1881, died suddenly at Te Mahang», JNapier, last week. The i ,-nare was being driven into one of the paddocKj s when she dropped dead. On Saturday next the Victoria Racing Club will bold ijj their third Grand National Steeplechase M< a :etin», and at Aucklsnders have taken a litu interest in the gather- Ing this year, on account of " consultations" oi> the two leading events, it may not be amiss to give the i 0 weights, wnich were issued on the 2nd o.^ July. They are as follows : — GRAND NATIONAL t HURDLE PwACE Of 10 sov9. each, with 300 Padded. About three miles, v st. lb. i . St. lb. Lotlmir, 5jT3 _12 9 K»~arwon, syrs _10 2 Game, aged .. _12 5 H Wlisk, aged -10 2 RhO3U9. aged ..11 9 I'ia%e Joker 4yre .. 913 Buw.a, oyrs _11 9 Kpiaiarke. tyrs .. _9 13 Lady Hampden, 5 Onyeiario. lyrs _ 9 13 yrs.. - .. ..11 7 Ba. mbler. Lyra _9 9 Trumpeter, aged..ll 0 VTa, rriga.l,aged ..9 9 Triplet, aged ..10 12 Australian Court, I3onca»ter, lyrtecrllO i 5 /rs .. _ .. 9 6 Termlnua, oyra ..11) 1 Diz. '.y, JJTB .. ~ 9 i Matador, aged ..10 4 I'ar jide .. .- -90 Proapect, agod ..10 2 )ir GRAND NATIONAL ST' 'eEPLECIIASE O£ lj so\-3. each, with -too a.i .ded. About three milee. l at. lb. : e.. «. ~iv i Simplfiton, aned ..12 10 Oloilelirfttckei, 5y..10 3 Lothair, syrs.. ..12 5 Alh^rUsyra .. ..10 0 Trumpeter, aged,.l2 0 lila- „{!, Syra.. _I 0 0 Vaultur. 6yr3 _ll 5 Fam ~ isacnm a.. 910 Harper Thompson Llzei lalk. aged _9 10 iyrs „ .. ..11 1 TaxaVer'rm, oyrs ..910 Cruiaer. aged ..11 0 UnsiU "lian Coarr. Blackthorn. 6yrs.lo 12 Hail»t lt ,- 9 9 Coomßtn. ngod ..10 11 An9tra"'"ie .. „ 9 7 Bryan OLvan,a..lO li syrs " .aged ..9 7 SaUor. aged.. ..10 10 Stampu r^s -■ -9 7 ChrysaJis, aged ..IUIO Mariner, 3yrs —9 7 Obadiah. aged ..10 7 Hope, 6y" >t- a e n . *v.. Kuchre. aged ..10 G TriWer. ?^ cKs , fo* th" , ~ ~ .. , , » e^rade, and In Melbourne, the favourite pi "» Aiv, n m Hurdles are Dizzy, Ontario, 1*» Veekon^d I Gambler, while Australian Cottr1"^ bra, Euchre, and Sailor are l e^dent] '• good goods " tor the Hteeplecba _ c j or jj Mr Barnard's handicapping has'Tj ' t g j not Riven satisfaction in Melbour'* j tilQi ._ the " Sportsman " of the 4tb of Jr i mrr ,=' r f that "Tout Cola" expresses himsel at ,„„l^i I wouldn't have had such a disci e # l ou ™^ anathemas directed a', me as were bi i_n« on Mr Baroard no soon as the Mel*, pi*,! Cup Handicap had been perused, for < l - untold ; and although not going th length of some complainants, still tr, ,", mediate impression on ray mind, * ,„™i perusing the weights, was that the ? °) pilation is more full of faults—and eve* r .ul iujustice—thau any previous calculation' ' „ the V.K.O.'s official. The writer thiP,f r c the likeliest lot to furnish the winner lif ' Sting, Cunnamulla, Conlstoun, Chuckst^ I*'1*' Waterloo, Ck>riolanus, Jessie, Prometheut 6* Lord Lisgar, Yately, Ericthoneoos. Sanu 36 Claus, Martini-Henry, Malua, Grosvenor, ? "Wizard, Kin* of the Vale, Claptrap, Jobd, , Athena, Doncaster, Gloucester, Kathleen j Mavourneen, Lesbia, Linda, Spread Eagle, >r Chrvsophrase, Bordeaux, Jack of Clubs, and First Demon. In the course of an article on the A.J.C. Derby candidates, " Angur"says: -Should Martini - Henry carry the Hon. James White's colours, the race will possess some interest to the New Zealanders, from the fact that the colt was bred in the Southren island, and as his mother is one of the most celebrated among the stud matrons bred In Victoria, we too shall ba curious to know whether the union between Musket and Sylvia is likely to be as successful as that between Fireworks and Sylvia. Mar tini-Henry possesses all the attributes necessary to the composition b"f a .Derby horse. His sire, Musket, was the best horse in England over a distance of ground, but because he was not a six furlong flyer, he was allowed to leave England at a moderate cost, while the roaring Prince Charlie realised more thousands than he did hundreds merely because hia produce would probably be smarter over Bhort courses. At present the New Zealanders ! have not had anything by Musket that can be classed much above mediocrity, the son of Toxopholite having failed to stamp his progeny with the precocity essential to success among two-year-olds ; but as time rolls on, and one of his sons appears in his own mould, able to stay over two and three miles, our southren frienda will have a better opinion of him. In the Auckland Stud Company's pastures there is one of the best collections of brood mares In the world, and it will, indeed, be extraordinary if, through them, Musket's name is not | heard of in connection with the great races' of New Zealand. Every chance has beei accorded to his son Martini-Henry, wh^/'1 as a yearling, was purchased by the Hoiff James White for 1,250 guineas; and I htfj; he will afford him an opportunity of <S, tlnguisbinghimself in the A.J.C. Derby, j^S, 1 which the field will be much weafasr't^,' 0 that which will sport si Ik for the V.h^Jl contest. The colt's dam, Sylvia, In ot&rr the corner stones of the Australian "{[ s Book," and as the mother o! Goldsbrc;

and nobin Hood, she will lire long in the memories of colonial racing men. He in lerlta the family likeness from her, and for shape and make he cannot be surpassed by anything engaged. I had the pleasure of au interview with him daring my last trip ;<> Sydney, and I have no hesitation in say ing that so far as appearance goes, he is equal to either Goldsbrongh or Robin Hood. Whether he will prove so on the turf, re mi'ns to be seen ; albeit the Sydney corre spondent of this journal assents that be can do wbat he pleases with Aberfoyle and Co., and if this be correct, then Mr White must have a real Derby horse, for Aberfnyle, Blne-and-White, and Kair.ar» were all above tbe ordinary average as two-year olds, and if Martini-Henry can dispose of them without much effort, then his Derby chance bears a most roseato hue.

"Senex," in commenting upon the new rules of the Victoria Racing Club, which came into force on the Ist July, makes the following sensible remarks : — With the exception of the clause relating to the "Kacing Calendar," these rules a-e as applicable to racing in New Zealand aa Australia. As yet no set oi rules have been framed in New Zealand which have met with the approbation of all our Jockey CluVra, but no one has ever doubted the propriety of our having similar racing laws in force throughout the colony. These carefully compiled rules are now proffered, to which no exception can be taken on the score of dictation from one clnb to another and the opportunity presents itselt of accept ing them from North to South, and thereby sicariag federation in racing throughout New Zealand.

" Angur" thus refers to the presumed dark Melbourne Cup candidate, Merman, who is an occupant of the sensational St. Albans stable :—Be is a bright bay with a white hind foot, long and low, with a varmint-looking head, and a general contour that impresses one favourably. He is not by any means a big one, and denuded of the superfluous flesh he carried when last I saw him, he struck me as a happy medium between Willeroo and Lapdog; just the eort to win a good race under a light weight. By King of the Ring from Mermaid, the winner of the Sydney Cap, reads like the pedigree of a racehorse, but he has yet to prove that he is one, aa his only effort was made at Geelong, where he cm a moat inglorious figure, albeit his condition was somewhat superfluous, which can be ad vanced as an excuse for the rearmost posi tion he then occupied.

I was much interested at hearing Gallon's account of the race for the City and Suburban (write" the special correspondent of the " London Sportsman,") and,though I may not repeat It exactly in hia own ex pressive phraseology, it has about it an air of honest truthfulness worthy of recapitula tion. "I was only engaged to ride the horse about 20 minutes before the race," said the little man, " and except having seen him at exercise, I didn't know much about him. Well, when the flag dropped, for a moment or so none of us thought it was a start. When I seed it was, I let my horse have 'one, two' reminders, and away he bounded like a lion. As soon as w<i settled down into our places, Gareth went to the front, but Southampton quickly raced up to htm. Going round Tattenham Corner. Southampton charged into Sachem and Diletto, settling his own chance and that of Jennings's horse. Then 1 gave mine 'one, two' reminders again, and he galloped on like a steam-engine. Gareth was the only one in front of me. I halloed out to George Barrett, ' Pull out, George ; when you're beat I mean to have a go for tliis.* ' You've got no chance," replied Gaorge, but almost immediately after I saw Gareth had had enough, anrl T -» -with a one, two aram , / gOt ? real _i „ «cc, out when I looked round and ia.w the big horse, Lowland Chief, with Fred Webb up, overhauling me stride by stride, I felt I was done. Lowland Chief not up to mc, got his heid in front. I gave mine four more real, genuine rib binders. Roystercr answered, whilst Low land Caief didn't appear to go any faster. I was afraid 1 had'nt quite won, but I looked round sharp as soon as I pulled up,and when I saw No. 11 and No. 1 underneath it, I knew it was right. Lord Kosebery con gratulated me, made me a handsome pre eent.'and said he was very sorry he had only a ' tenner' on. ' Never mind ' added his lordship, 'I like to win at Epsom.' " Such is a true account of how Koysterer won this year's City and Subur ban, and to those who only saw the race from the stand, or were not present, it may not be uninteresting.

Condensed Items.

Off Colour is said to be wintering as well as his best friends could wish. Frying Pan, winner of the last Caulfield Guineas, is in work again. C. Wood received a present of £1,009 for riding the Manchester Cup winner. Dare-bin's fee is 30 guineas, and he is to be limited to ten approved maree. It is said Zulu is a long way on the big aide, and his off fore-leg has a suspicious look. r That first-c'ass colt, The Plunger, is nominated for the V.R.C. Maiden Hurdle Race, run on Saturday next. The Sydney mare Brunette, from whom great things weie expected, has left the turf fjr the stud, and will visit Darebin. Among those present at the Pakuranwa

Hunt Club meet last Saturday, was Dr fHonnolly, master of the Wanganni hounds! £ " Augur " thinks Welcome Jack. Jessie, and Captain Webster have the j^peßt ot the N.Z. Cup handicap. £? Fishwoman started fifteen times last *» -son, placing five wins to her credit. She ;• second an equal number of times, and on three occasions, tbirdi? Australian Jockey Club have re- Th id to take no further action in the 80lv zed Hubbub — Hopeless steeplechase swfr he Tasmanian Kacing Club intend in. ~, ucins the totalisator at their meetings trod *reta, kln£ step 3to h%ye tne machine "", alised by Parliament. 1 t • Chaafe, who trained touie when she *< *1" i the Easter Handicap, came up from ' a pier on Monday, and left for Sydney the "'Rowing day. "™Ad Valorem has broken down badly. J™is name has been struck out of the "fUwkesbury Handicap and Great Metro. 'Hhtan Stakes. £ n'Out of fourteen starts during the past reason, Welcome Jack got first on niue &.lfferent occasions, while only three times Vie failed to secure a place. t In the Hawkesbury Handicap, Pell Mell top weight with 9st 51b. Sir Modred ,-has Bst 121b. Those reckoned best in are :Morpeth (Bst 91b), Normanby (6st 91b), and (Jaractacus (7st 121b.) According to " Augur," there is a dark outsider for the V.R.C. Derby, who is not I being trained at Flemington, nor yet in £ Victoria. The writer entertains a high Aopimon of him. %J Maria Theresa {dam of The Dauphin) and i. Strenua {dam of Helena), have missed to BAP^ mwrtl The rest ot the Chrlatchurch - Middle Park mares are believed to be in foal to the brother to Chamant. No less than 320 horses were lately shipped to India from Melbourne. Among the nnmber was the crack hurdle-racer. Handy Aniy, and colts by Manuka and Panic. I ;

Little Jack has been shipped to the Mauritius, having be.n purchased by a lever of racing in that French-English inland, who desires to beat the Victorian horse Beadsman, recently imported there by a local turfite. Second King, by King of the Ring from- Mischief, and Snperba, by Maribyrnong from The Fawn, have been backed for the Maribyrnong Plate up to 100 to 7, and from 100 to 3 to 100 to 2is offered about any of the others.

At a sheriffs sale in Melbourne, held in order to satisfy a paltry £12 claim, the patent right of the Victorian Totalisator Company went to the highest bidder for a mere song, albeit once vaunted at the declared value of £20,000.

Hegenhoe'a early backers in Australia must have got their fingers burnt by his withdrawal, for I find by late papers that previous to the weights appearing, he was pretty heavily backed and quoted at hundreds to fonr. Oar Kussell correspondent telegraphs : — Mr Davidson, of Wbangaroa, has im ported from Sydney a Yattendon colt, a mil brother to King Quail. He has not yet bees tried on the turf, having only been broken in six weeks ago. Archer, by his victories at Manchester, once more heads the list of winning jockeys. Both Fordham and Wood have been at times a win or two ahead of him, but the champion will, no doubt, be once more to the front if he continues to ride throughout the year, Mr K. R. Wilson's colt Signor.by Kin<» of the King, is reported to be doing excellent work, and his owner and trainer have great hopes of hi* proving a thorn in the sides of the V.R.C. Derby favourites, Archie, Off Colour and Co, Signor's weight in th<s Cnp is 7st lib.

The Sydney correspondent of the "Sports man" states that the weights tor the rVew Zealand Cup have come in for a little dis cussion, Mr T. Ivory thinking that Jessie has a show for thar. capital prize with 7st 121b, and it is just possible tbat she will be sent over.

The ' adies' Trophy, six furlongs, run at V. A. Turf Club Meeting, brought out no less than 42 starters, the largest number which ever faced a flag this side of the line. The Ghost got home first, Liddington being Becond, and Transferred third, Welcome Jack and Squireen were among the starters.

Biserta's time for the Cheater Cup waß 4m!n. 44«ecs., whilst in 1881 Windsor com passed tbe conrse in 4mln. 123ec, and last year Prudhomme occapled 4min 32eec. The value of the race was £832. The field was the smallest on record, except that of the year 1831, when there was exactly the same number of runners,

Warwick is first favourite for the A. J. C. Derby at 2 to 1, and he, and his stable companion Archie, are in equal request at sto 1 for the V. K. U. Derby. According to " Nemo," both are doing a Bteady pre paration at Warwick Farm, and are in splerJklid condition for the time, as indeed are all the horses that are being trained by Mr Forrester,

•' Augnr " says Commotion has thickened out and improved since he retired in the autnmn, and his back is broad enough for a dintng-table. The champion's legs filled after he had been enjoying his ease tor a time, but a fortnight in the paddock soon put him to rights, and Morrison hopes to nave him at his best for the great weight for-age race".

The unreliable Coriolanus has again been putting his backers in a hole, For the Wyndham Handicap, run on a course near Melbourne, he wa3 backed down to 5 to_2» bnt-R'"w«- <JTd, ridden by Sam Cracknell, upset the pot, beating the son of Tubal Cam by a length, Barley Bree, 6et 121b. running third.

A Tasmanian paper states that New Zealand Is the destination of Gold Coast, by St. Albans (sireof TasmanJ, out of We9t Coast's dam, purchased recently by Mr W Dav'dson from Mr F. V. Kearney, of Campbell Town. He was bought as a yearling by Mr E. G. Taloot, at the West held sate of 1880, for £93, and is now rising four years old. "

Mr R. Rouse, jun., ot New Sonth Wales, has purchased the imported stallion Mar. vellem from Mr C. Baldwin, of Manilla Marvellous, who is by Blarney (son ot Claret), out of It's Curious, by Artillery out of Grarnaohree, Bister to Birdcatcher was bred in Ireland in 1870. and imported to New South Wa'es in 1877, but none of his progeny distinguished themselves npon the turf.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION).

FOOTBALL FIXTURES.

July li.-North Shore v. Auckland; Ponsonb v. Grafton. July 21.—North Shore v. Grafton ; Ponsonby v July U.-oig^v;es£soZ- Canterb^- July 28.—Grafton v. Auckland; North Shore v Ponßonby. Aug. i Vacant. Aug. 11.—Club tee.

The proposed football tournament at Wei lington has been the popular subject o discussion during the week. There i something to be regretted in the attitud assumed by the local Association, and exchanges to hand show that our posi tlonln connection with the negotiations has excited the ridicule—even if no stron»e word is used—of our Southern neighbour* It is not often that Auckland is exhibited in the vacillating mood in which she is now attracting so much attention, and in the interests of our own reputation, it is incumbent upon the Association to make its arrangements as speedily as possible and have a team at the tournament befoie the <>ta»o men leave Wellington. F.orn the time that negotiations were opened till the present, it doe* ssetu as if we have not treated the Southern, people with due consideration. At all events, that is the Impression they have formed, and at the meetings of their Unions, strono rema.k* have beaa made rell c ins* upon the action of Auckland in cabling to .6ydney for terms tor an Auckland team trave'lm" there, while at the earns time arrangements were being made fora New Zealand team Jo go over in response to the invita'ion issued by our visitors of last season. This actiOD, when associated in the minds ot Southerners with the fact that we offered to a team ,thtough the colony if satisfactory terms were offered, naturally caused the impression that the Ancklanders were piqued, or thought themselves too good to be connected with a representative JXew Zealand team. However absurd this may read, there is only too much reason to fear that it is well-grounded. Even if the Southerners were under a misapprehen won or had misjudged the case, their feelings towards us would not have been improved by injudicious paragraphs v«i°2 i newßJ papers> assetting Auckland's ability to defeat everyone and everything m the shape of football, and charging Otago with showing the white feather, which were telegraphed South or copied into the papers there. WhjLs there is no one here who looks upon the vapid vapourings of sense less scribblers such as those in question as •Bthontatiye, Southern people know no

tiling concerning the inspiration of such p jrographs, and accept them aa being the opinion of foo'billers and interested per sons generally. .To this cause, therefore, aud her own coquetting, is Auckland in debted for the ridiculous position in which she has been placed, and which has called forth sneers from the Southern Rugby Unions and Press. Auckland has nothing to b mat of that can entitle her to special consideration. We cannot yet have for gotten the disgraceful defeat-! of oar repre sentative footballers in the South some years ago, and even in more recent times Wellington taught us a lesson that should rankle until the stigma has been removed. It is true fiat we defeated New South Wales twice, but what of that 1 Onr op ponents were notoriously weak, and they were also defeated by Otago. I have no wish to depreciate the merits of our men, and I do not hesitate to express the opinion that we can pot a team in the field now equally strong a& that which played against the Australians, and infinitely better both In backs and forwards than those which have represented iv in matches against the Sjuth in years gone by. But we have no right to claim any superiority over the fooi ballists of the South until we have proved our right to it by wiping off our former defeats. It may inconvenience our Association greatly to have a team in Wellington by the 24th or 25th of the pre sent month, and yet after all that has happened, we shall best conserve our own interests by overcoming the obstacles that interpose, and proving to Otago, Canter bury, aud Wellington that there is some thing more than vain empty boastfulness in Auckland football. Ten days still inter vene, our best men are more than ready,— aye, eager—to go, and money will be forth coming for the trip. If the tournament takes place, and Auckland is not repre sented, then may her sons be satisfied with the well-descved scorn and contempt that will be lavished upon her from all parts of the colony, and under which her football laurels may well fade and wither, and bur honour in the arena of manly sport become tarnished. An important suggestion has been made with reference to the championship sculling match which was to have taken place be tween Heara and Harrington, but which has fallen through in consequence of each man desiring to row in the part of the colony where he resides. A match on neu tral water has been suggested, and in that connection a proposal has been made that some encouragement should be offered by the Auckland Regatta Club to have the contest rowed in Auckland on the occasion of our next intercolonial regatta. If a good prize were offered, there i» reason to believe that Hearn would oe willing to come up from Wellington, while the test ot Harrington's bona fides would lie in his own action. If ne is really willing to meet the present champion, then a better oppor tunity couid not be afforded than would be given by such a contest. Probably the matter will be brought up at the meet ing of the Auckland Kegatta Club next week, or there is a possibility that the iXorth Shore Club, with the enterprise which has characterised its operations in the past, will tafce the proposal into serious consideration. Other competitors besides tne two named might be depended upon to offer themselves, and the event would lend greater importance to the regatia than would otherwise be the case. The Auckland Football Association has received a letter from Mr Fletcher, secretary of the Sydney Association, in which the writer says : —On receipt of your to^oiiftf'A&PSStl^&SuESrCSJnS.'fffSa had decided not to allow football after July, owmg to preparations for cricket The only dates open would De the 21st and 28th of July—the two Saturdays beins all. important days with us. My wire was • • Same terms offered Dunedin ; only Satur days available, July 21st and 2Sth." The terms offered were:-All gate money taken, less ground charges and advertising It is late m the season now, and I re»ret we cannot parne any other dates later" on than that gl ven. There is only one ground where we can make a charge, and after this month the whole field fs'to be top dressed. We have been expecting for some weeks to hear from the Dunedin Union, and the Ground Committee kept their fixtures open for a long time to enable them to arrange dates with them. I have not even the satisfaction of a line from any one en the macter, and the visit of a New Zealand team was given up. Your tele gram raised a faint hop- especially as we find the steamers will suit. The following letter touching the races between the yachts Janet and Taniwha appears in the "Field-: -"Sir.-My atten tionhaa only] ast been drawn to an error in a very interesting article under the heading of " Sailing in the Antipodes " 28 th last. The writer states that the crack 40 tonner Janet beat the Taniwha the hrst time in a light wind, but was beaten next regatta when there was a «ood breeze. During the first race, the T;iuiwha on the last round ( gained eight minutes on the Ja.net, which had got a long lead when the wind was lii;ht, whilst at the second regatta the Taniwha proved herself to be something like a Taniwha Oca monster) winning by something like twenty minutes ' Now, the fact is that the Janet won on the second occasion referred to toe Taniwha oaly finishiag third, and the Secret being second. The Janet and Tani -7n i^ 6 me A *e? eral tlmes since January 10, 1881, to April 29, 1882, and the Jan-t won five times, the Tauiwha being success, lul on the third and last occasioo. Tnere h also an error as to the tonnage of the two yachts. The Janet and the Taniwha are respectively registered 36 tons and 34 tons under the Y.k.a. I should also mention tdat the Taniwha carried ballast above her cabin floor on the four last occasions she raced with the Janet, which, under the Y.K.A., would have disqualified her had it been knowu at the t:me.—(Sigt ed) .'-: G Banner, Master ot tbe Janet, Sandri<W MelbDU.no. Marcs 6th, 1883." °' My remarks aneiu an accident which occurred during a recent yacht race at, Wellington have raised the ire ot somebody who send.- round a half-column effusion on the subject. Tne writersays :"Isaw m the Stae Supplement of the 7th inst a. report of a yacht race in Wellington har boui, one of the competing boats1 being built by an Auckland builder; and, as your report says, bectuse the Auckland built boat had an accident it reflects little credit on her builder." ac then proceeds to explain the accident to the " Auckland" yacht, by saying that " the forestay was shortened by 12 inches to make her more secure, thereby bringing all the strain on the bowsprit and bobstay, and with such a leverage something had to go." It is a strange and lamentable fact that some people are never satisfied. In the first place,the paragraph referred to said nothing about "an Auckland boat," and the reason why was that I was not by any means de sirous of reflecting on a local builder. But nevertheless, I am accused of making a bogus ' report, writing on " hearsay " and so on, and, therefore, it appears ad visable something more should be said on the subject. In a Wellington paper now in my possession is a lengthy report o*. a race between tha yachts Garibaldi irnd Madge (ol Auckland),from which I append

a few extracts : —♦• After rounding Soatnes Island, the Madge was 1 mm. ahead of the Garibaldi, but seemed to be drawing away again, and we have no doubt would have increased her lead had not the bobatay carried the shackle and abont two feet of the stem away; and from this point the Oari gradually stole away, and won by 1 minute 5 seconds. Thi« kind of accident ia, we believe, the first tbat has ever happened in the harbour, and It cer tainly does not say much for the wood Mr Logan, o! Auckland, the builder, puts ia his boats. It this ia a sample. The lines of the boat are good, and she certainly goes beautifully and clean through the water; bat what ia the use cf a craft if she is built of material that carries away the first strain it gets, especially the stem t" This is what the Wellington writer said on the subject. Now, I have always spoken well of Mr Logan's workmanship and with justice, and I believe the accident to the Madge was due to Imperfect fastening, which Im portant point in a sailing boat may have been unintentionally overlooked. Bow ever, fuller particulars have been asked for, and are supplied above.

Tauranga will send a team to Auckland to play a series of Association Cup matches.

Fousonby had a splendid team foe the match against Grafton this afternoon.

A bicycle club has been formed ia Hapier.

The protest lodged against Middleton, who .won the Krug Challenge Cup race, was not entertained.

O'Leary, the well-known pedestrian, has Issued a challenge to walk against Edwards, in Melbourne, for £250 a side.

The club ma'ches were to have been re snmcd this afternoon, the light weight clubs playing iv the Domain, and the heavy weights at North Shore.

The O'l eary-Edwarda six-days' walk has been postponed until Augußt To keep his band in, o'JL.eary has cha'lenged Raynor to a Bix-davs' match for £200.

George Uly tt, in ISB2, made the greatest number of runs ever made by a Yorkshire Couuty playfr for the season (903), and Edward Peate bowled the most wickets ever obtained (116).

Austin, of Dunedin, has offered to give £100 to be competed for by yonng Scott, of Dnnedin, and John Baynor, of Sydney, in a 48 hours' walking match, to take place at S (media.

Miller is trying to arrange a match between Victor, the wre3tler and athlete who recently visited Auckland, and H. M. Cansdell, whom he refers to as " Sydney's amateur weight-lifter and wrestler."

The Auckland Rofviog Club is en deavouring to get a site for their new shed between the Kail way Wharf and Wynyard Pier. The Harbour Board, tolwhom the application has been sent, is understood to be favourably disposed.

It seems that Bobert Edwards, having failed to secure a match with any of the New South Wales scullers with 15 seconds' start, is now willing t"> take 10, at which gentle offer even he is not likely to be accommodated.

Mr W. W. Read oa his return to Eng land was to receive a testimonial in recog nition of the brilliant cricket he had shown during the recent tour in Australia. The movement has been confined to the memtTera of the Surrey County Club,

The North. Shore Regatta Club's annual meeting takes place on July 19, when a fresh committee and officers lor the ensuing rrni ]ITO el ected. Mr C. C. Dacra having declined to stand for re-election as secretary, another energetic man is wanted to take his place.

Mr Street assures me that ho never had any intention of sending the Muritai to Sydney.the undertaking being too <reat for a private individual. He agre-s however with my remarks re united action in the matter, and I nop° something may soon done. Perhaps the Auckland * Yachting Club might move in this direction. °

Despite Hearn's positive assertion that he would oot row for the championship of New Zealand on any water than that of Wellington harbour, the Harrington rmrtv have published a challenge, offering to tow Hearn or any oth-r man in New Zealand a 3J milee race for £100 aside

A valuable addition has been made to the ranks of Victorian boatbuilders by tho arrival of Mr W. Dodd, formerly foreman at Llasper * famous boatbuilding estaMish ment on the Thames. He intends settW and starting business, and Lay cock is said to have been mainly instrumental in t>er suading Dodd to try his luck in the colonies. c

At a recent meeting of the Dnnedin Rugby Union a letter was read from the Welhnpton Association stating that the Auckland Union was unable to take nnrt in any tournament, with the other nro winces owing to the inability of the players to get the necessary leave of absence Much surprise was expressed at this stated ment, seeing that the Auckland Union only a few weeks a S o proposed to send a team on a tour through New Zealand

An important question comes up for con sideration at a meeting of t*ie Aucklind Kegatta Club which is g to take placed next week. We understand that several person-, have guaranteed to enter crews for a whaleboat race at the next regatta if the boats are required to be of the same dimensions as the one built last year for the *orth Shore Regatta. This class of boat appears to be well suited for rowinlin our harbour ; and if five or six entries c»S be secured for the Auckland Ret«tf» £ 1883. I say by all means place the Iven? on the programme. B

for the Wallaroos were' pretty "v while Flynn, Vaughan, Wper, and PC and H. Tange performed excellently in this line for the 'Varsity. Better dribbl"» hit never been seen in a football match and in tins respect the University outgone"their opponents, several times carrying tho ball clean across the ground in beautiful style whether better play has been shown by two

King Charles and His Fool.

This good fellow's inflnence was so great that Charles (Kingof France) once remarked to him he thought they had better change places. As Jean did not look well pleased at the proposal, Charles asked him if ha were not content at the idea of being a tmS> " Oh, content enough," was the re ?ly, ' but I should be exceedingly ashamed at having such a fool !" -It was this fool tfhoonce tried his master's nerve by rush ng into his room one morning with the exclamation : " Oh, sire, such news! Four thousand men have risen in tbe city 1" "What," cried the startled king; "with what intention have they risen ?' " Well," said. Jean, placing his ringer upon hi 3 nose, " probably "with the intention of lying dowa again at bed-time,"

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, JULY 14, 1883.

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