THE GARDEN.

{By Hobtcts.)

VctZ&ft?&ar of Operations, Atiff. 4. '• TO CO rtRESPON DENTS. "Bfertus" is willing to answer any queries. "©ORoepondents must give thoir full name and odAress, though not for publication. OotKus (Argus) Do not take your cuitings off yet—the season is not fir enough advanced The beginning of Sep'embei is ttie best time to Btriko cuttings unless you have artificial heat, Abirs (A.D.)-Those here liko a deep, moist soil: will not flourish on a rjoor, shallow soil with a hard bottom. Tf planted on such,they coon assume a stunted, bare appearance. As a rule, they do not grow very fast. Oranges (Fruit) If. is hard to tell what sort of fruit a seedling might produce It might be good, but I should not like to chance it. Graft one of the good varieties on -oit in the spring. Slbaly Bug <(Jreenhou?e).—Wash plants that are affected at once. Use fofts»<p and -water and a small hard bru3h. brushing in every crevice on tha plant. This must be repeated as often as the insect appears. Do not let it get a hold of the other plant*. "Vines Bwchdixg (Vine). — There are several remedies. Apply a hot iron to the cut part till it is charred, and then rub iutu thocnarred surface a paste made of new y burnt lime and grease. Pharmaceutical collodion is also used in some cases. Two or three ooats will be needed. It can bu applied with a feather. Coal tar is also used. "Corrections. — Several printer's errors oc curred in last-week's notices For "dalichoa" read "doiichos" is much easier *rown from " seedlings'—not 'cuttings," as priuted. lie plum stock "' mammoth, or evergreen " should read 'M. E. quince."

HINTS.

Never leave newly-planted trees in exposed situations without having them properly staked. as the high winds will work them about, -which soon creates a puddle at the roots, and this is very injnrious to the little rootl- ts. When planting shrubs or p anta oE any de scription out of pota into Hm opon border always break the ball of earth a little which will induce the new rootlets to push straight out from the plant. Regulate thin and prune all el'mbors during ■the winter, so that they may not become a mass <jf wood and foliage during the summer. As they grow, pinch and thiu tying each shoot in Its allotted place. Never plant out trees and shrubs in clayey aoll while it is very wet. Always wait till there are a few fine days; and when planted, always try and drain off any water which might lodge immediately under the roots. When planting shrubberies, always plant the choioo varieties at a sulßcicut distance from •one another -o that they will not touch when they arrive at maturity. When plan ing. fill up intermediate bpacos with tho commoner va irietles; remove whe-never they interfere with the choicer sorts. When earthing up celery, always tie up the leaves first, leaving sufficient apace for the stalks to swell, then bring well brokon earth about the plant, prossiua: i', Rn.ntly. Always leave the centre leaves above the surface. When lifting plants for temoval to another situation, do not expose the roots to the action of the sir more than is necessary. The tender extremities of the young feeders soon perish it exposed to sun or a dry atmosphere.

KITCHEN GARDEN.

Whenever the weather will allow and the soil is in good order, have every vacant piece ol ground wrought over. Towards the end of this month a great number of the main crops will have to ba *.own. Sow a little mustard and cres«, lettuce and radishes, a!so a few turnips and cairots. Plant a row of early potatoes. Prepare a large break of ground fcr so *'mi» the main crop of ouions—any pitce of ground will do wnich has been well manured. Fork it •over to a depth of two or three inches, giving a good dose ot bon<.s. letting it .ie till wanted for sowing. Start a few seakale plants by placing bones over them covered with Long Utter. Continue planting out a few caulitiower and cabbage for succession. Keep weeds down.

FLOWER GARDEN.

Plant out gladioli, liliums, iiridamaryllis. Jjay box-edg nsjs wheue^er the weather is suitable. v few of the hardy annuals can now be sowrr for earlier fl.weriog. Those roses which are intended for early flowering should now be pruned, cutting back last year's wood, leaving only two ortoree eyes. Keep tbe soil well sirred around all the spring flowering bulbs The grass edgings should be pared, uainsr the edging knife. See that the line is pi ope ly kept—if it is only half an mch which is t.keu off it will make it fresh and tidy ; oue of the main features of a pleasure ground is well-kept grass edgings. The gi ass will now be start ing into growth, increasiug iv vigour every day.; constant attention must be paid to it ■by cutting frequently and giving it frequent •rollings during winter or wet weather; -most soils swell with the wet, aud as dry weather approaches they contract again, so the roller must be used frequently to bring ■them down regularly. Keep the walits tree of weeds.

GREEN HOUSE.

Still give plenty of air on all favourable ■ooc&slona do not try to inviie growth yet.

Insect Depredators on Peaches.— Who that knows what a garden is, but is assured that from toe moment; the fruit trees begin to blossom he may expect the return of insects ? It is well known to all experienced men that no good crop of fruit can be expected if injects are allowed to prevail. No tree or plant, however well growa or furnished with blossoms, will give_ satisfactory crops of Jruit it insect life ia rampant on such trees. The ea<liest depredators are, perhaps, the aphides, and the first attack of these insects is generally on the peach. Just as tue peach begins to put forth the blossoms the ravages of tbe insect become apparent. Ihey always appear before the tree is out of blossom. The effect of aphides on the peach is to curl and distort the youug foliage, and this they generally accomplish in a week or so, and within those curls they take refuge. After the foliage be comes curled it is difficult to eradicate them, and takes double tbe quantities oi •destructive matter and labour, besides im pairing the season's crop of fruit. Few dnly estimate the destructiou every year by these pests. Many peach trees are ruined; sometimes ihe leaves are entirely stripped, and the tree becomes tull of naked patches, which have to be cut out; some •times complete loss of fruit. This insect lodges in the crevices of the bark of the tree during the wioter, and is ready to attack whenever the tree puts forth its blossoms in spring. Immediately the tree begins to swell the buds, give a good syringing with tobacco water. Continue this for a few days till the blossoms are ; beginning to expand. Then you must cease till the flowers are set, when they may re i<eive one or two syringiuga again, which "Will help in checking tue iusect.

Fruit Growing.

(Continued from last ivcck's Stocks.) PIGS.—I would raise this from layers. In putting down these layers.carefully cut out all the eyes or buds which would be buried underneath, the ground. By taking these out, it would greatly reduce the tree's power to throw out those numerous suckers 'which, look so abominable, and are simply spoiling the tree's power of throwing out good crops of fruit. THE Obange.—l'lus is one of the coming fruit trees of Jiew Zealand. The best way to propagate is from seedlings. The seed should be sown in beds in the early spring • they will come up freely. Transplant the following winter, and in the spring th jgood variety can be grafted thereon. The

best variety to get seed from is the Sevlle or bitter orange. Oranges grafted on this stock are not so liable to get cankered at tire union when the tree attains some age. Thk Olivjc.— lhis is another of those fruit trees which will be profitable to grow in N«\v Zealand. There are numerous methods of propagation—layering, cut tings, truncfeious, uovolvy, and by Beed. When seed is used, the seedlings will need to be grafted attut wards, The seed must be soaked in some stiong alkali which, by combining with the soil, will convert into soap, which is readily soluble in most earth. If such is not done, it will take the seed a long time to come through the ground.

When any person wishes to experiment en the roots of any particular variety for stock purpose?, if not certain whether he has that particular variety on its own roots in his possession, let him take cuttings ot the tree about cine inches long, of good hardy wood of one year's growth, take out all the bottom buds, leaving only two or thtee at the top of the cutting. About two to three incbes from the bottom of the cutting, make a slight incision with the knife, and insert a small piece of root of the same variety about three incbes long in fact making a graft of it. Place ihis in the ground, covering up the cutting for about two to three incues above the root graft. This root will draw upon the -ap and start the cutting into growth. The cutting at its base soou produces a cal lous, and when the sap begins to descend, this callous pushes out roots, thus you soon can produce stocks of varieties on their owu roots. In the beginning of winter, lite the cuttings, cut out the root which was grafted into the cutting the preceding spring .Roots afterwards produced froru this c>t tins; will enable you to increase the stock of such variety indefinitely if required, by the usual manner of root grafting. I am indebted to a valued friend at Pubekohe for a gool deal of the above inforoiatiou on the question of stocks. He has a number of experiments in this direction on hand, and I have pressed him to give the public the benefit of his experience, which he pro mises to do when he has investigated mote fully. In concluding my present paper on the question of stock for grafting other varieue-< upon, I would like to remind my readers that to expect to get trees wrought on good stocks they must be prepared to pay an advance price. Of course, as long as tae general public demand a cheap tree, tney will be supplied with such, on a cheap stock. I will also add that the whole question of proper stocks for grafting other varieties upon is only very imperfectly understood. There have been very few reliable experi ments made thereon in the colonies. Ir thuuld be the duty of everyone possessed >■£ an orchard to learn what stocks their trees are wrought- upon, study the growth anH capabilities of the different varieties grafted thereon, and give their individual ex perience thereof. I expect that much in formation on this subject will be coUec'ed by the lately formed Fruit Growers' ,sso ciatiou ; and if the different members take ;up this question and give their collective : experience, they will confer an invalu .ble : boon on their fellow colonists. They will also find that what suits in some soils and situations will not do on others. But these are just the points which want investiga tion ; so that in time the colonist will be able to form a fair idea of what will suit the soil and locality which he may wish to plant. (To be Cmitinued.J

An Old. Specific for Irish Dis content.

The following extract is taken" from " Curiosities of the Search-Room :"—

"I give and beqaeath the annual sum of ten pounds, to be paid in perpetuity out of tnv estate, to the following purpose. It is my will and pleasure that this shall be spent in the purchase of a certain quantityjof the liquor vulgarly called [whisky ; and it shall be publicly given out that a certain number of persons, Irish only, not to exceed twenty, who may choose to assemble in the cemetery in which I shall be interred on the anniver sary of my death, shall have the same dis tributed to them. JFuriher, it is my de-ire that each shall receive it by half a pint at a time till the whole is consumed, each being likewise provided with a stout oaken stick and a knife, and that they shall drink it all on the spot. Knowing what I know of the Irish character, my conviction is that, with these materials given, they will not fail to destroy each other ; and, when in the course of lime the race comes to be exterminated, this neigh bourhood at least may perhaps be colonised by civilised and respectable Englishmen. Will dated 17th March, 1791."

Something to be Thankful For.

On one occasion Charles Dickens was up holding the theory that, whatever trials and difficulties might stand in a man's path, there was always something to be thankful for. ".Let me, in proof thereof," safd Dickens, relate a story. " Two men were to be hanged at Newgate for murder. The morning arrived ; the hour approached ; the bell of St. Sepulchre's began to toll; the convicts were pinioned ; the procession was formed ; it advanced to the fatal beam ; the ropes were adjusted round the poor men's necks. " There were thousands of motly sight seers of both sexes, of all ages, men, women and children, ia front of the scaffold, when just at that second of time, a bull, which was being driven to Hmithfield, broke its rope, and charged the mob right and left, scattering people everywhere with its horns. " Whereupon one of the condemned men turned to his equally unfortunate com panion, and quietly observed, ' I say, Jack, it's a good thing we aio't in that crowd.'"

Lo, The Poor Indian.

Mr Charles G. Lel»nd relates a story of the good_ minister of a Massachusetts village and a shiftless, whisky-loving Indian who in time of revival became one of his converts.. The excellant clergyman greatly rejoiced ut having "rescued another," while the Indian, in returo, one night expressed with solemn joy his assurance, " sue no go HobamoJco (that is, perdition)-Injun soul save —all right." But the day after this affecting scene, the minister, thought fully riding along, discovered his convert lying in a rocky corner near the road deeply, dreadfully tipsy. Sighing much and sadly, the minister rode on, but was scatcely a rod from the spot when his ear was struck by a guttural grunt, -which was solemnly and impressively repeated Turning his head, he saw the Indian maintaining himself with the greatest duliculty in a sitting posture, and gazin" sternly at hia friend, as if from the height of some great idea, while he beckoned to him as one having authority. Slowly the minister rode back and paused, "Ugh!" grunted the Indian ; "you know dat little business me talk you 'bout laas night?" "Yes BeDJamia; Ido know," was the reply' It was about your salvation." " Yes " grunted the unbashed; "me'elude to let that Httle business go. Injun soul," he added, with a _ patronising smile, as if wishing to diminish the clergyman's dis appointmtnt, " Injun soul very poor concern —small 'fair—no great matter anyhow 1"

THE WASTE-PAPER BASKET.

No one knows, except those who have made the attempt, "how hard it is to i climb the steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar," and this is more especially the case with aspirants to poetical dis tinction, la sympathy, therefore, with those who have es?ayed the arduous labour and failed, we propose noticing a batch of verses contributed to our columns, prior to consigning them to the Hmb:> of the waste paper basket. This plan we propcse re sorting to, from lime to time, whenever the " rejected addresses " have accumulated to aoy extent; and our critic has orders to deal as gently as possible with the genus imtabile vatum, and to aim as mucn at ttie encouragement of true poetic ability as at the suppression of mere pretentious rhy mers and facile stringers of doggerel verse. We thiulc our poetical contributors will be better pleased with some reason being given for the rejection of their effusions than if they were kept on the tenter-hooks of suspense as to the fate of- their literary 1 bantlings ; if they do not derive any other benefit from criticism, trxcy will at least have the advantage of seeing themselves as others see them; and the general reader may also find some little instruction and amusement in the perusal of these notices. POB.TRY DECLINED WITH THANKS. W.I.H. (evidently a youthful votary of the Muse) sends two very brief effusions under the modest heading of "Poetic Gems." Into the first, which, extends to six lines, tbe author has compressed what proteases to be a description of Waitakerei, but which is really but a ihymed catalogue of half-a-uozen varieties of trees. The ► econd, entitled, " Waitakerei Falls," may be quoted ia full:— It flung its spray around us, as 'Heath the fall we stood; And as we looked around us. We thought it very good. Oh ! for a heart that loveth Such sublime scenes as these! Like the waterfall I speak of. Quite lone amidst the trees. These may be "gems of purest ray serene " in the literary judgment of our contributor l>ut he must improve considerably before he ventures out oi the ''dark uofathomed caves " of obscurity into the light of news paper publicity. " King Chriatiern ir. and Dyveke" is an excellently conceived composition ia the old ballad style, but is marred by imper fect rhymes, showing either a defective ear, or a meagre knowledge of English pro uuuciation. Even were it perfect, the piece is rather long for our columns. '' The Sting First," by the same author, is also declined. The chief blemishes in the iast named effusion consist of awkward trans positions of words, such as " the flowers -mall," " audden caught a bush me fasc," &c. L.D., a late member of the Naval Brigade, sends some memorial verses which are more conspicuous for their sentiment than their poetry. The opening verse contains a compendious biography; but the reader when through it will be ready to cry -'Hold, enough I'1— From the ranka ho worked his way. He then retired on captain's pay; Then on the West Coast clears the way- He is then commander o£ Hawke's Bay • Then as Auckland's major comes and stays And hopes to spend some happy days. A Correspondent (anonymous) sends copy of two poems entitled "Your Sweetheart " and "Popping the Question." These are not original, and the transcriber has made so many blunders in copying them off that they cannot be used. Correspondents send ing iv literary matter are requested to state whether it is original or selected, and ia all cases to give tLeir names and ad dresses, wnich need not be published if so desired. " Dij on," Auckland. —You write pleasing sentiment pretty melodiously; but your laat piece, " When the Tide Comes In," has a good few blemishes in the rhyme and rhythm. For instance, in one verse, you make "vain" and "there" do duty as rhyming words—a task they are quite un ht to perform ; while in another you get over the difficulty by making " pain" the last word in the second and fourth lines. The latter careless habit comes out in the fourth stanza, which is not at all felicitous in its diction. It reads thus Once again I met you. my own love. But not my lover now. I was changed, and so were you, dear. Your brow was sadder now. H.W.T.—Your verses, entitled "My Prayer," are of a class which places them ouiside verbal criticism. Their defects, however, are many and serious, and the verses are therefore declined. Your other piece, " My Friend," is of a totally different stamp, as is disclosed at the very outset. It, opens :— One Sabbath eve I met me with A lassie on the road alone, A gentle lassie on her way, A. lassie with a grey dress on. No particular reason is disclosed for so much attention beiog paid to the colour of the girl's dress; but that eternal grey fabric is lugged into every one of the nine succeeding verses, which describe the author's Sunday evening flirtation. Here is a sample of the sentiment and rhyming powers of the author, and there is also a hint at some occult power residing in that grey dress:— I told her 'twas a glimpse of heaven To hear her friendly voice's tone: A better man I knew I'd be For walking with the grey dress home. We strongly advise H.W.T, to keep his poetical effusions for the admiring gaze of a select cjrcle of friends, until he has made a little progress in the art of versißcation. T.S., Onehuoga.— Is the poem "Peace Warriors" original? It seems familiar to us. If selected, please state the author's name. Hobbs's Inquisition The following lines, contributed by " W.," are oppor tune :— What are you, my little man? What are you, fair maldon 1 Anglican or Catholic, Wesley an or Pagan ? Toll me now, and tell me trne. Ye whose thoughts aro freest— aDd Nobb3' If yon do believe like mo That Mammon is our Saviour You shall teach the young idea ' All—but good behaviour 1 All we want is whine and cant- Not morals, virtne. graces; But everlasting hypocrites And sanctimonious faces!

American officers do not appear to rank very high ia the States, and seem sometimes to set broad hints of it to tneir very faces. " Cuff," said one of those dig nitaries to a negro at hia side, as he pro pared to swallow hia seventh tumbler: " Cuff, you're a Rood, honest fellow, and 1 like to compliment a man wot's led an honest life, even if he is a Hack; you shall take a t>lass of something to drink with me, Cuff," " Well, cap'n," said Cuff, wiping his mouth with his coat sleeve, " l'se berry dry, so 1 won't bo ugly 'bout it • some niggers is too proud to drink with a ruillishy ossifer, but I link a millishy ossifer, when he's sober, is jis as good as a nigger, especioll> if de nigger's dry."

WARD, LOCK, AND CO.'S POPULAR LITERATURE.

Messbs Ward, Lock and Co., through their Auckland agent, Mr Boynion, are intro ducing to the colonial public a new series of cheap works on popular topics. Among the first of the London publishing houses to embark into the revolutionary undertaking of issuing standard literature, printed in goorl type,on good paper,arid well-illustrated for sixpence, the firm have now advanced by a tremendous stride to new achieve ments in a aeries of "Penny Books for the Ptople." these enterprising publishers are circulating broadcast over the United Kingdom attractive essays pa educational, historical, social, and bio graphical subji cts. Their penny grammars, arithmetics, geographies, dictionaries, and other school book ; their penny temperance books; their penny biographies of England's statesmen anu heroes; and their peony histories of events which form 'he laud marks ot history are making an ir res-is table assault on the strongholds of ignorance; and if a cheap and pure literature can elevate the masses to a millennial virtue, that period is near at hand, I pwards of three millions of these books have already been sold. The last issues of the penny series are, " The Temperance Movement, its Origin and Development," by Joseph Malms, Grand Worthy Chief Templar, 1.0.tx.T. The origin and crowth ot the several branches ot the temperance move ment i 3 concisely described, and the writer states that fully a million adults and a million-and-a-ha f children are registered members of the various temperance societies in the United Kingdom, while it it esti mated that, including those who have not joined societies, there are five millions of practical abstain*-'s, or one eighth of the i population. " Wilkes and Liberty," " Csesariam in Rome." " The Great Reform Bill of 1832." " Xhd Story of the Fall of the Bastile," "The Story of the Crimean War," and " The Story of the Anti-Corn Law League," are a. selection of titles which sufficiently indicate the popular aim of the series ; and when to judicious choice of sub jects and clever treatment is added typo graphical work worthy of the resources of a great publishing house, it is easy to understand the extraordinary . run which these publications have already enjoyed, and the greater future which is in store for them.

While launching out into new fields, the firm are not neglecting those works in which they have already won distinction. rihe second volume of the " Universal In structor, or Self-Uulture for All," is fully equal to the high standard of the first volume ; it mark 3 a new era in the growth of that educational literature with which the name of Chambers Brothers was for many years solely identified. Aided by such text-bo'.ks as this "Universal In structor," the thorns ate cleared out of the path of the youth or man who is toiliug up the difficult path of self-educa" tion. Xeachrra of the highest attain ments come to his aid with simple explan ations and plain diagrams, brioging the professional lecture to the home fireside. Ancient and modern languages, geography, arithmetic, astronomy, geology, chemistry) drawing, music, singing, botany, physiology, and other subjects aie expounded. The book is weH-bound, and published at the extraordinarily low price of 7s 6d. JSot does the firm rest upon these achievements. Their sixpenny editions are being fed with new material, and appear in varied shapes. In this form, we have editions of the best recent Ameri can works. The 3s 6d edition presents good matter in handsome gilt-edged volumes. A number of interesting aDd valuable essays on "Cheerful Homes," by J. W. Kirton, LL. D., have not only been published in this edition, but have also been issued, chapter by chapter, in penny editions for the people. A moat valuable treatise on "Foods" is issued in the 2s Cd edition. There are also well bound shilling and Is Cd editions of usetal books. The whole operations of the firm, in fact, prove their determination to hold their own in the keen competition of modern publishing ; and to their credit it may bs said that they are using their great re sources for the circulation only of literature of a pure and wholesome kind, which will leave those who read it better, and not worse, than they were before.

A College Freak.

The following capital story is told by " one who knows," of Dr. Maxcey, and cannot fail to amuse our readers : —

On one occasion, some of the more ad venturous students of South Carolina College resolved to drag the doctor's carn age into the woods, and fixed upon a night for the performance of the exploit. One of their number, however, was troubled with some compunctious vieitings, and managed to convey to the worthy president a hint that it would be well for him to secure the door of his carriage-house. Instead of paying heed to this suggestion, the doctor proceeded, on the appointed night, to the carriage-nouse, and ensconced his portly person inside the vehicle. In less than an hour some half-dozen young gentlemen came to his retreat, and cautiously with drew the carriage into the road. When they were fairly out of the college pre cincts they began to joke freely with each other by name. One of them complained of the weight of the carriage, and ano:her replied by shearing that it was heavy enough to have the old fellow himself in it. For nearly a mile they proceeded along the highway, and then struck into the woods, to a cover which they concluded would effectually conceal the vehicle. Making themselves iufinitely merry at the doctor's expense, and conjecturing how and when he would find his carriage, they at lengtb reached the spot where they resolved to leave it. Just as they were about to depart —having once more agreed that " the carriage was heavy enough to have the old doctor and all his tribe in it"—they were startled by the sudden dropping of one oi the glass panels, and the well known voice of the doctor himself thus addressing them : " So, so, young gentle men, you are going to leave me in the woods, are you? Surely, as you have brought me hither for your own gratifica tion, you will not refuse to take me back for mine. Come Mr , and , and 1 buckle to, and let us return; it's getting late 1" There was no appeal, for the window was raised, and the doctor resumed his seat. Almost without a word the dis comfitted young men took their place* at the pole and the back of the vehicle, and quite as expoditiously, if with less voice, did they retrace their course. In silence they dragged the carriage into its wonted place, and then retreated precipitately to their rooms, to dream of the account they must render on the morrow. When they had gone, the doctor quietly vacated the carriage and went to his house, where he related the story to his family with much glee. He never called the heroes of that nocturnal expedition to account, nor was the carriage ever afterwards dragged at night into the woods.

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

[By Eutkbpe.]

I UNDERSTAND that it has beer; determined to repeat at an early date the Orchestral Society's last concert. In the meantime, the Cboral Society give oue of their regular concerts, Schumann's " ParacL-e aud the Peri " being ready for p rfs.rmai.ee cd Tues day next. The soloi-us will be Mis Kemp thorne, Mrs Chadwick, Mi»s Oorbett, Miss Main, Mr F-. Harker, Mr Joseph Hauna, and Mr Stuart.

The Paris Opera ha- uo>v au orchestra of 95 and a chorus of 92 psr-ons.

A drama called "Gambetta's First Love1' is being played at an a msMdam theatre.

Mr &bbott, it is said, has engaged the Polks for a JNew Zfalaud toiir. 'Xhey arrive in Christchurcn about Chnstmas.

The production of the ihumutisetl version, of Messrs Besaut and Kice's "Chaplaiaof the Fleet" has been pompoued until autumn.

Teresina Tua, the youny lady violinist ■who has turned the heads of tlu whole Con tinent, is going to Loudon lor v concert tour.

The Loftus Troupe are d >ing w> 11 at Kan gooD, British Buruiah and tht y are to com mence a season with "lUiiUie" at Bom bay on November 17.

Messrs Walton aid W. G. Carey are about to visit New Zealand, and Mr Fiauk Gates, who has achieved a high .pputatiou in his profession, also purposes taking an engage ment iv the colony. Hegarty's Court Minst.e's (male and female; and Hibrrnieou appear in the. Cathedral City during the rat* we*k, and afterwards come up Mortft. fhey have played an 18 weeks in Syn ney. Signor Verdi has formed an Italian Opera Company in It was to open at the Opera House, Melbourne, to» night. hignor Paladini and ISignora Palma are membeis of it.

A claim is about to be made before th& world that Miss Wordswoth wrote many of Mr Wordsworth's poems. Wordsworth himself gave hnr credit for helpin ■ him out with the "Daffodils."

There are already plenty nf strangely named[theatrical journal-, but the lateetand perhaps the most singular is the " iheboy gan Bassoon, "juatstai ted in the interests of music and the drama.

Early in August Miss I milie Melville (Miss JLerby) will cominetice a teason ot comic opera and opera bouff- at the Princess 1 heatre, Melbourne. "l he Little Cuke " is to be the it itial piece.

Christine Kiltgon on her return from the United states, gave a grand co; cert at the Albert Hall in I ondon, at which 12,000 persons were present. She was received with immense enthusiasm.

The present opera season «t Covent Garden bids fair to be a "ucce.»sful one. The modeit sum of 144 guineas is abked for a box in the j>rand tier for 24 nights. The stall tickets have, however, been re duced to one guioea from two.

A grand musical festival was held at Saa Francisco in June last. Eight concerts were given ; the conductor iva- Mr T. Thomas ; the orchestra numbered 75, the chorus 500 ;. works of Wagner, Beethoven, and Gounod were principally performed.

A enrions performance of a portion of "Iolaothe" is said to have been recently given at the Savoy Theatre. The Prince of Wales was dining at Sir Arthur Sullivan's private house, and the music was listened to oy telephone.

It hag been decided to open the Calcutta Kxliibitioo. The Georgia Minstrels, from Australia, were advertised in April to ap pear in Calcutta in July, and "- milie Mel ville is advertised to open there also in > ovember.

The Soci£t<s tes Beaux Arts, at Caen (France), will give this year a gold medal, worth 600 franca, for the competition of an instrumental composition, to consist of a serenade for either violin, violincello, or flu to, with piano accompaniment. Mr Josh Pickersgill, who is at present ia Dunedin, will shortly make his re-appear ance as part proprietor of a panorama, the subjects of which are "The Innocents Abroad" and The WarinEgypt." Theehow eclipses Zulu Thorn uson's in magnitude containing as it does 86 large views. MdtneAlbanimade her welcome reappear ance in opera at Convent Garden on taoy 19th. Mdme Patti was to follow suit on June 16th. The latter has been spending: a short holiday at her welsh castle (Craig-y. Nos), where she was received with a salute of 21 guns. As there is little hope that Wagner's latest opera, " Parsifal,'' will ever be al lowed on the English stage, ou account of the sacramental and Mary Magdalene inci dents, a plain dress performance of the work withont dramatic action is to be sriven at the Albert Hall. Of Mrs LaDgtry's Galatea, the New York "Spirit of the Times " says : "We do not especially admire the Galatea of Mary Anderson or of Catherine Kogers, but com. pared with that of Mrs Langtry, they are like a sun compared to a match that will not iight even on the box." The Leipzig "Musical Journal " gives an excellent report, extracted from the Auck land STAR, of the Auckland Choral Society's concert, and is surprised that works like the " t>tabat Mater " can be performed in that far-off country with such excellence. The London "Musical Times" also gave a brief but correct account of the concert. After a very successful provincial tour Williamson, Garner, and Co.'s Comic Opera Company hava re-appeared at the- Princess Theatre, Melbourne, in "La Mascotte," with Miss Nellie Stewart in the title tOle. The Federal Minatre's are still drawing crowded housed at the Victoria- Hall. W. H. Bent, as usual, is prime favourite. Signor Majeroni, the Italian tragedian, has taken a lease of the Bijou Theatre, and opened on Saturday, July 21, when Mr and Mrs Polk appeared in a new comedy (in four acts) entitled -'An Arabian Wight; or Haroun Alraschid and his Mother-in-Law." Mr John L. Hall, Mr J. B. Steele, and Mr Harry W. Emmet, are members ot the company. ' Mr a. A. O'Donnell, Champion Fancy and Trick Bicycle Kider of Australia, is now giving a serie3 of bicycle entertain, ments at the Melbourne Athenteum, as. sistedby "his beautiful little sister, aged nine years, and her brother, aged seven.'* He intends to make a tour through New Zealand prior to his departure for America, where he purposos to challenge the cham pion bicyclist. Mr Charles S. Packer, R.A.M., one of the most accomplished musician a ia Australia, died on July 13, at Wool. ; lahra, near Sydney, at the age of 73. When very young, he achieved (the highest'honours the Royal Academy of Music could bestow. His " Crown j of Thorns" and " Songs of the Angels " are widely known and admired. He had com posed a grand oratorio, entitled " David," which is not yet pnblished. The score, how ever, is in the hands of a music publisher in Sydney, and will probably ba published at no distant date,

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, AUGUST 4, 1883.

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