THE AUCKLAND CUP HANDI CAP.

[By HirroNA.]

THE weights for the two principal events of Auckland Racing Club Summer Meet■ ■ _CuP and Steeplechase—made their 'ppearance on Monday night last, and when . jj (j om niittee issued their production the eral verdict was they had succeeded in J«min£ " a most flattering handicap." A ■"""rotask was get them, too, in the fact M !Jlt they had never seen a number of the fnrses run, but despite this, they have Miuitted themselves admirably, and, in my inion are entitled to tho thanks of the mrtinf* community for their labours. The Mowing table, which has been compiled w me shows how the handicap weights of the different horses in the Cup compare ■Jrith their weight for ago :—

It will thus be seen that last year's winner, Welcome Jack, holds the post of honour : -with 9at 101b, being 101b over his v eight for-age, and judged by his achievements all 1 through the season, it must be admitted he icould not have received less. Should some of the best of the field drop out, and he be among the starters, it is pretty certain he will beat a great many more than beat him. I At the present time, he is quite entitled to H&e put down among the " possibles." I Cheviot with Bst 12lb has his full share of I weight, and although credited to be a .; jjoocl animal in private, he has never :- -.accomplished anything in public sufficiently brilliant to make me think he has a chance I with that impost. Mischief (Bst 121b) un : -doubtedly is a first-class mare and weight carrier, but still I cannot fancy her this I journey, and think that if they meet £- she will more than find her match I in Lady Emma, whose form has certainly ; warranted her being placed above the I •daughter of Malice. Vanguard (Bst 101b) I might well have had a few pounds less, and I I certainly prefer the chances of his stable I 'companion Salvage (Bst 81b), who, if he sees .;';'."'"tha post, will take some beating. With ' i Bst 61b, Lady Emma must also bo I reckoned well in, but until the stable make a move, she is one of those just I -as well left alone. Turquoise (Sst 31b) was ; spotted by backers as a good thing soon i -after the weights appeared, but f»r ay :: own part, I don't think he has got off any I too lightly if his running at the recent C.J.C. Meeting was his true form. Still, I I fcnow for a fact he is a good colt, and for I the presontmay with safety be put amongst I the dangerous division. Tim Whiiller has I 121b less than last year, when he had the I misfortune tomeet Welcome Jack, andldon't .' -think his owner can find fault with hi* I impost. That tho little fellow has not lost I his form was proved in the New Zealand |, Cup, when he ran a fair third with Hntt 101b in the saddle, while in tho *?; Metropolitan Stakes he only Buffered ' I -aneck defeat from Mischief, the mare con- I >cedinghiml4lb. Leonorais not over-weighted with 78t 101b by any means, but it remains i to be soen whether her "leg" will prove I troublesome in her preparation; while H Leonata is nicely handicapped at 7st 81b, >'although he has yet to snow whether he can get over a long journey. Maori (7st f*" -71b) is too unreliable for me, and a man H require to have a heart like a mill- I stone to back him. More to my liking is ; Libeller at the same weight, and if he ■stands his preparation, his chance must bo upon as a very favourable ono. I When I had a look at the little fellow •? several weeks ago he appeared to be in I great heart, and it was very evident ho had I: greatly benefitted by his spell, irishwoman I (7st 21b) lam not in love with, nor do I fancy I 1 the chances of Normanby at the same weight. H Hippodamia, with 7st 21b, is none too leni- H «ntly treated, and if I am not mistaken the H distance will prove to be a bit 1 beyond her tether. Adamant (7st) has I "the recommendation of being a Dunedin I Cup winner in the fastest time yet I TOcorded for that race, but beyond that, i' -his performances have only been of a mode- I rate character, and I think there are sev- I 1 «ral below him that can lower his colours. I JEnvious, with 7st, also has none the worst I «f it, but she has done nothing of late to I 1 justify her winning, and I look with consid ■ -erably more favour upon the chances of The "': 'Poet, who cailnot be considered out of it with I fist 121b. Last year he succeeded in running Hj into third place with 91b more in the saddle, I and there is no reason why he should not :*: be thought favourably of now, for he is an honest little fellow, and will struggle on to ' I the bitter end. His stable companion, The ;; Jilt (6st 121b), finds no favour in my eyes, ;' for she has never shown any form to sup •Jose she will get to the end of the I Auckland Cup distance, and the same B Tremarks will equally apply to Kenil- M , worth. The performances of Major George's ■■'pair, Wapiti and Nelson, point to I their prospectsbeingparticularlybrightwith H *rt 101b each, and if the pair are got fit and ;., can stay the distance, they should play a Jrominent part in the fray. Which is the better of the two will have to be found out on the training ground. Sir Bedevere (6st 91b) is also a youngster that has a good reputa tion, and Musketeer (6st 81b), Master Agnes 1 ■ <6st 81b), Escopeta (6st 71b), and Epicure : '(6it 71b) have been allotted weights which I -shonld not stop them ; but tho chances of Buzzard.'Hippona, Soukar, Linda, Report, B Vortex, Gilderoy, and Swordsman are not worth discussing. Of the whole thirty-five •engaged, the most worthy of support at the present time appear tome to be Salvage, ' Tueqcoise, Leonata, Tim Whiffler, The Poet, Nelson, and Wapiti, and I will not be surprised if the Auckland Cup winn«r of : 1883 is concealed among the number.

THE STEEPLECHASE. 'In the Steeplechase, Clarence heads the list with 12st 121b, and he might well have had 21b more, for in the Hawkes's Bay Steeplechase at the end of last season he 1 succeeded in beating a good field with the "very game impost, and tny opinion is that if

all in the race were to start and be ridden right out, Clarence would, despite his tall impost, finish first. It must not be for gotten, however, that Mr Pilbrow also lias Barbary (lOst 71b) and Ilavenswood (!)st 101b) engaged in the race, so that it will take backers all their timo to pick out tho Simon Pure just now. With lOst 121b, Chandler's owner cannot complain at the treatment ho has received, and he must cer tainly bo looked upon as a good outsider, while the Wanganui horse Ngata has a most tempting appearance with lOst 41b Of course, it is yet too early to talk about spotting the winner, but as I have stated above, Clarence should win "if he is wanted."

Owners should bear in mind that the first forfeit for the Cup and Steeplechase must be declared on Friday next, or the nomina tor will be liable for tho second forfeit of ssovs. for the Cup, and 4sovs. for the Steeple chase.

THE DUNEDIN CUP HANDICAP.

(By HirroNA.]

With commendable punctuality, the weights for the Dunedin Cup, which is to be run on the 21st of February, wore issued on the afternoon of Tuesday last, and with one or two exceptions the work seems to have been pretty well done. Welcome Jack, of course, heads the list with 9st. 71b., and after him comes Tasman with 21b. less, but the first name to strike the eye is that of Mata (Sst 121b.) What a show he would have if it was only possible to get him back to something like his old form; but he may be passed over, for I doubt his standing another pre paration. Lady Emma and Salvago, with Sst. 51b. each, read well, and if either of the pair see the post, they will be very dan gerous ; while Turquoise (Sst. 31b.) may be reckoned among the "possibles." The handicappers have been particularly harsh with Oudeis, for granted that ho is a first class colt, he is not entitled to Sst. 21b. If the Australiau-bred five-year-old Theuge is worthy of his breeding, 7st. 131b. should not stop him, and Tim Whifller at the same weight, may show up prominently if one of the starters. The three-year-old colt Sir Bcdevere has been allotted 7st. 71b., and in the Auckland Cup he gets off with 6st. 91b., so that it is very evident someone has erred. His pre vious performances do not justify him get ting this impost, but it may be mentioned that two of the gontleraen who allotted the Dunedin weights were present at the recent Christchurch Meetine, while our handicap pers were not. There is no reason why Emir Bey should not be thought decidedly well in with 7st. 71b., and I must confess to a sneaking regard for Sir Modred's brother July(7st, 41b.). With tho Auckland and Wellington Cupa and Christchurch Mid summer Handicap yet to bo decidod, it would be useless for me to Bay anything further regarding tho chances of tho 49 candidates engaged, for it is more than likely some of them will have incurred penalties before tho time for tho decision of the race arrives.

A New Race.

Tub richest stake over competed for on tho turf, a prize of £10,000, a mile and a quarter, weight for age, is announced to bo run for in July, 1886, at Sandown Park. The data is distant, but that is part of tho scheme, for the directors propose that foals shall be entered, and they may be scratched at different times on payment of increasing forfeits. Tho entries are to close an Decem ber 11, and if struck out by the first Tues day in February next year, tho animal can be freed by the owner paying £10. If left in till the date fixed for the race, tho fees will amount to £110, and a little investiga tion will show that the offer of tho £10,000, with £500 for the second, and freedom from payment for the third, does not constitute so generous an offer as at first sight appears. Thero are to bo 300 entries,' or the race will be void. Thus if the 300 entries aro mndo, and only half tho possiblo liability of £110, that is £55, is paid by each competitor, the receipts would bo £16,500, which would leave a very comfortable balance for tho Sandown Park Company. This is over estimating the probablo receipts ; but re ducing them still moro, and supposing that a considerable proportion of owners strike out their entries in tho course of 1884, which they can do for 30 guineas, tho margin remaining is largo. Practically, as it has boon pointed out, tho Company bet ownors £10,000 to £110 against their ani mals, providing them, howovcr, with a means of escape which was not at tho dis posal of speculators who mado "yearling books" and laid owners 100 to 1 to £100 against thoir Derby nomination. Never theless, a £10,000 prize is given and can bo won at a risk of £110.

Hotel Fees.

Writing on the vexations exaction of "tips" by hotol attendants, the "Daily Tolegraph" says: When, in Bacon's worldly-wise ro mance of "The New Atlantis," the travel lers offer twenty pistoles to the chamberlain of the Strangers Houso, the official only smiled and said, "What? twice paid I" The complaint of the public against hotel servants ia that they are twice paid. There is the fixed charge per day for attendance, which charge belongs of equitable right to the servants and not to their employers. With respect to this irri tating charge for attendance, it is but fair to the hotel-keepers to point out that originally this impost was nono of their making. So much a-day for "ser vice" had for a lengthened period been charged in Continental hotels, when about the year 1554 the lato Mr Albert Smith published a pamphlet in which he vehemently denounced what he held to be the extortion of the waiters. boots, and chambermaids at the provincial hotels. Albert Smith's pamphlet led to a general discussion on the subject in the press, the result of which was a tolerably unanimous expression of public opinion that optional gratuities should be abolished, and that the fixed attendance charge should take their place. The change, hailed as a boon at the outset, was in a very short time found to be an aggra vation of hotel exactions, for hotel servants still continued to expect bakshish, and the existing and intolerable system of twice paid came into full operation. It was noi the fault of the hotel-keepers, but of the public, that the double tax grew up, and that tho latter unwittingly consented to be scourged with scorpions instead of whips. As things stand at present it shows us that the public hare very much the remedy for the grievance in their own hands. That remedy is of a dual nature. Let them either refuse to patronise hotels in which a fifed charge is made for attendance unless it is distinctly notified that no other fees are expected, and that any servant accepting a fee will be at once dismissed ; or let them resolutely adopt the rule of giving no bakshish under any circumstances, and see whether the innkeepers vrho_ charge for attendance will find it to their interest to retain uncivil or inattentive servants in < their establishments.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION.)

Aquatics,

Krujj Champagne Cup November 17th Rowing Association Regatta December IS Rush v. Trickett, for£2oo December 1 Auckland Intercolonial Regatta ..January SJth Lyttelton Regatta January 1 Akaroa Regatta December 17 Ponsonby R.C. Trial Fours December 12 Edward Hanlan v. Elias Laycock or the next best man in Australia, £1,000 a-sido. boforo ...March 31

Bicycling.

Auckland Club (rondozvous at Service's, Karangahapo Road). Ellerslie November 24 Northcoto and North Shore December 1 Raglan (Papatoitoi) December S Captain's Itun December 15 Hcndorson's Mill Docembor 22 Three Kings, via Mount Roskill..December 23 Waitemata Club Runs (starting from Park Gates, Princes-street). Mangero via Otahuhu at 3 p.m November 21 Saturday Runs at 3 r.M. To Avondale, via Mount Albert, returning by Three Kings Docomber 1 Captain's Run December 8 To Lake Takapuna December 15 To Otahuhu, via Mangero December 22 ToPanmuro, &c December 29 Tuesday Evening Huns. To Rcmucra, Ellcrslie, Epsom, Newmarket to town, via Kyber Pass. Start, 7 o'clock December i To Otahuhu for Tea, returning by Mangero. Starting at 5 o'clock December 11 To Onehunga and back. Starting 7 o'clobk December 18

CRICKET.

Victoria v. New South Wales December 20 Club Fixtures for the Month. November 24.—Auckland Grammar School v. South End. Excelsior v. West End 2nd, Poii sonby v. Gordon, United v. Our iioys, West End v. North Shore (at North Shore), Auck land v. Otahuhu, Curlton v. "Herald," Par nell v. Excelsior 2nd. December I.—West End v. Auckland, North Shore v. Our Boys, Gordon v. Excelsior, Otahuhu v. United. Grammar School v. Auckland 2nd, Eden v. Waverley, "Herald" v. Sefton, Ponsonby v. Avondalc, Parnoll v. National.

Docomber B.—West End v. Auckland; North Shore y. Our Boys (at North Shore), Otahuhu v. United, Auckland 2nd v. South End, United 2nd v. Excelsior, Seftou v. Excelsior 2nd, Grammar School v. Alpha, Eden v. Standard, Ponsonby v. Gordon.

December 15. — Otahuhu V. Our Boys (at Otahuhu), United v. West End, Ponsonby v. Excelsior, North Shore v. Auckland tat North Shore), Eden v. Standard. "Herald " v. Purnoll, Auckland 2nd v. Gordon.

To Correspondents.

Secretaries of Cricket Clubs are requested to forward lists of their fixtures for the season for insertion in this column.

Wo shall bo happy to rcccivo and publish paragraphs relating to the mutches und doings of lawn tennis, archery, and othor recreation clubs.

Contributors arc requested to send in (heir matter not later than Tuesday night or Wed nesday morning^

Sport.—Our correspondent inquires:—" Will you ploaso unswur tho following questions: 1. When did Albert Wlilto becoino Champion of New Zealand? Was it by beating Davis, who had boon drinkiDK for woeks boforo the contest? 2. Or was It by going to Australia and returning without rowing at all ( :i. Or was it by rowing Curtor, alias Messenger, and Sotting so easily beaten, at Mercury Hay ? 4. r perhapß it was by going to Wellington ami getting beaten so easily by Ilcarn, present champion J By answering tho abovu you will oblige.—P.B.—l think tho report was rather whitey-brown or ilshy."—Wo uro not awaro that Albert White ever claimed to be Cham pion of Now Zealand, and it is soared; fair that ho should bo blamed because another man should choose to bo syuoiilmntio enough to boßmcar him with fulsome flattery.

The weather last Saturday was again so bad aa to causo tlio postponement of the majority of tho cricket matches arranged, although sovoral wore commenced, but not played out. It is a most unfortunate fact thatthoannoyingsuccessionofwotSaturdays has greatly* delayed tho (iresont cricket season in Auckland, and it is not incorrect to say that the season lias not fairly opened yet. It is exactly a year to-day since Auckland de feated Otago ho easily, but tho weather at this timo twolvo months ago had been settled and fine for a considerable period oven boforo our men departed on their Southern tour. All other classes of Held sports havo also been delayed by the bad weather, and it is realty assorted that half of tho bicyclists talk of Belling their machines in utter disgust. However, at tho timo of writing, the boisterous weather had modorated, and there was every pros pect of a fino afternoon for cricket, while it may bo added that tho change* was likely to bo taken advantago of, all the wickets on tho Domain Ground being engaged. There has been some talk of a band playing on tho Ground on Saturday afternoons, but thoro is usually more smoke than liro in such matters in Auckland.

AVaymouth has an order for a small fish ing boat for Mr Laurie, of Mangare,

Carr has just turned out a now steam launch for Mr Roche, of To Aroha.

Tho Madge is hauled up at Waymouth's for painting, etc.

Tho yacht Toy hns been hauled up at Bailey's yard for a general overhaul. The twonty-feet open boat Gertie is for sale. Her price is £25.

Tho open boat Transit will arrive from Coromandel befovo Christmas, and will bo placed in tho hands of Sam Dorc.

Reynolds, of Dnrgavillo, has another 20 ---footor underway, which will most likely bo heard more of shortly.

I. Rout,- of Ponsonby, is said to be anxious to arrange a swimming match with W. Pulford.

Warbrick is building a 20ft open boat and a 'dingy for Mr T. Patterson, of Karfia.

A sailing race between the 13ft. open boats Mabel and Secret was to have taken place this afternoon if the weather proved favour able.

W. F. Buekland has joined the United Cricket Club. This change will serve to make the balance between the Auckland and United more even.

Whiteside won the quartcr-of-a-mile race postponed from Prince of Wales' Birthday, Monnock being second. The ground was very heavy.

Tcstro and Yates have excited the envy of cricketers by a pretty name plate which they have had placed on their box in the pavilion. No mistakes now.

Petty larceny from the cricket pavilion continues, and it would be well for the care taker to have the back entrance doors kept closed if sneak thioves are to bo kopt out.

During the week joiners and painters have been engaged on the yacht Rita, and her oabin accommodation will be really first class before they leave. The yacht Arawa is in Logan's hands. She is to be supplied with a new mast in place of the one carried away during the recent race.

Mr Clapham received his now canoo from Carr's shod this week. Tho canoe for the Rev. Mr Fail-brother will probably be finished on Monday.

-Boyd is giving the Shrimp a thorough overhaul in Mechanics' Bay. There is some talk of turning this craft into a ,'J-ton yacht, in which class it is believed she would do very well.

The 20ft. open-sailing boat Glance, built by Matthews, which sailed second in one Auckland Regatta, is at present at the Bay of Islands. She may possibly come up before the 29th ef January, T. McDonnell, of the Melbourne Club, ap pears to bo in fine form just now. On two successive Saturdays lie Ims topped the cen tury, making IC2, not out, against Kcw, and 118, not out, against Ballarat.

The iron yacht Cygnet, built by Sea" ar, was purchased this week by Mr E. T. Dufaur. Clare has given her a thorough overhaul, including new hatches, bul warks, &c.

The Dargaville Regatta takes place on Boxing Day, and, amongst other events, it includes a race for 20ft. open sailing boats, in which the Demon, Right Bower, and May Flower are expected to take part.

Clare is about to commence a 15-ton cutter for Mr Harfabner, of Tonga. He in tends to have her ready for the Auckland Regatta, and will enter with tho trading cutters under.2s tons. °

The members of tho Waitemata Bicycle Club propose to hold a picnic shortly, to which they intend to invite a number of friends. It lias not yet been docided whether it will bo held on land or on water. If the latter, machines will bo left behind.

Tho tradesmen's athletic; sports at Timaru on the Prince of W-.les's Birthday were at tended by about 500 people. The chief ovont, comprising 100, 200, and 400 yard races, was won by T. Organ, of Teinuka. O'Connor, the well-known Timaru pad., won as he liked tho walking races and long

Tho Parnoll Cricket Club defeatod tho Eden Cricket Club last Saturday very easily by live wickets and seven runs. Tho highest scorers for tho winners were Jack LScky (12), and Gardiner, not out (12), whilo for tho losers Waters (15) was tho only ono who reached don bio figures. T. Brown and Roberts took tho most wickets for their respective sides. Haitian, tho rower, mado this vigorous proposition on September 20th:—"I am ready to bet 5,000 dollars I can row three miles faster than any man alive. I will mako another proposition. I will under take tho task of rowing six races in ono week. That is, I will match myself against six picked oarsmen of the world to row six races of ono milo each, stakes to be 1,000 dollars each."

Tho Christchurch pooplo are keeping up their name for tall scoring. Tho U.C.C., playing against Addington, mndo 310, the principal contributors being—W. V. Milton 43, W. J. Cotterill (run out)-IS, J. F. Hart land 43, D. Ashby 70, A. Longdon (not out) 61. Addington (fifteen) mado 92, and in their socond inninga 120. Tho Hon. E. C. J. Stevens has joined their ranks, though he did not play in tho match on Saturday. llally, the now bowler of tho Christ church Midland Club, is said to bo in good form. Ho bowls left hand round tho wicket, delivers right at tho end of tho crcaso, and, moreover, breaks back a tfood bit, In a match on Saturday tho Midlandors had an easy victory over Lancaster lark. Tho scores wero 180, UU, and 117, 103 respec tively. \V. 11. Dutlnoy (03) and \V.i\ Roevea (50) wore top scorers. Alf. Warbrick recently recoived an order for a 20ft. open sailing boat from Mr J. Block, of Dargavillo, on condition that he would sail lior at tho Regatta there on Box ing Day. When tho regulations were looked into, however, it was discovered that "all yachts and open sailing boats had to be sailed and manned by honufidc residents of tho district." Consequently Warbrick had to stand out. Mr Black, under tho circum stances, resolved that ho would not havo tho open boat built at all, but wrote to Warbrick offering to defray all oxpenso incurred, ami also forwarding an order for a yacht, which is to bo '27ft. in length.

Mark Twain's Story of the Poor Little Stephen Girard.

The man lives in I'lilu delphia, who, when young and poor, entered a bank, and says he, " Please, sir, don't you want a littlo boy?" and the stately porsonago said, "No> littlo boy; I don't want ft littlo boy." The little boy, whose heart was too full for ut terance, chewing a picco of liquorice stick he had liought with a cent, ho had stolon from his good and pious aunt, with Boba plainly midiblo, and with great globules of water running down his cheeks, glided silently down tho marble steps of tho bank. Bending his noble form, tho bank man. dodged behind the door, for lie thought tho littlo boy wa.s going to shy a stono at him. But tho boy picked up something and stuck it in his poor but ragged jacket. "Come horo little boy," and tho littlo boy did como hero j and tho bank man said, " Lo ! what pickcat thou up?" and ho answered and said, "A pin, and tho bank man said, " Littlo boy, aro you good ?" and lie said he was, and tho bank man said, " How do you voto—excuse mo, do you go to Sunday school';" and ho said ho did.

Thou tho brink man took down a pon made of pure gold, and (lowing with puro ink, and wrote on a piece of paper, " St. l'otor," and asked tho little boy what it stood for, and ho said, "Sault rotor." Then tho bank man said itnncnnt "Saint Peter." Tho littlo boy said "Oh!" Tho bank man took tho littlo boy to his bosom, and the littlo boy said "Oh 1" again, for ho squeezed him. Then tho bank man toolc the littlo boy into partner ship, and gave him half tho profits and all tho capital, and all he has is nil hi 3 own, too.

Story of Another Littlk Boy : —My uncle told mo this story, and I spoilt six weeks picking up this in front of a bank. I expected the bank man would call me in and say, " Little boy, are you good '!" and I was going to say, " Yes;" and when he asked me what " St. John " stood for, I was going to say " Sault John." But I guess the bank man was not anxious to have a partner, and I guess tho daughter was a son, for one day says ho to mo, " Little boy, what's that you're picking up?" Says I, awfully meekly, "Pins.1 Says ho, " Let's sco 'cm." And ho took 'em, and I took off my cap, all ready to go into the bank, and become a partner and marry his daughter. But I didn't got an invitation. He said, " Thoso pins be long to the bank, and if I catch you hang ing around hero any more I'll set the dogs on you !" Then I left, and the modn ojd cuss kept the pins. Such is lifo as I find it.

Russian men are said to be handsomor than Russian women. If you happon to know that the average Russian man looks like a hair mattress stood on end and burst open at the top you can. judge how lovely the girls are.

How to Get Dyspepsia.

West-End physicians who are celebrated for their success with dyspepsia sometime have some curious patients. A country man who came to town to consult an eminent specialist, in reply to the remark, " Now toll me all about yourself. How do you live? What do you eat? replied, "Well, I gin'rally gets up about five, and then my missus 'as a bit of 'ot moat and somo potatoes, and I usually 'as a pint of old ale afore I goes out in the cold." "Very good," interposed Medious; "a capital plan !" "Then I get my breakfast about eight." "Well, what for breakfast?" " Why, a bit o' pie and somo bacon and ojrgs, with toast, and a few kidneys, praps, and tea." "Yes. Well, what then?" "Well, I usually 'as a pint after breakfast, and then I goes till 11, when I 'as a bit o' cheese and some more ale." "Well, what then ?" " Well, I usually 'as another pint about 11, and dinner at one." " What for dinner ?" " Well, I 'as a good dinner, gin', rally a 'ot joint and puddin' and cheese, with some old ale, and a couple o' glasses of 'ot whisky and water after and a pipe." "Oh ! then I suppose you do till tea?" "Well, yes ; I gin'rally 'as tea about four—a slice of cold beef and somo 'am and a poached egg or two." " Oh ! what then!" "Well, wo 'as supper at eight, gin'rally a 'ot pic, with some old ale. Then I 'as my grog at nine—three or four or fivo or six glasses, us it may be." " Is that all ?" asked tho M.D., wearily. "Yes," wearily replied tho dyspeptic —and for a long period the doctor was lost in thought!

POETRY.

AN ACROSTIC

T—he Agricultural Show is o'er. 11—ath Auckland displayed her varied store, X—'en greater than in days of yore!

A—dvance, thou city, take Ihy plnco! U—rtfeil on by men of iiritish race, C—liaiiKe for better imiiit tliy face. K—indness, love, and brotherhood, ]j—aw and order, be thy mood.

A-n.swer the echoes from the hills— N—ever, where tho linton tills,

I)—are approach imarchouß ills.

A—notlicr year lias marched by tbce. (>' -od grant, that |,rreat<?r blesaiiiffs be 11-cserveil for all aroitiirt. and mo. 1 —ncrease thy wealth, increase thy might; C-all forth thy Kenius; let (heir light U—nfold thy treasures to our siuhl. h- et loi'iil industries arißO; T—o buy olßOWhcro must be unwise, U—nless gold's power we do despise. 11—also crops, raise stock, raise money too— A—uekland of rich men needs a few. L—iislly, raise work for all to do.

S -hall wo, tlien, when next year rounds, Jl-ail Iboshow williKladsouin sounds; ()—lfor our mite, and lliu.s will strive) \V—itli others to make Auckland thrive. November 0,1833. Tom Dui'PUY.

ADDRESS TO A SEA BIRD.

Oh, wild wave wundercr, Precipice ponderer. Haunter of hcavon and eenrchor of seas. Storm soorner, thunder bom Through clouds asundor torn, Thou not for wonder born, Heedless of horror, with sickle-like e»so Cuttpsl thy Hiionl nwiirtti, Fierce, uiiafruid, When tlio llerco ijiilvoriiig litjhtning-Btlng,

uhlvcriiiK. Darts lothuilnrkcarUi Tho sniiki' of its blatlo. Polar snows snow on flico. Tropic, winds blow on thoe, Tompcst and terror arc stuns with delight; ucoan's liroml billows To theo arc thy pillows. Vast hollowed heaven tiiy chamber nt night : Bunrlßonndinoonrisoiind wildoiingwatorH, AlutniKiil'H imlo shadows, the cloud's silver daughters. All gasio upon thao ami wvy thy llijjht; Freedom itself in il« porlloua height Cries lie is inlnu in Ins mien and His might!

THE SCENES OF CHILDHOOD.

With what anguish of mind I remember my childhood, Uooulled in the light of a knowledge since gained; The malarious farm, the wet, funguagrown The chills tho'n contracted Uiat sinco have re mained ; ■The sc.um-covored duck pond, the pigstyo close by it, The diU'h where, tho .sonrsmellins house drainage foil; The damp, shaded dwelling, the foul barnyunl nigh It- Hat worno than all else was that tnrriblo well. And tht> old oaken bucket, tho mimld-cruwted bucket. Tlio mosa-coverod bliokot that hung in tho

Just think of it! Moss on the vessel that lifted The water I drank in the- da.vs called to mind. Kro I knew wlial professors nndi-cientistsgifted In the water (if wells, by analysis llml; Tm« rotting wood flbro, the oxide of iron, Tho ulgie, the frog of unusual size. The water -impuro us tho verses of Byron— Aro thlnt[a 1 remember with tours in my eyes.

And to toll the sad truth—though I shudder to think It - I eonskleicd that water uncommonly clear: And often ut nuon when 1 worn thereto drink it.

I enjoyed it us much as I now enjoy beor. How unk'nt 1 soiled it with bunds that were grimy ! And qi l.:k to the mud-covered bottom it fell. And !Om witli the nitrates and nitrites, and slimy With mutter organic, it rose from the well. Ohl had I bat reckoned, in time to avoid thorn, The danger that lurked in that pestilent draught, I'd have tested for organic germs, nnd destroyed thorn With potass permanganate ere I had quaffed: Or, perchance, I'd huvo boiled it, and afterward strained it, Through Illtcrs of charconl and gravel com bined ; Or, after distilling, condensed, anil regained it, In potable form, with Ita llltli left behind, How little 1 know of the dread typhoid fovor Which lurked in the wator I ventured to drinkl But sineo I've become ;: devoted beliovov In f hotoiichlngsof sclcuco, I shudder to think; And now, far removed from the scenes I'm de scribing Tho story for warning to others I toll, As memory rovorta to my youthful imbibing. And I buk at. I he thought of thathorriblo wol And the old oaken bucket, that fungus-grown bucket, In fact, tho slop-bucket that hung at tho well.

HERE AND YONDER.

T walk In tlio crowded city, Ami the pavement pains my feet. And nothing but piles of buildings Shut in the stones of the street ; But I only see -the meadow And the wood so cool and sweet. I walk in the crowded city. And mix with the noisy throng, And the din is liko to tho beating Of a groat, incessant gong; But T only h<>»r Hie brook (low Ami the brown wood Llmush'B song. I walk in the crowded oity. And daily the many grow more, And tUoy till up tho street liko a mill race As hither nnd thither they pour; But I only sro a cottage And a maiden at the door. I walk in the crowded city, And buy and sell in tho mart. But still in its crush and clamour I feel that 1 havo no part: For tho sweot, fresh life of the country For over abides in my hoart I walk in the crowded city. But aeo the green meadow still, And look through the pilos of buildings. To the wood that orowns the hill. And alone with tho cottage maiden I wander afar at will.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 24, 1883

9



- Wolcomo Jack ... , -Cheviot •• jtlBChiet •• Vanguard .. Salvage I^ayEinma.. ■us** Leonora jionata Maori .. Idbcllcr jiehwoman .. jjormanby, . • jippodamia.. Adamant .. ■ Bnviou3 The Foot TheJUt .. Senilworth .. Wapiti.. Tfelson.. jjirBedevero Mnsketoer .. 1 .Master Agnca J5scopeta Epicure . Buzzard Hippona :' .Soukar Xinda .. Keport.. Vortex . Gilderov -Swordsman ..

Horse.

■ '..

st. lb. 9 10 8 12 8 12 8 10 8 8 8 6 8 3 7 J2 7 10 7 8 7 7 7 7 7 2 7 0 7 0 « 12 G 12 6 10 CIO G 10 G 9 6 8 6 8 G 7 (i G 6 1 G 4 G 0 I li 0 I 0 0 li 0 I li 0 « 0

t

5 P BtAb. 9 0 9 0 9 1 9 0 9 'I 9 1 9 0 9 (i S i) a o 9 6 '.) G 8 9 9 2 9 0 9 6 9 0 9 3 8 9 9 6 7 9 7 9 7 9 7 9 7 9 7 5 9 fi 8 9 11 '' 7 0 !) li 9 li 9 0

Diffor'noa

101b over 21b less 31b „ 41b ,. 81b „ ' 91b „ 111b „ 221b „ 131b „ 201b ., 271b „ 2Hb „ 211b „ 281b „ ■Mb „ 341b „ 281b „ 331b „ 251b „ 381b „ 131b „ 131b „ 141b „ 151b „ 151b „ 91b „ 171b ., 141b „ 331b „ 181b „ 161b „ 231b „ 481b „ isib ,; 421b .,