SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

NEW ZEALAND.

Christchurch Hunt Steeplechases.. .... August 2 Gora'dine R.O. Moetiug September 27 and 28 Hawke's Bay J.C. Spring October 9 Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan _ ..Nov. 6,7,and8

AUSTRALIA. Hawkesbnry Spriog August 23 and 25 Australian J.C. Spring..September 1, i, 6. and 8 "V.A.T.C. (Caulfleld) Meeting..October 13 and2o Victoria R.C. Spring...November 3, 6, 8, and 10

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

OTAnuiia.—Off Colour beat Warwick in tho First Eoal Stakes at thw A. JC. Autumn. Tho 6 furlongs was done in 1.16}.

H.P.—According to the judge's decision, Para mena (7st 21b). ridden by George Williams, beat King Quail (7st Gib) ia tho Shorts Handi cap at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting of 1882.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

"While out at Gieeu Lane one day this week, I dropped in at Bowman's to have a peep at Kalo. Since last seen in public he has greatly improved, having furnished and thickened out, and at the present time looks the picture of health, lie has grown considerably too, and I could not help but admire his wonderfully strong back and powerful quarters, and a bit of weight should certainly not trouble him. Suther land has great hopes of gutting the sou of Yattcndon and G psy Girl iv tip-top condi tion; and with a little fivour from Dame Fortune, it is only reas mable to suppose that his owners will 1-ind some of the good things during the forthcoming season. It is proposed to nominate bun for the principal events of the Uawke's Bay Jockey Club Spring Meeting, aud, if fairly dealt with, he may be seen fuuriug at both that meeting and the Canterbury Spring. The New Zealand stud Company have had the mlsfoituns to loss their brood mare Bernere this week, who died while foaling to Musket. Uergere was one of the six matrons purchased for the company by Sir Hercules Kohinson, when he was in Hngland. She was bred iv France in 1373, and was got by >auuterer, from l.ass O'Gowne, by Dundee—The Bell, by Bird catcher — Biddy, by Bran — Idalia, by Peruvian—Musidora, by Meteor.

Lone Hand cliau^ed hands this week, Mr Lushington, so well-known iv Pakuranga Hunt Club circle-, having purchased him for £15D. One s«aViu of the '• old grey :: seems quite enough to satitfy the many owners he has had in New Zealand, ' for siuca he was brought over from Melbourne in 1579 by the late Mr W. F. Xeil.-on, he has changed stables fully half-a-dozen times. Mr Lushington, lam given to understand, intend- qualifying him fjr the Hunt Club, and it is likely he may be sent to the Napier Meeting in October.

So tar as can be gleaned at present, it looks as if tho Giaud National Hurdles and Steeplechase, run at the Victoria Racing Club Meeting ou .Saturday last, turned out surprises. Iv Sydney and Melbourne, Australian Court was a warm favourite for theSteeplecha.se, being backed at "fours" and " fives " to win a large amount, while Prospect was freely supported up to 5 to 2 for the Hurdles. . Bjth horses are occupants of the clever Dowiing Forest stable, and would probably be ridden by Corrigan, but whether they were placed or not it is impossible to say, owing to the miserable message torwarded by cable.

I learn that Laiug's charges St. Leger, by Doncaster—AtaUnta ; ocottUh Lassie, by Scottish Chief - Rosette ; and Wood nymph, the filly by Musket—Sylvia, are progressing most sati.factorily with their studies. the three of them have been backed and mounted, and it is Siid pro mise to turu out gallopers.

Merlin has been taken up, and is to be put in work with a view to the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club Spring Meeting. Although be has only had a short spell, the eon of Totara is looking big and well, and it is to be hoped that he will give his backers a better time of it next season than he has during the past. A gentlemaa who was present at the drawing of " Nemi's " sweep on tho Grand National Steeplccha-e aud nurdlcs informs

\ me that tbe committee compiised a weil vknown jeweller, a member of the Fourth I testate,.a contractor, a representative of the oi \imber trade, ditto of brick* aad mortar, m \ie who is not » "b*ker" by trude, agentle- Rr Aau who won an Auckland Cup, also a IjgjWpcer, tailor, and several others, the whole BW( j»ng supervised by the promoter of the tboi^ep. «t will be seen that it was a also ?Roa shly representative committee. He tbe _>lSstatea that nothing could be fairer than and iSfauner the whole affair was conducted ; the pa'avo as aQ instance how punctilious of the Hfomoter was. By some means one hour io¥?amDerß Kot astray, causiug fully an number:fttbo lost in looking over tue list aad would n ß?' "Nemo" declaring the sweep accountet'*—' c drawn till the number was had been W OT' Atter all the above time the floor, hVoßt> '* waa eventually found on refreshing i» aving rolled off the table. It is ful secrecy ov'° QU there is not that pain is exhibited ofer " Nemo 'a " sweep, such as named; and 'o.°ver others tbat could be serves patronisi*^he promoter certainly de the money does %°K- Another good thing is, Bordeaux, wh>e«">t go out of the city, the Melbourne Cu^o has come to the iront in owned by the MoiT lP betting.is an aged horse, J. Clarke. Until r ;el?ourne millioaare, Sir W. forming stud duties, of cently he has been per starter's flag since afuand has not faced the ran three times uorfa.'w-fear-old, when he the handicapper ha*P3>'laced- With 6st 91b, and there is no reaJo: I** him off very nicely, post fit, why he sb|ie<°n « he comes to the a meny dance. Hi}n; ou'd not lead the field for he Is by Panic friei 3 breeding is excellent, of the sire of the g of<"n Gironde, a daughter whowontheEnglisdODr eat horse Gladiateur, and St. Leger. Hetut1 Two lhounand* Jerby, being half brotherieU caQ a' so lay claim to Ulenormiston fa t0 tnat good horse The New Zealamh i nominated the folloresl *>tud Company have the Hawkssbury Pnto w; nS young stock for Br c. Musket (imp jil-oduce Stakes, 1885 :- Musket (imp )—Peffu—f ergere (imp.) ; brf, Musket (imp )—Uny! ti* rla8l» ('mp.) ; br c, —Clytemneatra ; brV ,x ibr ». Musket (imp.) Realisation; b or lU <V Musket (imp.)— Sister Agnes; brf,Cadjia' r f» Musket (imp.) bc, Cap-a-pie—My lz7,°gan(inip )—Titanin; (imp.)— Naiad ;br ft iaea 'ca c» Cadogan SJylvia; br c, Musket tjct Musket (imp.) — Musket (imp.)— Locket c'(imp )—Lyra; brc, Petroleuse (Imp.) m : i eh c, Leohuus—

The Wanganui Cup \* . who has been enjoying vinner, King Quail, in a paddock at Green 1 n v h,s otium cum dig. past, was taken up td fc*"*"** 80mo tlme George Rowlands on taxV Whatawhata by understand his owner jrhpaturday last. I him in the various Wailihi;*ntends travelling has received promises of fthi- at-° districts, and Hippodamia has arrived deal of support, and.as stated in these cob ai;l at Christchurch, ago, is to be prepared for iilcamns a few weeks Cup by Mr P. Butler, fa (the New Zealand who interviewed her.says tin" Sir Launcelot," time since he looked over of hough it w a long Ariel and Fanny Fisher.tbltEb* son of Dainty struck him on entering Hi|.w," iirts} thing that was that she is almost a m jviotfpodarnia's box sire. The writer adds : _)dl«niature of her power is wonderfully good, aIII He, r propelling i tjnd the muscu his

lar development of her second thighs is something to remember. Possessing as she does a beautifully sloping shoulder aad drooping quarters, with clean hocks close to the ground, the only fault I could find with her was that she is rather light iv the back ribs. Her Audition shows, signs of the hard work she did last season, but Mr Butler seems to be very sanguine about her New Zealand Cup chance, ana certainly.on her past form, she is one of the picks of the handicap with 7st to carry. Mr P. Butler's Betrayer was put under the hammer at Christchurch recently, but 150 guineas being tbe highest bid, he was passed in. His owner informs " Senex " that he has been in active work for the last month or two, but that every now and again his leg fills, and being doubtful of his standing a long preparation, prefers selling him as a stud horse to the risk of breaking him down permanently. tie is for sale privately, and a couple of centuries will buy him.

Dirk Hatteraick is still at the head of tbe Cup quotations in Melbourne, and the best offer against him now is 10U to 4. Altogether he has been backed to win about £30,000. Stockwell has also a strong body of followers, most of the available money at 100 to 3 having been ac cepted, and Bordeaux has received plenty of support at 1,000 to 20 and 1,000 to 30. For the double—Derby and Cup—£2o,ooo has been booked against War wick aad Dirk Hatteraick, and nearly a* much against Warwick and StockweU, at prices raoging from 1,000 to 3 to 1,000 to 5.

When Mr Pilbrow purchased the steeple chaser Barbary, a few months ago, it was generally thought he was not a bad one, and on looking over his performances in "Mazeppa's" Turf Register, I find the opinion to have not been far wrong. During tbe past season he started seven teen times (mostly in Canterbury countiy districts), out of that number of starts placing nine wins to bis credit, and although the company he met in several of the races was not of the best, he should be well worth watching next season.

A Launcestou paper states tbat the owner* of Byacinth and Captain Webster are to pleased with the colts and the manner in which they shaped at the Dunedin Summer and Autumn Meetings, that they have sent a commission up to purchase another St. Alban's. ISegotiatlous are in progress with regard to the purchase of Meteor who beat Prodigal in a two-year-old race last season at Launcestou, but had the tables turned upon him at Hobart.

An old friend of mine, well-known in legal circles in Melbourne, called on me the day before the Derby, write- the English corres pondent of the ''Australasian," aud a-ked me what would win it. I told him I thought it an open race between the five or so, and better left alone. "Well," he said, " perhaps so, but I saw Uermit win the Derby in ISC7, and I left for Australia a week after that event, now I have got home again a week before the Derby, and I will back the eon of the last horse 1 saw win it." And be did. It ia needlass to say that the son was ft. Blai-o, and that my friend woq ni-s money. Now, what is the use of touts and public form when you can go and pick winners that way 1 And ytt some people aver that there is no such thing as luck,

Condensed Items.

Acceptances for the New Zealand Cnp are due next

Satanella (Hippodamia's sister) has gone into R. Thorpe's stable.

The Goodwood Cup will be run oa Thurs day next.

Dan O'Brien has leased Siesta for the coming season.

"Nemo" think? the much-talked-of Prometheus is a non-stayer.

It is said the days of the totalisator are numbered iv Adelaide.

There are no le-s than 106 brood mares at Mr A. Town's famous stud farm, The Melbourne and New Zetland Cups will be run on tbe same day—6th Nov.

Soukar hai been blistered. There is some talk of t-yiog him at the "illegiti mate game."

Mr Douglas's mare, Venture,who dropped dead the other week, has left a, foal by Musket Vhioa her.

W. Cliilord, the well-known horseman, left for Napier early in the week. He goes into Percy Martin's employ.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Racing Club »nkes place next Monday week, 6th August, at 2 p in. Warwick is being backed for the A.J.C. Derby at tbe short price of 6 to 4, while 4 to 1 can be had about Martini-Henry. It is estimated tbe spectators at the last Kpsom Derby numbered close upon 500,000. The Melbournites cannot touch that yet. Nominations for the Poverty Bay Turf Club Guineas and Mares Produce Stakes close on 31 st July.

Dirk Hatteraick, Stockwell, and Nicholas are most fancied ia Sydney for the Melbourne Cup.

A great impetus has been given to hunt ing ia Adelaide consequent upon Lady Robinson and other ladies joining in the meets.

Coriolanns has been purchased by Mr E. Weekes, owner ot Sting, Mistaken, and Transferred. The price paid was 400 guineas.

Of those horses that have from Bst to 7st 81b allotted them iv the Melbourne Cup, " Augur " prefers Calma, .Nicholas, Coriol auus, and Prometheus.

a Sydney writer says Martini-Heary is still rather "podgy," and questions whether he will be thoroughly ripe before V.R.C. Derby time.

Mr J. Wilson's stallion King of ttte Ring, who can claim to getting some of the best Australian lacehorses, is for sale, owing to the owner having so much of the blood.

There are only ten men still alive who have won the English Derby, though one had been successful four times and two others twice each.

The two St, Al ban's colts. Gold Coast and Album, lately imported from Tasmania, were offered for sale by auction at Christ church, but failed to fetch the reserve.

Splendor, ridden by F. Archer, was among the starters for the Epsom Grand Prize of l,ooosovs. He failed to secure a place.

During her career at the stud, Mr A , Town's mare. The Fawn (dam of Richmond, Bosworth, Palmyra, Segenhoe, and War wick), has produced about £10,000 worth of stock.

The time given by tho French officials for. the French Derby, won by Frontin, was 2mins. 34 2-sth sees This for a mile and a half is just a little " too-too " for any sane man to swallow.

The New Zealand Stud Company will no doubt be glad to hear that Leeds, a son of their mare Steppe, carried Bst. bibs, and won the Portland Plate at the Nottingham Meeting. Leeds is by Doncaster. Trump Yoss, engaged in the Melbourne Cup, with Bst. 31bs., lately won the Port Augusta Cup, 1 j mile, in a canter, by half a-dozen lengths. He carried Bst. 71bs., and covered the distance in 3 mins. 13 sees.

J. Rae, the well-known horseman, is open to engagement, and would like to get charge of a good string. Owners in want of a trainer might do worse than give him a trial, for be bears the reputation of being a painstaking and steady man.

" Nemo" thinks CuHnamnlla, Idas-, querade, Forest King, Calma, Caractacus, Recovery. The Drummer, Morpeth, The Barber, Segenhoe, and Favo, the most likely to be the place-getters iv the Great Metropolitan Stakes. Mr James Scott, the popular host of the Nevada Hotel, has had a snug room fitted up for the members of the sporting frater nity, and has placed his reference library and most of the leading newspapers at their disposal. It is more than probable that Tattersall's will be shifted there.

When the English mail left, (ialiiard held the position of first fivourite for the Don caster St. Leger at 100 to 30. whilst 0 to 2 was on offer against Highland Chief, 8 to 1 Chislehurst, 9 to 1 Elzevir. 100 to 7 Beau Brummei, 100 to 6 Hamako, and 100 to 1 ussian.

Some people have luck. The well known contractor, who was prevailed upon to take one ticket in " Nemo's" consultation ou the Grand national steeplechase and Hurdles, drew two horses with the one ticket—standing to win £160 for an invest ment uf ten shillings. Un the second day the Warden Stud Company's yearlings were sold, Mr W. a . Long (of Grand .flaneur fame) gave 470 guineas for a filly by Craig Millar out of Coimbra (dam of Claremont and other fivers). The highest prices realised proved. to be 670 guineas for a chestnut fbly by Craig Millar out of Hedgeroee, and 520 for a sister to the One Thousand winner, Hauteur—a bay filly by Rosicrucian— Hawtborndale.

Commenting upon the Melbourne Cup handicap, " Asmodeous''says there is no thing included in the first score of names on the list which he likes so well as Stock well at Sst 131b, and he is strongly im pressed with the belief that the Tasmanian bred horse who ran such a good second last year at 7st slb, must possess a wonderfully good look in. Among the middle weights, he thinks Calma, 8« ; Off Colour,7st 121b ; Waterlog 7«t 111b ; Prometheus, 7st Blb ; and t»anti Claus, 7?t 51b, are all favour ably treated.

The Mace for the Grand Prize of Paris.

[BY ODE SPECIAL CORBESPONDENT.]

The following interesting desctiption of the race for tha Grand Prize of Paris, in which the English Derby winner, St. Blaise, was defeated, same to hand by the mail. It will be noticed that the accom plished horseman Cannon was on the win ner, and not Archer, as generally sup posed : —

The GRAND PRIZE OF PARIS of 1 000 soys. added to a Sweepstakes of 10 soys each, 2ift, for three-year-olds; colts, Bst 91b, fillies. Sst 61b; second received 100 eovs, and the third 200 out of the stakes. About one mile seven

furlongs. 107 subs. Duke de Castries's oh c Frontin, by George Frederick—Frolicsome, Set 91b (T. dannon) 1 Sir F. Johnstone's cb c St. Blaise, by Hermit —Kusee, Sst 91b (F. Archer) 2 Count b c Farfadet, by Nougat— Farandolo, Bst 91b (Dodge) 3 Also ran: Satory. Regain, Attendez-moisai l'Orme, Derviche. and Reveuse.

Betting: 5 to l on St Blaise, 4 to 1 against Frontin, 9 to 2 against Farfadet, 23 to 1 against Regain, and 10 to 1 agoinßt Satory.

Reveuse and Satory cut out the work, with Farfadet, Froutiu, and St. Blaise fol lowing in tbe order named, and Derviche last. When half a mile had been covered, the latter ran through his horses, aud mak ing the pace a cracker, soon led by four lengths, with Keveuse next, and Frontio, Farfadet, and St. Blaise lying well to gether. A quarter of a mile from home Reveuse and Derviche were done with, and Frontin coming to the front soon bad St. Blaise ia close attendance, with Far fadet, Regain, and Satory next. At the distance this trio also retired, and the race was left to the English and French champions, Of the many fioe finishes this year, this was the finest. At first the Duke de Castries's colt appeared to have the best of it, but amidst breath less excitement, and such a din of cries as could only be heard in France, St. Blaise gained inch by inch. On they came, locked together in fiercest contest. Both Archer and Cannon rode like demons, and as the pair swept past the post, apparently neck and neck, each party wilaly pro claimed its cttampion had won. A moment's suspense, and then Krontin's number (2) went up. Uver what followed it would be pleasant to draw a veil. When Parisians are greatly excited they fairly lose their senses. Such hat-throwing, screaming, flag-waving, singing, cries of " Vive Fron tin," and groans for " perfide a lbion," has, I should hope, seldom been seen at Long champs before. It was a disgusting sight to the bold Britons who had come over to make expense* by laying odds on St. Blaise, and back tg Paris they betook themselves as fast as vehicles could c*rry them. The Grand Prix was run iv 3_in. 20secs. Value of the stakes, £5,996.

Frontin, though now owned by a French man, is in reality an English horse, being by George Frederick out of Frolicsome, lie did not distinguish himself greatly as a two-yaar-old, but won several good stakes early this spring, which led to his starting favourite for the Prix dn Jockey Club (or French Derby) at Chantilly. This he won in the hands of F. archer, though not without some difficulty, the colt only just winning by a head af te> boreing the second, Farfalet, right across ihe course.

New Coins for Hawaii.

KING KALAKAUA was, it appears, anxious a short time ago to enrich his dominions— the Hawaiian Islands—with a mint, and it was only on the representations made by his ministers, who pointed out that his project, as a business enterprise, would be a losing concern, that he relented so far as to agree to his coins beinu made in an American mint. He insisted, however, that they should be distinctly Hawaiian, and that they should have h s eltigy upon them, expressing his distaste ior the English or American money that bas hitbertoo been current In his realm*. A gnod deal of correspondence on the subject -was ex changed between the superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint, and tie King, whose impatience to obtain his coius was extreme, the monarci explaining that he wanted to have his portrait whilst he was ia his prime, and not wait until age and baldness over took him. After prolonged negotiations, the " New York Times " states that King Kalakaua has been pacified by receipt of the inteUigence that designs were being made, and the dies about to be cast. The precise design has not, however, yet been determined on; but it is decided that on one side of the coin there shall be his Majesty's profile, and on the other, unless he objects, a portion of tbe great seal of his country. The denominations of the coins will be indicated in the Hawaiian and English languages, and in size, weight, and value the money will be the same as that used in the United States.

The trustees of the British Museum have lately received from Pekin some typographi cal curiosities, in the shape of eight volumes containing portions of two Chinese works printed during the thirteenth century.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION),

FOOTBALL FIXTURES.

Owing to the training for the Southern tour, the programme of club matches has been can celled.

That a great deal of public interest is centred in the approaching Southern tour of our footballers,was proved last Saturday by the large number of spectators who assembled to witness the practice match. The attraction must necessarily be strong to induce five or six hundred people to stand two hours on a cold afternoon, ankle* deep iv mud and water, and yet fully that number remained on the ground until the close of the match. In several respects, tbe game was deserving of the attention whicu it excited, and the onlookers were repaid for the discomfort and exposure to wnich they were subject. Two features of the match call for special mention, one being the brilliant performance of White side,and the other the wretchedly weak play of the forwards. I venture to doubt that any football ground in the colony has ever been the scene of such a grand exhi bition as that by Whiteside, and if Auck landers are not proud of tbe exploits of their premier " speeler," they certainly should be. Seven tries in less than two hours' play against a good opposing team is a splendid record for one man ; aud with the same form during the tour, the Southerners will require to look well alter Air Whiteside. Notwithstanding the con dition of the ground, his speed was wonder ful, while it was apparent that he has become proficient to a large extent in the art of fending, and this alone should be of great use to him in the South. Of the weak play of the forwards, little need be said. The Selection Committee was repre sented on the ground, and what was so apparent to everyone else would scarcely be likely to escape their attention. That being so, it would be rather indelicate on my part to express any opinion on the cause of the weakness, or to say how it should be strengthened. The Committee is aware of the necessity for a strong forward division against Otago especially, and they may, 1 fancy, be depended upon to send tue best men in this branch of tbe game who can be obtained The weather this week has iuterfered somewhat with the practices, but they saould be persevered in as regularly as possible, ou tne principle that "practice makes perfect."

In a recent article I made reference to the injudicious paragraphs from local papers which were telegraphed to Otago, and which, not satisfied with ridiculing the Southern men, contained more of the braggart senti ment thin Auckland sportsmen are ac customed to u>e. Several letters on the sub ject appeared in the " Utago Daily Times," and I give two of them. The first is from the secretary of the Otago Kugby Union Association, and is as follows = - "To the Editor : Sir,—lt is a pity that a paragraph such as the one from the Auckland ' Herald,' which ap peared inyouryesterday'sissue, should have been published in any New Zealand paper without the writer thereof being thoroughly acquainted with the actual facts. No direct communication of any kind has taken place between New South Wales and Otago this season. At the beginning of the season a letter came to tbe u.R.F.U. from tbe hon. sec. Wellington Union conveying the proposals as to terms, &c, of the New South Wales Union to a r-ew Zealand (mark, not Dunedin) team visiting Sydney. These terms the Otago Union, which had been asked by Wellington to furnish a portion of the team, considered were hardly acceptable, in that nothing definite was guaranteed, whereas Otago did guaran tee a certain portion of the Sydney men's expenses. The original idea of i_ tagowasto have an inter-island match in either Wel lington or Christchurch—a New Zealand combination team thereafter to be picked to proceed to Sydney. The Otago Union would, indeed, have been presumptuous to have reven dreamt of sendiog a team on their own account. The Wellington secre tary asked Otago to join Canterbury in sending teams to WeUington to take part iv a tournament in the last week in July, and the two Southern Onions acceded to that request. That even this date is not sufficiently early (Auckland wanted it a fortnight later) to suit New South Wales, is not the fault of Otago. otago has already withdrawn the statement re lnterprovincial teams paying their own expenses, finding that on the occasion of a Dunedin team visiting Aucklaud in 1577 certain expenses were paid. As matters originally stood as 1 regards the tournament, Otago first wished to play Canterbury in WeUington, but at the request of the Canterbury Union agreed to play in Christchurch, both teams pro ceeding thence to Wellington. These latter arrangements were positively agreed to a week ago, and as far as Otago Is concerned, will be cariied out. —I am, &c, John B. Chapman, Hon. sec. 0.R.F.U." Tha other letter, which is anonymous, reads as fol lows : —" Sir, —As an admirer of the manly game of football, I write to deprecate the tone of such articles as the one you reprint this morning from an Auckland source. I have, 1 think, seen a similar article before from the samo quarter. The way to treat such remarks is for neither ITess nor Union to notice them. They must emanate from some irresponsible writer, who, it may be presumed, is uncsnnected with any club of young gentlemen. I would fain hope the Northern Union corresponds in better taste with the courteous secretary of our Otago Union ; and I feel sure, from what I know personally of the leading cricketers of the athletic city of Auckland, that her footballers must be far above the style of writing I have here referred to. What ever misunderstanding or miscarriage there may have occurred in lespect of the contem plated game bet ween AucklandandJJunedin, certainly there can be no cause to make a miserable public wrangle over it, —I am &.., Senex." These letters are quite sufficient to prove the truth of my remarks ; and it is fortunate for the future relations of the two unions that the objectionable paragraphs have been taken in good part.

Neither Berry nor Frank Clayton will be able to go South.

Cook was anything but a success the back of the Allcomers on Saturday.

The yacht Kita has been hauled up on Bailey's new slip for a thorough over haul.

As the representative footballcs wiU de pend largely upon Ryan for place-kicking, they should keep him in "steady practice at the goal."

The general opinion on Saturday was that If Whiteside had been away, the All comers would have beaten their oppo nents.

The North Shore Rowing Clnb shed was a good deal damaged during the gale on Wednesday, and one of the boats was somewhat injured.

After all the tall talk from Otago, their footballers have been " put through " by Wellington, and our Jimmy Wood helped considerably to do it, too.

It ia not Clifford the rower who ia dead, but his father. It is unfortunate in any case, but the younger man could leaai be spared.

Several pleasure yachts were damaged! during Wednesday's gale, the principal euf. ferera being the Larrikin, owned by Clare and the Pearl, owned by H. Phillipps. *

Mr Jay Gould's yacht—the Atlanta—has run at a rate of seventeen knots an hour. No yacht is known to have so high a epeed, and only a couple of steamers are so fast.

The walking match between O'Leary and Edwards has been postponed until August 6, as the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, would not De available beforo that date.

The report in the American papers that Hanlan, Laycock, and Trickett will UKct at an early date in San Francisco, so far as the Australian scullers are concerucd, is with out foundation.

Webster, Ryan, Whiteside, Warbrick, and Bing, arc all understood to have pro mised to go South with the team, so that the backs should be strong. O'Connor is also certain to go.

Duncan C. Boss, the American athlete, has accepted the challenge issued by John L. Sullivan, pugilist, for a 100 yd or 150 yd running race, each contestant to car;y a man weighing 1501b on his shoulders.

A Christchurch writer, speaking oi the Otago Football Team, says the forwards are nearly all big, powerful men, who play the fast game with tuccess, aud the backs, as usual, are much superior to ours."

Miller and Victor are matched to fence for£so on Ist August, the "Professor" to concede his opponent 10 points in 21. In this contest the competitors will make "a draw " at the beginning instead cf the end of the affair.

A double sculling match took place on the Thames on Monday for £50, Powers and Sanders beathg the brothers Gillet on a foul. In the single sculliLg race on the Thames, for the tame sum, George l homas beat James Lloyd.

Elias Laycock is again on the warpath, and is open to row any man in Australia over the champion course, and will stake £300 to £200. He says he is willing to row any man in the world over the same coarse for £500 a-side, and will allow £100 for expenses.

On May 15th, R. Howell, the English professional bicyclist, rode three mile heats from scratch in 2 mins. 45 l-sth sees. ; 2 mins. 45 2-sth sees. ; aud 2 mins. 40 4-sth sees. This beats the professional record. Howell has now won the mile, tec, twenty,, and twenty-five miles championships, and is only 20 years of age.

On May 25th, in the cricket match, Surrey v. Hampshire, at the Oval, the home team totalled 650 runs, scoring at the rate of 91 an hour. This amount is the highest ever obtained in a county, or indeed a first class match in England, the previous highest Ecore having been the 843 scored by the Australians v. Sussex, at Brighton, iv May last. in the Colonies.ihowever, 775 was totalled by New South Wales v. Victoria about eighteen months ago. It is the highest ever made in any match in the Surrey Couuty grounds, whilst Mr W. W. Read's 16S heads the list of first-class centuries for the present season. M. Read, the professional, made 91; Abel, S3; J. Shntcr, 67; Chester, not out, 54. AU of the eleven leached double figures with the exception of Barratt. Hampshire scored 229, aid 9S for one wicket (C. R. Seymour, 34, and not out, 29 j E. G. vVynyard, 61; A. B. Wood, 5S ; Bencraf t, 4 and 45).

Edwards, the Australian champion, will be in Auckland shortly. Mr J. C. Sey mour, of Melbourne, has published the fol lowing challenge on bebali of Edwards, Australia's champion, iv the "Otago Daily Times": -I shall leave Australia for America with Mr Edwards, the champion walker, in about six weeks, and purpose calling at New Zealand on my way, I will give toe two best men that can be found in New Zealand £100 to defeat Edwards ia as x-days' walking contest, they to divide the time by walking three days each. Should they fail to defeat Edwards, but complete 450 miles between them, I will give them £23 each. I will deposit the money iv some iesponsible geutlemao's hands in order to guarantee, that my offer is bona fide. A prompt reply from any two pedestrians willing to accept my offer, addressed to me at the " Mel bourne Spoitsman" office, will ensure me bringing Mr Edwards to Dunedin, other wise we will only call at Auckland."

The following is from the Sydney " Town and Country" :—Active preparations are being made to send a thoroughly represen tative team from New Zealand to New South Wales, lnterproviucial jealousy is for the time to be discarded, all the provin cial hugby Unions entering into the project con amore but that of Auckland. In order that the best possible team may be chosen it was proposed to have a tournament or series of matches at Wellington between the leading provincial club 3of the colony and that the representative plavcrs be chosen from the form shown by them in the matches played. The Auckland Union are disinclined to take part in the tourna ment unless their expenses are paid by the union at Wellington, where the series o proposed matches are to take place. Owing to the demands of Auckland the Wellington Union were about to abandon the idea of a tournament and co-operate with Canterbury and Otago in sending a team to Sydney. Auckland opened negotiations on their own account to play a match, Auckland v. Sydney, at Sydney, ignoring the other three provinces oi Maonlaad.

Speaking of tne Canterbury representa tive football team, the "Times" says-- D Auvergne, who takes the place which should have been filled by W. Cotterill, is a big strong Northerner, who is said to be able to collar well, and whom we have seen at practice, kicking well. For some reason, he seems to confine his kicking to the period immediately preceding the gatne, and we should advise hmi to accns torn himself to a little more of it in the hour of peril. T. D.-Hamwr. ha? been playint: quarter-back for the Christchurch Club this year. He i 3 what you may call an in and out player, sometimes showing up well, and at others quite the reverse. He is weak at collaring, but a dodgy and quick runner, and can kick a bit. F. Archer and F. \y. Anderson are both forwards of the light active sort, and the former is a fine dribbler. E. Milton is a Bgbt active player, and good dribbler. Maclean, the last of the new men, is a heavy weight, with more than average run ning powers. Looking at the team as a whole, we may say that it is fair in forwards, but that the backs are weak. There are only six men in it who played against Sydney, and it is generally acknowledged that our Fifteen on tbat occwiou was the best [we have ever put in tbe field. The men who replace W. Cotterill, tee. rea wick, and B. Harnian, can scarcely be con sidered up to the quality of the* faeces tors, but the difference is not great enough so justify the odds of sto IWWj££ terbuiy, which we heard offered more than once on Saturday night.

STAK SA/I^KI>AY stJPPijEMEisrr, _tr

i/y 28, ittas.

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