SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand.

. .-ilmm It C. Summer..Doc. 20 and Jan. 1 & _ iV ICJb. _ B i'Summer December _ii K^J.C-Mco.inK December;,: and ej I , Jrhurv .hi. Summer lanuary 1 ffiSri*. Jockey Club Summer lanuary 1 ? i,rnlC. Kaccs lanuary II and 12 SSSwßwTnrf Club Meeting .. Jan. 15 & 10 Ssfc™. ::::::::::::::i»8 3»ffjC. Meeting January'.'J &„o iirliiinffton It-C. Summer February 1 and 2 1° boiouffh f-^'es. . . irobrnan 1. and 11 nnnetlin JC. Autumn... . ebruary 21, 22, and 23 w„r_- iiui J.C Autumn Starch li antl 7 Km. JC. Autunin .March 17 __S_rf»Bav J.C. Autumn March 17ami 18 &ki J."C Autumn April 1 and 2

Dates of Nominations, Entries and Accep tances.

Acceptances and general entry for ' Otichunt. Races .. .. .. Jan. 10 Acceptances and (jcnoral entry for TitapumiSumiiior Meeting Jan. IS

To Correspondents.

tvouirkk.—Canard won Ihe Hurdle Race last year. Clarence, who carried l.st 71b, was a good'third. Wipfr —Derrltt rodo Foul Piny in the Auck land Cup of 1880. M'rittie wns on Temploton whon ho won in 1574.

V W T (Onchuncra).— Kscopeta's trainer informs mo she ran tho mile in the Hawke's Hay Guineas (not Derby) in 1.49. FiTZHFiici'i.KK.— There were ten starters for the Auckland Cup last year. The biggest field whs thii'teen, in 1870, when Ariel won.

« —The only win that. Sir llcilevere bas to his "credit is tilt- Nursery Slakes, j furlongs, ar the t'liiiterbiiry Autumn Meeting.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The Thames Jockey Club Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday next promises to furnish our neighbours with a couple of days' excellent sport, and on the second afternoon it is not unlikely that a number of visitors from Auckland will grace the gathering with their presence. The names of the acceptors for the principal events and the imposts they will carry are as follows :— lIUKDLK HACK, st.lb. st.lb. Harkaway .. U 3 Christmas .. 10 10 Lone Hand ..1' 0 Hy 10 U Chandler.. -.11 0 Actor .. .. !) 12 Jed water.. •• 10 12 STKKI'I.KCHASE. st.lb. st.lb. Chandler .. 12 5 .Tedwater .. 10 12 Woodpecker .. ll 3 Fly 10 7 Christmas .. 10 12 Actor .. .. iv 0 THAMES PLATE, st.lb. st.lb. Lone Hand ..7 8 ICenilworth .. 7 6 Woodpecker ..77 Welcome Davy .. 07 Rewi _ - 1 7 GOLDFIELDS HANDICAP. st.lb. st.lb. Libeller .. .. Sl2 Kcnilworth 7 7 Lonehand.. .. 712 Kewi .. ..77 Wookpcckor .. 712 Welcome Davy.. 6 7 For the Goldfields Handicap I like nothing better than 'Woodpecker, if he sees the post, and Chandler, in his present form, should win both the Hurdle Race and Steeplechase. Since my last notes appeared there has been quite an in flux of Southern visitors to attend our Summer Meeting. Tho familiar faces of Mr J. 1 .Ibrow, Mr K. H. Vallance, and Mr P. Butler are once more amongst us, and I understand it is more than likely that the sterling sportsman, Mr G G. Stead, will also put in an appearance at the meeting. The members of the "magic circle " have likewise arrived in great force, while wo are not to be without some llrst class horsemen, for besides J. Wattie, George Williams, and Willie Butler, who are already here, we will have the presence of H. Lunn and Derr.tt.who are expected to arrive to-day or on Monday next. Horse-owners should not forget that the following sweeps are due at the post en Wednesday next :— Maiden Plate 3sovs. Midsummer Plate osovs. Auckland Cup 12sovs. Free Handicap .soys. The acceptances for the Wellington and Dunedin Cups came to hand during the week, and the large number left in both events must be very flattering to the handi cappers. For the former, twenty-four havo paid-up, and out of the number I think those most worthy of investment at the present time are Mischief, Turquoise, Oudeis, Leonata, and Hippodamia. Out of the forty-eight nominations for the Dunedin event, twenty-eight havo paid up, and the chances I most incline to are those of Van guard, Siesta, Turquoise, Oudeis, Taiaroa, and July.

It has been brought tinder my notice by several local horse-owners that the stewards of the Auckland Racing Club should take some action in regard to the starter for the forthcoming meeting. With them I can quite agree, and unless something is done in the matter we .shall probably near of the same widespread dissatisfaction that took place at the Spring Meeting.

The race for the Midsummer Stakes on Boxing Day promises to furnish one of the best contests at the Summer Meeting, and the winner will be unusually hard to find. This has not escaped the notice of a number of the peneillers, who have opened double event books on the event under notice and the Cup, and a good share of business has been done during the week. Musket is re presented in the race by no less than seven of his progeny in the shape of Woodnymph, Trenton, Carbineer, Revolver, Krupp, Neck lace, and Fusilier; the defunct stallion King of Clubs has Ugly Buck to do battle for him; Hippocampus has Satanclla ; and Castaway and Bolton Green claim a repre sentative each. The only candidates who have yet to break their maidenhood are Mr P. Butler's Fusilier and Mr J. Marshall's Necklace.

Among the many Southern visitors in our midst is Mr T. J. Walker, who under the nouh de plume of "Mazoppa," has so ably conducted the sporting columns of tho Dunedin "Saturday Advertiser" for many years past. Mr Walker, who at one time was a resident of Auckland, has come up for the two-fold purpose of enjoying a holiday and witnessing for himself how we manage matters at our big race-gathering. I may mention that.in'conjunction with Mr F, G. Whetham ("Beacon"), Mr Walker proposes to publish a Tun' Record for Kew Zealand at the end of the present season, and I ho]>e that now he is amongst us local sportsmen will not bo backward in lending assistance to what undoubtedly is a great want.

A bird whispers mo from Papakura that Fishwoman is doing the old rogue Maori in their spins over tho Cup distance. Tins ac counts for the support she has received during the week. -Mr David Asher, the Secretary of the Tauranga Jockey Club, has forwarded me a copy of tho programme for their annual Ku.ce Meeting,which takes place on the 2!lih and 30th of January. The principal events of the Meeting are the T.J.C. Handicap oi •iOsovs, 2 miles ; Hurdle Race of ,'lOsovs, 2 mile.?, and Publicans' Purse of MO.-ov.--, IJ mile. Nominations foe these three events closeou the sth of January. At the Summer -Meeting of ISSS, the Club introduce two new races into their programme in the shape of a Produce Plate (for 2-year-olds foaled in the Bay of Plenty), ai.c'l a Plate (for 3-year-olds) open to all comers.

-MrSteads Trickster, it may be remom beied broke down shortly after the Corahine meeting (writes "Senos"), and when he was knocked down to Mr Butler at Mr .Worthy's sale last month, appeared to bo a hopeless cripple. Since then ho liacl Ins shoes removed and was turned out during the daytime in one of Mr O'Brien's paddocks at Riocarton, and his fetlocks dressed with liniment. Last week he wns shipped to U ellington, and walked to the station apparently a perfectly sound horso. the Ascotvalo Stakes, run at the V X C Autumn Meeting, will not be so rich'as usual this season. Of the 200 soys. added by tho Club, 100 goto the second horse, and oil to the third, leaving 50 only, with the sweep and forfeit, to go to the winner ; but tbo forfeit this year is only a couple of sovereigns. It will probably he an open raco, as lolnntho, for the Maribyrnong 1 late, has incurred a 71b penalty. Fred Archer continues to betid tho list ot English jockeys, and there is evidently no diminution in his income. According to latest advices from England he had up to the 23rd of October ridden 5119 times this season, and won 202 times. Even if ho only received the ordinary fees of five guineas for winning and three guineas for losing mounts this would make his income for the year 2,121 guineas; but when he wins be almost invariably receives large presents from his patrons, and, moreover, has something like a couple of thousand pundsa year in retainers. Next to him comes C. Wood with 542 mounts and 107 wins, O. Fordham being third with 233 mounts, 70 wins.

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Hercules is reckoned a good thing for tho Hurdle Lace on \\ ednesday. . . It is said that Commotion goes to tho stud after the Champion Race. In Sydney a sweep promoter named Henry Soltan has been lined £50, or in default three months imprisonment. ~ ;l™ s, n >' s, tho* , he. newly-formed Wellington Jockey Club intend holding then-first race meeting somo time in the i.'i""'! i -in _ ,r , , It has been decided by the Hawkesbury L.'ice Club that the next Spring .reeling shall take place on the 21st and '23rd of August, 1884. According to "Beacon, the Australian horse Iheiigc, who was lately brought over to punedin, will probably not be in lit eon ditmn to race this season. the great American pacer, Johnston, who recently paced a mile in 2mm lOsec, was sold the day after the feat for 25,000 do liars (J_>,ooo). In consequence of the Retting Act having como into operation in Melbourne on the Ist of December, all advertisements in news papers re atm- to sweeps, totahsators, _0., are now illegal. A Birmingham policeman won £1,200 in a fortnight by betting on horse-racing. He sent in his resignation to the chief con stable, and entered into partnership with a professional bookmaker.

[Auckland Cup betting, training notes, &c,

will be found in the Stak.]

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

vi. acTjEon.)

Aquatics.

Rowing Association Regatta February Auckland Intercolonial llegalta ... ..Itiniiury 2!I Lyttelton Regatta January 1 Edward Jliinlan v, Klias bnveock or the next best man in Australia, £1,000 a-sitle, before _'larch al

Bicycling.

Auckland Ci.uis (rendezvous at Service's,

l.nrangahapo Roadl. Henderson's Mill December 22 Three Kings, via Mount Koskill..December .!1 Waitemata Ci.ub Rims (starting from Park Gates, Princes-street). Satuuuay Runs at 3 p.m. To Otahuhu, via Mangere December 22 To Panmure, Sec December 20

Athletics.

Eight Hours Demonstration Sports lan. 20 Six Days Walking Hatch-Ed wards v. Hendry C-), antl lluckstcp :ilst Dee. lo .ith Jail.

CRICKET.

Victoria v. New South Wales December -G Wellington v. Nelson Deo. HI and Jan. 1

Club Fixtures for tho Month. December 22.—United v. West Kntl, ICxeolsior, v. Souih haul. Our Hoys v. Otahuhu. North Shore v. Auckland .at North : shor.-l. K.lt-n v. Auckland 2nd, " Herald" v. Our Hoys-ml. Unitetl 2nd v. Parnell, Standard v. Seftun, Gordon V. Alpha, Ponsonby v. West ICncl 2nd.

Deeoinber 29.—Alpha v. Kxcelsior. Poiisonhv v. Souih Kntl. W.-.si Kn.i y. (lurUovs. uiiilu'ilui v. North Shore, Kt'.en v. West lend -Jut!, '•Herald" v. Avondulc Cniou (ut Avondalc), Unitetl -ml v. llortloii, oxford v. Kx.-.-lsior 2nd.

liiK Canterbury Representative Cricket Team may bo expected here next week, and *, ,:. ..., , , , "™ a deal ot interest is already centred ln then-visit, the next lew weeks should develop something of importance ill the cricketing history of Auckland. The Southern representatives consist of-H. H> Seoretan, W. V.Millton, W. .1. Cottei.il, E. Barnes, W. Dudnoy, H. Edser, A. Chap mml) -p. D. Harman, W. .1, I'ocock, T. Buchanan, and F. Wilding. The request oi tho Auckland men that the interpro vinciolmatch should be played before the contost _ wit h the Wanderers, met with a point-blank refusal. The proposition was a more important one than might appear at tti t bluslli aml ,-,„. very obvious reasons it is to bu l, o uocl that our inlerprovinci.d eleve „ wiU refl . aill ,-,.,„„ tak j ~ ;„ tbe ma tches with the Wanderers. Very little i llte rcst will attach to these compared with tliat - vl)ich wi n be ceilt red in the inter provincial contest, and there arc plenty of sl |fH c ieutly good men to form the necessary c [ eveiuj to meet and try conclusions with mv . leaving the representatives to rosel . vc the w h 0 t 0 0 f their strength for a conflict whoso issue will be awaTted with mm _ than f cvel -Lsh anxiety in Auckland. I would offer the suggestion for (Ire con- Hid eration of our cricketing authorities,

William Edwards, the Australian long distance champion, who is now in Auck land, and matched against the three local men, Henry Huekstep, Arthur Hendry, and James Hendry, for £100 a-side, was born at Islington, London, isill years of age, stands sft 7_in in height, and weighs lOst 51b in condition. He made his first appearance as a professional pedestrian on .Match 20, I SOT. From that time to this he has been a con stant performer, winning races at all dis tancesftromonemiletosixday.. Thegreatness of his name as a pedestrian is through his eminent staying powers over long journeys. A list of his performances shows that ho has contested 111 long-distance races, won 25, and lost (i. The list just given docs not include sprint races or exhibition walks. Edwards has won over ±'2,000 prize-money, thrice defeated the celebrated Daniel O'Leat-y, who once claimed the proud title champion of tbe world, won the six days champion belt of Australia, which be has with him, and valued at j:100. It contains i;_ o/ s of

silver, and Oozs. of gold. On this occasion he won b3- 20 miles. Distance, -151 miles :'. laps; Swan second, Harris third, and defeating 11 others. He has a hard task before him on New Year's week at the Theatre Koyal, when he will walk a fresh man every 21 hours tor -i:; days, after which be proceeds to America to meet H. Vaughan for .500 a-.de and the Cham pionship of the World.

Last week I published an extract irom an American paper in reference to the cause of O'Leavy's defeat by Edward*. The latter now forwards the following letter on the subject:—"To the Editor: Sir,—A lettei taken from the 'Turf, Field, and Farm' ro O'Leavy and myself bits been going the rounds of the Australian and Now Zealand press, an extract of which appeared in your last Saturday's issue. O'Leary said he attributed bis defeat by mo to foul treatment by his attendant putting ether in his wale., therefore trying to make his American friends believe thai I did not win on my merits. This letter only referred to the sc.-..nd walk in Sydney, because he -aid he was going to .Melbourne to walk me again, and assured them of success, but what was the result? I won easily, and at the samo time covering a greater distance ili in either of tho two six-days walks that 1 bad with him ; antl here I will add the scores of each walk, which, 1 think, will .-how that O'Lenry's statement is not correct, an lit casts a base imputation on the honest fel-

The Australian Long Distance Champion Walfier

I low that was looking after him. The j scores: — First walk io Sydney— ! .Myself 373 miles O'Leavy 3.30 miles . Second contest— .Myself , i(J(i miles O'Leavy .39 miles Melbourne, third and last contest— Myself 47.1 miles O'Leavy -1.-.7 miles Thus it is shown that I won the first race by 23 miles, the second by 7, the third by lb' miles. Then previous to leaving Mel bourne, my manager, .Mr .1. f'. Seymour, offered to match me again to the extent of £250, and give O'Loary 20 miles start in six tlays, anil met with no response. Fur ther proof of his defeat is shown to be honest, on account of my leaving for America by the next mail, not only to walk O'Lcary there, if he thinks proper, but any other man in tho world for six days. 1 would not have trespassed on your valuable space, but I consider such statements as O'Lc'iry's should be set right, with the public,— YoiU'R, _C, \V»I. E.WAKIis, Long distance Champion of Australia "

The next Rowing Association Regatta will take place about February, I.SS4.

In tbe Our Boys and Gordon match last Saturday A. Rills took II wickets lor 22 runs and C.irlyle? for 20 runs,

Bailey, junior, oommenceda new li.ft open sailing boat this week. She will be ready for- the Auckland Kegatta.

The new schooner-yacht Ugatagatau, which kit for Tonga' this week, bad on board a Kilt centreboard sailing boat built by Bailey.

Ponsonby crews have already been chosen for the Association Kegatta in February, antl men who do not turn up at practice will be quickly dropped out. This looks like business at last,

Donald Dinnie, tho famous Scotch athlete, arrived here by the mail steamer City of Sydney on Monday last, and went on to Dunedin by the Tiiknpuna on Thursday morning.

Testro gave a good exhibition of bis stonewalling capabilities last Saturday. Playing bd' United against West End, he went ill lirst, held tbe fort all through tho innings, and eventually carried his bat for .1(1.

Ponsonby and Auckland llowing Clubs should profit by the result of last Satur day's contests, which were won by North Shore. They can each furnish good crews, and the only thing wanting is practice, which has not received sullieieiit attention hitherto.

The following Dunedin players have been selected to practise for the Inlcipio viucial match : Austin, Cooke, Collinson, Davenport, Dixon, Frith, Fleming, Fitz gerald, Harris, lloine, Henderson, .Mallard, .Me.Veil, Mr.'l.eiiii.'iii, Rattray, Rose, Skitch, and Sontag.

The Tasmnnian team whicli is to visit New Zealand will probably be made up as follows :—From Hobart and South Tas mania -- Kendall, Butler, Boddam, Y. Harris, 11. Y. Bayloy and another. From Launeeslon and the North—Arthur. Wat son, Martin, Sidebottom, Mansfield, and Fuller, if he is in the country.

Mr John Conway has received a letter from Messrs Shaw, Shrewsbury, and Lilly white, the promoters of the last English professional team which visited Australia, stating they have completed arrangements for the visit of au English eleven to the colonies during tho next cricket season. The team will consist of eight professional and four amateur cricketers. Several players unknown to Australia are men tioned among those who are coming.

It is improbable Hint either the schooner Sybil or Sovereign will be in Auckland on January 2!lth, so that they are not: expected to compete in the Auckland Regatta.

A sweepstake, race between (be thirtccn feot open boats Una, Secret, and Chance, took place in Ihe harbour on Saturday afternoon last. The race was won by the Una, t lie Secret being second. The owner of the thirteen-feet open boat Secret has challenged any other boat of (hat,class to sail for a small amount, but the challenge has not yet been accepted. It was rathe.-a surprise to a groat many to see such old hands at the oar as the Auckland Senior bona fide crew, beaten so easily on Saturday by both tho North Shore and Ponsonby crews. Tho twenty-feet open sailing boat built by Wait, rick "for Mr.). Black will be entered in both the yacht race ami tho twentv-fcet open boat race at the Dargaville ttogatta oil .January Ist. She is also expected to lake part in the Auckland Kogatta. ALa meeting of the Otago Rugby Union on Wednesday night, a letter was read, from the Canterbury Union in regard to a trip next season to Sydney, and suggesting the following basis for the choice of a New Zculnn 1 team, the team to consist of nine teen men —eight backs and eleven for wards :--Auckland >.. send three backs and two forwards; Otago two backs and three forwards ; Wclliu .ton, live men, not more than three forwards; leaving Canterbury to send the remaining four players. The l-tter proposed that (he team should leave about (ho middle ~f Jnno. The proposal was favourably discussed, and it was unanimously agicc 1 to co operate npjn the basis specified.

Warbrick's new whaleboat ::;. been planked, and will bo finished abo'd a week hence.

The Hit or Miss, a yacht of 10 tons is undergoing a general overhaul at Clare'a shed. She belongs to Smith.

The Auckland Rowing Club's new boat appears to be behind the times, she .having very short sliding seats, and the oldj fashioned thole pins, in place of swivel row locks.

The North Shore Rowing Club intend sending to Donnelly and Sullivan for a new string test gig to be here in time for tho next Association Regatta, as the boat they have at present has been rather badly treated for racing. She had several cracks made ill her en Saturday.

■W. ttJD^TJ-.TIJD S,

MARY ANDERSON AND THE PRINCE OF MALES.

Mk Consul Griffin furnishes us with the following facta in regard to the stories in circulation of Miss Mary Anderson, the young American actress, having refused an introduction to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales :—An invitation to Buck-

ingham Palace was sent to Miss Anderson through the United States Embassy at London, but she declined to accept it on account of her mother's absence from the city. At a later period Miss Anderson was invited by Lady Paget to a soiree, which she also declined because her mother was not present to chaperone her, although it was urged that His Koyal Highness would be present. Both the Prince and Princess wero very desirous of making Miss Anderson's acquaintance, and on oppor tunity was given them to do so by Dr. Griffin after the performance of the " Lady of Lyons " at the Lyceum on the 27th of October. The presentation was made by Dr. Griffin, who had met the Prince on several occasions previously ; and it is said that the Princess bestowed on Miss Ander son many marks of esteem, and expressed a desire to see her in all her characters. Dr. Griffin writes to his brother, Consul Griffin, in this city, under date of the 28th of October, as follows ;—

" In my office at the theatre the manner of the Koyal pair was charming, with no shadow of patronage or condescension. They seemed to like the fact that Mary did not ' Highness ' them, but talked to them as if they were old friends. You can imagine Mary addressing the Princess as ' Madam,' and the Prince as ' Sir.' You will be glad to hear that your favourites, Blanche and Juliet" (Consul Griffin's nieces) " come in for a full share of honours, and have been invited by the Princess to play with hor children ; but I must tell you of Mary's triumph as Pauline. The shouts of the audience are still ringing in my ears. The Princess applauded Mary enthusi astically from the Royal box. The people seemed perfectly wild with delight. We have mot many distinguished men and women. Mr Gilbert is perfectly entranced, and Mary will make her appearance soon in his play, " Pymalion and Galatea." Miss Braddon, Lord C;lirnes, Miss Fortescuc, Bnroncs Burdette-Coutts, James Russell Lowell, and many others have called to see us." The "London Times" of the 28th of October says—" Not even on tho first presentation of ono of Shakespeare's plays under Mr Irving's management have wc seen a more crowded or more fashionable audience. But it was- not the play that had attracted so largo an audience, which crowded every part from Iloor to ceiling, but the first appearance of Miss Mary Anderson as Pauline, who was honoured on the occa sion by the presence of their Koyal High nesses the Prince and the Princess of Wales —a compliment which, no doubt, Miss Andei'son will highly esteem. Judging from the reception the lady had, her per formance may be considered a great suc cess. The audience, at the close of each act, manifested their approbation in a most decisive manner. In tho second act there was very Utile opportunity of judging of the acting of Pauline, who was more quiet than we have been in tho habit of seeing other Pauline's in the same act. In the third act Miss Anderson gave indica tions of refinement, combined with power anchenergy, that fairly roused the houso ; and from tills point to the end she retained her hold of the audience."

Charlie Yevc de Yere (sententiously)— " Geniuses, my dear Miss Marlborough, arc men who just miss being tools antl fools are men who just miss being geniuses." Miss .Marlborough (awestruck)—" What original things you say, Mr Veto tie Yevo 1 I some times think that you are almost a genius."

PLOT TO ASSASSINATE LORD LANSDOWNE.

A D-__.oli.al Conspiracy.

(I'Kii.M OUH r.ONUON COKKKsl'o.'.bliNT.)

Tub evening papers of October 22 contained startling telegrams from Quebec, announc-

ing the discovery of a most diabolical plot to murder the new (lovcriioi'-Geiieral of Canada and his wife on their arrival in that

colony. It seems that about ten days ago two Irish-Americans named Bracken and I lolmos were arrested at Halifax withdyna; mile and infernal machines in their posses* sion, Long ere this, however, the Canadian police had carefully watched certain s:us peeled persons, and it did not tseapo notice that the arrests at Halifax t.ans&'l much commotion in Irish revolutionary circles'.

" I'tir.-uin^' their inquiries, and aided by special information from New York they have," wires the " t'nily Tclcj graphs correspondent on Tuesday, " un£ earthed a most diabolical plot, directed against the life of Lord I.and.downe. If, seems that on the first news of bis lord ship's appointment to the Governor-den oral .dp, the Irish dynamite faction in New York formally condemned him todeath, and a few specially determined desperadoes were told oil to carry out tho sentence Some of these men have, it is certain, been in Quebec and tbis city for some time past, quietly making their arrangements with their confederates in this; country.

Kimouski, the Queenstown of Canada, was fixed upon as the most suitable spot for the tirst attempt to bo made. It is a small town situate near the mouth of the St. Lawrence, about '270 miles frsm Quebec, and the incoming steamers remain there for some time iv order to land the mails and such passengers as wish to complete their journey by the moro speedy railway route. Incredible as it may appear, there seems to be little doubt that a desperate and fiendish plan was formed to blow up the great Allen liner, the Cir cassian, as she lay oil' Kimouski. The desperadoes were to row out to the steamer in an ordinary boat, in wbicW were to be concealed two or three powerful dynamite machines. Theso machines, manufactured in the " dynamite school " in Now York, and some of which there is too good reason to believe are at present actually hidden in Quebec, were to be discharged against the Circassian below the water-line, tbe mis creants hoping to make their escape in the consequent panic and confusion.

In the event of Lord Lansdowne landing at Kimouski, arrangements were to have been made to attempt his lifo on the rail way journey by blowing up one of the bridges. These particulars came to the ears of the police in fragmentary form from day to day, and it was not until yesterday that their full magnitude nnd significance becameapparont. Without further delay the chief of policecommuuieated the in formation to Sir John .Macdonald, the Prime Minister, who at once convoked a special meeting of the Cabinet to consider the matter and to deliberate upon the steps to be taken. More than one member of the Cabinet

scouted the news as altogether incredible, but dared not take upon themselves the

-.rave responsibility of ignoring the repre sentations of the police. It was therefore decided to take the minutest precau tions for His Excellency's safety, and also to increase the number and vigi lance of the detective force, which has long been ostentatiously looking after the safety of the Marquis of Lome and the Princess Louise. Furthermore, it wns ar ranged that his Excellency should travel by a circuitous route, the arrangements for his reception being modified accordingly. Un fortunately, trews of these precautions got wind prematurely, and to a certain extent .-poiied the plans of the polite, as many suspected persons whom they had been carefully watching took the ahum ami dis appeared.

A; first sight this story sounded wholly in.rediblc, but by degrees it transpired that there are plenty of reasons wby Lord Lansdowne should be objectionable lo tho Fenians, "lie is," one paper points out, "an Irish landlord, and as such, belongs to a class proscribed by agitators and assassins. Beyond this he, following the example of his father, has endeavoured to elevate the lives and homes of his tenantry, and in the effort has come into collision with the pre judices of the people to whom Ihe over crowding of blood relations in the same small cabin has become a traditional habit. Then he resigned his post in the.present Ministry rather than assent to the Land lull of ISSI. Finally, as America i-- Ihe great: field for Fenian collections, a blow struck at the representative of Her Majesty on that continent would awaken thafcexcitc liiou t and attention among the Transatlantic Irish in which their leaders find both glory and advantage. An attack on an able and

amiable official of high rank is, Iheiefore, by no means beyond the range of probable atrocities by the dynamite .section of the IVnc'.iitcs."

LIVE NOW.

Horace: Rook J. : Ode XI.

(To Uxvoxoi-:.)

Sow don't. I_u..n. ', niak. Audi a I'us To 'earn what fine's bu-n ladle.', cm I us; And of .love's plans evp lore tlie s.eie: roues "J'is better not to worry or to I'rci About out- lives' tliuv.',ii.i:i, whcih.-i- : lo end this winter, which, with .bit ins ;\ ii.! Heats on the ocean, or he they t; vc. 'cl Fur many winters more, lie wise, n.\ lass. Toss oil'you ruddy li.iuor in your (fla ~ And conccnti'iltc inoncshoil sp-;: -|. iim, '.. ,' 'I'iic tloiihn'ul joy of years of lt.okije; out. Even while wo sit and prattle nimlcfs thus Old 'nine posts on ward to the tin,!., ,\n.i us. Then catch the .lectin.: nioinenl end . • uuy: Fools for 10-morrow live, wo for to cay. Auckland. ISS. !;.A..._TI.

in;, t eruiaii in thu public schools of St. Louis is over 20,000, or mere than had' el the whulc number of pupils. During the boiisc-eleaning season il.e.e is no place like home—and that's scaelliirig to be extremely tbanfc.l for. Tire other day an Otago .lew _'r I'.cngc.l an iip-coi:ii(rv journalist to u.-rtnl . omi .4 with swords Jr pistols. Then rw.-p:i|.ci man was :-.o; on : but the in.-id ml rais. -' ihe _l quest! hi whether "(he pen is mightier than the swoul."

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 22, 1883

5

