SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL, RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand. Oeraldine R.C. Meeting .... September 27 and 28 Hawkc's Bay J.C. Spring October 9 Wangarrai J.C. Spring October 19 Pakuranga Hunt Club Meeting October 27 Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan Nov. 6,7, and 8 Taranaki J.C. Spring November 9 Auckland It. C. Spring November 10 Cambridge Jockey Club Spring November 21 Wellington R.C. Spring November 30 Duncdui J.C. Spring Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 Takapuna J'C. Spring December 1 Auckland K.C. Summer..Dec. 2G and Jan. 1 & 2 Australia. V.A.T.C. (Caulfielcl) Meeting. .October 13 and 20 Victoria R.C. Spring....November 3, 6, 8, and 10 Dates of Nominations and Acceptances. Nominations Auckland R.C. Spring Handicap and Hurdles September 28 Nominations Pakuranga Hunt Club Meeting.. October 12 Nominations Auckland Cup, A.R.C. Handicap, and Stocplochase October 20

To Correspondents.

Investor.—Weight.^ for tlio Duncflin dip are

due on tho 'iOth of November. J.H., Hobson-street—There is no official time for English races, but one of Benson's chrono §raphs is general used by an employee of the rm. The Americans adopt the same princi ple as in Australia in timing tlioir races.

Ignoramur.—Two foals by the same sire from different" dams are, as a matter of fact, hall "brothera ; but, in referring to half-brothers, breeders mean only those that are by different sires from thesamodam.

Old Victorian.—Maribyrnong started for the V.R.C. Derby won by Seagull, and, rounding the last turn, lie broke his leg, but he was saved for stud purposes.

U.S.—The fastest time for the English Derby was made by Kettledrum and JJlair Athol, who ran the distance in 2min. l.'isec. Tho fastest time for the V.R.C. Derby was made by Darebin and Navigator, who ran the mile and a-half in iinin. 4Hbcc.

Aucki.andkr.—ln England it is generally pro nounced Darby.

For First Portion of Sporting Notes see Fourth Pago of "Star."

A Napier writer has tho following- con cerning the horses in work for the Hawke's

Bay Jockey Club Spring Meeting:—• Martin and (Jcaseman h.ivc under their charge Mischief, Tim W'hifiler, Leonata, Radaines, Mavis, Oberon, Carmen, Kingask, Yankee, Kubina, and Herculanenm. The pick of the'whole team is Tim Whifllor. He is in grand form, and in the pink of condi tion. Mavis is also looking well, and if she goer; on as she promises to, should pull off the Spring Handicap. Kubina is also looking both well and strong, but it does not seem as if Mischief would be ready by October. Leonata is looking the picture of health, and — bar Tim — as forward as anything in the stable. Leonora is in Eilwards's hands, and is as well as the most exacting owner could wish. Her trainer is very sweet on her chances in the Hawke's Bay Spring Handicap withSst. 101b. ; still more so for the N. Z. Cup with 7st. 121b. Reform and Fear Not are both doing good wotk, and looking well. Wild Dayrelfis likewise getting into capital form, and taking lots of work. Pastime is also showing both speed and jumping power, and is regarded by the cognoscenti as a coining horse. The writer thinks Here taunga is the coming good tiling over sticks, and lie says will land a good stake this season if he can keep on his legs. It is thought by the leading judges in Australia that Le Grand is likely to be the best colt of his year, for in every event he started for at the A..T.C. Meeting he won like a racehorse. In the Craven Plate only Ike and Segenhoo opposed him, and 3 and even 4 to 1 was laid on his ability to win. He had a very narrow escape, however, for Ike waited upon him till lie was done with Segenhoe at the home turn, and then came with an unexpected rush, which nearly caught Le ("hand napping. It is said Hales never rode a more determined finish in his life, but the favourite was equal to the sudden call, and stalling off the outsider, won by a neck, while Segenhoe was three lengths away. In the Kandwick [Mate, whcn°the betting opened, the layers of odds demanded C to 4 about the son of Epigram and Legend, but when it began to be whispered about the paddock that the colt had got his muzzle oil'during the previous night, and had made a meal of his bedding, they be came more liberal and accepted even money. Le Grand went to the front soon after the start, and, pulling Nicholson nearly out of the saddle, cantered in front of his horses all the way and won very easily in G.12J,. In referring to the prominent position Canterbury-bred horses occupy in the racing statistics for the past season, " Sencx " says there appears to be very sufficient reasons for supposing that that province will not long hold the pride of place. The writer add? :—Auckland is gradually absorbing all tho best stock, both horses "and mares, in New Zealand, and it is not unlikely that the prestige that once belonged to the Nelson province and passed from it to Canterbury may shortly leave the island altogether and travel up to tho far North.

Prior to the decision of the "Metrop." Mr J. Mundy, the owner of First Demon, purchased from the Messrs Matthews Ascot, the four-year-old son of KeJpie and The- Thorn. The price paid was £300, it being agreed that a further sum was to be handed over in the event of Mr Mundy scoring a win with First Demon in the big event of the A.J.C. Spring Meeting. "The short head " victory of The Gem put a dif ferent aspect on that part of the affair, and as Ascot ran third in the Squatters' Han dicap and unplaced in the Sydney Handi cap, Mr Mundy will have to wait some time before getting his purchase money back. The " Melbourne Herald " has eßijiloyed a detective for some time past to ferret out the various questionable sweeps in that city, and is exposing them in a series of articles In that journal. The sweeps he has so far condemned are those of "Orient," "Austral asia," "Bonanza," and the "Melbourne Turf Club," each of which he declares in the plainest language possible to be bogus affairs. From the manner in which the writer of these ai'ticlos speaks he must have In his possession reliable information of the persons he exposes to justify him in writing of them in such strong and clear language as he does. He is in no way mealy-mouthed, and plainly declares the four sweeps to bo unmitigated swindles. It will be for those of my readers who invest in sweeps to "read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest" what the detective says.

The A.J.C. Derby has not thrown the slightest light on the V.R.C. Blue Eibbon contest. "Tout Cela " thinks the only animal taking part in the former who could have had the slightest pretensions to rival the three-year-olds who will contend for classic honours at Flcimngton is the Queens land colt, Le Grand ; and he does not happen to be engagod. Kingsdale, Narina, and othors "of that ilk," can have no ghost of a show, and the November Derby will, there fore, be an entirely open match of Archie and Off Colour against all comers, for it is much to be doubted whether Warwick will sport silk until the Leger and Champion Raca in the autumn.

Mr T. S. Clibbom held his annual thoroughbred sale after the A.J.C. Meeting. Among the lots sold was a bay colt, 2 yrs., by Gemma di Vergy—Young Beauty, to Mr J. P. Jost, for 25 guinoas ; bay colt, 2 yrs, by Gemma di Vergy—Gill Gill, Mr Stuart, 53 guineas ; bay horse, Mirabilis, 4 yrs,, by Maribyrnong—Myra, Mr A. F. Smart, 110 guineas; bay gelding, Kal Kal, 5

yrs., by Julian Avenal — Maiden's Blush, Mr \V. Steonson, 4O guineas; Parade, by Panic, who ran third for the A. J.C. Steeplechase, broughtOO guineas, and Kelso 100 guineas. The Gem was passed in at 475 guineas, his reserve being 500 guineas.

Yately's party could not have made such a mistake with him after all for the Hawkes bury Grand. In the Sydney Handicap, he jumped off in front at the start, and, settling down to race, gave the others a wild-goose chase. Gloucester' and Norman each made determined efforts to catch him, but he shook them off without an effort, and, galloping as ho used to do in the mornings, held his own, and romped home the easiest of winners by two lengths from Norman, covering the mile and a hilf in 2.38 J. The Act which legalised theuseoftheto tali sator in South Australia has at last been re pealed. When the third reading of the bill came before the " Lords " they carried it without the least compunction, and with out amendment or debate. From and after the first day of June next the totalisator will be abolished, and the Act further provides that any person betting or offering to bet in any public place or places to which the public are or shall bo admitted, whether on payment of money or otherwise, orgetting up or taking part in any sweepstakes, or publishing in any newspaper or circular any advertisement inviting the public to sub scribe to or take part In any bet or sweep stakes, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than 40s. or more than £100 for a iirst offence, and for a second offence shall be deemed a rogue and a vagabond within the true intent and meaning of the Police Act, etc.

At a general meeting of the members of the Australian Jockey Club in Sydney, Mr H. C. Dangar brought forward his notice of motion on the nomenclature of horses, viz : —"That rule 28 of the rules of racing of the A. J.C. be amended by the omission of the words ' Great Britain ' in the third lino, and of the words ' or New Zealand' in the fourth line in that rule." The altera tion was agreed to. The object of the rule, in its original form, was to prevent the practice of christening "screws" after English and colonial celebrities ; but, while having that effect, owners of first-class stock were debarred from appropriating such names.

The following will give my readers some idea how horses —favourites for big stakes— go up and down in tho English betting market. The case in point is the English crack Barcaldine, winner of the Northum berland Plate : —June 19, at 7 to 2 ; June 20, at 3 to 1 ; June 21, at 50 to 1 ; June 22, at 16 to 1 ; June 23, at 20 to 1 ; June 25, at S to 1 ; June 2(i, at sto 1. The last quota tion was the starting price. Rumours of a

"• stormy petrel," in the shape of the veter inary surgeon, was the motive power of the long prices quoted ; but tho colt won, and Bob Peck, the owner, hit tho bookmakers all around. Verbuni sat sap. " Vigilant," in the New York " Spirit of tho Times " gives a most amusing sketch of the difficulties experienced in landing the American-bred Derby and St. Leger winner, Iroquois : —"Mr Bishop had made arrangements to land tho horses, and when we arrived, about half-past 5, thegang-plank had just been placed in position, and' Buck,' the faithful coloured groom, and Charlie Davis, who came over with Mortemer and Pizarro two yearsago, had the horses ready, We had not long to wait when the white striped face of the Derby winner peered out through the port-hole. But he would not budge,despite 'Buck's' powers of persuasion. 'Bring the mares down first,' called Mr Bishop, and then Aranza followed by Par thenia appeared. And now once more the head of the Derby winner peeped out, and ' Buck' tried to lead him down, but he would not have it. The assistants all got around him, but their efforts were futile. Then an effort was made to back him down the plank. It resulted no better, for, bracing himself, he refused to budge. 'He wants to go back to Eng land,' observed a bystander, dryly. ' He's got above us since he has been hob nobbing with lords and dukes,' remarked another. ' No, lie wants to go back and have it out with Foxhall,' sug gested a third. The brown hero cer tainly did object to touch his native soil. A dozen attempts to back him down the plank failed. Mr Bishop sweated and swore, ' Buck ' groaned, and Charlie Davis looked the picture of despair. Then a rope was tied to his halter and eight stout men got hold of the end and began tugging. Iroquois braced himself and held them all in the improvised ' tug-of-war.' The power of his back and loins is immense, and he was quite a match for tho gang, so that was abandoned, and Mr Bishop gave orders to wolk him around the deck, aud preparations were begun to land him by putting him in a box and hoisting him ashore by machine."

English Jockeys' Winning Mounts.

The following list shows the jockoys who have scored the greatest number of winning mounts on the flat during tha present season up to July 21 :—

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Prometheus is doing slow work at Caul field.

The Sydney public were heavily hit over the A.J.C. Meeting.

It is said that Dirk Hatteraick was not " cherry ripe " in the S.A.J.C. Derby. Beau Brummel had the pen put through his name for the Doncaster St. Leger. Tho value of the A.J.C. Derby was 525 soys, the Metropolitan 1,009 soys.

Fordham rode Border Minstrel in the Goodwood Cup. It made his fifth win in the event.

At the Otago Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting £2,852 went through the totalisa tors.

Old Foul Play, lately in work at Napier, has been thrown out of training, and has returned to stud duties at Gisborne.

The Epsom Derby for 1885 has closed with 193 subscribers, the Oaks with 146, and the Epsom Grand Prize with 217.

Plunger Walton "scooped in" 75,000 dollars at the Monmouth Park (New York) Race Meeting. Lone Hand, and the three-year-old Mus ket colt Snider, were shipped for Napier on Thursday to fulfil their engagements there. The famous Fernhill (N.S.W.) stud is to be managed by the Messrs Cox Bros., who are racing the late Hon. E. K. Cox's horses.

Trevallyn, who stretched Grand Flaneur's neck in the A.J.C. Derby of 1880, but did nothing of any note subsequently, has been leased for breeding purposes by a Victorian sportsman.

The Wanganui horses Dan, Fame, Buz zard, Hinemoa, Ngata, and Leonessa, are all reported to be in excellent health. It is said the latter has grown into a fine strap ping iilly.

Last week I chronicled the sale of Mr Bates's two mares, Minerva and The Jilt, to aMr Hamilton. "Senex" says they are still in Sam Higgott's stable with the rest of Mr Bates's team.

Final payments for the Hawke's Bay J.C Spring Handicap, Hurdles, and Flying Handicap are due on Tuesday next. A sweep of ssovs. for the Guineas is also due on the same day. The -victory of Ossian in the Doncaster St. Leger could not have been the big surprise imagined. At Goodwood, his owner took 5,000 to 200 about him for the race, and in tho " Sportsman " of the 7th of August he was in the betting list. "Martindale" says had Martini-Henry started in the A. J.C. Derby dressed in his best, he would have been defeated by Le Grand. He thinks the son of Epigram will take a lot of beating from the best in the land.

It is rumoured in Melbourne that Le Grand has been purchased by a well-known Caulfleld owner of horses. Yately is also reported to have been purchased in Sydney, privately, by a Melbourne sportsman, whose name has not transpired. The trustees of the late Mr J. D. Powdrell have decided to sell by auction at an early date the whole of his racing stock, with their engagements. The horses include Hailstorm, Tally-ho, Ringleader, Tantivvy, Discretion, Daphne, and several brood mares and young stock.

A Napier paper states that in consequence of Mr Gr. P. Donnelly's trainer, Mr Munn, leaving for Australia, Mr Donnelly has de termined to relinquish the turf, and his rac ing stud will be sold by public auction im mediately after the Spring Meeting. The list will include sevei-al youngsters by Musket.

The popular Adelaide sportsman Sir Thomas Elder will probably break up the Morphetville stud at the end of the year. The reasons ' given are that Mr Dakin his trainer, cannot make the stud pay to his satisfaction, and when the stable has a good horse iie is crushed by the handicappers.

Second King is now a firm first favourite for the Maribyrnong Plate, and has been supported at 100 to 12. Suberba has receded to 100 to 0, the South Australian filly Helene now being second favourite at 100 to 7. Mr White's lolanthe and Buckingham have re ceived support at 100 to 7, and the Cocoanut colt finds friends at 100's to 6.

The racing engagement between the Dowager Duchess uf Montrose (widow of the late Mr W. S. Crawfurd), Lord Alington, and Sir Frederick Johnstone will not be re newed at the close of the present English racing season. Her Grace has adopted the noi)i clc course of Mr Manton, and has registered the "all scarlet" of her late husband as her colours.

When the news arrived that First Demon had run second for the Metropolitan, an Adelaide gentleman who got an early wire took all the money the local books would lay about him for the Melbourne Cup, leav ing off at 100 to 6. Two Adelaideans who were in Sydney heard that The Gem would be dangerous for the Metropolitan, backed him, and pocketed about £3,000 between them.

Best Thoughts of the Best Men.

Religiox is our life, being essential to our peace of mind, our support under the trials of life, and our fitness for the eternal world. Love for one's kind is the keystone of the whole arch of Christian practice, and no social sophistries founded on artificial ar rangements can do away with it. Life is warfare, and those who climb steep paths and go through dangerous enterprises are the brave men and leaders ; but to rest basely at the cost of others' labours is to be a coward, safe, because despised.

It is astonishing how much we all go about with our eyes open, and yet sco noth ing. This is because the organ of vision, like other organs, requires training, and, by lack of training and by slavish de pendence on books, becomes dull and ultimately incapable of exercising its natural function.

What is religion ? Kindness to creatures. What is happiness ? The healthiness of a living being in this world. What is kind ness '! Good nature. What is wisdom ? Discrimination.

Men and statues that are admired in an elevated situation have a very different effect upon us when we approach them ; the first appears less than wo imagined them, the last bigger. If those who are the enemies of innocent amusements had the direction of the world, they would take away the spring and youth, the former from the year, and the "latter from the human life.

In learning what others have thought, it is -well to keep in practice the power of thinking for oneself; when an author has added to your knowledge, pause and con sider if you can add nothing to his. It is a well-known pyschological fact that the conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them, and" that their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe. Unless we are prepared to assert that all goodness culminates in ourselves and recedes from others in exact proportion to their distance from us, we must admit that our feelings are large factors of injustice in the judgments that we arc all of us only too ready to form.

You find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful^people : why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others ? You will find half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.— Mrs L. ~M Child Forbear to offer an opinion on a subject of which you are ignorant, especially in the presence of those to whom it is familiar. If it be not always in your power to speak to the purpose, it certainly is to be silent, and, though thousands have remembered with pain their garrulity, few have had reason to repent their silence. "Men ! whoso boast it is that ye Came of fathers bravo and free. If there breathe on narth a slave, Are ye truly free and brave ? Tf ye do not feel the chain when it works a brother's pain. Are ye not base slaves indeed— Slaves unworthy to be freed ? Is txue freedom but to break 1' ctters for our own dear sake. And. with callous hearts forsot That wo owe mankind a debt? . No, true freedom is to share All the chains our brothers wear. And with heart and hand to bo Earnest to make oth rs free.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(8-0 (BY ACTiEON.)

Aquatics.

Opening o£ Boating S-ason October Krag Champagne Cup November 2nd Wnau Regatta November 9th Rowing Association Regatta November Auckland Intercolonial Regatta .. January 29th Athletics. Robertson v. Strong (wrestling) Sept. 29th fcdwards-Scott walking match. .October 5 and 6 Athletic Sports November 9th Cricket, Ponsonby v. Thames October 6th

The arrival of Southern papers contain ing the report of the Auckland-Wellington football match wired by the Press Associa tion has been anxiously awaited here, but they are now to hand. That the strictures of the various journals on the gross par tiality shewn by the writer were justified is proved by a perusal of the precious report iteelf. In the first five lines, the author betrays his animus by the statement that "it was generally admitted by the most impartial of the spectators that the Aucklanders in disputing the try were simply determined to win the game by taking advantage of any point that could be raised." A brief discourse on the weather and the match keeps this verdant youth out of trouble for the next twenty lines, and then he is carried away by excitement again, when he says :—" It was taken for granted that Wellington was bound to be beaten. But how dreadfully sold those who held that opinion must have been when they saw the second spell, in which Wellington was simply forcing the Auckland men down, while for only a couple of minutes did the local team allow the leather to come with outthe Auckland2syardsmark." This isnot by any means consistent with the reports in the Wellington papers. This amateur in the art of football reporting then launches into one of the most confusing and ridiculous "descriptionsof the play " that it has been my lot to read. The report is remarkable for the number of points scored by Welling ton, and which would appear to have been forgotten in the general reckoning, for the heroism and undaunted bravery with which the Wellington men are credited, and which the Press Association man may fancy will eoverthern with endless glory, and for the wretched play and want oi spirit displayed by Auckland. Reading onward, I find that O. Campbell seized Carter and turned him a complete somersault, but the statement had as much weight with mo as it would have with any of my readers. Again the writer displays feeling when he says : —" The first scrimmage now took place, and this was well within the Auckland twenty-five line. The visitors played the same off-side game as they did down South, which called forth so much disapprobation. The Wellington people were not slow to notice this, and Auckland were hooted from all sides of the field." How creditable to Wellington was all this hooting, and how pleased would they have been had they been similarly treated on their visit to Auckland two years ago ! The youth who describes the "off side game down South" which he never saw is a prodigy, and it is fortu nate that some vent has been found at last for his genius. It would be monotonous to follow this " vapouring " very closely, so I will skip to the following:—"Whiteside, the Northern ' crack,' was rather disap pointing, and the opinion was freely ex pressed that if the form he showed here was his usual game, Wellington had two or three men who could 'lick' him." How ever willing the critic might be to perform this dirty operation, it is doubtful if White side would consent. Again, I read that "after the first ten minutes, the crowd again hooted Auckland for their off-side play, and there was a continual disputing (on the Auckland side) of the umpire's decision.'' Of course there was. At this stage, it would almost appear as if the writer had been "toasting " his friends too freely. His report becomes disgracefully muddled, and the best I can make out of it is that Auckland hasn't a footballer except ing Warbrick, that the Wellington men are the most gallant in the colony, and far and away the best footballers, and that A. Cooper and his captain are personal friends of the writer. Probably they will not boast of the acquaintance. The record of Cooper's exploits winds up with the follow ing reference to " our boys":—"Here the wretched off-side play of Auckland was again noticeable, and the visitors were hooted on all sides for what the most unin terested footballer must have decided was unfair play." With the interval of a sen tence, he again says:—"Here again the crowd hooted Auckland for their off-side play, and there could be no doubt that) it was deserved, as Auckland was continually questioning the umpires' word, and the ball had to be returned." Soon afterwards, he is compelled to record a goal by Warbrick, and he tells his readers that the general opinion was that it was a poster, and also that the ball touched Brown before it went over.— Then he adds for the third time within forty lines:—" Auckland was still being hooted for their unfair play, and at one time it was doubtful if they would not get mobbed." In the concluding part of his report, the weakness of the critic's intellect is made apparent :—" Inthesecond spell Wellington were ten to one better than Auckland in the scrimmages, and the touches-down were exemplary. The goal which A. 15. Thomp- j son kicked was in itself the masterpiece of the game, and although surrounded by opponents, young Thompson landed what is the prettiest goal seen in this town. The decision was given against the visitors, who, although playing the meanest game ever played here, tried to gain an advant age. The real result of the game is : Wellington two goals and a try to love. There can be no two opinions about the game. Had it lasted half an hour longer, Wellington could have walked over the great Northerners." TheChristehurchjournal which published this report thus expresses its opinion of the nonsense : —Really we give this report up as a bad job. Clearly unfair all through, the writer has evidently gone off his head towards the end. We print the concluding portion of the report just as we received it, and our readers are welcome to puzzle it out for themselves. We have omitted portions of the report which are evidently of so partial a character that no reliance can be placed on them.

During last season, Our Boys Cricket Club won C matches, lost 5, and drew 3. Judge Fenton has ordered a sixteen-feet pleasure boat from Bailey. Ponsonby Cricket Club has arranged for its annual match with Thames on August 6th. ° C. Frith, the Otago bowler, lias chano-ed his residence from Dunedin to Auckland and has joined " Our Boys" Club. ' Is not someone going to growl because the rob roy canoe race is omitted from the Regatta programme for January, 1884 ? The Whau Regatta Committee intend to charter one of the ferry boats for u«e a.* flagship on Prince of Wales' Birthday. English sporting men intend to raise a subscription foB the family nf ru * • Matthe^- Webb, the famous dimmer!

Clare is building a new whaloboat for the Parnell Rowing Club, intended for entry at the Auckland .Regatta.

The Auckland Football Association has offered to rofer the disputed result o! tho match at Wellington to the arbitration of the South Island Associations.

Dannie Holland has given Bailey an ordor for a now four-ton risking yacht, with centra board, built to the following dimensions: Length, 23ft. ; beam, 7ft. ; depth, 3ft,

Hanlan, Courtney, Rosa, Lee, Hosmor, and other professionals were expected to take part in a regatta at New York on August 14.

A bicyclist named E. H. Corscn has rid den down Mount Washington, a distance of 11 miles, in 1 hour and 50 minutes. He used the American star bicycle.

A single-scull race between Wm. Elliott and George Gaisel took place at Newark, N.J., on August 6th, when Elliott, contrary to expectation, won easily.

AVilliam Muldon, a wrestler, who has been attracting some attention in New- York lately, is going to Australia at an early date.

Hanlan says he can name six oarsmen who will defeat Courtney, and Courtney has responded by depositing §1,500 for the six matches.

Hanlan, of Torronto, Lee, of N ewark, and Hosmcr, of Boston, rowed three miles with a turn at Fulton, New York, on July 20. Hanlan won easily ; Hosmer second.

Greenwood, the excellent wicket-keeper who played for Otago against our last rep resentative team, is in Auckland, and will remain here if he can secure an engage ment.

Several members of the Regatta Commit tee wished to fix the first prize for the whaleboat race at £70, but "were out-voted and had to submit to £40. This, however, should ensure a really good race.

An interestingracebetween two Auckland' built boats too!: place at Suva last month. The competing craft were the Eunice, built by Bailey, and a boat built by liatcliffe. The Eunice won easily.

There was an unusual scene at the meet' ing of the Auckland Regatta Club last week, when Mr J. Waymouth, sen., failing to carry a certain point re the " whaleboat " race, resigned and left the room.

The Secretaiy of the Ponsonby Rowing Club has written to Mr Chas. Dacre for dimensions of the whaleboats to be used at the forthcoming Auckland Regatta. The Waitara Rowing Club has made a similar application, which has been responded to.

Canoeing is likely to attract a fair number of patrons during the summer. Carr has received four orders during the week, three of which are for Messrs Honghton, Shalders, and Shaw. These craft will measure 15ft. in length, 27in. beam, and 6 in. deep.

In view of the proposed reclamation to the westward of Queen-street Wharf, the Auckland Rowing Club has determined to erect only a temporary shed on the dock site. The building will be about 40ft. long, loft, wide, and 7ft high, suitable for the accommodation of four club boats.

The cutter race at the following Auckland Regatta should prove the most numerously contested event of the day. Why ? The Rangatira has departed. Therefore is the grief of Tenetahi very great. The Regatta^ Committee can drop the "handicapping" question now —the " cause " is "no more."

A rather amusing blunder has been com mitted by the Auckland Regatta Club. At a recent meeting it was decided to make the large yacht race for vessels S tons and upwards, -.with the view of admitting the Arawa. Is"ow it is found the Arawa measures only Ih tons, and a further altera tion is necessary. Speaking of the glove contest between Sullivan and Sladc, the "Police Gazette" says that it was plain to all that tne Maori " turned tail " when Sullivan forced him to the ropes, and that Slade ran away. Slade. is to meet Mitchell, the English champion, during the present month. The latter is decidedly the favourite.

In the Plumbers' Football Match last Saturday the scores were :—Parker's team, 10 points; Branston and Foster's, nil. For the winners, Lecky played a grand game, kicking two goals from tries obtained by Fuller and Danks. Besides these, Makin, Webster, Downey, and Millis played well; while for the losers, Smart, Pritchard, and Ripley were most conspicuous.

A " champion " cutter and " champion " schooner is wanted for Auckland. It is a remarkable coincidence that both the Transit and Itangatira, which proved such '■terrors" in their respective classes in every regatta, should have succumbed to the briny element during the same year, acd within a few months of each other. Let's drop a tear over the departed, for such fine craft cannot be found in every port.

Another effort is to be made to induce the Australian yacht squadrons to enter several of their large vessels in an international competition to be held in this port. Mr Thos. Henderson,jnn., who was a passenger for Sydney by the mail steamer this week, goes over the water on a holiday trip and during his absence from Auckland lie in tends to make proposals to the various clubs with reference to this important matter.

Before the yacht Rita again enters the brmy element several important alterations and improvements will have been effected both internally and externally. Bailey's workmen have already started on her. She is to be newly coppered and all her lead placed outside of the keel. The cabin is to be fitted with swing-back seats and cushions of horsehair and crimson velvet, all of which will be movable, in order that there may be more room than formerly, and that in event of important races she may be easily and speedily cleared of such luxuries.

I sincerely regret that the writer of out door pastimes in the Canterbury "Times" —which journal has the reputation of being one of the best sporting papers in the colony—should have allowed his personal spleen against the Auckland Football Team to carry him so far as it has evidently done, if I may judge from paragraphs which have since appeared in the column over which he exercises control. This gentle man (?) has a reputation for snobbery throughout the length and breadth #of Canterbuay, and is held in detestation by members of the profession to which ne belongs. While the team was in Christ church he attempted to patronise our boys." They, however, declined the patronage of the lisping dude, and subse quently he was taken to task somewhat severely for his unwarrantable in terference. Following the if.1? .*° Dunedin, by fawning «•* tosL™S he endeavoured to Ingratiate himself with several of our men, %ut they would have none of him ; and on one occas.on during the Christchurch match he nar rowly escaped collision with Whitosiae tor putting in his spoke where, it n°* wanted. I merely write these mcts because persons knowing the high Wfg™^™ "Times" might unwittingy.K"e F^ence to the insidious and malicious inuendo* contained in the last issue.

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 22, 188S

5



Won. Lost Total. F. Archer 93 188 2S(i C. Wood 92 216 308 GS-. Fordham 53 102 155 3. Loatos 39 '69 208 0. I-oates 31 13-1 163 A. Lemaire 27 97... . \H E.Martin 27 153 ISO G-. Barrett 26 139 165 r. Cannon 23 78 l'l 1\ Bruckshaw 2' 78 9S J. Fagan 21 S3 104 J. Osborne 20 99 i-g A. Giles 19 133 152 J. Watts 18 101 US W. Platt 15 G3 80 J.Snovden 13 71 81 K. Tomlinson 12 60 " 72 F.Webb 12 67 78



'Arry was at an hotel of the cheap order, and saw the following notices posted on the walls ;—•' Breakfast at 9 a.m." He said to the waiter, " Breakfast and some 'am ; " to which the waiter responded, "We've no jam." "No 'am," exclaimed 'Arry, point ing to the notice. "No 'am! What's that?"