SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand.

•eraldine H.C. Meeting ... .September 27 and 28 Hawke's Bay .T.C. Spring. October 9 Wanganui S.V, Spring .October 19 Canterbury .T.C. Metropolitan.. ..Noy. 0,7, and 8 Taranaki J.g. Spring November 9 Auckland RTC. Spring November 10 WolKngton K.C. Spring November 30 Dunedln J.O. Spring N ov. JO and Dec. 1 Takapuna J-C. Spring «• ■•vy ■ •December 1 Auckland It.C. Summer.. Doo. 2b and Jan. l & 2 Australia. V A.T C. (Caulfleld) Meeting. .October 13 and 20 Victoria K.C. Spring November 3, G, 8, and 10 Dates of Nominations and Acceptances. Nominations Auckland It.C. Spring Handicap and Hurdles September *8 Nominations Auckland Cup, A.R.C. Handicap, and Steeplechase October 26

To Correspondents.

Dispute.—Darebin was favourite at the post at 3to 1 for tho Melbourne Cup, won by Zulu. Waxy's price was G to 1. F.M.—'Hie Hon.'W. Robinson's Oudeis is en gaged in the next Auckland Derby. G.B.—Fireworks died in Victoria, in April, 1878, at the age of 13 years; and Fishhook died on the 13th of June, IS7>, at the age of 8 ycare. The imported horse, Kine Alfred, was 22 years of ace when lie. died, in Victoria, in '873. New Warrior and Tim Whlffler wore aged 20 and 21 years, respectively, at tho time of their deaths.

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

A great sensation was caused in Sydney through the withdrawal of Warwick for the A..T.C. Derby. The race was pretty well considered a certainty for the colt, and his owner had backed him to win the event for a ton of money. Mr Smart, in a letter to the "Australasian," explains the matter thus :—" I am very sorry to say my favour ite, Warwick, has had to he eased off in his work. When cantering the other day he wrenched his fore shoe off, and as he seemed to favour his shoulder, we thought it best to give him a spell, fearing he might get worse. In case of his not being fit to run in Melbourne, I have decided not to start Archie until the V.R.C. Derby." For the information of a number interested in Auckland. I may mention that Warwick was scratched for all of his A..1.C. engage ments on the 21st of August, at 3 p.m.

The evening before the Hawkesbury Handicap was run, the owner of First Demon was chivvied by a bookmaker into taking a wager of £500 to £10 about his horse. Owing to the outside show The Demon had for the race, there was some difficulty in obtaining a mount for him, and at the last moment one of the stable boys wap put up, witli the result already known. First Demon left the paddock at the odds of •JO to 1 against him.

Last Saturday's "Canterbury Times " has tho following training notes : —The course is now looking rather lively in the early part of the clay. Quite a number of horses were out on Thursday morning. The work was principally done on the plough, which, for this time of the year, is in very good condition. Hippodaruia was sent once round slow, and then Trinket joined^her, both going at a good pace for a mile and a half. Ugly Buck, the two-year-old son of Hammock, by King of Clubs, had a useful gallop once round, finishing up fast, while Emir Bey and Trumpeter did a good serviceable gallop twice round, both going well. Sam Higgott sent Minerva once round at a nice steady gallop, and Mr Horsford's trio, Nonpareil, Helena, and Murat, did good sharp work for a mile and a half, but Murat seemed to be outpaced the whole way. Tasman and Siesta, the Former with sweaters on his shoulders, did a good spin twice round. July stripped, and The Dauphin with his clothes on, were sent three miles at a slow pace. Envious also did the same. Sou-Wester and Lady Emma had a steady sweat, the former going three and the latter four times round. Matanaka joined Lady Emma after she had gone a mile and a half, and kept her company for four miles. Welcome •Jack, by himself, was sent two miles at a good three-quarter pace. The two-year-old filly by l'erkin Warbeck, with clothing on, did slow work fox1 a mile and a half, while Mr Horsfair.s Red Sea, the big two-year-old son of King of Clubs, also in clothing, was sent at a steady pace for three miles.

The action taken by the Hawkesbury Race Club officials in making a demand of £6 on all bookmakers desirous of betting in tho paddock caused a great rumpus, and all the leading members of the Melbourne and Sydney ring did not attend the gather ing in consequence. However, half-a-dozen of the " smaller fry " were present, and the racing all through being in their favour, netted £10,000 between them. First Demon's name was written but twice, and then only for small amounts. One well-known outside bookmaker, who as a rule only bets in a small way, cleared £2,500 to hisown cheek. At Tattersall's, on settling night,the majority of the leadingbookmakers resolved not to attend any meeting under the auspices of the Hawkesbury Club un less the fee was abolished, and a sum of over one thousand was collected for the purpose of holding a meeting in opposition to the next Hawkesbury gathering. The way in which the guileless public are swindled by the organisers of public sweeps on races has buen the subject of a good deal of newspaper correspondence in Melbourne lately. An hotelkeeper at Mundi Mundi sub scribed £1 to a sweep advertised in Melbourne by " Bonanza" on the Australian Cup. Ho drew Willeroo, who ran second, and the drawer became entitled to £100, less 10 per cent. " Bonanza" wrote the drawer " please find cheque for £90 enclosed " and congratulated him on his luck. The letter came to hand, but there was no cheque, and the correspondence which follows be tween the drawer (Mr C. Chappie) tends to show that no such cheque was ever drawn or posted to him. When threatened with exposure, Mr " Bonanza" coolly wrote that this would prove a good advertisement, as it would show that the drawing of his sweep was genuine. The sweep nuisance has in creased to such a pitch in Melbourne that the Legislature are taking steps to stamp them out altogether, and it seems high time some action was taken, for the public are being continually taken in by men of the "Bonanza" class.

A great pot was upset over Yately in the Hawkesbury Handicap, he being backed up to the fall of the flag for pounds, shillings, and pence, his party taking 5 to 2 at the last. It is stated that for a mile nothing went so well, he l laying in front, and literally pulling Hales out of the saddle, but when the pinch came his heart failed him. At the turn for home he was out of it, and the hitherto silent crowd gave vent to their pent-up feelings in a roar of " the favourite's beat," and so he was. The " glorious uncertainty of the turf " was once more exemplified, and the horse that could " fall down and then win " did not get a situation.

There is a good story relating to Mr W. Branch's Bonne Forturfe, the winner of the Sapling Stakes at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club Meeting. At Mr Andrew Town's annual sale of yearlings, James Monaghan, the well-known trainer, was commissioned to purchase a certain filly, and thinking that the filly by Julian Ayenel and Lady Blair was the one referred to, he went to- 130 guineas, and she was knocked down to him. Glancing at the catalogue, he found that he had made a mistake, and that the dlly he had been told to buy had been

disposed of. Hushing over to Mr Chibborn, he told him of the error he had made, and on consulting the Richmond etudmaster he agreed to take her back. In the Autumn, however, he submitted her again, and as Mr James Wilson fancied her, she was bought for 500 guineas.. "It is a pity I didn't keep her," remarked Monaghan, " and put her up to auction." "Ah, never mind," rejoined the large-hearted proprietor of the Hobartville stud, " you shall have 50 sovereigns out of the 500," and he kept his word.

Whilst cogitating the other day over the list of horses engaged in the Melbourne Cup, in search of any anecdotal coincidences (writes "Tout Cela"), the names of Sir W. J. Clarke's pair, Bordeaux and Vernet, attracted my special notice as being father and son ; nor could I help calling suddenly to mind the singular fact that Bordeaux's own sire, Panic, when he won the Launces ton Cup, had his three-year-old descendant, Strop, running in the same race. These, to my thinking, are instances unparalleled in the records of any equine family. When the Hurdle Race was being run at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club Sleet ing, Ontario fell at the last hurdle, and his jockey, Corrigan, although stunned, was not seriously hurt. The mishap to Ontario and his jockey was the cause of another mishap, as Rhesus, piloted by King, was close on to them ; and it is said it was only by flint, of the most prompt action on K;j>"'s part that Corrigan was not trampled on. King managed to swerve his horse off to the fence, and thus the possible contretemps was averted, but Rhesus fell, and King was hurt even more than Corrigan. The latter has shown his sense of the obligation under which King has-placed him by presenting him with a sapphire ring in remembrance of the occurrence.

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Kalo was shipped for Napier on Thurs day. The Doneaster St. Leger will be run on Wednesday next. Hales only scored one win oirb of six mounts at the Hawkesbury meeting. Mr Walton's mare Yatterina visited Leolinus this week. C4rand Duchess is to be put to Hippocampus. Mr R. Vallance, who returned from Australia last week, brought a light-weight jockey with him. Natator has been privately purchased by Mr John Walker, of Wanganui, for stud duties. The price paid was 250 guineas. The Melbourne Cup candidate Mahm [late Bagot) is reported to be looking won derfully well. Acceptances for the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club Spring Handicap, Hurdles, and Flying Handicap are due on Tuesday next. The cause of Leos being withdrawn from the New Zealand Cup was on account of pulling up lame after a gallop. Titania, who ran second for the Dunedin Cup on two different occasions, has foaled a chestnut colt to Le Loup at Dunedin. Mr T. Gilpin, of Havelock, Napier, has purchased from Mr W. Douglas the jumT) in<j horse Pastime. From Mauritius news has been received that Little Jack, recently shipped there, ias been purchased by a French planter for £700. Mr Thomas Ivory, who has been con nected with the Australian turf for nearly a quarter of a centnry, is suffering severely from an affection of the eyes. A wager of £1,000 even was recently laid in London on three against the field for the 3t. Leger, the backer taking Galliard, High land Chief, and Elzevir. The only good performance of Yately, who started first favourite for the late Hawkesbury Handicap, was winning the Clarence River Derby in IS7O. Mr Savill, who trained The Assyrian for the Melbourne Cup, is now in England, and is advertising there for the position of private trainer. The Victorian sportsman, Mr R. Howie, intends to give up racing, and announces the sale of all his race horses, including Suwarrow, The Duke_, and other good ones! Mr R. Austin, of Gisborne, has purchased Piscatorious from Messrs Bloomtield and Wylie. His new owner intends keeping dim at the stud. The net receipts of the Grand Prix day at Long Champs amounted as gate-money to £13,222 10s, exceeding by £1,200 the takings of last year. A Victorian who lately returned from Western Australia, informs "Augur "that during his visit he saw the Melbourne Clip winner of ISO 3, Banker, looking hearty and well. "The last shall be first." This well known quotation was fully exemplified at the Hawkesbury Meeting, First Demon being the last to leave the saddling pad dock, and the first to return. Helene, King's Own, Bonnie Fortune, anil Honey Dew, the winners of the two year-old events at Adelaide, Sydney, Caul tield, and Hawkesbury, are all engaged in the Maribyrnong Plate. Mr D. Fraser, of Wanganui, owner of the Tubal Cain—Sea Shell colt Armourer, has decided to relegate him to stud duties this season, and race him again when he is a 5-year-old. The weight carried by First Demon in the Hawkesbury Handicap, namely, Gst. 41b., is rather a lucky impost, as Kinsman carried it to victory in the same race in '79 ; The Pontiff in ISBO in the Metropolitan ; and Briseis in the Melbourne Cup in '76. "Mazeppa" states that an interested backer sent to Dunedin for Martini-Henry money, he wanting to back the colt for the double, V.R.C. Derby and Cup. Mr Snider laid him £500, at hundreds to two, but no more "sugar " was obtainable at the price. Petrea, a sister to the Australian cham pion First King—and herself a perf oi-mer of no mean note, having won amongst other races the A. J.C. Leger and Gold Cup at the one meeting—has dropped a colt foal to Angler (sire of Progress). The present occupants of Messrs Robin son and Lance's stable are:—Salvage, syrs ; Cheviot, 4yrs; Vanguard, 4yrs ; Nonsense, 4yrs ; Iris, 4yrs ; Oudeis, 3yrs ; Fair Agnes, 3yrs ; Idalia colt, 2yrs ; and Mer maid colt, 2yrs. At Messrs Yuille and Co. 's thoroughbred sale in Melbourne,' Verdure by Bethnal Green from Targe* was knocked down to MrW. We3ton for 170 guineas. Can this be the well-know N.Z. penciller now on a visit to the other side ? The A.J.C. Derby winner Le Grand won the Mares' Produce at the Hawkesbury Meeting, beating Kingsdale, Kaipara, Bay ard, and Aimee. The race was thought a moral for Kingsdale, 2 to 1 on him being laid in the paddock. A Christchurch writer says that of Mr P. Butler's two-year-olds, Fusilier, by Musket —Yatterina, Talebearer, by Albany—Tell tale, and Charmer, by King of Clubs— Charm, he much prefers the latter, who should be able to pay for his oats very soon. On account of Footstep winning the Duke's Handicap and other races at Ade laide, attention has been directed towards her for the Melbourne Cup. Her impost in the event (including penalty) is Sst. The Assyrian won the Duke's Handicap before he accomplished his victory last year. The principal event^ of the Victoria Amateur Turf Club Meeting, the Balaclava Stakes, 7 furlongs, waswon by Allander (9st), Iron Hand (7st 131b) being second, and Tumult (7st 81b) third. Londondelly, who was in the employ of Mason Mid Vallance ' last season, rooe the winner.

Mr Wm. Long, of Grand Flaneur fame, has written toMrCHbborn, of Sydney, deny ing the rumour that he had bought the 1,000 guineas colt out of Seagull, by the celebrated Sterling. The actual purchaser was Tom Brown, the Newmarket trainer, in whose charge Mr Long has placed his English string of racehorses. The New Zealand Stud Company notify in this issue the terms, etc., at which their thoroughbred and Clydesdale entires will stand this season. Musket's fee is 35 guineas (only ten approved mares of the public will be taken), while the services of Leolinus can be had for the moderate sum of 12 guineas, and that of Anteros for 10 guineas. Mr De Mestre's Cocoanut colt has come into the Maribyrnong Plate betting, a com mission having been put into the Melbourne market in his favour. After being backed to win nearly £10,000 at 100 to 5, 100 to 6 and 100 to 7 met with acceptance. This, however, has not had the effect of easing Second King, who is still first favourite at 10 to 1, Superba being also at the same price. John Carroll, a famous jockey on the English turf twenty-five or thirty years ago, appeared recently in the Birmingham Police Court without a coat to his back, ragged, and presenting a dissolute appear ance, charged with begging. Carroll in his time won many important races, and was, it is stated, at one time wo"-th many thou sand pounds. A few weeks ago he was nl. . ~ J * 4-1* .— J * * 4-1. cnsrgcci "Ilii msiiclicsncy in i.nfi same Court and discharged. He was now sent to gaol for a month.

Some bargains were secured at Messrs W. C. Yuille and Co.'s annual sales at Flemington, amongst them being Hercules, full brother to Dagworth, who went for 50 guineas, and Trevallyn, who passed into J. Cripps's hands at the same price—a-low enough figure in all conscience for a horse that twice stretched the mighty Flaneur's neck. Amongst some of the higher priced lots were Nautilus at 200 guineas, and Allander at 250 guineas. Nautilus is by Piscator—Coquette (the dam of Progress).

A Racing "Sell."—Diamond Cut Diamond.

I hear (says a writer in "Vanity Fair") a very amusing story about the breeder and part owner of a racehorse. Some years ago Captain A , as I will call him, was in possession of a racehorse which carried off nearly all the "hunt races " in the North of England. A well-known Yorkshire trainer owned another horse of the same kind, but the pair never met until they happened to be entered in a race at Catterick Bridge. The encounter was anticipated with much interest, and the betting between the pair was very close. Both owners, however, being of a practical turn, had resolved to make a certainty of winning— by losing. Needless to say that they had not confided this to each other, and when they went to the post their respec tive partisans seemed to be busy backing them. Captain A , who rode his own horse, had, as he conceived, managed the thing very cleverly; for when the starter dropped the flag, his horse unaccountably swung round and bolted in the opposite direction. Captain A , with great diffi culty, got him back, and sent him in hot pursuit of the other, the jockey of which had, of course, gone on at his best pace. Captain A ■ did his best to overtake him, but he could not do so, and was beaten several lengths. But when the jockey of the other horse weighed in, it was found that he was several pounds short of weight. So his hirse was disqualified, and the race was awarded to Captain A , who had to accept with as good grace as possible the congratulations of the public upon his un looked-for good fortune, and to leave for France a ruined man.

Prof. Tyndall on the Prevention of Disease.

Speaking at the opening of the new home in connection with the Parkes Museum of Hygiene, London, Prof. Tyndall said : The secret of a great physician's art is probably ineomiminicable. He operates by what Henry Moore, the Platonist, would call Divine sagacity of divination, and no matter how medical theories may change, this quality will always remain a dominant one. For ages, however, the high instinct of the medical man was exercised amid uncertain (fata. He saw his patients prostrate with plague or pestilence, and he knew by experience that the cause of this plague or this pestilence possessed the power of spreading itself abroad. But what the ouuse was remained to him a mystery. It was imagined in most cases that the conta gion that could spread itself through the nir and by means of this vehicle infect whole populations was some noxious gas which got into the system and poisoned it. But the specific nature of the poison in each particular disease riveted attention. To use an expression sometimes employed by a professor in this museum, each disease was observed to " breed true." Small-pox be^ot small-pox,typhus begot typhus, scarlet fever begot scarlet fever, and so of the rest. Men of sagacity and penetration could not fail to observe the resemblance subsisting between these processes and those of ordinary germi nation. Could it be that the actions which produced such profound disturbance in the animal frame aredue to the introduction with in the animal body of a lower form of life '! At first, the thought seemed too bold to be entertained, and it took no steadfast root in the mind of investigators. But the more the idea was contemplated the more probable it became, until, finally, the invention of microscopes of extraordinary power enabled the inquirer to subject the fluids and tissues of tho animal body to a search so stringent as to bring out in many cases the deimite cause of the maladies by which wo are affected. The physician and the sanitarian have no longer to fight against phantoms, requiring only the fortuitous concourse of j^toms to bring them into existence. Their enemy is revealed ; and their business is to thwart him, to intercept him, and to slay him. It is not noxious gases, but organised germs, which, sown in the body and multiplying there indefinitely at the body's expense, produce the most terrible diseases by which humanity has been scourged. Contagia are living things. Men and women have died by the million that bacteria and bacilli might live. Reason repudiates this sacrifice of the greater to the less, and will invert it if possible. These virulent organisms, these ferments of dis ease, hang about the walls, the furniture, the clothes of the sick room. How is the room to be disinfected? They arediffused in the air of our drains. How is that air, which is sufficiently noxious on its own account, to be prevented from entering our houses? We know how typhoid fever is generally spread. How are our watfr and our milk to be protected from that contagium? Our hospitals, it is said, infect their neighbourhood. Is not this prevont ible ? Through the downcast shaft of a coal mine the fresh air enters, sweeps the noxious gases of the mine along with it, and escapes through the upcastshaft in the open nir. Can we not imitate this arrangement in our hospitals? Drawing for our intake upon the pure atmosphere, carrying it through the wards, and making it pass-through a ventilating fire before finally ejecting it, no contamination of the surrounding neigh bourhood would be possible.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTiEON.)

Football Fixtures,

Union Club V.Thames.. Septemberßth Wellington v. Auckland September Bth Aquatics. Krag Champagne Cup November 2nd Opening of Rowing Season October Auckland Intercolonial Kegatta .. January 29th Athletics. Athletic Sports November 9th Robertson v. Strong (wrestling) Sept. 29th

Oun representative footballers are expected to arrive in the Manukau from the South on Tuesday morning next, and it is to be hoped that they will be accorded a tho roughly enthusiastic welcome. In the two matches which have already been played, they have upheld the honour of the Northern province, and on both occasions have proved themselves quite capable of holding their own against their opponents. The feeling in connection with the Otago contest ap pears to have been very strong, and even the onlookers were decidedly partial to their own men. Their confidence in the home team 5 evidenced in the odds of 2 to 1 which were laid, does not, how ever, appear to have been justified by events. Our boys played up to them in the first spell, while in the second term both "Whiteside and O'Connor were over the goal-line, although no score was allowed. Another feature worthy of remark is the fact that Auck land, although a much lighter team, only played eight forwards to their opponents' nine, and yet in this department we are told that Otago did not show any improvement on our own play. It is a great pity that the match did not last ten minutes longer, all authorities agreeing that the Otago men were pretty well played out, while the Northerners "stayed" so well that, with longer time, they would have pulled the match off. Taking every thing into consideration, the team heartily deserve the most enthusiastic reception that can be accorded to them. They have placed Auckland in the front rank as a football province, and they deserve to be welcomed back as the heroes of at least two tough battles. The third was to have been fought out this afternoon, and my opinion of the result may be gathered from the fact that I still adhere to my previous pre diction that the Aucklanderg will return with an unbeaten record.

,The Southern football critics, finding .(Sat their knights of the leather are not good enough for the Northern boys, have re-sorted to the rather paltry device of at tempting to lessen the honour due to their visitors by unfair criticism. One writer whose snarl is published elsewhere says the team is a very ordinary one, and yet over looks the very severe slur which he then casts on the footballers of his own province. If the Auckland team is an ordinary one, then the team which was beaten by 7 points to 2 must be a poor one indeed, although the same writer admits that it is the best Canterbury ever put on the field. White side, too. has come in for a great deal of un fair criticism. The Southern writers think he is overrated,and prefer Warbrick to him. Now, it is admitted here that Warbrick is the best all-round footballer in the team, but the opinions of the most reliable authori ties who have seen football in every city in the colony, all amount to the verdict that in his one game as a "speeler" and for scoring tries, Whiteside is far and away better than Taiaroa, and really the best in the colony. If, as the Southern man says, he has been overrated, they must have expected something very wonderful indeed. Whiteside has fully equalled the expecta tions of his own friends, having crossed the goal-line four times in the two matches played, ■while it has only been crossed three by the other members of the team, and once each by Otago and Canterbury. In the face of this fact, the unfairness of the Southern criticism is apparent. Betting in Auckland for to-day's match was (on Wednesday) 6 to 4 on " our boys." The Hamilton Football Club has declined to send a team to the Thames. A football match between Waikato and the Armed Constabulary is on the tapis. The Waverley Cricket Club has been formed at Ponsonby, with Mr P. Moore as captain. Frank Clayton played a brilliant game for the Banks on Saturday, securing two tries. The twenty-feet sailing boat which ,T. Bigelow is expected to build is for W. Far qunar. Laycock intends giving J. Dodd,the boat builder, an order for a double-sculling outrigger. The Banks defeated the Insuranoe Com panies in the match last Saturday by four points to nil. The football team which Auckland played last Saturday was a representative one from both Otago and Southland. The Auckland Rowing Club has been granted a temporary site for the boat-shed inside the dockyard. Bailey has received an order fora thirteen j feet sailing boat from H. Parker, jun., and W. Holder. The Ponsonby Cricket Club was to have met on Thursday evening to re-organise the Club for the approaching season. Bailey is engaged in the construction of a sixteen-feet open sailing boat, which will carry his own colours during the approach ing season. . Laycock's challenge to row any man in Australia over the Parramatta Championship course, staking £300 to £200, has been ac cepted by Michael Rush. The Auckland Rowing Club has con sented to allow the offer of the Hamilton Rowing Club for the purchase of three boats to remain over six weeks, pending the erection of a shwl and the raising of neces sary funds. The veteran rider John Keen the other day made another effort to defeat Rowell in the one-mile bicycle championship, but lie was easily beaten by about 35 yards in 2 minutes 47 seconds. The first half-mile was done in the fust time of 1 minute 16 seconds. A fencing match, for £100, between Pro fessor Miller and Mons. Victor, took place at Melbourne recently. Miller won very easily. His fencing was very clever, and at the close of the match his scoring was 21 points to his opponent's soven. The Waikato footballists have declined to play any Auckland team but the i-epre sentative one, considering that it woulcf be better to be beaten by them, than to beat a second-rate team from Auck land. Perhaps they would not beat the second-rate team, though, A project is on foot (says the Melbourne " Sportsman") to promote a six days' match between a bicyclo rider and three lonff-dis- Itanco pedestrians. Tho idea is to add up the scores of tho throe men, and put the aggregate score against that of the rider. The match, woukl be an oxcitin» one..

The proprietors of the London "Sports man " intend to offer valuable prizes to be competed for at Sydney on the occasion of Hanlan's intended visit to Port Jackson ; while the manufacturers of the remedy known as St. Jacob's Oil announce their intention of giving prizes of the vnluo of £400 for competition on the same occasion. Speaking of Dr. E. M. Grace, the London "SportingXife" says: —The veteran Glouces tershire cricketer is having a wonderfully successful season in local matches. Ho has scored at different times 117, 150 (not out), 150 (not out), 171, 193 (not out), and 243, thus having made six centuries. Up to the time of writing, his average for Thornbury is 94 16.18 per innings. The New South Wales team beat the Wallaroo Club (Brisbane) by 33 pointe to nil. Tries were obtained by E. Cameron, 2; R. B. Hill, 2; Raper, C. Cameron, Fligg, Thallon, and Clement, 1 ; from which five goals were kicked—four by Raper and Brodie one. It would thus" seem that the Sydney men have been suc cessful at last. Speaking of the approaching Hanlan match at Sydney, " Charon," in the " Mail," says : "As an oarsman,l have always had a high opinion of Laycock, and his perform ances have up to the present time justified that opinion. He has proved himseif. next to Hanlan, the fastest sculler in the world, and he has now an opportunity of still lurther distinguishing himseif. We can only hope that he will be able to demon strate his superiority, and if Hanlan does win, his victory will be a hard-earned one." It is expected that if Hanlan visits Aua tralia other scullers of note will come from America. In addition to the many matches which will pr-obably be made, there is a chance of the following very attractive in ducements. In last issuo of the " Austra lasian " ■'Cloanthus" says:—"A London telegram to the "Argus" states it is re ported that the American Hop Bitters Company intend to offer a large sum of money to be competed for by professional oarsmen in Australia. This is the same company that has already made its name famous by giving large money prizes to be competed for both in America and England, the first money on each occasion having been won respectively by Wallace Ross at Providence, Rhode Island, and on the Thames by Elias Laycock." The football writer of the " Canterbury- Times " thus writes of our representative team : —" Looking at the play of the visitors on Saturday, I fail to see in what respect they are more than an ordinary team. Their forwards are not as good as our?, though in O'Connor they possess a first rate man, who rarely misses a chance and who knows how to use his feet. Arneil and Henderson are not far behind. The former, playing on the wing, made the most of his opportunities, and showed out repeatedly ; he also proved that he is a fine kick by the beautiful manner in which he placed the goal for Auckland. All the backs are good men, but I do not see any thing very terrible in Whiteside except his pace, and until the end of the game ho was unable to get past Robinson (who was then suffering from a blow on the head). War brick, Webster, and Ryan showed some fine kicking, and set our men a good example. Carter was very smart behind the scrim mage and did a lot of work. The passing, though at times very good, was also erratic, and often was a loss rather than a gain. Taken all round, they will have to play a great deal better in Dunedin to-day if they want to beat the Southern cracks. Of our team it may be said that it was the best we've put in the field this season. The backs were our weak point, as usual. Robin son played a good game until he got hurt, and watched Whiteside like a ca^does a mouse."

A French Reformatory.

At length we stopped at the "Colonie." A row of pretty houses of brownish-white and whitey-brown brick stood in little gardens on each side of the approach, at the end of whicli was tho chapel. On one side of this were the shops and stables, and on the other a large drill ground. My Jehu knocked at the door of the Director's bureau, and after presenting my letter, I sat down and had a talk with that officer. He had then in his charge, in a school of 500, nine boys under ten years old, one of whom only was less than eight. The usual term of detention was up to 20, though occasionally only to IS. There was in tSe establishment a case committed for six months, another for 12 years and seven months, the average being something under seven years. Many of the boys' came from distant parts, being confined in the first instance, in " Maisons d'arret," where however,-they are carefully kept apart from adults. Very few of the parents were of a respectable class, but the Director did not seem to think that desertion, or connivance at offences r.n the part of the parents, with the view of getting the children into the " Colonie," was common. No payments are exacted from the parents, as with us the State providing the whole expense Corporal punishment is not allowed in France. In consequence of this, the "cellule "(solitary confinement) has a much larger use than with us. At Douaires boys are only confined in the "cellule" for the night, the punishment varying from one to 30 nights, according to the nature of the offence. In tho day they are set to the most disagreeable kinds of work, such as carry ing burdens and cleaning the floors, and are kept alone as much as possible. They attend the mass in a small loft, looking into the chapel by a porthole. For rewards, there is a system of marks, one good mark entitling its owner to a sou. Half of this he may spend, the other half is put by to form a fund when he goes. There are also throe good-conduct tableaux. Boys whose names are in these tables gain small privi leges, such as badges and more meat at meals. From the first of them, the tableau ahonncur, the selections are made for licensing out {liberto provisoire). This is authorised by the Government, on the application of the Director, who, however, never applies to place a boy out before he has been at Douaires a year and a half, and usually not before half his term of detention is passed. They had IGO children out on license, their average detention in the school having been nearly four years. The interference of the parents with bojs placed out gave but little trouble, which may be accounted for by the plan of committing to schools at a distance from the residence of the children, and the late age to which the Stato control extends. Indeed, the Director said there was a bill in contemplation to make that age 21 in all cases, of which he was inclined to approve. Agriculture is the chief industrial training, the boys from the towns only being taught trades. No boy is put to industrial work till between 14 and 15 years old. After this age three hours in summer and four in winter are given to education, two, including meals, to recreation, and the rest to work.— "Blaekwood's Magazine."

"Jam," »id . !•«»'■"'"Z^S passed through the room.

STAR SATtJTSJTAY SUPPLEMENT, SEPTEMBER 8, XSB3.

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