RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamikl.]

f'fytic write, a neighbour's name to lash, Some write—vain thought!—for needful caah. Some write to please the country clash,

And raise a din. For at?, an aim I never fasli— I writu for fun.

The period of Easter is significant of the resurrection of Christ, the belief in which constitutes one of the chief articles in the creed of Christendom. It represents? also tho resurrection of Nature, at least in many countries, from the frost-bound .sleep of winter. Thousands of Good Friday buns have been eaten in this city during tho past twenty-four hours, and now in many parts, especially in the northern counties of England, persons are preparing feasts of Easter eggs. I have not observed this ancient practice in Auckland. In some of the Lancashire and Cheshire vil lages, the feast of Easter eggs prevails. On inquiring into the meaning of this ancient custom, I was informed that it was symbolical of the historic event of which Easter is suggestive. A lady gave me a very reasonable explanation of the custom in these words : "As the living world went into the ark, and were shut up for a season, like the life in tho egg, so by the egg tho ancients symbolised the tradition of that great event, bringing eggs to the altars of their gods." The egg entered into all the mysterious ceremonies called apocalyptic, and the Persians present tho egg at the commencement of the now year as the symbol of the world. Times, how ever, are changing, and ancient Easter customs arc passing before scenes more in harmony with religious progress. The Easter festivities which characterised Catholic times, and which were kept alive by the art and power of the Church, fell into meio pageants in the dawning light of the Reformation. The several Anglican and Catholic Churches will present to morrow floral wreaths and natural pictures worthy the occasion, while music, with its inspiring sounds, will lend its charms to the material attractions of the hours. To night busy hands will be found decorating, wreathing and arranging leaves and flowers, pleasing to the eye, and cheerful to the heart, but to which George Fox would have oxclaimed, " Nay, friend ; true re ligion needs neither music nor flowers."

The dust which has been raised over the question of silkworm culture in this part of the colony will do good if it only .sets people thinking on the subject, and stimulates in quiry regarding that very novel industry. To my contemplative mind, there is little of interest in the question whether the in dustry would prove remunerative or the re verse ; the subject rather suggests to me sad reflections on the vanity find foolishness of human nature. This silkworm " fad," founded as it is on the demand which exists for silk fabrics, might supply the text for a eermon against luxury and pride. .lust fancy the supreme folly of the vast expendi ture upon silks (taking these only as one item among the many similar ones which the luxurious habits of rich people foster)! Think of the careful nurture of millions of insignificant insects, the cultivation of thou sand's of acres of mulberry trees to feed them, and the great amount of capital employed in preparing the silk, and in buying and selling it before it readies the hands of the consumer ! Think above all of the labour uselessly expended in produc ing an article which is not so serviceable as a good woollen fabric, and try to conceive of the great loss of material wealth to the world which is implied in the production of costly silks to clothe vain humanity ! View - ing the matter in this light, one might be excused if he concluded that no industry can bo truly remunerative which ends in the production of luxuries. Such indus tries may add to the wealth of one country at the expense of another, but they are a distinct and serious loss to the world at large. Besides, they cannot be permanent, for the time is coming when the common sense of mankind will rebel against all uso less luxuries, and people will be ashamed to think of the folly of their ancestors. At any rate I don't intend to sink any cash in silkworms, for a very sufheient reason, which the reader is at'fall liberty to guess !

X X I cannot for the life ofjne understand why so much value should be placed upon the utterances of Mr Federli on this subject. The practical substance of all ho has to say is that he reared silkworms as an experi ment at Christchurch, and they produced cocoons of silk, which he now exhibits through the colony as something; remark able. Surely there is nothing astonishing in all this. Hundreds of thousands of equally good if not better cocoons than Mr Federli's have been produced in Aueklond ■within the last twelve or fourteen years, and at one time in onr history there was scarcely a schoolboy in the place who could not boast of having reared fully a thousand worms at. least. But what was the use of it ? There was no market for the , cocoone, and no appliances for winding the silk. The position now is just the same. I ! venture to say that if Mr Federli were to offer himself as a purchaser of cocoons pro duced in the colony atafair price, ho would have no difficulty in obtaining a good ; supply. There are plenty of silkworm eggs »in this part of the colony even now, and {further importations would not even be re quired. If our merchants are anxious to inaugurate the sericulture industry here, they may do so without the expenditure necessary'for a farm. Let them provide a remunerative market for cocoons, and they need not bother themselves about the im portation of trees or eggs. These will be forthcoming. But the weakness of the Company lies in the very fact that it pro poses to do no more than has already been accomplished by local schoolboys, viz., rear the worms and produce cocoons. If it were to offer to buy the cocoons at a fair price, and then endeavour to find a market for them, then I would believe there_ was something in the concern, but my opinion of the sericulture part of it is that it "won't gee."

There is just a tinge of the quixotic about that cheque of i'2oo sent by Messrs Firth and Clark to the Waiorongomai Com pany to supplement the amount of their tender for the 8,000 reserved shares. The letter accompanying the gift implied that they were unaware of the find which caused the rise of a day or two later, and they had tendered openly to the directors of the Company, who considered the offer a fair one and accepted it. But if they had known of the improved prospects of the mine, surely the morals of mining speculation have not reached that lofty height that a man who has received what he believes to be " the straight tip " is bound to inform the vendor of shares before he will become the purchaser. Has neither of these gentlemen, acting upon superior information, purchased shares one day for half the money they were sold at a day later? If they have—and who that has dipped his oar very often in

the sea of share speculation has not? — did it ever occur to them as necessary to hand over the difference to the unlucky shareholder who had unwisely sold '! I guess not : nor would the vendor, if he was one of those who dabble in stock, have viewed the j act of restitution with that lofty admiration i which one expects from such rare acts of ; voluntary parting with the ducats for tho sake of principle. Perhaps we may obtain a clue to the true cause. of this rare manifestation of honour in the world of stock-jobbing from the subsequently published reports that information had been improperly withheld by persons who should have made it known. If so, the expenditure of £'200 as a public disclaimer of any dis honouring suspicion of participation in the nefarious business, and a high-minded pro test against it, is an act which we may foci proud to recognise ; but 1 doubt very much whether it will have six-pennyworth of in fluence in restraining any regular share- ' gambler who sees a chance of making a rise by ways that are dark and tricks that arc vain. xxx Auckland, a quarter of a century ago, possessed many queer characters. It had a politician who had his Hi working bullocks on the electoral roll, and rolled them too ; it had another politician who on the deatli of Judge Stephen moved the adjournment of tho Provincial Council, " because there were two things ho had nevor seen—a dead Judge, and a dead donkey ;" and there was Peter Grace, the carter. Of all the odd stories told about the jovial but illiterate Peter, the following, which was recently re lated to " Zamiel" by an old identity, is perhaps the oddest. Peter did a large amount of carting from the wharf, and he found that ho .suffered considerable pecuniary loss through persons purloining his sacks. So one tine day ho had all his sacks branded with the initials " CO." in large characters, and then Peter was happy. A day or two later, while on the wharf, he discovered a rival carter named Mo- Cormick throwing sacks into a cart. Grace sided up, and found that they bore his brand. "McCormick, you thafe of the ' worruld," he indignantly ejaculated, " them's me boigs." "Ye lyin' spalpane," said the other, "they're mom. Why, there's me own brind on thim. I. for Mc- Cormick and G. for boigs." Peter's want of erudition prevented him from denying that P. was the initial letter of McCormick, and he lost the sacks.

There aro two or tlireo faces among the " Youth '' Company, which opens! at the Opera House on Monday, whose appear ance before the footlights will call up reoel lectious of old Auckland and bygone histrionic glories. Will XV. G. Garoy ro visit the scene of his foi'tuor triumphs at the old Prince of Wales, and meditate amid the packages of merchandise on the fleeting nature of earth's gilded palaces 1 And will Flora Anstead—still Jflixs Flora Anstead, and doubtless without a trace of fifteen years of hard professional duty—recall to mind how she helped to coach the amateurs of the press into something like presentable form for a benefit to a clever lady whose fifty years of distinguished service had led to a rather too intimate acquaint ance with Fortune's reverses '! Will she re cognise in the produce store of to day the gorgeous Theatre Royal of the old times, where many a deserving star made an in effectual struggle against ill-luck, and counted, with the anxiety of a colonial Chancellor of tlis Exchequer, tho receipts of a not too well-tilled Treasury : where Charles Matthews gave us all too brief a vision of his illimitable powers while the San Francisco mail boat waited for him at the wharf. Many an agreeable night have old Aiickianders spent in company with these two sterling actors. And who win see W. C. Carey without think' ing of another face now passed away to be seen no more—Mrs Robert Heir, who gave us our first introduction to East Lynne, with Carey as Carlyle. Well do I remember sitting in the front seats of the old Prince of Wales—that was before the circle went upstairs—being plunged from the sublime into the ridiculous by a glance from beneath at the line ot tear-stained and in tlamed faces occupying the front row of the stalls, with the great round drops falling like September showers on the heads of the people below. Heigho .' we shall never sco plays like those again, but then that was just a quarter of a lifetime ago, and wo glow tough and unsympathetic. It was no mere delusion of a youthful imagination, however, that belief in the excellence of those old Auckland actors. Let me recall a few of them from memory. There was John Bennett's Company in '6S, with Mrs Robert Heir and W. (i. Carey, Towers, J. (J. Joyce, B. N. Jones, Miss Shepparde; and after wards crowd in recollections of .1 L. Hall, J. P. Hydes, Stuart O'Brien, Lachlan McGowail, Harriett (iordon, Mrs Harry Jackson, Mrs Walter Hill, Miss Flora Anstoad, all of whom have ligured in first places on the colonial stage ever since, or until they dropped out of tho ranks. I think it must have been about 1870 that W. G. Carey appearedin Aucklandforthe last time, and Flora Anstead a little later. Let me as sure them, however, that though the face of Auckland lias changed—though the former temples of Thespis have been super annuated, and have gone into the potato line—there are a few old fellows left yet who will ronew their youth in a quiet stall at the more pretentious halls where the shrine has been set up in the renovated and grown-up Auckland of to-day.

It would appear that certain .spirits in our community are offended by the sentence which has" been passed upon Ooodward at the recent sessions. Those spirits, like the liquors they drink, are, I fear, not of the best quality, and are merely seeking to preserve their long-continued license of ex ploding female honour with a cuckoo-cry of judicial partiality and oppression. There is everywhere a residuum of loose and vulgar men who, while irregularly gratify ing their sensual propensities, do so in a violent and blackguardly way, and thereby, worse than demoralise, they brutalise society. Either by nature or by education, these fellows possess no sense of delicacy or honour in their intrigues with the opposite sex, and by practice get their finer perceptions so blunted as to regard every unescorted and unprotected female as venal and indiscriminate. Thanks to Justice Gillies, these gentry will now know approximately the limits to which their forays may extend. The law, which is the embodiment of common, sense, does not stickle about nice questions of chastity. That it leaves as a matter between the individual and her conscience. But it declares that every woman shall herself be the judge of the lengths to which she will go, and that the mere fact of her having allowed herself indiscreetly to be led into a false position shall be no reason why she should further be subjected to insult and compulsion because her enemy has her at a disadvantage. On this last ground alone, he should respect her prejudices and protect her. This is the foundation stone of modern civilization. There is nothing so refining as the companion able association of the sexes, and the growing liberty of action among women. But to preserve it women must be rigor ously protected from loafers, cads, and blackguardly rakes. Those women whoso

necessities or occupations compel them to move about unescorted must be vigilantly fortified by public opinion and by law, and any man presuming on their solitariness to violently assault them must pay the [lenalty of his rashness or his mistake. Such is the tenderness of female nature, indeed, and such a woman's terror of other women's suspicion?, that it is more probable that there are many unaccused rascals about who ought to bo where Goodward in than that Goodward is a poor, entrapped, and judicially oppressed sufferer. This, in short, is tho secret of all the commotion.

The Salvation Army Barracks wore opened yesterday, "a brass band adding eclat to the proceedings," as I observed an enterprising reporter wrote of a different gathering a few days ago. The building is a spacious and handsome one, and the common inquiry I hear among the "civilian" population is—"Where is the money coming from !" This seems an almost unanswerable conundrum when it is borne in mind that the great majority of those who make up the "Army " are those who arc least able to afford to subscribe liberally, Kay, is it not true that they are in many cases: those who have rebelled against seat rents and two collections a week in church, and have cut themselves oil' from religious connection of the orthodox kind because they could not afford the money necessary '! This, 1 think, is only too true ; yet here are those very people giving seven or eight col lections a-wcek, besides .special donations for building and other purposes, with a cheerfulness ami willingness :nost ploa-mr ably surprising ! Such a phenomenon de mands some explanation, and I have been examining a little book entitled "Tho l>oc trines and Discipline of the Salvation Army," in order to got a clue wherewith to elucidate the mystery. 1 there find a good deal on the subject of money, couched in that language of mingled sanctimonious ness and worldly wisdom which is character istic of "Ueneval " Booth. Under the head ing "An Officer's Duty With Regard To Money," there is this explicit injunction :— "Be careful to get nil the money yon can," and ho is further directed to make the toolh drawing process pleasant by having " a solo or hymn known to everybody " sung during the operation of collecting. In another part of the book it is urged that "the total expenditure weekly for hire of building, gas bills, etc., should bo mentioned, if heavy— the fact of its being our universal custom and the invariable generosity of working people being pointed out!" Tho General has a great faith in the giving power of the British working men. He says :— "They will givo if the work is properly done and they aro properly pressed." These extracts'. I suppose, explain the secrot of the Army's financial success. Its officers " properly press " the rank and file by ap pealing to their " generosity," and by guaranteeing " painless extraction >: after the style of an eminent dentist,

Though these processes have apparently been successful in Auckland, the General is not over sanguine, but provides for the eon tingoncy of failure. In this book of dis cipline are directions "For an otiicer who cannot pay his way.1' Those directions are certainly unique. He is to "cry to Cod for help, exercise faith in God for money, and tell his people how ho is fixed : but if he fail thon, ho must write to headquarters." This looks uncommonly like a complete reversal of the usual Chris tian methods. Tho efficacy of prayer is first tried, coupled with faith ; but more trust seems to be placed upon tolling the people of tho "fix ;" and if that also fails in producing tho desired result, then an appeal to head quarters is recommended as the drniier ressort, I don't suppose tho Salvationists will rend this, for 1 find in this book they are en joined thus:—"lt is bettor nol to read secular, that is, tho ordinary newspapers; but if you look at them it should only bo a look,'' Tho Bible, tho "War Cry," and tho general ordors are the literary food re commended, and it reads queorly to find tho soldiers told to " avoid all the ordinary religious books, all tho twaddle and trash, and goody-goody milk-and-water stuff!" As obedience is the first duty of a soldier, i expect the wholoof tho rank and tile attend to theso orders. The " General " appears to be a complete encyclopedia, for 1 find ho has given directions as to health, diet, underclothing, etc. He must also believe himself possessed of some extraordinary healing power, for ho gives this peculiar advice :—" Keop oil'all doctors, if possible. If seriously ill, let headquarters be com municated with.'' I really wonder if General Booth thinks there is some heterodox influence to be feared from con tact with regular medical practitioners that he soearnesly advises his followers to " Keep off all doctors !" As the Salvationists do not read tho secular papers, I need not hope to have those ]x>ints cleared up, but doubtless many of my readers will be in terested in tho little insight into the work ings of the Army which these notes afford, xx x

What is the object of Tawhiao's visit to England? Nobody seems to know very clearly, but a Maori chief to whom tho question was propounded the other day had his answer ready. "To marry the Queen, he replied promptly, and with the air of a man who had no doubt of the truth of what he uttered. This statement, mado in all seriousness, lias set me thinking whether it is not just possible that tho Maori King cherishes somo such idea. He has been told repeatedly that the great Queen loves him, and cherishes a deep affection for his people ; he knows, of course, that our Sovereign Lady Victoria is a widow, and may even have heard that flippant commen tary of a French newspaper, which, remark ing on John Brown's death, said—"The Queen appears to take her second widow hood as much to heart as she did her first." He is anxious to get confirmed in his title of "King," and what more natural than that he should hope to secure this by means of a royal alliance ? He is a guileless savage, and a villainously ugly one to boot; but lie may delude himself with the thought that she who got so deeply attached to a big bare-legged Highlander will find tho charms of a real King, clothed in modorn European style, and crowned with a flaming tea-" cosy," utterly irresistible. No doubt tho London correspondent of the Stak will inter view the dusky monarch on his arrival, find out his " intentions," and let colonial readers know all about his aims and aspirations, besides chronicling his movements about the mighty metropolis.

Judging by past experience, the Maori monarch and his suite should cause a great sensation in London. If he had only had a little more cash to make a show of regal splendour, he might have received an ova tion equal to that given to the Shah ot Persia. From recent English papers it would seem that Englishmen, like the Athenians ot old, have an insatiable thirst for new things. Thoir latest idol has been Barnums "White Elephant," which was securod by the Prince of Showmen at a vast cost of money and labour. It seems that a steamer full of special correspondents went to meet this precious animal on his arrival at Liver pool; two Cabinet Ministers callel to guzo at him next day, an* a string of Bukes, Marquises, and Earls kept pour

ing in to see the distinguished stranger. The newspapers were filled with descrip tions of the brute. The public wore told what he ate, how ho slept, and how often he was rubbed down—an advertisement bo ing crushed in for the maker of the soap used in the latter process. Even the " Thunderer" opened ite columns to a correspondence regarding the sacred ani mal, and .'scientific professors en gaged in a iierco warfare as to the'number of white spots which make an elephant white. For after all, it appears there is no such thing as a white elephant. in existence ; the specimen secured at any rate is of a whitoy-brown colour, with somo lighter spots scattered overit; but in spite of everything, Barnum is likely to make money by his speculation, which will certainly not be a "white elophant" to him in the figurative sense of the phrase. When such a furore has been evoked by a dumb animal not true to colour, surely a real Maori King, with very palpable tattoo marks, should lie lionised by the humbug-loving British public, if he is not received into the arms of tho sunsiblo British Queen.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACT.4CON.)

Nkuoti.vhonh are proceeding for a wrestle between Donald Dinnio and Miller. Dinnio speaks very highly of Hudson.

The Dovonport Naval Brigade aro about to havo a cuttor built. Tenders will pro bably bo callod for the work at an early date.

Most, of the large yachts left for a three days cruise yesterday. This arrangement unfortunately did away witli the race for this class of vessels at the Ponsonby Regatta.

Miller anil Blackburn have boon matched for .£IOO a-side. They wrestle in Sydney on April 17 on conditions similar to those under which they mot in Melbourne.

The aquatic sports held at Judges Bay on Monday last woro, unfortunately,accom panied by very unfavourable weather, the ■principal events being swimming competi tions. A good day's sport,ho\vovcr,rosultcd.

Tho twenty-feet open sailing boats Dream and Maseottc were out together on Sunday. The latter appoarcd to be going bettor than her companion, but the Dream did net seem to bo in her best trim.

It is expected that a football match between representatives of the local hard ware and soft goods warehouses will take place about a fortnight hence. Both sides aro confident of victory.

Tho cricket season is now practically at an end, wliilotlioPonsonby Regatta on Mon day will mark the conclusion of tho aquatic season. Football will be the popular sport aftor tho holidays. North Shore cxpocts to put a heavy foot ball team into tho field this season, and the kickists of the marine suburb aro continent that they will be able to show a better record at tho nloso of the season than they have been able to do hitherto.

Miller leaves Australia by the Zealandia on May 22 to meet.Sullivan. Dinnio, in tho course of an interview at Melbourne, gave it as his opinion that Sullivan can knock Miller out in four rounds, as his bulldog rushes would be of no use against him.

The Wnitemata Boating Clnb's ropre- ROntativo at. the Ponsonby Regatta are to pull in the now boat recently built by C. Bailey, which has boon considerably altered during the present week, and is said to pull much bettor than formerly

Joseph Byrnes, of Boui'ko (New South Wales) backed himself for a stake of t'HO to jump 100 ft in niiio standing jumps; also for a stake of £'2H to clear ,'ib'ft m tlireo standing jump?. The match took place at (Jobnrontho liith ult.nndis worth recording, us Byrnes) oxporienced no difficulty in accomplishing both distances with the greatest ease, an<l afterwards banked him self to do the 100 ft in eight jumps without nnj' trouple. A number of Thames pods have arranged a sweepstake foot-raco tor £1 a man, which will be contested at Tamru course on Kaster Monday. The race ih likoly to be one of the most interesting events run in the district for years. It will be decided by points, and the services of qualified judges and handicappors have been secured. Among tho intending competitors aro Tre gonning, Hall, Mcd'regor, Herbert, Ogle, Torrens, Millott, and others. M. ,1. Monnock request us to contradict a statement in a recent issue of a con temporary to the ell'ect that he asked for training expenses in his match with .1. Cosson. Ho nays that the reason lie would not make the match was that lie intended not to run any more, but that if Cosson wishes to have a race with him he will give him 10 yards in 250, 15 yards in 440, or run him a level COO yards for 125 aside, deposit to be made at tho United Service Jtotcl on Wednesday night, tho match to be run in one or six weeks henco.

Some ill-feeling has been caused by the formation of the Cordon Football Club, which, by the way, promises to give the other clubs more than they can do to hold their own. Its membership roll comprises the names of a number of members of other clubs, which will be weakened in a corresponding dogree by their secession MeCausland lotires from Auck land, Frank Clayton from Ponsonby, and Meldrum, Ansley, Woods, and A. Stewart from Graf ton. The older clubs are naturally displeased at their strength being thus weakened, but they should re member that there is plenty of talent avail able which has never beon utilised.

Ponsonby, hitherto the crack football club, will have to look to its laurels this season. Its ranks have been greatly weakened.and thoro is a probability that it will at least commence tho season with an indifferent team. It is doubtful whethor Whiteside and Braund will play, Berry has decided not to do so, Jack Clayton has prone to Gisborne, and Frank has joined Gordon. Much of tho good blood of lost season will, however, be retained, and under the man agement of the same worthy skipper, I do not sec why there should not be an infusion of new and equally good talent, nor why the Club colours should not be seen very fre quently on the winning side. It is said that Jimmy Martin, whose name is very well known, will play for I'onsonby this season. Mr W. K. Bishop, who arrived from Sydney last evening, has been entrusted by Hanlan with the making of negotiations for rowing exhibitions and champion matches in New Zealand. The champion is ap parently in clover in Sydney. He is feted wherever he goes, and is a great favourite. His first match in Australia will take place on 22nd May. Hunt, the Sydney sporting publican, has made tho arrangement, and tho prizo will be £ 1,000. It is not yot known whether Trickett or Beach will be pitted against the champion. Tho latter declines to row anywhere but on tho Paramatta championship course, but neither Tricketor Hanlan are very particular whero they row. Hanlan considers that Boach is the best man in Australia. Ho says that Laycock is the best man ever matched against him, and ho believes Beach is a bettor man than tho athletic Elias. The second match, which will also be for £1,000,wi1l take place about the middle of June. Hanlan then proceeds to Victoria and South Australia, and he may be oxpected here about August, arriving probably in Wellington.

Football Rules.

Now that the football season in about to commence it would bo well for those who indulge in the game to make themselves acquainted with recent alterations and amendments in the rules of the game. These will be found embodied in the follow ing circular, which Mr S. E. Sleigh sends us from Dunodin :—

Amended Kurby Union Rules (in force lit Homo on Ist December, IXB:)).—Rule 17, W be 10, mid as follows: A maul in goal is when Hie bull i 3 held inside the goal-line und one of the on posing Hides endeavour to touch it down. Those players only who aro touching the bill with the. hand when the liituil begins, and then for so long only as they retain their loueh, may continue in the maul. The ball slmll be touched down where the maul is concluded and shall belong to the players of the side who llrst had possession of it before the maul began, unless the opposite side have gained entire possession of it, or unless it has escaped from the hold of all parties engaged, In which latter event it shall belong to the defending side.—Rule liS he 2T. and the words omitted, "or from a punt.out, or a punt on," (See Jlule HI anil .m.) llulo 20, HO be omitted.—Rule U be 11, and the words omitted " except, in cases under Rule .5 >." —Hnle II), I", 18, 1!>, 60, :">l, ft.', *:), be two new Rules. Nob. 13 and 11, to read:—(lll.) A side having touched the ball down in their opponents' irotil, shall try at goal hy a kick-Dlaco in the following manner:— Uno of tho players shall bring it up to the goal-line in a straight lino (parallel to the touch-lines) from tho spot where it was touched down (miles- between the goal posts, in which caso he shall bring it up to either post), and then' make a mark on the goal-line, and thence walk.out with it m a lino parallel to the touch-lincssuch distance as he thinks proper, umUhoreplaceit for another of his side to kick - (I I) The defending side may char, o as soon as the ball touches the ground, tho kickers side must remain b- hind the ball till the try has been decided. If a goal be kicked th- game shall proceed as provided in rule 1)7 present code, but if a goal bo not kicked, or if the biiugcr out fail to mark on the goal-line, or allow any of his side to (ouch the ball before it lias been' kicked, the ball shall be dead forth with, and tho game sliall proceed by a kick out as provided In Rule It!) present code.— Rule 51 be IS and the words omitted. " The op posite side incase of a punt out or a punt on, and the kicker's side in all cases may not, charge until tho b -11 has been kicked."— Rule 55, SG be It!, (is follows :-(lti) In case of a fair catch the opposite side may come up tn and charge from anywhere on or behind a line drawn through the mark made and pnrallol to the goal-line. In all cases the kicker's sido must be behind I ho ball when it is kicked, and may not charge until it has been kicked. If. after a fair catch, more than one lilavorof the attacking side touch the ball before it is' again kicked, the opposite side may charge forthwith.

Yon will notice that the number of laws has been reduced from tiO to f>o. The main point* of change are as follows :— (1.) I'utits out after a try has been secured aro not permitted. (2) An important change may be noted in tho now Laws 43 and 44—" The ball is dead aftor an ineffectual shot at goal from a try." As to the alterations in Laws 19 and 20 (old code), this is only defining more clearly tho practice as to " mauls in goal." Theso changes have been very warmly sup jwrtcd'in England, and tho Unions of Scot land, Ireland, and Wales thoroughly approve of them. Enclosed 1 beg to hand you a copy of tho revised rules in full.—l remain, yours truly, S. E. Si.kioii. Southern Club, Moray Place,

Dunodin, N.Z., Ist April, 1884.

THE GARDEN.

(By Hohtuk).

Calendar of Operations, April 12.

(Hoktus is willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must give their full names and ■iddroases, though not for publication,]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Boru.MNvii.i.KA Gai.ahka (Amateur). — The above win easily lie propagated by layering no*. Put a link) sandy soil round the plain ; then bring tho branches down, cut half through tho brunch, put a little piece of wood in the slit, pc« ilic slit portion down inlo llie soil about tlirco inches, and stake the brunch to keep it upright. It, will tiikeall m-xi season to make plunts. They can also l>u raised from cuttings in v cold frame with care in the spring. If artificial heal can be procured, they are easily struck in quantities It would make a splendid evergreen ornamental fence, but is no good for uattlu. Umnk koii LiuL'iu Mani'HK (D.G.A.).—IU-an be applied with advantage to any growing crops moderately, if given at a short distance, from the nhmt. Do not allow it to touch the foliage. In a fresh state i; is not a very safe manure, but if mixed with other liquids and allowed to stand exposed to tho air for afe.w days'it might then beuaed with mqresucriMß. A good plan is to keep a heap of soil, throw it upon this, then cover with soil and ashes; use thii heap from time to time top dressing ami cropping tho ground. Fowl manure makes good liquid manure. It will take about one bushel of manure to twelve gallons of water. Ohcuaup (I). F. Krankland).—This is the best period to prepare ground for pluntingoutan orchard. Twenty-live feet apart would suit for drainage on your soil. As you say, if would be too expensivo to do all the drainage this season. Drain tlfty or a hundred feet apart now, marking the posi'ion of thedtains. then next season the balance could be under taken : drain three feet deep. Two acres is too much to trench. Sub-ploughing will be sutllcient in your case, xoing as deep as possible with both ploughing*. In preparing the holes for the plants the subsoil can be wrought to a greater depth.

Kitchen Garden.

.Make successional sowing of cabbage and cauliflower for winter and early spring use. Celery and leeks give a good watering with liquid manure, and earth up those that are sufficiently far advanced. Good celery should always have well-blanched stalks, about a foot long, and the way to procure these is by drawing the soil from each side of the clay trench, and putting it about the stems of the plant. It is better to do this earthing-up on two different occasions, doing about six inches each time. The length of the blanched portion of a leek is also5 brought about by the same means. Harvest all crops as they ripen, especially onions and the late-planted potatoes. I'ump kins and piemclons as they ripen gather and store in a dry place ; the haulm clear away, and have tho ground manured, trenched, or dug for the reception of another crop, or sow down in green feed. Allow no ground to stand vacant during the winter : it is better in crop. Flower Garden. Continue making alterations or forming new garden ac long as lino weather lasts. Tako cave, while carrying on the abovo operations, that no surface or good soil is buried too deop, or too much subsoil brought to the surface. Many of the annuals will have passed the best or done flowering. Have all the debris cleared away as soon as they become un sightly. Sow a few patches of hardy annuals, so that you may have a few early flowers next season. Carnations, picotces, &c, which wore layered early in the season, lift and plant out in their permanent situations. Plant out a few tulips, hya cinths, crocuses, anemones, &c M> for early (loworing. Continue giving liquid manure to chrysanthemums. Camelias, azalias, and rhododendrons should now receive a little attention. The mulching should now be slightly forked under the surface: it will act as manure. Turn heap of sods stacked for top-dressing lawn next month ; this will cause it to sweeten.

Greenhouse

Considerably less shading will now do. By-thc end of the month it will do to take it off altogether. Bulbs and tubers that are going to rest should bo watered spar ingly. Ferns will mostly have completed their growth, and will now bo kept con siderably dryer. Keep up a good circula tion of air.

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand. Auckland R.C. Autumn April 14 and 15 (lantcrbury J.C. Autumn April 14 and 15 Papakura ltaces April 23 Cambridge J.C. Autumn.. ..April3o and May 1 Dunedin J.C. Winter May 23 and 21 Grand National Steeplechase Meeting..May 24 Takapuna J.C. Winter Meeting May 24 Wanganui J.C. Steeplechase Meeting.. ..May 21 Hawko's ltay J.C. Steeplechases June 20 Australia. A.J.C. Autumn April 14,16,18, and 19 S.A.J.C. Autumn May in, 15, and 17 Adelaide U.C. Meeting May 24, 20 and 31

Dates of Nominations, Entries and Accep tances.

Nominations for Cambridge Meeting April 17 Nominations Wanganui steeplechases,...May ! Nominations Hawkc's Hay bteeplcchase.. May 20

To Correspondents.

F.D.—ln Ihe last Kastor Handicap, Norman by curried 7st 71b, Maori 7st lib, and Leonora Sst 21b. Tim Whifllor was favourite at the post. H.J.K.—Radomes was got by Leolinus from L'Oricnt, by Knight of the Crescent, from Kftyptian, by Touchstone, from Aria, by Gladiator. J.V.—l. The highest weight ever carried to vic tory in the A.X C. Autumn steeplechase was by Shamrock in 1875, viz., list 81b. 2. J. liac rode Kcforin last year. W.S.—Sloth is a full brother to Masquerade, being by The Drummer—Homping Girl; Bos cawen by Maribyrnong — liaroness. The latter has never won a race. H.R—Tlio two heaviest weights carried by winners of the Sydney Cup wero, in ISG9. by The liarb, lOst Sib. in Sniin. lOsccs.; and last year by Darebin, !)st 81b, in Sniin. 33JSCC9, InqUIRKK. — Whou Salvage won the Great Autumn Handicap in US'!, lie carried 7st 71b and ran the U mile in L'min. lljsecs. Van gunrd's weight in the last Forbury Handicap was Sst.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The Auck'aud Racing Club Autumn Meet ing takos place on Monday and Tuesday next, and my anticipations of the results of the lint day's racing, etc., will be found in another portion of this evening's issue.

While Auckland sportsmen are witnessing the contest for the Easter Handicap on the green sward at Ellerslie, Christeliurcli sportsmen -will be equally busy at Ricearton, for Monday next is also the day on which the Great Autumn Handicap is to be run oil. The following are the names of those who have mado the final payment and the imposts they will carry :—

St. lb. St. lb. Tasman .. ..9 5 Tim Whilller ..7 8 I.ady Kmma .. » 1 The Poet .. ..7 5 Mischief .. .. it 1 llubina .. .. 7 2 Vonsenso .. ..80 Jlatakau .. 70 VunKUurd ..83 Captain 'Webster 0 !) SnlvuKC .. ..82 Hippodamiu ■. li 1 Sou'wester ..8 1 Hazard .. ..6 3 Turquoise.. ..80 The Jilt .. ..60 Ike 8 0 l/codojinim ..CO

With such a brilliant array of names, it will bo strange indeed if the race does not prove to be the best that has taken place in New Zealand this season, and the more the han dicap is looked into.the more bewildeiing it appears. The first to claim attention out of the eighteen engaged are the Grip Lodge pair, Nonsense and Vanguard, and I think it will take backers all their time to know which is the better of the two. In the last Dunedin Cup, the mare was thought good onough by the stable to support with exactly the same weight she is now called upon to carry, so that if we take a line by this, she must be danger ous now, for the season will be a great deal more in her favour. Vanguard's chance is also entitled to the greatest respect, for there is not the slightest doubt that a mile and-a-half is his favourite distance. He has certainly disappointed his friends on more than one occasion, but I am much mistaken if he does not yet win a big race, and will not be surprised if it is this one. With Sst 21b it is admitted on all hands that Salvage has a weight he is thoroughly master of, but although he occupies a prominent position in the betting market, it is whispered that Turquoise will be entrusted with the stable confidence on the day. Tasman is such a good one and proved weight-carriev.that even ifst 51b may not stop him, and I think if he is run out, neither Lady Kmma or Mischief can have any chance with him. A candidate in the race that has been much talked, about is the Australian - bred colt Ike, and if his owner makes a move in his favour he also may prove a dangerous customer. As a two-year-old he started seven times, and only succeeded in getting home in front on one occasion, but this form in the early part of the present season was greatly improved on, for he won the Railway Stakes at the V.R.C, Spring Meeting, beating a lot of speedy ones, and ran the mile in Imin. 4'<:,'--ecs. He also linished well up to Le Grand in the A..1.G. Craven Plate, and was a good third in the Caulfield Guineas. Of the others, I think Sou-wester and Captain Webster are the only ones that have a chance, and I opine that Robinson's best or Salvage will turn out to bo the winner. The Australian Jockey Club Autumn Meeting commences on Monday next, and will be continued on the following Wednes day, Friday, and Saturday. On Monday the St. Leger is set down for decision, and although we have plenty to engage our at tention on that day, the result will be looked forward to with no small amount of interest. The race promises to be one of the bost that has yet been witnessed for the New South A Vales Red Ribbon, and it may be noted that it will be the first time that Martini-Henry has made his appearance with the colours up on the Randwick course. Besides Martini and Le Grand, it is said there is a probability of the well-performed Warwick being amongst those that will face the flag, and if such is the case, extra interest will be lent to the event. The Gold Cup will be run on Wednesday, for which a great race may bo anticipated. On the strength of her Hawkesbury Handicap win. Empress has risen in favour for the event, and as she belongs to a dangerous party, sho may prove a thorn in tho side of the best engaged. The White stable have a strong team to do battle for them, and the candidate they place their confidence in will take a lot of beating. With Sst 51b, Lc Grand also must have something to say in the matter, and on strict public form Commotion is well in with the heavy impost ofOst, Sib. On Wednesday next.atthe Ellerslie bhow grounds, Messrs Hunter and Nolan in con junction with Mr A. Buckland will submit to auction the thoroughbred yearlings, surplus mares, draught horses, etc., the property of the Now' Zealand Stud Com pany. There are nine yearlings to be offered, tho first on tho list being a pro mising colt by Musket out of Perfume, by Dainty Ariel from Una, and if only on account of the deeds of his dam, hs should create a deal of competition. A brown filly by Cadogan out of Titania (imp.) by Orest out of Queen Mab is a well-bred one. Titania won several races in England, and is own sister to Fairy Queen, the dam of Magician, and half-sister to Elf King, winner of the Stewaids' Cup at Goodwood. A. youno-stor of high degree is the chestnutcolt by Cadogan, out of Naiad, a mare who is full Bister to Malice (dam of Mischief)), and

Lurline (dam of Darebin and Prometheus). There is nothing I liko better in the list than the colt by Leolinus out of Petroleuse, and I shall expect to see him fetch a good price, for in addition to his being full brother to Leos, he has some rare blood running through his veins. His dam, Pet rolouse, was got by Oxford out of Harts horn, therefore she is related to the great Isonomy ; for both Petroleuse and Sterling are by Oxford, and both their dams are by sons of Touchstone. The other lots comprise a chestnut filly by Leolinus out of Miss Laura ; bay or brown filly by Musket out of All Steel ; brown filly by Musket out of Dundee's Katie ; bay filly by Anteros out of Lady Mary, and a bay colt by Cap-a-pie —My Idea (the dam of Nelson). Among the five two-year-olds to be submitted is a chestnut filly got by the English Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger winner, The Marquis. The sale will take place after the arrival of the twelve o'clock train from Auckland at Green Lane station.

A race that will excite gome attention here is the Champagne Stakes, run at the Canterbury Jockey Club Meeting on Mon day next, for in that event the Auckland bred colt Trenton will be pitted against the two Southern cracks, Liverpool and Lady Evelyn. Liverpool belongs to the Hon. W. Robinson, and is a beautifully-bred one, being got by the defunct King of Clubs from Idalia, the dam of Sir Modred, Cheviot, Betrayer, and July, and it will be remembered that he won the Welcome Stakes at the C.J.C. Spring Meeting in a very easy fashion. His nearest attendant on that occasion was Lady Evelyn, the most handsome-looking filly I have clapped eyes on. At the Canterbury Summer Meeting, the pair again met, when Lady Evelyn suc ceeded in getting home first, but Liver pool's defeat was owing to his being run in to a post. Amongst the others that have paid-up is the un-named King of Clubs— Watersprite colt, who showed a lot of form at the recent Dunedin Meeting, and over threw Lady Evelyn in the two-year-old handicap races, but it may be mentioned that Mr McLean's filly was conceding a lot of weight to her opponent. Trenton has ap peared but twice in public, and on each oc casion has been successful, and with the careful treatment that he is sure to have re ceived since being in Mr Stead's hands, it will be surprising indeed if he does not render a good account of himself.

The spirited young local sportsman Mr J. Marshall has purchased from Mr H. P. Kavanagh the yearling colt got by Musket from Rosalie, and lie has gone into Chaafe's hands to receive his education. He i3 a most promising youngster, and it was the intention of Mr Kavanagh to have sent him to Sydney for disposal there. Empress, the winner of the Hawkesbury Autumn Handicap, ie the property of the well-known Sydney sportsman, Mr J. Mayo (owner of The Gem), who purchased her in the early part of last January for £250. After this she was greatly fancied for the Sydney Turf Club Anniversary Handicap, run some weeks later, but she got no nearer than third. Several handicaps in New South Wales country towns have fallen to her lot, but her win on Saturday is the first important race that she has placed-to her credit. Empress was got by Trump Card from a Claud dv Val mare, and by her vic tory she has incurred a 71b penalty for the Sydney Gold Cup, which will bring her weight up to 7st 71b. Phyllis, her nearest attendant, is by Gemma di Vergy—Lady Walleroy, and has the light impost of 6st in the big A.J.C. event. Tho Wanganui Jockey Club have decided upon holding their annual Steeplechase Meeting on the usual date, 24th May. From the programme that has been issued I gather that £470 will be given away in stakes, divided thus :—W ranganui Handi cap Steeplechase of 22550v5., about three miles ; Ladies' Bracelet Steeplechase of the value of SOsovs., about two miles ; Grand Stand Steeplechase of "osovs., w.f.a., about three miles ; Maiden Steeplechase of lOOsoys., over such course as the Committee may ("irect; Hack Steeplechase of lOsovs.; Consolation Steeplechase of 40sovs. Nomi nation for all handicaps close on the Ist of May at the Pier Hotel, Wanganui. Matthew Dawson and Fred Archer have presented Lord Falmouth with a solid silver .- ield inscribed as follows:— " Offered or the kind acceptance of the Right H< ,'i.ourable Viscount Falmouth, by his trainer and jockey, Matthew Dawson and Frederick J. Archer, as a token of gratitude and esteem to the best, kindest, and most generous of masters on his re tirement from the turf, January, 1884." On the shield are engraved the names of some of the classic winners which have been trained and ridden for Lord Falmouth by thedonors. Amongst the names so en graved figure those of Kingcraft, Silvio, Janette, Wheel of Fortune, Dutch Oven, Atlantic, Galliard, and others.

The most clever tacticians frequently make mistakes (writes "Nemo.") The stable backed Soldier Boy for the Anniversary Handicap, and- sent Here's Luck to cut out a little running for him, but the former could not get up, and the light weight won easily. At Canterbury Park the other day Here's Luck was the chosen one for the Suburban Handicap, and then Soldier Boy won.

Only sixteen made the final payment for the Hawkesbury Autumn Handicap, the Hon. J. White not accepting with any of his team. When the mail left, Sardonyx, Empress and Archie were the favourites. Frying Pan has accomplished another brilliant feat for at the Sale Meeting, he carried lOst 01b. to the front for the Sale Handicap, and ran the mile and a-half in 2min. 40secs.

At the Ashburton Meeting, Salvago won the big event, and Rubina the Grand Stand Handicap. In the Hurdle Race Clarence got beaten by an outsider called Andy, Milo being third. The open ditches in English steeplechases will soon it is said, become things of the East. They are loudly clamoured against y jockeys and owners, and petitions against them are being numerously signed for presentation to the New Grand National Hunt Committee.

What may happen to to a man iv Victoria has received a true illustration (says a Mel bourne paper) in the fact that Tom Hender son, once the prince of Australian horsemen, may be seen almost any* evening selling newspapers in Bourke-street. It does seem a thousand pities that so accomplished an artist should have to thank himself for Mb misfortune.

Nominations for the Cambridge Jockey Club Autumn Meeting are due on Thursday next.

Emir Bey, who was purchased by a Na pierite the other week, is to be relegated to stud duty. It is estimated that 2069 horses started in races in England last season. £3,506 passed through the totalisator dur ing the Taranaki Jockey Club Meeting.

When the mail left, Superba and Royal Fern were favourites for the Two Thou sand Guineas, and the Adelaide filly was in most demand for the Epsom Derby. The Two Thousand is run on the 30th of the present month, and the Derby on the 28th May. The smallest pony known is the pet of the Baroness Burdett-Coutts-Bartlott, the richest woman in England. Tho pony stands only 13 inches high, and is five years old.

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1884

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