RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.]

t>r>me write, 11 neitrhboTir's name to lash, Sninc write—viuntlioiKlit!—for lined fitl cash, dome write to please tho country clash,

And raise a'lliii. For m% an aim I never fa&li — I writo for fun.

Two rather noted clerics took their departuro from Auckland this week, viz., Bishop Luck (tho chief R.C. dignitary in the provincial district), and Itev. Thos. Spurgoon (pastor of the Baptist Church in YVellesley - street). These gentlemen, occupying positions in the religious world very nearly at the antipodes of each other, havo departed hence under co-incident con ditions which are worth nothing. They had each witnessed the inauguration of new church buildings—the new St. Patrick's Cathedral and the new Tabernacle; they both sailed in the same steamer ; they both intend going to Europe to visit their spiritual superiors; and they both make profuse professions that they are coming back to tho colony. With regard to tho last-named item, the knowing ones are just a trifle suspicious that the parting guests "protest too much," ami they hint witli sundry winks and waggings of the head that the colony has seen tho last of these gentlemen. I would hope that this may provo a fiilso augury, as much for tho sake of tho spiritual life of Auck land as for the truth-telling re putation of those loading lights of the .Roman Catholics and Baptists. There havo been clerics loft our shore making similar protestations of dovotedness to their Hocks, and yet who havo never returned ; but I am loth to believe that "all men are liars." Bishop Luck is particularly specific and earnest—he says in effect that, if lie lives, he will certainly return to Auck land. For this let us all bo thankful, for I roally don't know what we should do if wo wore doprived of that dash of keen enjoy ment which tho Bishop occasionally im parted to colonial life by his utterances, par excmple, on tho Land League, and the duty of man in relation to the lower animals. For his logic, I can only say, in his own language, Transient. When ho reaches Loi'lon ho will find his opponent in tho logic popping gamo there beforo him, and " across the walnuts and the wino " tho twain may bury their ancient feud.

It was not to be expected, of course, that the " llevorond Tommy " would leave Auckland without having recourse to a bit of claptrap sermonising to move the senti mental bosoms of his tlock. Hence wo find him preaching his farewell discourse from the words, "And ho arose and went to his father." It had been pretty generally understood that the youthful ecclesiastic was going to his father ; no one had even whispored that it was a case of " Tommy, make room for your uncle;" yot ho must needs invoko the aid of Holy Writ and of parable to impress on tho minds of his Hock the important fact that ho was going to see his papa. It evidently did not occur to him that in exalting himself as the son of his father he was disclosing the most vulnerable joint of his armour. Not oven his most fervent admirer can deny that the popular young preacher owed a good deal of his success to tho lustre of the name ho boars, while tho freshness of hi? pulpit style was at best but a faint re flection of the mannerisms and eccentrici ties of C. H. Spurgeon. In some respects the rising generation is in advance, for I don't suppose the dear delightful dad will welcome back Tommy by preaching from the text, "And ho fell upon his son's neck and kissed him !"

I did not hear tlmt fare troll sermon on tho Prodigal Son's resolution to go back to the old folks at homo, but it must have been hard for the hearers of it to refrain from identifying tlio preacher with the young man of tho parable. Had not Tommy loft tho parental roof to sojourn in a "far country " ? Had he not been wasting his substance in riotous living—emasculat ing his energies by the dissipations of tea fights, ladies' fancy fairs, and Sabbath school picnic?, with tho accompanying game 3of "Jolly Miller" and Kiss-in-the- Rin" ? Had lie not hired himself to tend a flock of—well, say sheep, for a variation, for tho paltry consideration of a salary? Yea, and he hod even got so low as to partako of the husks which tile fiwine did cat, for ho had gono round collecting filthy lucre from the ungodly, and had even sold his portrait to the heathen in oxnhanga for unsanetined " spondulics So at last, fick of tlio bitter bondage, he bethought himself that not only the iirst rate man," but the common "clutters of h:s father's establishment, were better oft than h-:, so he said, " I will arise a.ul go to my father." These parallels I fancy, must havo occurred to everyone who listened to his farewell discourse, and of course Tommy has no right to complain, since it was bisown action which provoked them. I hat inti mation about the coming "hrst-rate man is an improvement on tho old story. The Prodigal's father, we are told, received back tho wanderer with e^cry demonstration of joy; but it is quite evident "they didnt ao incontinently deserted by his young hopeful! x x x I am glad to find that my advice to the ladies in the matter of organising a Leap Year ball has not been totally fruitless for I observe that a grand Leap tear entertain went is announced under the patron^ His Excellency tho Governor. Tho natme of tho gathering is sti 1 very, much of a mystery but sufficient is promised to whet S»W and I make bold to say every marriageable bachelor is ori the gut viveto find out more about it. I rejoice at tho proepeet which opens up, for I am no.great believer in Mr Malthus's theory of popula tion, and I have that characterise of carried men-tho greatest pleasure in see- In^others brought into the same state of blLhjlness. I make bold to say that few of deniable. X X * The common cry about excessive fosur. nnnn rates will be rather subdued by the to for a policy ot t..w ° y the issued.

•quite willing to ™ f th premium . and return the batonea o i {or The owner Homet I *ith the P y £300, obtained in a~i e j C gome time original policy was caocenea. p 11H§I the risk. Now, it is not «****% ™ n . •greatest vigilance. B

purse. The Governor, coming into the meeting placo of the Executive Council one day in a temper, poured out tho vials of his wrath upon tho Premier in no stinted measure. After the meeting was over, Sir George drew up a memorandum of what had occurred, which was verified by other members of the Cabinet, for future reference. When the Council next met, it appeared that His Excellency had drawn up a state ment of the altercation, which ho desired to have recorded on the minutes. Sir George hero stood up, and with mock solemnity stated that ho had also intended to prefer a request for nn addition to the minutes, but had almost resolved to let it drop, until His Excellency's memorandum induced him to bring it forward ; it was this, that His Excellency the Governor had failed to carry out the instructions of the Crown for the government of meetings of tho Executive Council, inasmuch as it was expressly laid down in these instructions that before any business was taken the minutes of the previous meeting must be read and con firmed. The wisdom of this rule was.more over, very apparent, because, if any member of the Council came into tho room in a passion, and was disposed to commit him self, it was exceedingly likely that during tho twenty minutes or so occupied in the confirmation of the minutes he would liavo time to cool, anil reason resuming its sway, would save him from indiscretion. The other members of tho Cabinet smiled mali ciously, and the Governor's rubicund coun tenance became more fiery still, but the humour of tlie situation was entirely lost upon him, and he and Sir George- Grey were for ever afterwards at " daggers drawn."

Flunkcyism seems painfully out of placo in the colonies. For tho first timo in my Auckland experiences I saw a few days ago a carriage in Queon-streot driven by a coach man in livery, wlio had a pompous little "Button" seated by his sido with arms folded, after the most approved stylo of tho pampered menials of a bloated aristocracy at Home. Tho sight grated on my feelings, for it was utterly incongruous amidst tho f rco surroundings of this place. But a moro do basing and objectionable form of flunkeyism has made its appearance of late years in the colonies—an abject toadying of tho titled and the great by tho local magnates and those who aro expected to bo leaders of public opinion. Tho ovil is moro or less to be found in all tho colonies. A nobleman even though ho is only a twopence-half penny Maltese one—is offered a free pass over all the railways, while tho poor country settlers aro forced to pay exorbitant goods and passenger rates. The colony of Victoria "takes tho cake," however, as the very prince of flunkeys. Two of her lead ing public men, while in New Zealand lately, made themselves ridiculous by tho homage they paid to poor old Tawhiao, the so-called Maori King ; and when they could behavo in such a fashion over "a king of shreds and patches," it is hard to conceivo what they would do in presence of n real monarch. Tho recent death of Prince Leopold has given occasion for a display of Victorian toadyism. I see from the papers that Mv Service, the Victorian Premier, has had this placarded in all tho public schools :—" In memory of the good Princo Leopold, youngest son of our beloved Queen. Born April 7th, 1853; died March 28th, 1884." It is hard to beat this, but if Mr Service did not surpass himself wlion ho proclaimed a day of mourning all over the colony, the Victorian news papers have capped the climax of Han koyism. The " Universe," of Melbourne, a select Conservative organ, put a whole page in mourning for tho dead duUo, and devoted several columns to a gushing eulogy and a doleful wail of sorrow. Not only SO, a democratic paper at Ballarat went into mourning all over, and had a frenzied howl to tho extent of a couple of columns over the Prince's death. All this,

1 hold, is deplorable, and seems to prove the inhorent snobbishness of human nature.

It would be moro to the credit of the colonies if they took practical steps to alleviate the horrible condition of " Outcast London " by an oiler of part of their broad lands and superabundant food products. But no ; while they wail over a dead prince they shut their gntos to living men, by passing anti-immigration resolutions, and sending Home exaggerated reports of "hard times in the colonies." And yet they delude themselves with tho idea that they are "103-al" and "sympathetic"' and "devoted." Bah! XXX A good many stories are told about boarders and their troubles with the philan thrope creatures who benevolently dis pense hash tothemfora consideration ; hero is a genuine one. Ho had been taken into the bosom of a private family, "with all tlio comforts of a home." Beingamiable, chatty, and popular, ho had the run of all the pood houses in town, to which his host's family were not invited. This was a source of tribulation, and one evening after tea when preparing for his nightly excursion, he was accosted in a fatherly way by landlord pore: "You know, my dear , these people you go to don't care a bit about you ; they only ask you to Jill up thoii- list; your society would bo very much moro appreciated at homo." "Do you really fay so?" responded the guileless youth with a bland smile, "but, if you approciate my company to such an extent why do you charge mo fifty shillings a week for the privilege of living here?" Landlord'collapses, and boarder makes exit in triumph. + + + Among the many things for which Scot land and Scotchmen are famous, but which the " auld man," who was the lifo and soul of the Kennedy family, did not tell us about, was tho fact that, despite its severe theology, tho North Britainers are the most practical exponents of free love principles in the threo kingdoms. Tho statistics of illegitimacy, I note, again place Scotland at the head of the civilised world. In one Aberdeenshire parish actually one-half of the births wore unblessed; in a parish of Nairnshire one-fifth, and a county of Wig town one-fifth. How do Scotchmen account for this ? Are the peculiarities of the Scot tish marriage law and its purely secular character responsible, or is it due to the conditions under which the rural population heti togetlior in small dwellings, irrespec tive of sex'/ It is a curious subject for inquiry, and I present It with my compli ments for the winter course hi one or other of our Presbyterian debating societies,

The marriageable maidens of the Baptist Church, ranginsr from blushing 10 to simpering 60, after being kept on the tenter-hooks of matrimonial expectancy for two whole years, liayp been suddenly hurled into the abyss of despafr, The match-making mammas nro outwitted and spiteful, and the papas who cherished the idea of a parsonic alliance through Belinda Anco or Dorcaa Jane are severely down in the mouth. In fine, the Reverend Tommy hns departed without selecting a wife from tho serried ranks of the Auckland eligiblos. Worse than that the green-eyed monster i? abroad, for Eusjourwill have it that there is, either in Tasmania, pr in England, a pair of bright eyes whose taljsmanic power has had a potent influence In stimulating the home-' sickness within the young pastor * breast. ■NTone better tlian he knew of Hie toils that fi'ad been sedulously spread for his unwary feet, and in taking leave of his congregation ho could not forbear a littlo badinage upon this very point, arid name mild exultation over his success in eluding tlie snarers, H e said that he had been greycly assured over <-nd over a^ain that his ministry would have been doubly successful if tiiore had been » Mr* Spurgeon in the case. Whilst that might be bo, he could see many counteract, in" ad vantages. For instance, his wife had not set tho people a bad pi-ample by coming into church late; she had nor incurred their displeasure by the length ot her tonmie or the flippancy of her talk ; and shoiiad not reflected upon her professions by the dressiness of her attire. Neither had she made any enemies, provoked one a-ord of reproach, or laid claim to that credit for successful ministerial labour K'bich bbioi)gPd to God alone.

In his pardonable delight at thus having the opportunity to "take a hand 'at those who would force him into a state of wedlock, the pastor hesitated not to indulge in a tittle "slang," but it was neatly turned. He assured the congregation that he could " get his monkey up "when he liked, and begged them not to allow "thenret rato man," who was .coring out by the Lusitania, to obtain such a hofd upon their affections as to put his " nose out of joint. Then he had a sly rap at that individual known as the Bishop, otherwise MrR.B. Shalders He felt convinced that that gentleman, und*> whose spiritual care was the Whau Asylum and other preaching places, would miss him very much indeed, inasmuch as whenever ho preached a better sermon than usual his worthy friend was accustomed to gleefully exclaim that it would do admirably for his J ijnatics the same afternoon. This may be accepted us a hint to lay preachers how to save themselves trouble, and at the same time make a ministerial sermon go a long way. In conclusion, Mr Spoi'geon bor rowing a homely illustration from nis father! told his congregation that he was the cotton, they the sugar, and the blending of the two a stick of candy,

wherefore lie urged them to candy closer year by year. The parson was in good spirits, and he so happily communicated them to his people that when the appeal for funds came to be mado the united responjo was a promise of £726. That in dicates I should think, and pretty con clusively too, tho power of the charmer. Mr Spurgeon has lived down much opposi tion and prejudice in Auckland, he has advanced the Baptist cause considerably, and established himself as a popular preacher. I cordially wish him hon voyage, protection from designing mothers on the other side of the herring pond, a pleasant holiday, and a speedy return.

A master mariner who is very well known in Auckland, no less for his good seaman ship than for his weakness for femalo society, has very forcibly realised the truth of the old saying, that "between two stools you aro sure to como to the ground." For some considerable time past he had been paying attention to two young ladies, and went so far with each that they both, in blissful ignorance of the interest held by tho other in tho object of their mutual regard, ex pected in duo time to accopt him " for better or for worse." Tho gay Lothario was very fond of botli the fair ones, and again and again he sighed, " How happy could I be with either wore t'other dear charmer away," but the fact of tho matter was that ho wished very much to get mar ried, and that speedily, so ho popped the question to ono fair inamorata, who blush ingly responded "yes," and it was agreed that the union should take placo at an early date. News of a coming marriago soon flies, and as might havo boon expected, it came to tho ears of tho less fortunate rival in the bad man's affections, and she becamo what is well understood by the expression "wild." Sho took advantage of tho first opportunity, and interviewed the gay Lothario. Ho had, sho vowed, promised more than onco to make her liifl wifo, and threatened that if he married "that other tiling" sho would sue hint for breach of promise. This placed him in an exceedingly awkward predicament, and ho did not see his way clear out of it, so in a fit of desperation ho had tho intended marriagepostponcd.hopingagainiithopethat something would turn up to put the matter straight. Tho much-wishedfor, howovor, has not yet been realised, and the unfor tunate skipper is very ill at oaso, knowing not what awful catastrophe a day or an hour may bring forth. XXX Persons who imagine that suporstition lingers only, like cobwebs, about cer tain churches and graveyards, will bo somewhat surprised to learn that a bolief in fortune - telling ex ists in this sunny, intellectual city, and until tho p>"esont week mieh sceptics might have consulted Josephino, of Freeman's Bay (now of Mount Eden), as to their future destiny. Josephine is a jolly • looking brunette of forty-live- summors, a lady of Fronch extraction, who rattles off her broken English, not fluently, but at rail way speud. Sho exclaims with a fooling of national prido that she was named after tho amiable but neglected wife of the first Napoleon, and to the loving Josephine's credit, be it said, she reads tho novels of Victor Hugo. Sho has been doing a brisk business for somo timo past with hot mystical pack of dingy cards among married women and young girls, inspiring oftimea the former with jealousy and the utter with vain hopes of coming husbands. This statement will surprise some in dividuals, who will scarcely believe that tho old Norwood superstition of rovealing secrets has been imported into the North Island of New Zealand. Such, however, is tho fact, and Josephine, of Paris, would have continued her business uninter ruptedly had not a littlo incident occurred which led to the warrantable intrusion of Constable B to tho Merlinic cave. Josephino crossed her friend's hand with a silver shilling— not with a worn sixpence of the Gipsy days and by the wagging of her prophetic tongue. She gftvo her feminine believers entire satisfaction. Laura, a Freeman's Bay lass, was in the habit of visiting Josephine's cot, a few paces from Drake-street, and to her dark-eyed friend ami guide she told hoi fears, doubts, and heart troubles. Tho cards wore ahutlled, and invariably tho aco of hearts peerod forth, indicating, accord ing to tho priestess of destiny, that Laura would havo a fair man for her husband, and that on Sunday, at four o'clock, sho would sco him sitting on the left sido, in a certain spot on College Hill.

"Then I shall not be on tlio shelf," murmured Lanro, Josephine knows a fortnight hence tlio fair young mon may be popping tlio question—a question to which tho majority of colonial yomiH ladies never say " No." Laura repealed her \isits to the brown enchantress, and tlio sumo wonderful curd over cunie uppermost, in evidence of inevit able destiny. Napoleon had his ISook of Fate, and .Tosophinc her trustworthy puck, said the beguilor; and so successfully did sho oporuto, by dark intluonce, upon tho feelings of Laura that she could not sleep o' nights with any degree of soundness. In relating to mo tho simple opiaode in her briof history in Court, Laura said ; " I dreamed that the fair young man was at tho door waiting for me. I would start from my bed, throw a shawl over my shoulders, and rush, in a somnambu listic state, into the night air, anticipating a meeting and embrace." Under tho con tinued excitement, Laura becatnethin and pale; and, in answer to paternal inquiries, replied, " I am quite well, but I think you should know the secret cause of my anxiety." Sho then told her mamma all about Josephine, the fortune - teller. Mamma tried to sooth her spirit and drive away her fear. Still Laura bolieved that Josephine was a wise woman, and not an arch-deceiver, and that tho fair man would in duo timo put in a bright appear ance. At length good sense gained the vic tory.andshe wished Josephine " good-byo." Josephine, however, claimed a balance on account, and detained Laura's gipsy hat; but Laura, with determination in her eyes, snatched the hat, and ran with active steps towards St. Thomas'a Church. Josephine followed with slower steps, she being very fat and over forty ; and, chagrined and dis appointed, she turned into the Rob Roy Hotel, and after turning sundry nobblers down the road to ruin, she uttered a fearful oath—startling from end to end—and was arrested by tho constable. Josephino was in the frequent habit of swearing, according to Mr Cunningham's " Chronicles of Crimi nals." The fortune-teller is now in Mount Eden Gaol, and Laura occasionally looks out for Mr Wright on College Hill.

There are tricks, it is said, in every trade. From time immemorial the grocer has been credited with the very repiohen. eiblo practice of sanding the sugar, tho milkman with diluting the milk by periodical visits with his can to the well DC pump, and the publican in a like manner with mixing tho grog, but it was not until very recently that I hoard of " watering the coals." A short time since a small vessel arrived in harbour with a cargo of " black diamonds," for the purchase of which a merchant in town entered into an agreement with the skipper. Tho latter wanted the buyor to accept his assurance that there were a certain number of tons in the cargo, but tho other said he wasn't to be "had," and insisted that the coals should be .yejghed, and also that'he should receive the quantity State.'] to be contained in the pargo. "Veryyell," replied #;e skipper, and fchpy separated- it'daybreak jaii thp following morning flip crew pf the vessel were suddenly roused from sleep by a pry qf !'4JI hands on deck to wator tho coals," and up they tumbled, wondering if tho skipper had gong crazy. But that worthy possessed all his senses, arid directed the men to get buckets and distribute afyout fifty gallons of saljt water over the cargo in the hold, and the order- was obeyed, This sort of thing was repeated for several mornings until the purchaser of the coals was ready to take delivery. The cargo was dis charged and weighed with tho greatest care, but long before it had all been put out- the skipper cried "hold," and explained that the quantity arranged for had been delivered, and that what re mained in the vessel belonged to himself. Tho purohaser was then" terribly disap pointed that he had not agreed to tafce the skipper's word as to the quantity, but insisted that ho had bought the whole oargo. The skipper, however, was determined, and the other got hia full weight of coals—and salt water. I received the story on excel lent authority, and was further assured that the practice .qf" watering coals" is by no means uncommon, and that it is fre quently practised and found1 to greatjy increase their weight.

It is always interesting to iparn qI the whereabouts of those individuals who 4t djvers tfmps and in diyers manners have precipitately retired frqin the bustle and turmoil of Auckland life, and have pro* ceeded in search of "fresh fields and pas. tures new " without the consent of their creditors. At the present moment, I hay© before me a letter giving some information concerning a guileless youth of the masher persuasion, erstwhile known to a favoured tew in Auckland as " Baby" Lewis. Like

many others of his class, he made his ad vent here on the decks of an immigrant vessel, and under the auspices of the Go vernment. Dressing extravagantly at tho expense of a too conliding tailor, he insinu ated himself into thegracesofsundrymammoß and numerous daughters, who were possibly captivated by his loud attire, or his divine dancing. The youth was articled to a well known lawyer, and was equally successful in impressing acquaintances with his godli ness, and in getting into the debt of comrades and strangers alike. The fact that he was the loving Bhepherd of a fold of gentle Sunday-school lambs assisted him very considerably in his designs.^ He gradually became involved, and his friends woke up one fine morning to find that he had done the "Pacific slope," and was gone. Nothing was heard of him since, but my correspondent, who writes from Sydney, tells me lie is living at Petersham, a suburb of that place. Ho is re presented as being possessed of quite as much cheek as characterised him in tho days of yore while he is dressed as swell ishly as over. Possibly his tailor is not quite so unsophisticated as the " knight of tho needle and goose," who supplied him with "togs "in Auckland. Fairburn, who will bo remembered as tho hero of the powdered jewellery scandal, and the North Wairoa horsewhipping ease, is also in Sydney, and lias taken unto himself a wife.

THE TERRIBLE KNOUT.

The Dreadful Punishmont of a Murderer in Russia. [CINCINNATI " INl)OIRKTl."| Mazof had murdered a man, a woman, and a little boy. Boforo the magistrate ho made a full confession of his guilt. A determined attempt was made by tho soldiors to mob him while ho was making this confession, but it was repressed. He was reserved for a much moro terriblo punishmont than that accorded by lynch law. Ho was sentenced to 399 lashes with the knout, which moant to bo knouted to death, unloss ho possessed superhuman endurance Ho was marched out to punishmont in company with two forgors, all St. Peters burg turning out to witness the spoctaclo. This horrible show in thus graphically do scribed by tho old chronicle : — "The stake prepared for him was a strong block of wood fixed in tho ground with threo grooves at the top and two ringß noar tho bottom : tho middle groove was for tho neck, and tho two others for tho armpits, tho rings bolow to lock round tho ankles; about tho stakes were laid coarse skins, especially where the knout-master trod, upon which lay his whips, marking-irons, pincers, etc. An officer then rend a paper to the people, signifying that forgery upon tho Imperial bank being a capital crime, and two of the prisonors convicted of it, were condemned to receive eleven blows with tho knout, to have their nostrils pulled out, and to bo banished for life to Siboria ; tho murdoror of so many persons to receive 399 blows, to bo branded throe times in tho face, havo his nostrils pulled out, and (if then alivo) bo banished for life to the mines of Siboria.

" Tho executioner and his assistants then strippod him, tied his hands aeroM, and led him to the post. After fixing his ankles they bent his neck and arms over it, and drew' tho ropo with which his hands woro tied through tho ring on tho opposite side, which seemed to stretch all the muscles of tho back. He then retired about four or fivo yards from him, and, taking up one of tho knouts, worked it with his hands to givo it a proper elasticity. Walking towards tho criminal with four or five steady steps, then taking a spring he struck a per pendicular stroko with a heavy, loud crack. The first stroko cut from tho right sido of tho bottom of the neck to tho left armpit. Tho effect was visible in a moment, and by tho violence of his scroams afforded reason to suppose that the pain was very great. Tho second was about half an inch bolow tho first, and so on till twenty-fivo, when, changing the whip, the operator oraßed tho former wound, striking from tho left sido to tho right, and afterward quite per pend alar. Tho strokes wore given with the greatest regularity. Botween each a porson might uoliborntcly count eight, the executioner always walking slowly to and from tho stako.

" His cries were now so tcrriblo that some of the spectators wero obliged to turn their backs and put their fingers in their oars. All was quiet and silent, and tho crack of the knout was heard a great distance. Afrer receiving threo hundred lashos tho culprit's voico grow faint, and during tho last ouo hundred ho showed no signs of life whatever, the whole of the upper park of the b-ick being beaten to a black mummy. After tho last blow tho assi.-Umls lifted up the face by tho hair, and the executioner struck him forcibly three times with an in strument that loft tho initial of murderer, throwing each time a handful of black dust into tlia wound; after which, at two pulls, he tore the gristle of his nose, and loosenod him from the block. The whole lasted about threo quarters of an hour, and it was gonerally thought that ho had been dead some time ; however, he made a feoblo attompt to put on his coat, and recovered sufficiently to bo able to inaka some reparation to socioty by working the iron mines."

THE PAY OF EDITORS.

Tho Salary Rooeived by Somo Prominont Journalists.

When Mr Delano undertook the editorial charge of the London " Times " he was paid L 4,000. Mr Bucklo, the new editor of that journal, a young man of thirty, without any previous experience, commences his official torm on an annual stipend of L 5.000, Mr Edward Lawson, tho editor of the London "Telegraph," is its owner, and bo is not on a salary, but the two senior editors of that journal, Mr Edward Arnold and Mr J, M. Le-Sage, receive each a salary of L 5,000. The "Standard,"which is next in circulation of the great London dailies to tho "Tele graph," does not pay as well as its mighty rival, for its editor, Mr Mudford, gets only L 3.000 per annum. The "Daily News," the organ of English Liborala and tho third in circulation of the English metropolitan journals, pays to its editor tho extromely comfortable yearly salary of L 4.000. Tho editor of the Manchester "Guardian," easily tho most powerful and influential country newspaper (meaning outside of London) in England, pays its chief editor L 3.000, and two members of its staff, who writo only four articles a week, L 1,500. Mr Stead, the editor of tho "Pall Mall Gazette," gets L 2.000, and the leading writer of that journal, Mr Milner, is paid at the rate of L 1.600 yearly. Ho is a young man, and amuses himself with literary work, whioh ho need not do if he does net care to, as he possesses an Independent income from a very large fortune. Some of tho weeklies of London pay vory handsomely. Mr Hutton, who fa at the head of tho "Spectator," geta L 2.000. Mr Pollock, of the "Saturday Review," receives the same sum as his con frere, oi tho " Spectator," and Mr Frederick Greenwood, who steers the " St. James Gazette" through the tortuous mazes of English politics, gets for doing it LBOO, while Mr F. C. Burnand, who not only edits "Punch," but writes its sharp Parliamen tary criticisms, receives L3,0i;0 a-year for his double duty, Besides the regular staff of the great dailies thero are always at tached to each of them several outside con tributors, who havo certain special lines of informatioi). Pfli (^am^le * ' MV GhavlM Marvin, who knows mote bibquk Central Asia and the Turcpman tribes in the Mppy Oftsjs than anybody plgp in England since tho death oi poor Donovan, writes the articles which fiaye lately appeared in the London "Times on this subject. Just now England wants to know all about that ourlcms region, at Russia is pushing its way to India by the Mer-v foute, and therefore Mr Marvin's years of gathered knowledge can now be utilised to his very great pecuniary ad vantage. Mr Archibald Forties's slashing articles on the Egyptian war in "the journal of the largest liberal circulation in the world," as the "News" proudly de nominates itself, are admirable in the matter of criticism, although he has no personal knowledge of the region in which General Graham's trRPPS are meeting with Buck an obstinate resistance,

EXPLORATION OF NEW GUINEA.

(Extract from the "Melbourne Ago," June 13, 1853.) "' , i , "In connection with the Waltium W ITCH COTANY it may be stated that when thq proprietors of " Ti" Ago"desired to present Mb G. E. Morrison (tbe Kxp.orf to JJew Guinea) with'a reliable Chronometer, acting "?on the advico of Mr R.L. j, WUvvy. the Government Astronomer, two Waltham Watches were, however; procured tor Mn MoiiHjsoN instead. These were kept at tho Melbourne Ohsftrv'6(,orr for a /ortu.jht, and thoroughly ana carefully" teutf.;], und were pronounced by Mr Ellery. at tho onS o( that time, to be better suited for 21k MoiimsoN's requiremppts than any Chronometer."-[Advt.)

THE GARDEN.

(By Hortus),

Calondar of Operations, May 10,

[Ilomus Is willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must give their full names and addresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS,

Fiob (Amateur).—The reason, I believe, that fl«s are not riponing well this Bea3On is that wo havo had a very cold, naaty spring and summer. I believe it would pay to grow llgs extensively for tho market, if more caro was taken in their cultivation. Feed the roots well in tho spring, and in tno summer, after a few fruit have formed on each shoot, pinch back such shoot, so as to allow no more to form. Tho sap will then bo concentrated on fewer fruit, ttius producing a fruit of much bettor quality. 1 bolievo the fig, when better understood, will be extonalvely grown and dried forshlppiug towards the South. In tho north of Auckland it will succeed beet. Vegetables for Sked (Onlone).—ln saving vegetables for Bceding, such as onions, carrots, turnips, leeks, cabbage, or cauliflower. &c, the very best healthy specimens ought always to bo chosen, 'fake onions, for instance, choose a well-formed sound bulb with a thin neck, keep it in a dry place, and in the early spring plant it out. From such you will be more likely to produco large round bulbs the following season than from small or misshaped Iralbs. Tho same refers to all other vego tablos. Occasionally change plants or seed which has been grown on different soils than your own.

Wood Asiikb (A.F.)—Wood ashes arc one of the most vuluablo fertilisers that can he applied to the soil, especially where bulbs or tubers nro to be grown; alao for root crops of all kinds. Krcn a slight top dressing of wood ashes on tho lawn will greatly assist the growth of tho grass. Never throw awuy tho ashes; always apply them usefully to some pint of tho garden. I often burn clay to upnly to the soil, which also is a valuable addition to any manures that may bo used, Hkkti.k or Bub (W.P.)—I have had no ox purlence (nor don't want to have) of the above insect ruyßelf. Hut lam told tho best way to check its ravages is to plant a good number of castor oil plauts throughout tho garden. Tho leaves of these aro said to kill tho post by tho hundred. In some of tho places around Mount Kdc.i they scarcely leave a green loaf in tho gardeu. I don't know any other spoeiflc. Perhaps some of my readers could Rivo moro information, which wo would fiddly publish.

Kitchen Garden.

Asparaous.—Cut down the old stems and take off some of the surface soil, placing it on tho paths between tho beds. Dress tho bods with a heavy sprinkling of salt, then cover tho bed with about six inches of well-rotted stablo manure. Sea-weed, if it can bo easily obtained, will be bettor for tho purpoßo. Whero now beds of tho abovo are required, now is the best time to make them. Troncli tho ground to a depth of two foot, and put into tho trenches plenty of well-rotted manure and decayed rubbish. Lot tho bedß stand till planting timo comes on. Now rhubarb and seakale beds should also bo made now ; make tho beds for these in much the same manner as tho asparagus beds. In old eeakalo bods, clear away tho debris, fork ovor tho surface, and apply plenty of woll-rotted manure. Rhubarb, lift and place in a shade for a month or two beforo planting again. Give tho soil whero thoy aro to be re-planted a thorough trenching, using plenty of manure. Thin out any seedlings which are too thick in tho rowa. Earth up all the eaily autumn-planted crops. Plant out a small bed of shallots in good rich soil. Complete tho trenching of all vacant piocos of ground as soon as possible Tho present dry weather cannot last much longer. Flower Gordon. Hurry on the new alterations, have the lawns levelled and sown down in grass as soon ns possible. Whero a dressing is to bo

Sfiven to the lawn it should bo done at once. Sen that tho soil is properly worked in übout the old grass with the rake. Have it properly levollod. Sow fresh grass seed, then apply a heavy roller, going over with tho roller two or threo times. The mixed flower borders will now bo fast putting on their winter face. Givo tho plants an overhaul, cutting back thoso that may require it, staking away all doad or de caying wood and loaves. Put plenty of de cayed manure all over tho surface, and havo it forkoi into tho ground. Recollect the more manure put into tho ground the bettor will be tho return in flowers next tea son. Continue plunting out tho early spring flowering bulbs, as already directed lost week. Lift dahlia roots as they ripen, place them in tho sun to dry for a week or bo before storing past for the winter. Put a mark or label on all bulbs left in tho ground for tho winter, so that their whereabouts may bo known. Cut and clip grass edgings. Hoo, rake, and roll walks making tho place look as neat and tidy as possible.

(iHKKSiiorsK. —Sometime towards tho end of this month the house should receive an overhaul, Havo tho glass and woodwork all thoroughly washed with soap and water; paint woodwork if it requires it; wash all tliopotstoclearthemossfrom them. Remove a little surface soil from each pot; replace with a little fresh compost; also look to .sco that tho drainage of each plant is in good order, as a good number of plants are lost every winter through insufficient drainage. Pot a few hyacinths and tulips for early floworing, using a good friable loam, sand, woll-rotted manure, with a little wood ashes. Keop up a good circulation of air. It is poor economy to burn straw. Thoro are so many useful purposes for the straw that the wise farmor will scarcely need to havo recourse to fire to got rid of it. It makes an excellent mulch for all kinds of fruit trees, and it may be freely used for bedding, and by frequently changing the compost heap may bo rapidly augmented. By all moans savo the straw.

Eehovating Grass Lawns.—This is tho best month of the year for renovating grass lawns. There are three ways of doing this, by turfing, by inoculation, and by seed. Turfing is simply covering the whole surfaco with a sod of turf, the bost method of all when good turf for the purpose can bo obtained ; where such is under contemplation the operation will be better deferred till next month. Inoculation : Procuro any good pieces of turf suited for tho purpose (such can in most places be obtained from an old pasture or from the road-sides); got it freo of weeds if possible. Cope this turf up into little threo-inch squares; take nnd make little holes in the lawn, and insert these squares of turf in the holes, letting them well into tho soil; place them about a foot apart—tho closer the better, and sooner the grass from these squares will spread over tho whole lawn. After tho whole lawn has been gone over in tho abovo manner, havo Bomo good rich well pulverised soil wheeled over the surface, and epread equally all over; give a good dose, say about from a quarter to half an inch deep will be a good dressing! havo this thoroughly worked into tho old grass, then sow fresh ryo grass seod, raking and rolling it well. The rye grass will make a fair lawn till tho othor grasses from the little squares cover the whole lawn. I havo assisted to make a good sole of grass in two years by the above means as good as if the whole surface had bpen turfed. This is the best month fordoing tho abovo. By seed, if it is desirable not to go to much expense, give tho lawn a thorough scarifying with a harrow, then top-dress with somo good rioh soil and plonty of bones, then sow grass seed. This is also the bost season for tho abovo.

Apple Blight. A correspondent in the " Australasian " of March 15 says:—l am asked to make known to the general public, through the wideiy-circulating medium of the " Austra lasian,"the correct specific for my cure of apple blight, with which request I readily comply, I am the proprietor of a large orchard, and have in years gone by grown many thousands of bushels of applpa. During that pprjed I dctoinijned by 'persc yeraneq ft find a remedy against the apple blight. 1 had known that for years 'the sheep of Australasia W p re) 8Q tQ gp^^ rpttein wjth what wqs ouphoniously called sneep scab, but for many years till recently the aparus or inseot-producing scab was stamped out, aided by very strjn[»ent Ifiws and the compulsory cjrpssjng tho ah'eep with a mixture tho ingredients of which tho late Pr, Rqwo wa.B instrumental in in troducing to publionotlce. Theingredicitts consisted principally qf sulphur. Now the secret was how to dissolve that mineral. Roche lime was the alkali employed, a large boiler being used for mixing the sulohur and lime, with the addition of water b +eing used and placed on a firo fpr about 20 minutes. AH the badly affected sheep being killed and burnt, and the others fre quently dipped in Rowe's specific, the scab was eventually eradicated, Studying this question, arid Knowing that CHshurst's com pound or mixture of soft soap was recognised py orohardlsts as the best apple aphis dress ing, it struck mo that the principal de structive ingredient in these compositions was caustic potash or soda. By experiment as a solvent of sulphur, being the primary alkali and therefore the strongest solvent, I mixed the two together with water or suds, and applied it thickly round the stem of 'overy apple tree. $he result was the fol lowing yint and ever sinod it' disappeared; nor for 12 years since I flrat applied it have I expended one farthing, or employed a single moment'? labour in, tlte matter of the apple aphis, But, Bjr, there is yet an othpr remedy pr scourge for tho apple aphis, which 1 fully believe would prove an effectual exterminator of the pbyllpxpra in, the grape vines, namply, o?idp pf iron.. I have observed that vines growing in fer-; ruginous earth—that is, soil oo'ntainicg particles of iron—are least affected by

phylloxera. Salt, therefore, will assist in dissolving the iron, and thereby render it more efficacious. 1 have found iron from a blacksmith's sboeing-forge and salt effec tively destroy the apple blight; and had I grown grapes I certainly would Imvo ap plied it to tho vines. I should like some of your numerous vigiioron readers to try what i recommend and inform me the results.

Another correspondent writing to the same journal says : —Within [the last few years I havo witnessed a remedy for apple blight which'was tried accidentally, and which proved successful, in the garden of a gentleman in Geelong. When tho garden in question was taken, two Pearmain apple trees wore completely white with blight. When digging up some tomato plants after the tomatoes had been gathered tho plants i were placed temporarily in the lowest fork of ono of these apple trees, which happened to bo near, and beforo the next apple season came round the blight had quite dis appeared from this tree. The other trees were tried in tho sanio way in order to have it proved whether tho tomato plants were or were not responsible for the cure, and tho same effect was caused. I may add that although the trees woro so badly attacked by blight at first, tho apples were always beautiful eating apples.

The Wonders of Canton.

When called upon onco to namo tho most wonderful city which she had ever visited, Miss Bird, the gifted lady traveller, promptly responded : " Canton is at once tho most novel, fascin ating, and startling of all the places I ever visited." After a residence here of a little •vor two weeks, I am prepared to endorse this statement, if, indeed, a statement coming from such a source needs any en dorsement. It will bo observed that this is not ascribing to Canton pre-eminenceforany thing like beauty, not by any "manner of means." I think there is moro hero that is disgusting than there is that is attractive ; but these sights, sounds, and especially smells that aro offensive, are peculiar to every Chinese city, and a tourist must lay asido all prudish and fastidious notions in order to understand anything of the people and their institutions. Canton is certainly reploto with surprises and extravagances of every sort. The methods of performing the various industries are constantly interesting; sometimcspreposteroits.sometiines worthy of imitation. Ono sickens of the revelations of cruelty, filth, poverty and ignorance, but never wearies of these anomalous street si Khts- . - „., . An imaginary "specimen tour tins balmy February afternoon may not fail to develop some interesting views of Cantonese life. Ono must take a sedan chair, low men who como here on a Hying excursion attempt to thread their way through the mazy labyrinth of Canton streets on foot, even though they aro accompanied by a

guide. Soon wo are being hurried along the nar row streets, which are densely packed with people. Our sweating and panting coolies kcop up an incessant yelling to warn tho podestrians to make a passage for us ; and so dexterous are they and so obliging aro the people on foot that the swinging dog trot is seldom relaxed. AVhonover we meet another chair, however, one party has to stop entirely to wait for the other to pas 3 by, and even then tlie sides of the cars fre quently rub together. Tho coolies are trained to such encounters in narrow places, and thcro seoms to be a tacit recognition as to the vehicle whig)i shall defer to the other, which is always according to circum stances. So, also, when we turn a corner, it. is frequently dilficult to wedge a chair through, owing to the extremo narrowness of the street.

It is, indeed, a motley crowd that wo meet. There arc <>11 types, from the blind, leprous, deformed and mendicant up to tho most aristocratic mandarins.

The common [leople are tho[most interest ing. There are two tilings for which they can bo heartily admired. No more in dustrious and temperate people are to be found anywhere. They have reduced the cost of living to its actual minimum, and for the §2 per month that it actually re quires they will toil assiduously lrom morn \\\ir till night seven days in the week. Most of'those ono meets are busy transporting various kinds of burdens. These are sus pended from the ends of bamboo poles, which are carried over the shoulder. In this way tho most impossible loads are carried, ranging all the way from delicate chinawaro up (or down) to live hogs. AYe Americans, who have so much difficulty in carrying a small umbrella in a crowd, might tako a lesson from the heathen, who bob along so rapidly in a four-foot street, with two two-bushel baskets dangling from the ends of a polo. ilero comes tho chair of some public ofliciul. Of course we barbarians must givo way before such an august personage, and our chairs are wedged closo up against a wall to allow the procession to pass.—Can ton Corr.—" Philadelphia Press," February 20th.

CHAINED TO A BED.

A Story of Brutal Cruelty to a Woman,

New York, April 13.—A " Times " special from Scranton, Pa., of tho 12th inst., says : This afternoon a girl with frightened face and dishevelled hair ran into the Susquo- | hunna House, and falling on her knees bo fore Mrs Carpenter, the wife of the pro prietor, begged her protection. She said sho had escaped from a man, who kept her chained to the floor of a back room on Spruce-street night .and day, for nearly three weeks, and she feared lie would cap ture and kill her. At first it was thought the girl was insane, but her intense ear nestness, haggard looks, and large, pitiful eyes touched every heart, and her thrilling story was listened to with wonder and in dignation. Before she had time to finish the horrible recital a largo, slouchy, fair-haired man, about 25 years of. age, rushed in out of breath, and authoritatively demanded that tho girl should go with him. His appear ance upon the scene filled her with terror, and throwing her arms about Mrs Carpen ter, she oxclaimed, "My God ! don't let him take me again." The man caught the girl by the arm, but Mrs Carpenter told him to stand back, and tho man shrank before her glance, and finally went away. Meantime tho police were communicated with, and Chief Dealey, with the officers, went to the rooms indicated by the fugitive and arrested a physician calling himself Dr. \y, S. Madden. A number of chains, looks, and staples were found in his room and takon to tho police station, where Madden had a hoaring beforo Mayor Beamish. The girl, whose name is Sadio McClennahan, appeared against the prisoner and told a story of brutality and hoartlessncss. She said she had made her homo for sGme time in l.owiston, Va., with hey sister. Madden lnid get her jnto 'trouble, and promised to marry her as soon as he could got a divorce from his wife, who is living in Altoona in this State. This was about the beginning of lost Japiwyi A* this time Madden had an oflico in this city, having como hero about two yeai-3 ago with n quack named Gibson, now in prison hero for indecent assault on a female patient. The girl's story was as follows ; " I deollned at first to havo anything to do with him until nfter ho should get a divorce from his wife. Ho swore to my sister and my brolhcr-in-law if I can:o to Scranton ho would take good cai« ~J mOi and as soon txa a d'.YOToo was obtained, the secon/J Uonday in April, ho would make, me his wife, ' J did not accompany him, however, ftiul "no kept writing until the2oth of last February, when I consented to oome. After ouv moating in his olllce I said that I wovdd go back and stay with my sister until the divorce was granted, but ho would not hear of this, and thought of my going away seomed to make him wild. He got a chain and locks, tied them about my ankles, and fastened ono to tho bod in his room and tho other to the floor. I cried out for help, but ho seized mo by tho throat and choked me until I thought ho woull kill me. Ho has kept mo chained day and night ever sinco. At first ho brought some food in a basket from a restaurant, and we ate it together, but after awhile ho took his own meals outside and occasionally carried in a sandwich for me. I made several attempts to oscape.but it was no use. He nailed down the windows and. fastened the doors whenever ho went out. Ho fre quently threw me on tho floor and stamped on my breast with his knees until I was sick and sore. I have known him for nearly two years, My people don't know he has abused mo in this manner. What shall I do? Keep the all'air from my mother." Madden, who fell on his knees and begged for mercy when the Chief of Police cam^ to arrest him, denied the girl's story at first, but fi'.;s.lly admitted having chained her to the floor for few sho would go out and tell about him. The ovidenco of heartlessness are overwhelming, and the Mayor ordered him to find bail in $4,800. Failing in this, he w?.3 taken to gaql, As soon as the story got abroad there was deep indignation among the people on the streets, and threats of lynching the scoun drel were freely indulged in. His victim is about 20 years of age, the wreck of a beautiful brunette. She is half-starved, ans says often -\vhen ]ie chained her to the floor at night she lay there in terror, I thinking he would kill her before morning.

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

(From otk London Cobbespondent.)

London, Match 27. The past week lias not brought to light any very startling theatrical novelties, the fact being that tho majority of managers are reserving their new pieces for Easter Monday. At the Surrey Theatre, last Sat urday night, an old Olympic melodrama which used to be called the " Worship of Bacchus," but is now re-named " The Breadwinner," was produced. It seems a heavy play, of much the same sort as " L'Assomoir," and did not altogether sat isfy even tho easy-going Southenders. At the Olympic itself, " The Two Orphans " has been staged, but without reviving any of the interest which the piece created when it ran so loug here ten years ago. Presently, perhaps, theatrical managers will begin to see tho folly of the revival mania. Not one piece in ten that pleased playgoers a dozen years ago pleases them now. Certain stock comedies like " She Stoops to Conquer," "The Rivals," and " The School for Scandal," are always safe cards at any first-class London theatre, if carefully cast ; but modern successes like " Peril " and " Our Boys " often seem an tiquated and dull when remounted. Mary Anderson makes way for Mr Lawrence Barrett at the Lyceum Theatre next week, tho popular American actor appearing in a play entitled " Vorick's Love," by W, D. llowcll. A " special company" has been together to support Mr Barrett, and Mr Hawes Craven is busy painting new scenery for the opening piece.

The Master novelty at the St. James's Theatre will bo an English version of Outlet's famous comedy, "Lo Maitre do Forgeis," entitled, " The Ironmaster." Mr and Mrs Kendall and Mr Hare play the principal parts.

Tho Lord Chamberlain refused to sanction the production at the Globe Theatre of Clement's burlesque on " Dan'l Bruce," entitled " Dan'l Traduced," it having leaked out that Mr Shine and Miss Lottie Venno meant to make up in the principal parts in imitation of Lord Garmoyle and Miss Fortescue. The latter, as of course you know, plays Dorothy Bruce in Gilbert's piece at the Court.

" Camaralzaman" has proved a semi failure at the Gaiety Theatre, and has been replaced with the evergreen '\Blue Beard," which will on Monday next give way in its turn to a new extravaganza on "La Belle Helene," by Keece, in which most of Offenbach's music is to be retained. Nellie Farrow plays Helen,and Terry Paris. Connie Gilchrist was oast for Calchas, but she won't play "boys" now, so tho part has been given to pretty Phyllis Broughton. Your old friend Chizzola, who is now managing for Salvini, has made Kate Vaughan a splendid offer for a two years' tour through America, Australia, and possibly India. Unless her Colonel ac companies her, Kate will not, of course, risk leaving England. A burlesque of "Lallah Rookh," by Horace Lennard and Augustus Harris, with music by Bucalossi (of waltz fame), will follow " Nita's First" at the Novelty Theatre on Eastor Monday. Kate Vaughan plays Lallah, and Minnie Mario Prince Feramoz. Harry Nicholls, Fred Storey and Dot Mario will also be in the cast.

Miss Lingard will not appear in the next piece produced at the Princes Theatre. Edgar Bruce attributes the failure of " Breaking a Butterfly " to her persistence in claiming (as leading lady) a part for which both physically and morally she was wholly unsuited.

Clement Scott, tho theatrical critic of the " London Daily Telegraph," and Miss Braddon are collaborating on a now play. Both have tried their hands as dramatists bef.orc, but without success. Mr Scott was one of tho adapts of " Nos In times " and "Dora "for the old Prince of Wales Com pany. Henry Irvings stay at the Lyceum when he comes back from America is to be limited to ten weeks. After that not the deluge, but Mary Anderson again. "Our Mary" means to renew operations with "Romeo and Juliet," in which she will be supported by that handsomest of all jcune premieres ITerris), whom Abbey (Miss Anderson's manager) has seduced from Irving's com pany. W. (i. Gilbert feels so pleased with the pretty Americans acting as Galatea and the heroine of " Comedy and Tragedy" that he is vriting a new play specially for her, which will also be a feature of the autumn campaign at tho Lyceum. The papers, are talking about a special malinic performance of "Ingomar," with Salvini (playing in Italian) as the barbarian, and Mary Anderson in her popular role of Parthenia. Tnis will, I "think it highly probable, ccme off.

Mrs Langtry returns to England in July, and will open her tour of the provinces at Newcastle on August 11th in <'SheStoop3 to Conquer." At Christmas she re-appears in London.

The Bancrofts havo resolved to follow up "Peril" at the Haymarkot with a re vival of " The Rivals" on a specially splendid scale. It may be remembered that they scored a great success with " The School for Scandal at the old Prince of Wales Theatre. I can well recall how all London flocked to see the tea-room scone and the minuet, and how the feminine play-goers "Oh'ed !" and " Ah'ed !" at the wondrous lace and diamonds worn by Mrs Bancroft as Lady Teazle. In "The Rivals," Lionel Brough will bo Bab Acres ; Brookfield, Sir Anthony Absolute ; Conway, Captain Abso luto; and Mrs Sterling, Mrs Malaprop. In the present revival Mrs Bancroft will give a somewhat novel reading of the character of Mrs Malaprop, who has hitherto been made an unnecessarily repul-. sivo old Harridan ; Mr Lionel Brough, a. genuine oomedian, far too long wastSi on burlesque and operatb buffooneries, will play Acres; Mrs Bernard-Beere and Mi- Bancroft will do their best to lighten the gloomy loveß of Julia and Falkland. I havo heard of the possibility of a veteran actor being induced to emerge temporarily from his retirement to play Sir Anthony Absolute, and I suppose Mr Conway or Mr Forbes Robertson will bo the Captain. Miss Julia Gwynne is mentioned as theprOr bable Lydia Languish.

The sensational musician oi the coming London season will, in ail probability, be Anton, whoso "Stabat Mater" was per formod with considerable eclat at the Albert Hall the other day, and who is in groat demand at the best soirees musioales.

Colonel Mapleson finds he achievpd the reverse of a good bargain when ho agreed to give Madarqo Patti £J,OOO per night for singing' at the Now York Opera House. In stead Of making inoney,the impressarioloses it every time his champion prima donna appears. Moreover, she is a very "hard nail" to deal with, for not o note will she warble tjll $io Colonel's notes for the ourrent thousand are safe in her secretary's pocket.

Sims Reeves has well nigh wholly lost his vojec. Again and again lately managers have announced that he would appear, but on each occasion an excuse has been inndo instead. Audiences ore now beoomingwily, and demand their moneys back when a dis appointment oocurs. This is very bad for the impressario, and the popularity of Situs Reeves with pr^ssionals seevss on tho. wan»_ i'noy now demand, heavy forfeit' if ho fails to put in an appearance; In addition to the regular round of. Frenoh play's at the G.aioty this season, we may, perhaps, luvvo the Historic Company of the Comcdie Franchise overata London theatro for a low weeks. The only thing is thoy require a guarantee of £240 a performance, and it seems doubtful whether any oi our managers will care to risk as much. D.rnry L,ane Theatre closes this evening, as the stage is wanted by the Carl Rosa Opera Company, who open there on Easter Monday, No pantomime has ever had such a success as " Cinderella," which, when all oxpenses have boon cleared up, will yield, Gus Harris a profit of ovor £18,000, Pre parations for next year's annual, "Diok Whjttingtan," have already commenced. Notwithstanding the clever acting of Kyrlc Bellow andßeerbohm Tree, " Break ing a Butterfly" is not drawing good houses at the Princes, and a dramatic version of Hugh Conway's sensational ''Called Back" has already boen put in rehearsal. The present programme was strengthened last week with a capital little farce, or rather, dialogue, "6s 8d" is called "a pla giarism in twenty minutes," and the sketch turns upon the troubles of a. foolish couple who have been married but six months, Ono smokes too msmy cigarettes, tb<i other devotes all her time to the solution of double acrostics —hence the incompatibility. The husband seeks tho lawyer to obtain a divorce, and while ho is waiting his wife comes for the same pur pose. The mutual recognition is delayed, for a few minutes, arid when it dpes come a lively scene pi wrangling and recrimination naturally follows between this ill-matched pair. If such scenes do occur anywhere off the stage, I can only say that divorco is a happy contrivance. In this case the lawyer —a mute, strange to say—is the deus ex machina who effects tho reconciliation, for which he well deserves hjs <' six and eightpenee." Mr and Mrs Tree, as the husband and wife, infuse much spirit into their work, and their unflagging efforts are received with much favour, ■ '

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES. Now Zcixland. Dunedin J.C. Winter May 23 and 2-1 Takapuna J.C. Winter Meeting May 21 Grand National Steeplechase Meeting..May 21 Wanganui J.C. Stceplochaso Meeting....May 21 Hawke's Bay J.C. Steeplechases June 20 Australia. S.A.J.C. Autumn May 10.15. and 17 Adelaide R.C. Meeting May 24, 2G and 31 Sydney Turl Club Meeting May 24 V.R.C. Stoeplochase Meeting July 19

Dates of Nominations, Entries ana Accep tances.

Acceptances and general entries Taka puna Birthday Meeting May 16 Nominations Ha wke's Bay Steeplechase.. May 20

To Correspondents.

Portsmouth.—Robert the Dovil did (not win the Epsom Derby,but ho got home first in the Doncaster St. Leger. Bend Or won the Derby in 1880. A. B.—l. Thoroughbreds take their age from August lin Australia. 2. In racing tho term horse is used when tho animal roaches his fourth year.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The South Australian Jockey Club Autumn Meeting commences at Morphetville to-day, the leading dish provided being the Good wood Handicaps ono-milo flutter, for which nineteen horses have paid-up. On Thurs day next, the meeting will bo continued, when the Adelaide Cup is be run off. The following are the names of tho?e who made the final payment of 30 sovh :— St. lb. St. lb Fryingpan .. 9 3 Hurricane ..7 6 Sting .. ..9 0 Baron V. Mueller 7 5 Malua .. ..9 0 Crcswick.. ..7 3 lioyal Irishman 8 0 Agitation.. .. 010 Itingwood .. 7 13 Ned o' tho Hills., fi 10 Little Sister .. 712 Lord Wilton .. 610 Nicholas .. .. 7 12 Doncaster.. ..0 8 Coulstor. .. ..7 11 Conjecture ..0 3 Clapton .. ..7 10 Country Boy .. <i 0 King of tho Talo 7 8 According to a cablegram received yes terday, Sir Thomas Elder's filly Conjecture, and last year's winner Sting, are favourites for the event at 7to 1 each. Malua, Fry ing Pan, and Claptrap are at 8 to 1, while 12 to 1 can be obtained about King of the Vale.

| Lord Falmouth's Busybody, the winner of the One Thousand Guineas, proved herself a first-class performer last season, for out of the four races that she started in she suc ceeded in winning three. Her victories were gained in the Rous Memorial Stakes, Middle Park Plate, and Sixth Great Chal lenge Stakes, but in the Dewhurst Plate at the Newmarket Houghton Meeting she failed to give 31b to Sir John Willoughby's filly by Hermit —Adelaide, who defeated her by a neck. By the aid of Busybody, Lord Falinouth has succeeded in appropriat ing his fifth One Thousand Guineas, his previous winners having been Hurricane in 1802, Cecilia in 1873, Spinaway in 1875, and Wheel of Fortune in 1879. Busybody was got by Petrarch out of the Macaroni mare Spinaway, so that she claims relationship with the New Zealand Stud Company matrons Florence McCarthy and Lovebird, both of whom were got by Macaroni. George Williams, the Australian light weight, left for Sydney by the b.s. Roto mahana on Tuesday night. During the season now almost at a close he has been in tlio saddle on 71 different occasions, for wliich he has a record of 21 wins, 9seconds, and 14 thirds, while 27 times he has been unplaced At the Wellington and Egmont Meetings he was successful in riding four winners out of six mounts, but his biggest victories were gained on Salvage, viz., in the Auckland Cup, Wellington Racing Club Handicap, and Hutt Park Stakes.

The Victoria Racing Club's programme for next season has been issued, and I notice that the Club propose to give £)5,u00 in added money, which is £1,375 more than last season. A number of altera tions have been made in the programme, but the Melbourne Cup stake and con ditions of the race are the same as last year, and nominations are due on Monday, 2nd June, at 4 p.m. Mr Penfold, the secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club, will receive entries in New Zealand.

Mr A. E. Bird (" Sir Launeelot")arrived from Sydney by the s.s. Wairarapa on Thursday morning, and left yesterday afternoon for Christchurch, where he in tends starting a weekly paper de* voted to sport and the drama. Dur ing the short time that Mr Bird was here, he took a run out to Sylvia Park with "Phaeton" for the purpose oi interviewing Musket, and renewing his ac quaintance with the' highly-bred matrons that are to be found grazing in the paddocks there.

The following weights have bean declared for the two principal events of the N.Z. Grand National Steeplechase Meeting :— Grand National Handicap, i miles, St. lb. at,ln Clarence- .. .. 12 12 Baibavy •• U 0 Canard .. ~ IS) 6 Comet .. .. 10 7 Hercules ~ .. \2 4 Black Doctor.. 10 0 Agent ~ .'.' 12 3 Fawn .. .. 10 0 Tauy-ho Handicap, 8 miles. Clarence .. .. 13 2 Black Doctor.. 10 7 Canard .. .. 13 10 Hard Times .. 10 0 Horculos .. .. 12 0 Luggage .. 10 0 Agent .. .. 12 0 Woodstock .. 10 0 Barbary .. .. 11 8 Topthorn .. 10 0 Andy .. ~ 11 0 The following are the weights for the Wanganui Steeplechase to be run on the Queen's Birthday:— st.lb. st,lb. Clarence.. .. 13 0 BMy-go-by-'cm.. 10 4 Chandler .. 11 12 Ngata .. .. 10 3 Barboy .. .. 11 2 Denbigh.. .. 10 Q Mount .. .. 11 0 Druid .. .. 16 0 GroyMomus .. 10 12 Southern Chifef.i Id 0 Scrutineer .. 1010 Diomedia ' .. 10 0 Black Doctor .. 10 7 Pawiell .. .. 10 Q Sunray .. .. 10 i Fair Play .. V> 0

Another addition has been ma.de to our Vsolng "stock, Mr T. }{jll, of Opake, Wairarapa, having purchased Lord Mand,evjye from Captain Rossi, of Sydney, lie was brought over to Wellington by Ills new owner in tho s.s. Wakatipu, and I understand he will be raced next season. Lord Mandevillo is a three-year-old colt, and was got by Yattendon from Lady Constance, therefore a full brother to i^ora Burghley and LordLisgar. So f,av a^s I pan learn, Lord Mandeville h,&B npfc appeared in public, but I notiojj. hjs nam.9 appears amongst those nominated for the last Melbourne Oup, Messrs Lyons and Blaikie's Woodpecker bvoke down very badly in the near fore leg while running in the Cambridge Cur>, ancl it will necessitate his being fired aad turned, out for a long spell. It is s^id that at the time of the accident he held a splendid position in the race, and was pulling double. At Timavu (writes '"Actteon") a fair amount of business was transacted on the New Zealand Cup and Derby. Tho follow ing are some of the doubles booked;—soo to JO Johnny Faulkner and Eskatos, 800 to 10 Johnny Faulkner an.d. Trenton, 300 to 3 Necklace and Liverpool, 500 to 10 Welcome Jijck and Liverpool, 500 to 10 Otideis and Liverpool, 500 to 4 Oudeis and Fusilier, 700 to 16 Oudeis and Trenton. 500 to 10 July and Liverpool, 500 to 8 Tim Wbiffler and Watersprite colt, 500 to 2 Watersprite colt and Ugly Buok, and 250 to. 4 the two Watoraprlte's, Southern owners have given the following namos to their youn^ stock :—

Mr Clifford, Ch colt by Kiflg of Clubs—Water, sjttit^.. ..' .. .. ~ SroNYHURsr.

Middle Park S-pud Company. Er colt by King 6i Clubs—Maria Theresa Archduke. Cfocoltby Kingof Clubs-Charm.. Wizaud, Ur oolt by St. Goorge-Stronua .. Strexuous. Br filly by St. Qoorge—Booky Sharp Yanjtv Fair. The annual meeting of the Hawko's Bay Jockey Club was h6ldTlast week, and from the report and balance-sheet read I gather that the Club netted £1,220 on the year's transactions, but they have to thank the iofcalisatorpercentagesforthewholeamount. The receipts for the year, exclusive of f 415 3s 5d brought forward from tho previous season, were £5,591 3p 2d, and the expendi ture £4,_37Q 15a 7d, frcVuhng £145 due to the Agricultural Society. Owners paid in nomin.atjoins, acceptances, training fees, etc., no less than £1,533, or close upon 50 per cent, of the value of the stakes pro vided for the four meetings, Capt. Russell was elected President, Mrßurke Treasurer, and the following nine committee-men; — Messrs B. Wsllwood, Thos. Bishop, J. H. Coleman, C. B. Winter, Wm, Douglas, W. Shrimpton, Jas. Lyon, Wm. Birch, J. N. Williams, A general discussion took place at the meeting regarding the starting, although nothing definite was deci^ecvupon, there was a general opinion, In, f,avqu.r of only one flag. Tho nomif^ons tor the New Zealand Grand, National Steeplechase Meeting chow an improvement on the three previous years, as will be seen from the following table ;— 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. Grand National ..22 7 10 7 9 Maiden Plate ..IS 11 10 5 lii Hunt Clip .. ..15 9 7 i 10 55 2T 2T 16 31 From a private source, 1 learn that Mr R, H, Vallanoe will race on his own account next season, and his late partner, Mr B. Mason will open a private twining estab lishment in Christchurch. Writes " Au.gur "; —"During my vißit to Randwick I had an opportunity of taking stock of the Hen. James White's English colt Phil Athol. Of all the imported young-, sters that I've seen I fancy he is the grandest to look at, but I didn't like his action^, and I shall be surprised if he ever wins, oyqr. a distance of ground;1'!

Entries for the youngsters' races of the Australian Jockey Club closed last week, when 77 nominations were received for the December Stakes, 91 for the Champagne Slakes, <H for tho Derby, 90 for the St. Leger, IUO for the First Foal Stakes, 160 for the Second Foal Stakes, and 120 ion tho Sire-' Produce Stakes. Last year the numbers were 59 for tho December Stakes, 74 for the Champagne Stakes, 66 for tho Derby. 75 for the St. Leger, 165 for tho First Foal btakes, 132 for the Second Foal Stakes, and 167 for the Sires' Produce Stakes. The New Zealand Stud Company are among the nominators for the First and Second Foal Stakes.

CONDENSED ITEMS.

The jumping horse Fair Play has been purchased by Mr Carina, of Mercury Bay. The Napier scribe "Fetlock " denies that Mr Douglas has purchased the jumping horse Andy. Siegfried Franck, who introduced tho totalisator into New Zealand, has passed in his checks.

George Williams got out of his fines ad Cambridge by apologising to tho starter and stewards.

J. Dawson, recently with Chaafe, wishes me to state that he. is open for engagement as trainer, &c.

Dressmaker, who created the surprise in the Maiden l'late at Papakura, has gone in to Mr Lennard's stable

"Warrior" says Mr Wallaco don't intend starting LeGrand for any nioro races previous to tho Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup. Sir Thomas Elder's stud of racehorses avo to be submitted for public auction at tho Morplictville Stud Farm, Adelaide, on Tuesday, the 20th May. The Victoria Amateur Turf Club havo raised the added money for the next Caulfield Cup to £2,000, with £400 for tho second horse, and £200 for the third.

Mr Edward Lee, of Sydney, who has owned one or two good bits of horseflesh in his time, is about to return to the turf and Jace some youngsters bred by himself.

On March 27, the day the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase was decided, CortoWin and Frigate were the favourites. Voluptuary, the winner, was at 10's to 1. A well-known Melbourne backer has accepted one thousand to a hundred about each of five horses for the Adelaide Cup, and has selected Sting, Hurricane, Frying pan, Claptrap, and Coulston. Mr Cavanagh, a purchaser for horses for India; informs a Wairarapa paper that ho has travelled from Wanganui to Masterton without being able to pick up a single horso suitable for his requirements.

Messrs Peach and Steel, the English leviathans, entertained the Australian King of the Rinfr, Mr J. Thompson, at a banquet at the Caf<s Royal, Regent-street, shortly after his arrival in the Old Country,

Mr A. Tovn, the well-known N.S.W. breeder, has lost his stallion Rapid Bay. Although he never got anything very brilliant, he was one of the most fashionably bred horses in the colonies, and had been a good, reliable performer. Tonans, who last season was raced by Mr VV. A. Long, the well-known Australian turfite, got home in front in the Lincolnshire Handicap, beating 28 others. Mr J. W, Smith, Tonan's present owner, landed a big stake by his victory. He was ridden by C, Wood, who also piloted the winner last year. Sting will be despatched io India soon after the S.A.J.C. Meeting. Mr Weekes will cross the ocean this trirj with an exceptionally valuablo cargo, as, in addition to the Bohemian, Leporello, and Country man—Sting, lung of tho Vale, Masquerade, and Aimee are each destined for the land of rajahs and rice.

The best horse in Australia at the present moment (writes " Vigilant") is one who has never won a race here. Sir Modred is one of the most difficult animals in the colony to prepare, and has given his trainer, Alsopp, more trouble than any other animal under his care. He is fitter now than he ever was before, and in about an other month, all going well, will win a big race, This is worth making a note of.

A CRAZY BRIDEGROOM.

New York, March 23.—A low whistle with a peculiar twiafc in its last note was heard by officer Menagan, as he leaned against a lamp-post on the corner of First Avenue ard Seventeenth-street, at half-past three o'clock yesterday morning. The officer had his coat buttoned up to his chin to protect himself against the cold wind that was blowing the clouds across the sky. " That's the roundsman. He'll be hero in a minute," said the officer to a friend by his side. Instead of tho roundsman a young man sauntered up to the officer, whistling as he advanced. The stranger was of a light, delicate cast of countenance, with a blonde mustache. He was fashionably attired in a blaok cutaway coat, with a bunch of roses at the top buttonhole. Be wow a coloured silk cravat, Derby hat, and his striped trousers turned up at the bottom over his flowered carpet slippers. " You had better go home, young man," said the officer. "It's too late for you to be out." "I want to go home," was the reply, "and I want you to get mo a hack and take me homo, I live at No. 324, East Twenty-fourtVvstreet,"

"Where have you been?" the officer asked, and the young man said: " I was married at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and just before going to bed £ went down to get a glass of beer. I intend tq start for Germany with my wife to morrow, and so I thought I had better put my valuables away. At the corner cf Fo'jrteonth-street I met an officer, and gave him 500dols. in gold, a gold watch, my chain, and all the jewellery I pos sessed."

The officer concluded that the styling stranger was insane, and took him to the precinct police station-house. Sergeant Fanning was at the desk, and this officer asked the young man his name and trade. " I am Rr. Alexander Piper," he replied " and live^at No. 324, East Twenty-fourth street, lam one of the best physicians in the country, and have all the firemen and police sergeants of the city under-my con* trol." Sergeant Fanning sent officer Jennings to the addresp given, and sent the doctor to a back vooia. At four o'clock in the morning officer Jennings pounded on the floor of the pretty brick front houga on '.fwenty-fourth-street. A window -was raised and a female voice asked the officer's husiness. '

" Are you Dr. Piper's wife," asked the officer.

No answer was given, but a few minutes later a young woman carrying a lamp in her hand came to the door in her night gown. The woman was a brunette with perfect features, which were then overcast by a look of anxiety. She was asked if sho was Dr. Piper's wife, "Yes," she answered, "and tell me where he is. He left me but a short while ago and has not returned." The officer told the woman to dress, and she must go with him to the station-house, and after a short interval she re-appeared dressed in a Henrietta cloak, a dark dress and a brown hat with nodding plumes! Betore going out, she called the officer and tho reporter into the parlour and told her story. The floor was littered with roses and greens, and tho walls were decorated witli flowers,

"My name was Amelia Detrich Wb wep married here in this room," s he said, '<at four o'clock on Sunday afternoon I had known Dr. Piper a long while, and ho was to take mo to Germany. All throuch the afternoon our friends called to see us and remained until late in the night When we went to. our room ho took his boots off and put on slippers. Then ho told me to retire, as he wished to get a glass of beer before going to bed. He went out and has not returned. Dr. Piper is well off and has very wealthy relations in Germany' While here he was perfectly sane and is f am sure, now," '

The lady and othcer went to the station Dr. Piper saw her enter the station from the inner room. He rushed towards h£ and flung his arms around her neok ™, in ,g "MeUa! Mella!» She 4 t o n ; shoulder when she saw that her husband had really lost his reason, and begged t"io sergeant to let W take him. The officer sail he could not until after SE £ exainwAtwn had been made. The cirl Ml 09 her knees, and in accents of bitter will take him to a private hospital to morrow," said she "'and he will stay there until he l8 we 1." Her husband looked around hi a dazed sort of way, and when he understood that be could not go with his wife he also. wept. Officer Jennings, who had been on the corner of Fourteenth-street said that the story the young man told a u OU,* s | m, ng,bis- valuabl<* *o an officer should be looked into, especially as he was on the comer of Sixteenth-street, and hid seen the young man come up the street The sergeant questioned Piper closely on thi. story, but couldn't make him chan™ Ins tale. The officers were of the opinifS that he intended doing as he says hs hS done, but had given iiia aSneTto soS footpad When it «w time for the you^e woman to leave, she cried so mud that Sergeant fanning allowed her to stay in the woept^n-jroom over night. JustiS Patterson, in the morning, remanded IW fpt. medical action. He was takes fS |SSK Hospltal and put

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1884.

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A version pf Hprve'a vaudeville, "I^p Cosaque," in which Judic made sucji a Ijit, will be produce! shortly at the Royalty, with Kate Santley and Mr Ashley in the principal parts.