RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.]

liNnie'wrlto, a neighbour's namo to Insh, |F ~\o writ©-vain thought. !-for needful caeli s*Somo writo to ploasc the country clasli, And raiso a din. WSSi dm, an aim I never fash— I write for fun. fiotOMSTsavelojal subjects of Queen Vie Tma, but of all tho noble sentimcuts ex jessed in the National Anthem, I fancy ffiey will agree most heartily with that pcj'tiplet which says— B "Confound their politics, FrUßtrato their knavish tricks! public interest has for weeks been kept centred in a most tantalising manner on the knot of politicians at Wellington who ftre paid fordoing the business of this realm. Many have been the changes in tho political i&leidoscope during that time. The star of

Wbgol has set in utter darkness, or I might Sly; "outer darkness," for in the South "there is unmistakably wailins: and gnashing :Y»f-teeth. Our Stout Premier has been %eiehed in the Ballanco and found want lii'ig. Messrs Maoandrew and Montgomery ihrcades ambo) are, Alnaschar-like, grieving liver the upsetting of tho political egg vb'asket. The member for Clutha has had 'abundant opportunity to show his abso lute destitution of talent, as well as his utter incapacity as a Cabinetmaker, and Ifli'as modestly retired with his comb cut. VTb.B great Sir Oracle has laboured heavily tin the pangs of parturition, whilo Mr formond in tho character of accoucheur has fitted to and fro between Napier and .■•■ Wellington, a shadow on the political Bike. Last of all, the rejected Atkinson mi uTbeen called upon to do tho work which lo'iily he seems fitted to undertake. Whilo the fe'leaders" (so-called) of the Liberal party Ifecourtesy) were foundering and founder- IfftiK in v&in attempt' to assume the reins Irtbf power, the gallant Major has had time to $ meditate on the evils of nepotism, the of "cooking" public accounts to £the satisfaction of the country, and the -'awful uncertainty of political longevity. •'He has profited by his short sojourn in the 'Ocaol shades of Opposition, and avoiding tho ilWrrors of his opponents, gathering strength ipfrotn their weakness, and courage from timidity, has formed a Ministry which >':;•'Zamiel" hopes may prove strong and and capable and permanent; but ?'with a good break on in the shape of a intelligent, and energetic Opposi ijf^ion.

XX X I The courteous reader of these hebdomadal 'i lucubrations wilt doubtless give me credit ];"fbr sincerity when I affirm that I am not '-pronetoundue sentimentality. Yettheroare ■I times when I feel mightily disposed to give tf free and unreserved expression to emotions i of indignation, surprise, and vexation upon •;i matters of such everyday occurrence that [t?p;>e almost ceases to notice them, and upon Svwhich, for that very reason, many fcp-raple find it difficult to work up any 'i* ebullition of foeling. One of these i'ctiusea of internal disquietude are the fre sS:quent vagaries of the great unpaid in their ■^ dispensation of justice from the bench of if.the Police Court. Tho most recent in lataiice occurred on Tuesday last, when the $%unfortunate recipient of a charitable Sit.dole in the shape of an order for H squaro meal received the sentence t^of a month's imprisonment for pluralising iSsthe word "dinner" in ordor that a & follow tramp might share in his good if:'luck. Most.jeople will beinclinedlike my i. self to regard such an offence as of very Sffv/vnnial character, seeing that it wasevidently '4 dictated by compassion for another's distress '^rather than by any desire for fiersonal Besides, the additional expense of ■;this illicit extension of a well-meant "was covored by a colonial jj&Hobert. In view of such circumstances, ?<\Draco himself would have refused to sane 'jtibp such an immoderate punishment as a RRttjpth in gaol for so petty a crime. The anomalous severity of the sentence is -ought out into the boldest relief by the ttremely mild and considerate manner in Ilich justices also have this week dealt with the great, hulking, cowardly hood .'■ lums who sought congenial diversion " on Saturday night by leading on an unruly horde to mob and maltreat a few policemen engaged in the execution of a necessary duty? viz., the arrest of a foul-mouthed <i ninkard. These disreputable bullies pro "■.' yoked a street riot lasting for some three hours, and under cover of the protection afforded by huridreds of misguided people, kicked and otherwise brutally assaulted a handful of " bobbies." And yet the only Eppishment meted out to them are H.mtonces of imprisonment ranging in ex -1 lout from four months to twenty days. Let . the public contrast the two pictures I have presented to their gaze, ponder and reflect S- thereon, and then say whether the city is t not in need of a paid and efficient police f magistrate. ' X X X The modern "Pomponnet" is, as a rule, a much-abused individual, but it is a melan »choly fact that those "artists in hair "are greatly to blame in bringing down on their devoted pates the sarcastic and ironical re iharks wilh which their bald-headed yarns Kfije generally received by the many. K&v"Zamiel" only asks those of his readers l' t : who have Buffered under the above inflic fe tions to remember the oft-quoted slang HJ phrase, " Cut it short," uttered in a scarcely H 'suppressed groan whilst waiting and watch «!*' iQtfforthe more welcome one of "Who's '■■ next?" The foregoing will serve alike as an apology and iatroduction to a little story, S^'disseminated only last week and received if.£ "with gusto by those fortunate enough to # hear it. x- x x V A prominent public man was on the eve :*\ of taking wing for distant parts, and several ffi friends determined to wish him bon voyage. *v Accordingly, arrangements were made, the 8S& evening duly arrived, and likewise the :F . K uests, but only twelve out of a possible tir fifty put in an appearance at the festive |i - boiirtl the eagle-eye of "mine host" not mm even being gladdened by a baker's dozen. fr "'■ Well, we will presume that a pleasant time lit - wai spent, and near the conclusion of the lit feast up jumped a very well-known bump- Sp^tious hair-dresser, who, it may be remarked, . y'as " simply huge "as regards get-up. In ;; ! an oxtremely flowery speech he proposed H that as the "ladiesin-waiting"had, by their W aarvicea, contributed greatly towards the Pi: lurmony then prevalent, he would suggest •ii^that a subscription be made, and the pro ceeds handed to them, thereby testifying P'vthe thanks of the whole crowd. His right rl,S hand supporter (a gentleman connected life'with drugs) seconded the proposition, offer jp'lnK five shillings as his donation. Others W>'' inoreorlesscontributed their mite, Tonsorius Hramne one shillwij .' When the subscrip- I,V; tions were counted, it was found that only '■-'■ 3s 6d was available for each waitress; and pfe to add to the dilemma, someone suggested '•feritHat the cook should not be forgotten. W " Zamiel" would like to say that his friend p: t j, e ar tißt in hair responded with at least "Colonial Kobert." But no! he li^sat twirling his moustache, and actually ■ allowed the 'man who had so generously ir& donated fivo shillings to supplement it with W another two.. To cut a disagreeable subject [& ecru short, it may be added that the money }r- was presented to the blushing beauties, and B Ihe guests departed chewing the cud of jjfe bitter reflection. X X X The subject of this " shot" is a prominent K'' memberof a city church, and by the constant V use of much soft-soap had so lathered the &' nonoregation that he was permitted to take ■ tho ooffa!to?n!W|iy^lull Sabbath services. ¥■" It maybe remarkSWHat he was given a side SStiiisle but his ambitious soul soared some- what higher, and thinking that only the I&'V middle aisle (where most of the chosen iff- worshipped) was on a par with his dignity ■'"and figure, he offered a sovereign to his •W, brother collector to^take his place. Now, Ip'1 .»• Zamiel " detests bunkum, and this is iifr really bunkum in its worst form. Many J|;other."trifles light as (h)air" might be fl'M'iven, but quantum suf, aad he will con- Kftude by quoting the following apropos . ffis "Tonsorius only lives by cuttine hair, filw And yet he bmga that to him Kings sit bare; ■•''■'' Methlnks ho ahould not brag and boast of it, jgl'For he muse stand to beggars, while they sit." x x x Mi^k In colonial life modesty is not a'very 4 conspicuous 'feature, and the want of it ;'-, may be said, more or less, to pervade all "classes of society, from the lowest note to /j the top of tho compass, as witness the ■ unique request of the Gostley executors v. (very costly, indeed !) The means of renown Bga are often wooed with an unhashed forehead; -':■• nevertheless, i"Zamiel," making due al- Krlowance for the aforegoing, was somewhat g ■ surprised to. hear the following account I 1 anent the doings of one Matthew Martext, •: »n erudite divine of this city, a "devil ::jK dodger " (as the Yankees say)* of no mean • order, and a man, indeed, full of the ;,j wisdom that oometh not from above. It 1j1.,.,.' >i)|ie«ra tliat.it Is the custom of this worthy jjjjjt to iiiruiah. reports of his own sermons. As Kk.aay bo imagined, these accounts are in a highly eulogistic vein, and run

Roy. Morphine Velvet on Sunday last, when very eloquent and impressive sermons were preached by the incumbent to an ap preciative and attentive congregation. Truly the children of this world are wiser in their generation than tho children of light!

Marriage a la mode is A curious themo I for " Zamicl's" pen : but as all more or less come within the influence of sexual attrac tion, tho subject will interest a wide «r.ele. This is how " Zamiol" apostrophises ono ot tho benefactors of his time:—Hannaforu, all hail ! A newspaper scribe some time 0 "-o dubbed thee the divine and forgiving, but let me now hail thee as the marriage making Hanmiford! Tho couplos made Had by thy matrimonial dexterity viso up and call thee blessed. The •• unborn millions" of tho future shall worship at thy shrine, and' hosts of lonely bachelors and despairing virgins, verging on the sero and yellow leaf, shall stiw thy grave with orange blossoms! The, prerogative of "popping the question" shall no more be vested in the sterner sex. " <>ct thco to a nunnery, wench," shall give place to the milder dictum—" Got" thee to Hannaford ; he is tho tailor who shall repair the breaches of neglected love !" From tho rather dingy abode of Hymen's assistant, let the strain swell forth —

" Now shall the virgin arrive; Now shall be sunfi the hymeneal; Be present oh! Hymen, Hymona-us!

Hore endeth tho apostrophe ; but "Zamiel" would add that though he courted and got married according to the "good old rule, the simple plan" of falling in love and marrying for love, he believes wedded life to be good, even when attained by a process which seems to smack of making matrimony a matter-o'-monoy.

'• Tho sterling comfort of man's lifo In still a good and gentle \tife; To fools a torment, but a lasting boon To those who wisely spend the honeymoon!

If one were to ask why every novol is a love-story, I suppose somo one would at once reply, because lovo is the master passion which dominates lifo. Granted.

But is that a real and satisfactory answer to the question proposed ? Are there no other passions besides that of love on which a tale may hinge? Do not other emotions deserve to have' a story all to themselves '! There are revenge, and jealousy, and ambi tion, and couratre, and fifty other motives and objects, none of them so universal as love it is true, but on special occasions as absorbing and subduing. It would be re freshing to find a novelist who, disdaining conventionality and lifting his chariot out of the usual rut, should choose some less hacknoyod passion as the purpose of his narrative, and, if he did not leave it out altogether, make love take a secondary place. Of course there would be protests from the women, and the crowd, whom the ordinary circulating library novel satisfies, would very likely join in the howl; but men of taste and judgment would bo obliged to the innovator, and would hope for imita tions of the example set. The invariable unsmoothness of the course of true lovj is a theme which has been written to death : and to torture it into a new and original shapo must puzisle the most vorsatile and resource ful of authors, when their ingenuity might be so much better employed in other directions. Where is the man of courage who will set the old code at defiance and be a law to himself ?

I am not aware that Shakspere folt himself bound by tho.custom which was pretty generally followed oven in his/ clay. Take"" Macbeth" and "Hamlet" as fa miliar examples. The motif of neither play is love, which has nothing to do with the first, and very little with the second. No body, I imagine, wants a love-story intro duced into cither, but is content to take them as they are. Macbeth was already married, and Hamlet evinced a decided preference for single blessedness, because, presumably, a wife would have been a hindrance to the business of his life. Not that the novelist of %p future need con fine his attention to women-haters, and those who have vowed never to wed. The latter aro generally a sour, disagreeable class, or foolish and unstable, not knowing their own minds. The hero of the story, or the heroine, as the caso may be, can be married before he or she is introduced upon the scene. In other words, put the wed ding bells, the breakfast, the slipper throwing, and the rest of it into the pre face, or»else imagine.it) altogether, and make a beginning where now it is customary to leave off. Defy conventionality, and strike out a fresh path. But, I hear somebody object, married people are not so interesting as unmarried. Fudge! I deny the statement. My experience has been all in the other direction. I had much rather meet Edwin arid Angelina in the poet-nuptial state, if you please, than prior to the date of the publication of the banns, when they had no time, attention, sym pathy, or consideration to bestow on a creature besides themselves. No, thank you ; give me a ripe apple juicy, and sweet, and not a green jaw-aching one.

A good story is told by old identities at Wellington at the expense of Mr Dick, whose Parliamentary career has been brought to such a sudden ter mination. The story runs that in the old days of provincialism a scare existed in Otagoin consequence of the rapid spread of thistles, and their extermination was prayed for on all hands, Mr Dick was then Provincial Secretary, and, impressed with the necessity of suppressing the evil, he in troduced a measure having that object in view. There was, however, strong opposi tion to the bill on tho part of some of the " canny " Scots, so with the object of con vincing the sceptical few of the rapid growth of thistles, Mr Dick had two placed in flower pot 3 and took th6m to the Council Chamber. He was first there, and had ar ranged the potted thistles on either side of him, when Mr Fulton, now member for Taieri, strolled in. Immediately afterwards the sound of many feet indicated the ap proach of the members, and Fulton, affect ing anxiety, exclaimed—" Quick, quick ; put away your thistles, the Councillors are coming." "Why?" Mr Dick innocently inquired. " Well," Mr Fultou rejoined, "if they see them they will think you haven't finished your lunch yet!."

Considering the size and population of Auckland, it is wonderful what a number of short-lived societies spring into existence, flourish and decay. During the past week a Liberal Association has been formed for an excellent political, purpose, i.e., to influence, ff possible,. representatives in favour of what the members consider to be true Liberalism. The Society has been duly organised, and has issued'its programme of future operations. I would not utter one word in disparagement of regenerative work in any department of political or social activities, for all, like the various discord ant creeds, may have some good in them. The members "are knownto hold diverse opinions on many questions affecting the welfare of the people; but in the expressed views of the Liberal Asso ciation the members appear to be in harmony, and if true to their principles of organisation, may be of some little political service in the present unsatisfactory state of public affaire. When will members of the Legislative Assembiy be equally eager to listen as to talk, and be particularly anxious not so much for the country's glory as for the country's good, and feel that the chief good of each lies in the good of all, and that one cannot suffer or be humiliated without all suffering in degree? In the language of a living poet, I may say-:—

"Ah, when Blmll all men's good ' Be each man's rule, and universal peace Lie like a shaft of light across the land ?" x xx

I cannot help thinking, in the face of the melancholy examples of rampant larrikiniam which were exhibited in the Police Court during the past week by those under-aged young scoundrels who were so mildly punished by the Bench, that there are worse evils than political grievances in this sunny land, and which seem to show a «ul lack of discipline in numerous families. The justly-boasted diffusion ef knowledge by meansof public schools does not appear to havethedesiredeffectof impressingthelesson upon boys that dishonesty is folly, and that "Evil communications corrupt good man ners." Parents recognising the fact that the multiplication of businesses, not their absorption and centralisation, is the truest policy, will devote their energies to their own homes, the moral education of their children, and the im provement of themselves, and by tha steady inculcation of right principles, aid materially in giving the death-blow to out rageous larrikinism. Further education will prove, what every reflecting person knows right well, that the rogue is the fool, and when this important fact is generally recognised and acted upon as the rule of life, therpetty organisations existing for the pjliticar and social regeneration of society will become unnecessary. I was right last week in thinking that the Auckland Rationalists had got a fresh lease of assertiveness. No sooner have I disposed of the "bantam" than a regular big Brahma "rooster" jumps up on the fence and tries to crow over me. The editor of the Star, with his usual courtesy, has handed.me a letter from Mr A. Camp bell, in which that gentlenfah takes in

hand to lecture me severely and in true fatherly style for my remarks in this column on his reply to "Citizen. This tirade traverses a great deal of ground, and is altogether too " heavy for repro duction hero in its entirety. The writer maintains his " natural right" to blaspheme, and I suppose I must just let him, if in the words of Dr. Watts, " 'tis his nature to. I only claimed the right of an orthodox citizen to apeak in support of the law against blasphemy, and condemned the shocking intolerance of Mr Campbell in demanding the name of the " Citizen who expressed his views to that effect. Instead of recanting, Mr C. hints that he would like to have my name ; in another place, however, he says my name is Legion ! What tho name has to do with the subject I still fail to see. If the Rationalists wisli liberty to blaspheme, let them attack the law, and not the up holders of it. In this matter the law should be no respecter of persons. The half-con scious sot"who utters horrible oaths in the public street, and the cold-blooded Rational ist who uses blasphemous language on a Sunday platform, are equal offenders, and should receive the same treatment. My Mentor mistakes my position completely when he assumes that I am personally oilended at the ribald blasphemy and coarso brutal criticisms of Freethinkers. I am probably as far from being orthodox as Mr Campbell himself is ; and assuredly in my comments in this column

" I sit as God. holding no form of creed, But contemplating all."

Hence all the remarks about my religious attitude, mental bondage, and the like, completely miss the mark. But evon though I could give Mr Campbell "points" in heterodoxy, I don't care a dump for the precious privilege of blaspheming, or the "natural right" to break the laws of the land and offend tho sensibilitios of my neigh bours. When ho says that I " profess to respect as inspired narratives' certain Biblical statements, he betrays a power of " thought-reading " which surpasses that of ordinary professors of the art, since ho reads what is absolutely not in my thoughts any more than it was in what I wrote.

It is but right that my readers should have a sample of the style of attack con ducted by a " big gun " of the Rationalistic pattern (not smooth-bore), so I quote the following ; —

" ' Zamiel' speaks of ' the finest feelings of tho majority of the community,' mean inf, I believe, what are called religious feel ings, and his language suggests that nationalists outrago their feelings. I deny tho implication. It is because tho feolings of Rationalists aro of a higher order of sensibility than those of Old Testamont fable arid New Testamont creed that they have revolted from Christianity. 'Finest feelings' indeed! I could fill your paper with illustrative irony, from the commands and deeds of the Old Testament, and the doctrines of tho Now, but I refrain—' Finost feolings' ! ! When ' Zamiel' can lay aside his orthodox spectacles, and read tho Bible with the naked eyes of common sense, many of tho ' finest foelings ' he fancied he saw in the book will vanish. Of course, he cannot see tho truth now. His mind is so crowded with tho phantasms of his religious boliof that any rational presentation of the religious question is obscured and contorted. He is not responsible for his mental condition. It is his misfortune, not his fault. I can suppose ho is sane on other mattors, and his intellect may yet be emancipated from its aberration on tho religious question."

That is a mere shuffle, and a very com mon and clumsy kind of double shutllo at that. It is not a question of whether Christians or Rationalist* have the finor feelings (though if the latter excel tho former in that respect, I should expect them to show a little consideration for others'feelings); but it is whether an in significant section of the community has any ri"ht, "natural" or othorwiso, to outrage the finest feelings of tho majority. It is a mhictio ltd absnrdmn to say—" We out rage their feelings because our own feelings are so much finer !" Yet that is what Mr Campbell's argument amounts to. Then ho takes the vulgar attitude of supposing that those who differ from him are insane. Here again he is wofully at sea. Pushed to its ultimate practical limit, the test of in sanity is tho judgment of the majority of mankind, for if the insane had the majority, our asylums would be peopled by the right minded in the coinmurity. If the line which separates Freethinkers from the rest of humanity is to be doclared the border land of insanity, it is painfully evident from which side the lunatic asylums would bo recruited. Mr Cooper would be treated to tho " cold douche," and Mr Campbell would have a padded room, while " Zamiel," as a punishment for hiscolourlesscreed, would be condemned to act as " mad doctor." There are signs of incoherency in the extract I have given from Mr Campbell's letter, as when he speaks of " illustrative irony," and the " commands and deeds " of the Old Testa ment. What has the Old Testament ever done, or commanded to be done? And this is Rationalism forsooth! "Zamiel" has occasion at times to deprecate the rant and rubbish which arc heard in some orthodox pulpits; but the orthodox hypocrisy, Pharisaism, and humbug are mild evils when contrasted with the unorthodox articles. Just as unscientific scepticism is more objectionable than scientific, so is ignorant, blatant, and blasphemous Freethought more deplorable than the deeper and more earnest Freethought which criee, "Lord, I believe ; help Thou my unbelief !" Robert Burns was a notable Freethinker, who scrupled not to attack ecclesiastical abuses and expose doctrinal defects ; and he did a service in liberalising Christianity such as the whole modern Rationalistic School cannot hope to render. Yet he composed in his better momenta " The Cotter's Satur day Night," and he also wrote to a young friend—

"An atheist's laugh's a poor exchange For Deity offended." I commend to Mr Campbell the religious attitude of his illustrious countryman, who had no belief in the "natural right" to blas pheme.

xxx "Zamiel" went to hear the Rev.

. Brown lecture on " Heads and Faces " the other evening, and was much im-, pressed with what that clever gentleman said about the value of the sciences of phrenology and physiognomy in the selection of partners for life. There is something peculiarly seductive in the idea of trotting off with your girl to a professional delineator of character for the purpose of ascertaining your mutual suitability for the married state, though the charm is somewhat modified when you come to think that the future of two livesv depends upon the shape of your head or the eize of tie young lady's mouth. The conservatism of court ship, however, precludes me from cherishing the belief that marriage on scientific bases will ever become a recognised principle of social ethics, and I therefore prestnt to my bachelor readers as a quid pro quo an almost infallible guide for discovering a woman whom any man would be proud to call wife. My system is embodied in three questions, which should all be answered in the affirma. tive by the lady before anything Berious is thought of. And they are : 1. Do you ever make puns ?

2. Can you eat quartered oranges grace fully at a party ? 3. Have you read " Paley'g Evidences ol Christianity ?"

And, young man, if Bhe gives you three "yesses," have her at once. A pun, .though the lowest form of wit, ib a sure indication of a sprightly disposition; a girl who can so far emancipate herself from the tradition of her sex as to publicly go through the facial contortions incidental to the eating of an orange, possesses in dependence of character in a marked degree; while the fact that she has read the " Evidences " is proof positive that she has sufficient gravity in her composition to counter-balance the qualities indicated by the pun and the orange.

Remember This.

II yon aro sick. Hop Bittera will surely aid Nature in making you well when all else fails.

If you are costive or dyspeptic or are suffer. ing from any other of the numerous diseases of the Btomach or bowels, it ia your own fault if you remain ill, for Hop Bitters is a sovereign remedy in all such complaints. If you are wasting away with any form of Kidney disease, stop tempting Death this mo ment, and turn tor a cure to Hop Bitters.

If you are sick with that terrible ■ sickness Nervousness, you will find a " Balm in Gilead in the use of Hop Bitters.

If yon are a frequenter or a resident of a iriaßmatio district, barricade your system against the scourge of .all countries-malanal, epidemic, bilious, and intermittent fevers-by the use of Hop Bitters. If you have rough, pimply, or sallow skin, bad breath, pains and acnes, and feel miserable generally. Hop Bitters will give you fair skin, rich blood, and sweetest breath, health, and comfort.

In short, they cure all diseases of the Stomach, Bowels, Blood, Liver, Nerves, Kidneys, Bright's Disease. £500 will bo paid for a case they will not cure or help. Druggists and Chemists keep.

That poor, bedridden, Invalid wife, gister mother, or daughteStcan be made the picture of health by a fe« wyes of Hop' Bitters, «~an« but a trifle. M : * them mSexl

THE GARDEN.

[By Hortus,]

Calendar ot Operations, August 30'

(Hortub is willing to answer any quorios. Cor rospondonts must give thoir full names and addresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Early Tomatoes (Tomato, Mount Eden).—Sow your seed in a not, place near the glass In tho window; it will soon come up. When tho seedlings havo attained two leaves, pot them singly into three-inch pots, using some rich llbrous soil so that they may root freely. You should have nine compact plants feir plantim: out in October. By striking cuttings from your old plants next autumn you will he able in another year to fruit, your tomato plants sooner tnan it is possible by seedlings. Plants struck from cuttings comnnnce to show for fruit immediately they begin to grow; whereas seedlings havo to crow and attain some strength before they will carry flowers and fruit.

Soot (A.0., PnrnoU).—We do not know of a more useful article than soot for uso in the gar den. Mixed with lime, it makes a capital wash for the steins o£ fruit trees. Insects at nil kinds detest it. It also makes a capital manure when obtained in quantities. For the destruction of slugs, etc., which infest the kitchen and flower gardon, it is invaluable. AVhen using it for the above, uae it at night while tho pests aro at work. That obtained from coal is said to be the best. Get all you

Renovating Soils ("' Amateur,'' Ponsonby).— So as to renovate soils that fail to grow good vegetables, I know of no better way than to drain, as it is eTident your soil is sour anil wet. Next bavo thosoil trcncheil twoapitudeep, but do not bring the sub-soil to the surface. Tho draining and trenching should bo done in dry weather. After these aro done, spread over the surface plenty of well-rotted man ure, lime, rubbish, sand, burnt soil, or any free, open materials; even scoria nah will as sist. Fork theso into the ground. Tho Hrat crop afterwards will fairly indicate th« im provement mado. Tho soil may be larkint' in certain constituents, and theso aro often found in tho material)) above recoimnomlod, With the assistance of aalt and unslacked lime The limo assists in dissolving and preparing food for tho vegetables lo feed upon. It !*lsn assists in keeping slugs down, and for this purpose newly slaked lime should bo used in the oveninss. Cast thinly over the surface, it will not injure the crop. Moving Large Eveborekns (Memo, Devon port).—l could not recommend you to remove thoso now; it is too lato in the season. If you can let them stand till next autumn, it would be much bettor. If yon must lift, get up as largo a ball with them as possible. After plauting, thoroughly Baturate the soil round them with water—that is, if tho ground is thoroughly drained. Hcduco the top of the plants considerably, so as to give less wood for the curtailed sap to act upon. The early spring is the host period for pruning ever greens grown for their fuliago. The new shoots will come away with great vigour, giving you larger and better coloured foliage, but yours would have been hotter pruned three weeks ago. Sowing Smalt, Annual Sekds (AmatourGar dener, Whau).—lt is imperative), when sowing small seeds, that tho soil should be in good condition. If your soil in the garden is still' and wot, have somo good, light compost made on the places where you sow tho seed. Always pi ico some of tho compost at bottom ; sow the seed, and cover with more of tho compost. This will give the seeds, as they germinate, a better opportunity for tho tendor rootlets to penetrate till they gain sufficient strength to enter the stitl'ur soil. If the above was of toner practised by people with stiff soil, tho seeds man would not get so often blamed for bad seeds, and there would also bo much leijs dis appointmont to somo growors.

How to Dig.

Thoro is a great art in knowing bow to dig a piece of ground well. Some men think that turning over a largo surface dur ing a day's work is the main object tx> bu obtained. In my opinion, tho object tc lie gained is turning tho surface down which has been exposed to tho action of theair and bringing a new portion of the soil Vi the surface ; at tho same time going ; t deep as it is possiblo to go with the spad< Any man who understands how dig properly will keep a straight ar open trench,put his spade in porpondicularl taking moderate sized spits and turn t soil over thoroughly, breaking it propci as ho proceeds with his work. Thoro if vast dilt'erenco between good and biid di ging. Many a timo I have seen an ci ployer looking at tho clay's work a chuckling at tho quantity of work done ' tho day, where if a proper idea of tho wo, done was obtained he would not see muc cause to chuckle. Ono man may dig a pine*, of ground, and by inserting his spade at n angle of 45d0g., and only turning ovor tv soil to a depth of about six incln . thereby cover a good deal of grou in a day, whereas tho man tlxvt puts 1 spade down perpendicularly, gets down tc depth of nine or ten inches ; consequent he cannot get over so much ground by third, but the work done is of much superi quality to the other. In this country especially for summor crop? in the doep v dug ground, roots can penetrate d«ep< i Such soil retains tho moisture much longer during dry weather, tho produco is »!«■ ii larger, and of a much superior quality. In digging a pieco of grouad, try and aoiA the spade as deep as possible, so a3 in obtain as many advantages as possible fio-.a the quantity of ground labourcnlL

Growing Onions.

Where good crops of tho .abov^J1 are ex pected, somo considerable trouble must bo tnken with tho soil. If crops of th« above arc annually required on tho name p.tice, ;i piece of ground should be specially prepared for their growth, the onion boing onr- of those vegetables which will succeed yrw after year on tho eaine piece of ground. Eb is too lato in tho season to talk to my readers now about trenching and heavy manuring for this season's crop. Tho most that can be done now is to fork over the surface of the ground. The first dry day after forking spread on the surface a liberal supply of fine- bones. If the state of tho soil and weather will allow, commence treading over all tho sur face of the ground, pressing tho surface firmly all over with the feet. Afterwards apply tho rake and make the surface fine and level. Mark out the piece of ground in lines about one foot apart, then draw tho lines about halfan-inch in depth, sow the seeds very thinly if it bo good, covering it up with the back of the rake, afterwards raking all the surface; leave again. Onions sown in rowsare farmore easily kept free from weeds; the hoe can easily be kept going between the rows while they are growing, When the seedlings are coming through' flho ground, theslugs are sometimes very troublesome; in Buch cases frequent dustings of fresh slacked lime in the evening, after dark, while they are out feeding, will effectually cheek those pests. When tag1 seedlings have attained about six inches in lieight,- thin them out to about six or seven inches- apart. These thinnings, if required, Willl do for still further extending the plot) of onions; they transplant easily, making eqnally as good bulbs as those sown if the trans planting is done early and in moist weather. Dibble them out in rows one foot apart, and six inches from plant to plant in row. They will give no further trouble save hoeing and keeping the weeds down. If you want to still further improve the chances of a good crop, immediatel^' before the bulbs begin to swell give the ground a good dusting of Peruvian guano, especially if you get a wet, showery day ; do not apply it in hot dry weather, as it might damage the crops. As soon a? possible after it is applied, hoe the surface soil again so as to mix it with the soil. While thinning out the onions always retain in the ground those that show the mostleaves; each leaf representing a layer of flesh to the onion ; from thi& it will be easily understood that the young plants showing the most leaves wi'l produce the largest and finest bulbs. Onions will begin to ripen about the end of January and beginning of February. If there are any of them showing thick necks, the necks should receive a twist and be bent down; this twist should take place about two inches from the bulb. Do this just as the tips of the foliage change to a yellow colour. The effect of the twist and bending will be to stop the flow of the sap and hasten the maturity of the bulb. When the foliage has become withered, and the necks have become shrivelled up, that is an indication that they are ripe enough for pulling. Pull them up and spread them out carefully to dry, turning them over once or twice during the drying period. While doing so separate all those that are thick in the neck or unsound for immediate use or aale. When tho sound ones are perfectly dry, clear off all useless debris, and place them in the Rtore-house or loft, whore they must be spread out very thinly on the floor. Those which are to be kept the longest would be better strung up on ropes, and hung up to the rafters where a current of air will always be passing through them.

Potting and Watering Ferns,

As a rule we only pot our ferns once in two years. When established they do not like being disturbed. Sometimes they may do without potting for three or four seasons, but about this time every one of them should be turned out of their pots, and if every thing be right the drainage and every inch of the outer part of the ball will be one mass of fibres. If worms have been run ning amongst the roots, and the drainage has been choked up with small particles of soil with ne roots in it, then 3uccess need not be expected if they are allowed to remain in that condition. The drainage, at least, must be removed, and clean materials and a clean pot substituted; but in most cases it is best to re-pot altogether, and in doing so the bad soil and decayed roots should be removed. This will allow the plant to be replaced in a pot about the

same sizo as that from which it came, and I would not use any much larger, as tho roots do not require much space, especially when reduced. If plants in large pots are required, it is those well furnished with roots that should be transferred. A mixture of rough loam, rough peat, and plenty of sand, suits all kinds of ferns well. In pottinff, tho finest of tho mixture should never bo put at the bottom. It must bo at the- top if anywhere, but very line materials should not be used. What soil requires to be put at the bottom should be placed carefully over tho cracks and be firmly rammed down before tho plant is put in, aijdjwlien spaco is limited between the old ball and -the sides of the pot. It may be :i difficult matter to get rough pieces tilled.in, but they should be pressed li mil y down with a piece of stick, and care should be taken that no little vacancies aro left. After potting, one thorough watering at the roots should be givon, and tho soil will not become dry again for some days. By one watering, 1, however, mean more than once filling tho space loft for this purpose. After tho first quantity lias soaked in, another should bo givon, and if it is thought that this may not be enough to vet all parts of tho soil, more may bo applied. Once the whole of the materials have becomo thoroughly wet, the roots are sane to go on well; but if only the surface soil is wotted, growth will neither begin nor continue satisfactorily.

lforns whose fronds have becomo ragged and discoloured should be cut down to the crowns. L'lunts which aro not to lie repotted should be treated in this way before they have begun to grow, and those which aro repotted should bo cut over when that operation is being performed. It is astonishing how much ferns may bo beno titted by weak doses of liquid manure given twice a week or so. Soot water and cow mamuro water are both good, and when these aro used, especially in the case of plants which havo not been repotted, the result is most satisfactory.—"Cambrian" in "Tlio tlarden."

FUILD SPORTS AND ASIATICS

(IJY ACTiI'JON.)

FOOTBALL FIXTURES.

Auckland Rugby Union Programme.

August, 30—OtaRO v. Canterbury at Duncdin. August 30— I'onaonby v. Newton ; Gordon v Albert.

CRICKET FIXTURES.

Tlio Australian Elovcn.

September 1 — Nottii.Kliam, Auatraliana v. North of Knfe'land. September -I—Scarborough, Australians v. I Zingari, September 11—Oval, Auatraliana v. All Khr tand.

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

I Soptember-W. O. Bretl v. A. F. Sharlaiul, or J! Paramatta, for trophy and amateur champion i jriiiu of the colonies. I November 9— Whau Itivcr Regatta.

The sixteen-fcot open boat Ely is in tho market.

Waymouth is buildimr a new cedar racin dingy for entry at the VYhau K'egutta.

I). Holland's now yacht, which has been turned ou*; of Bailey's shod, is called tho "Albatross."

Georgo H. Hosmerand John Teenier were to havo outraged in n sculling contest at New York on August 13.

Join Maoo is boasting that ou his rctur to America he will face John L. Sullivan i v four-round contest.

L. E. Myers won the SSOyds. very easily by 35yds. in tho grand timo of lmin. 55 2-oth sec, Howard second.

Thomas Clifford has challenged the world to row en the I'aramatta for any amount from £200 to £1,000 a-side.

The 120 yds. sprint resulted in a victory for 0. G. Wood, who beat Wiildrm by half a yard in 12 l-sth sec.

John Largan is endeavouring to arrange a match witii (icorgc Bubear for the cham pionship ol England.

Darby Ryan, Crafton's "crack" foot baller, is Fullering from inllummation of the bowels. His absence is a severe loss to tho cHul). .

Jem Mace, in company with I'ooloy Maco, Fred Collier, and tho unknown Excelsior, are expected to nail from England for Now York, Sept. 7.

The walking race (two miles) once iriore turned out a fiasco—-Murray, who ran tlie greater port of the way, winning by 1 tVOyds. from Meek. Jervis disqualified.

Tho milo race was contested only by Snook and Fredrick*. Tho latter led for 3'DOyds, when Snook passed him, and hold ing hi? lead to tho end, won by 25yds. Time, 4min. 27 2-sth sec.

L. E. Myers and YV, G. George have been trying to arrange a series of races to take placs in England beforo Myers returns home, but thoy aro unable to agree on the distance to bo run.

The latest sehome is to bring over from Japan a boxer who will knock out John L. Sullivan in ono round. Sorakichi, tho wrestler, threatens to import a countryman named (Joraud who is clever with his lists.

E. L. Maddox, on roller skates, defeated 0. J. Young, the bicycle rider, in a 5-mile race at Wakelield, Mass., July 1!), in 22mins. I4secs. The men raced for a §15 puree, which was equally divided.

Tho American Cricket Team from the time of their arrival in England up to July 'ilii had won six games and loet three, wihilo they played but three drawn games, iqaking a total of twelve games played.

i Tho new yacht Bella Mary, built on a Model similar to the Seagull, has not, I am in formed, turned out so fast aswasexpocted. Sine is to have a trial with the Seagull at an eSirly date, when the question of superiority ■w ill bo settled.

■ On June 7, tho English pedestrian, Sponccr, aged 64, completed his long task, having walked 5.30 C milos on beer, etc., in 100 days, against Weston's walk of 5,000 niilos in ninety-nine .days, on temperance drinks, ate.

: It is now positively asserted that the final heat at Lake Conneaut, Teenier made his three miles in 19mins. 2b'socs., beating the best record by thirty-sevon seconds, Teemer will challenge Hanlan as soon as he returns home.

Jt has now been definitely decided that a rowing regatta will be hold on the Wliau River on Prince of Walcs's Birthday. A oonimitteo having been appointed, tho pro gramme will shortly bo drawn up and a subscription list started.

One of tho most amusing scones at the Grafton-North Shoro football match was a desperate struggle for the ball in a by Mater-hole in which botli teams were im mersed above the knees for several minutes, and. got a thorough drenching.

A football match between Now South Wales and Queensland teamg was played at Erisbane on Tuesday, J9th August, and re sulted in a win for the former by 7 goals and 10 behinds against their opponents' 3 goals and 17 behinds.

It is said that the most eminent of con temporary Americans is really the prize fighter John L. Sullivan. lie and his troupe recently returned from a tour of the country lasting over four months, during which Sullivan's net receipts have been about £20,000.

The double-scull race between Wallace Ross and Fred Plaisted, and James Ten Eyck and G. Oaisol, took place at Oak Point,-New York, on July 5, for a purse of !S2OO. The distance was three miles, Ross and Plaisted winning by H lengths in 19min. ssec.

, Tom Kelly, who trained Beach for his recent match with Hanlan, has had under his care, in turn, all the best rowing men Australia has produced, Trickett, Rush, Laycock and othcra. He now purposes giving up the business of trainer and enter ing into tho tobacco, cigar, and fancy goods line.

The absurdity of playing a football match without first selecting umpires was manifested last Saturday in a cdhtest be tween the Victoria and Alexandra Clubs, played at North Shore. The game was stopped at times by unseemly disputes, and the whole concluded by both sides claiming victory. This should prove a lesson for the future.

It appears that after all that has been said and all the time that has elapsed since the football match was played between Auckland and Wellington, last season, the dispute connected therewith is about to be settled by reference to the Canterbury and Otago Unions. Better late than never, but why was not this decided on twelve months ago ?

The sending of an Auckland football team to Tauranga having been abandoned, the Association has decided to invite a Tauranga team to play here, and failing this, thaton September 6th a match Pon sonby and North Shore v. a team selected from other Union clubs be .played in the Domain and a charge for admission, the proceeds to go towards Auckland's share of the Sydney tour expenses. . \ •

At the Amateur Athletic meeting held at Birmingham, England, July 19th, tho fol lowing events wore contested : 1,000 yards run between W. Snook (England), with 32 yards start, defeated L. E. Myers (America) in 2mins. IS 4-!isecs. by 2-5 of a second. Tho half-mile run was won by Harry Fred ricks (America), in 2mins. 1 2-ssecs., and tho three-mile walk by Frank P. Murray (America), in 21mins. 48hscj-.

John L. Sullivan, the champion, Ins .since tho fiasco of Juno 30, been leading a quiet life at home. He is not at present in tho best of health, and it will take at least six weeks tori him to recuperate. John pro poses to leave liquor alone in futuro,and act on the advice of his frieniJs. His intention is to start in training as soon as tho weather gets a little cooler, and meet Mitchell the Tatter part of September.

Taiaroa, according to a IJunedin writer, has decided to terminate his football career, and rest content with the many laurels ho has gained in intcrprovincial contests, and lately with tho New Zealand representatives in New South Wales. Though still young in j ears, he can well afford to rest on his oars, for there arc very few footballers, either at home or abroad, who can claim such a brilliant record at .so early a period in their lives.

We notice, says tho " Bulletin," that the "official" time—whatever that means—for tho big race has been givon by the various dailes as 20min. 28sec., but wo are not far

out when wo sbitc that the " correct" time h was nearly a ininuto ."lower. We made it t 21niin. 2GJscc, ;an experienced amatour, X' used to clocking, made it 2lmin. '27800. ; and Mr James Oaticy, perhaps asoxpoi ienccd a hand with tho watci as followed the race, made it 21 mill. 2!lbcc. ; ho there cannot lie much doubt that the oilicia) timokeoper—if thoi'O was hucli a person -run Uio dailies all astray. The third mile in tho alleged time o£ ijmin. 15see. is too preposterous to nood comment. In tho crickot match between the Aus tralians and a North of England team played on July 3, 4, and 5, tho Australians wore given a fearful "leather-hunt,'1 as' the scratch team remained at tho wickets fur a day and a half, scoring no less than 453. Of this number Scoltin contributed 134 in splondid stylo, without giving a chance; he wan in for over six hours, and had seen 307 runs scored. Attewell made 84, and Grimshaw and Hirst put in 77 and 71 ro npuctivoly, while Wright played well for 20, not out. In this long innings all tho Aus tralians had boon tried, as bowlers oxcept Murdoch and Bannorniun, Tho match ended in a draw, tho Australians with three wickets to fall wanting 154 to save a single innings defeat. Tho Australian CricUetors. The score of 550 rune made by the Aus tralians the other day must have been a great surprise to cricketers. That an eleven from the colony of Australia should succeed in making such a large nuinbor of runs against tho pick of English playors seems marvellous indeed. If thcro is one thing that an Englishman fancies ho can do, it is to play cricket, and there is no doubt that tho conceit must havo boon taken out of English cricketers by this success, but whether it will be good for the Australians in this respect is strongly open to doubt. I hardly think that modesty is tiio dominant quality of colonials. As Trollopo said when he left Melbourne, "My friends, don't blow." It is to bo hoped, however, that tho Australians will not bo unduly pulled up by their exploits, and that they will know how to bear their good fortune with a proper pride and self-respect. Many people will be inclined to think that too much is being made of cricket in these days, but Ido not. think so. Athletic sports havo boon tho salvation of many a boy at our public schools. Our style of education is tending to banish happiness out of the world altogether, and 1 look upon athletic sports as a safety valve. How, however, can wo account for tlio Australians being in any way able to come within "coooy"of tho English players '! In England there is a vory wide rango to make a selection from. Tho boys at our public schools spend a large portion of their time in playing cricket. They havo their professionals regularly coaching thorn. Matefics aro continu ally played with the different schools. Even the smallest grammar schools havo their own professional. Look at the Eton and Harrow match at Lords; thcro are thousands of specta tors, carriage? tilled with tho rank and fashion of the country, the ladies wearing their blue colours, the horses adorned with blue ribbons, exhortive cries of " played," " bowled," as tho rival schools contend. Tho captains of tho teams are introduced to tho Prince of Wales after tho match. Everything that can give iclut to cricket is present. Then again at tho universities cricket is pursued with the greatest ardour. There aro no resident universities in Aus tralia whore cricket can bo followed with the success that it is at Home. There are, however, clubs whoso members aro ill con stant practice. Scftiio of the members of I Zingari do nothing else but play trinket., that is, they aro men of money and leisure, and keep themselves in constant practice. Some men send their boys to Ihe public .schools to learn cricket, and nothing else. But some will way that in the colonies the greater part of the year can bo given to cricket, which i.< not tho ease in England ; but after all there is not much in this ob jection if we look into it.. In Australia, they ramplay from October to the end of March (six months), in England from tho middle of.May to the middle of September (about four months), so that, in tho colony thoy have the advantage of two months extra; but in England they can play at least two hours longer in the evening, which makes an enormous difference, that is 1 if tho cricket evening in Australia is ' from six to eight, in England it id from six to ten, and certainly ought to bo taken into ■ v consideration, as the evening is tho principal 1 timo for playing cricket, except for schools. • I can hardly account,then,for tho success of 1 the Australians on this ground. They y havo, however, one great advantage, and that is that they aro all accuetomed to one another's play. It very often happens that , a school oloven at Homo will boat are mark :i ably good oloven, simply becauso tho 0 schoolboys work together, and there is 8 no doubt that much of tho success of the Australians is duo to this fact, but it hardly explains tho whole matter, ® although, if an English olevon liko the one 0 selected tho other day could practise 9 togother liko the Australians have done, ' thoy would no doubt be exceedingly strong. s The Australians must bo congratulated on their brilliant batting, several of them t having made very long scores. When a 1 man is in constant practiso it is vory difli !l cult to bowl him out on a good ground. • Whore there is not much chance of a » shooter, it ii something liko billiards. Whon Koberts, for instance, gets holds of 3 tho "spot stroke," tho wonder is that ho % ever stops scoring, but after a timo he . must get tired and miss the stroke. In die same way at cricket, the player eventually becomes a littlo careless, and is ' bowled. Tail's principle was always to bowl a "bad 'un," as ho called it, and then a 1 " good 'un." Ho bowled a loose ball, which the player hit, perhaps, for four runs, and ' then with the next ball ho took the man's • bailsl, the looso ball putting the man off hia guard. Those matches must have an immense influence for good, as they bring - the home country and tho colonies together, - and colonists havo no reason to ho ashamed 3 of their oxploits, but lot us take Trollopo's 3 words in good part, and however successful ; don't lot us " blow."

Sports and Pastimes.

(FROM OUII LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

The lovely summer weather wo havo en joyed in London for tho past fortnight has been favourable for sports of all kinds, and the adherents of rowing, cricket, and tennis havo had a grand time of it. On July Sid and 4th the ever-wolcome Henley Regatta was held, and tho crowd taking advantage of tho magnificent weather was larger and more enthusiastic than ever. The racing this year was fully as interesting as it has ever been, and though marred by soveral bad fouls, most of the competitions produced exciting finishes. Tho preliminary heats were rowed on Thursday, and tho finals were decided on Friday.. In the Thames Challenge Cup, the first heat was won by the Thames 11.0., the Lon don R.C. heing second ; tho second heat fell to Twickenham R.C., who defeated the West London R.C. by two lengths. The finalheat resulted in an easy win for the Twickenham eight, who led throughout and ultimately finished 4 lengths ahead of the Thames men.

The final heat of the Grand Challenge Cup, the great event of the Regatta, was competed for by tho London R.C and Twickenham R.C. The Londoners led from the start, and when f of tho course was passed the No. 7 in the Twickenham boat fainted from sheer exhaustion, and London going ahead won by several minutes. Three crews competed in tho final of the Public Schools Challenge Cup. Shortly after tho start the Derby four fouled tho Hereford boat, and ihe race was restarted. Derby weut away at once and won by six lengths, Hereford second, Mhgdalen College third)

The Wyfold Challenge Cup brought out three crows, the Marlow and London Row ing Clubs. The Thames four went away with a slight lead, Marlow second, and this was retained throughout, Thames ultimately winning by throe lengths. Tho Stewards' Cup lay between tho Kingston and Twickenham fours ; after an exciting race for half tho distance, a bad foul occurred, and Kingston going away won by a hundred yards. Tho umpire awarded the race to Kingston. The Diamond Challenge Sculls proved to be the most exciting contest of tho day. The following woro left in tho final:—W. S. Unwin, Magdalen College, Oxford ; R. H. Smith, Thames R.C.; and J. Farrell, London R.C. ll'or half the distance Unwin and Farrell were rowing together, but a little past half way Farrell was beaten, and stopped right in front of Smith, who fouled him badly, but getting clear the latter came on hard, and only just failed to catch Unwin, who won by half a length. The Ladies' Challenge Cup resulted in a victory for tho Eton' College eight, who rowed splendidly and ea'ily defeated tho Kadley crew opposed to them. The Silver (Joblets Race was the last item of tho. programme. For this event three pairs were entered. Lowndcs and Brown, of the Twickenham R.C.; G. R. B. and C. Earnshaw, of the London R.C; and F. and R. 11. Cobb, of tho Kingston R. C. Tho Twickenham pair atonco went to the front, the Londoners being second, and Kingston last. This order was maintained all through, Lowndcs and Brown winning somewhat easily by live lengths. On Saturday, .July sth, tho long-expected meeting between tho American athletes and tho South London Harriers came off at the Lillie Bridge ground. A splendid pro gramme was arranged, but, of course, the ovont.s in which tho most interest centred were the four international contests. These were 100 yards, 410 yards, 1320 yards and the four miles walking race. Every

one of these competitions (tiie walking race execptod) resulted in grand races, and the roiult was that England and Amorioa were each credited with two wins. The Britishers proved successful in the 100 yards and 1,320

yards, while the Yankees gained premier honours in the 410 yards and the 4 miles walk.

The first event decided was the 100 yard;

sprint. For this three men turned out J, M. Cowio, London A.C., C. G. Wood

London A.C., A. Waldrm, Manhattan A.C. Waldrm rushed oil'at the start, but at hall way was collared by Cowic, who was never afterwards .headed and won by two

yards. Wood made a splendid spurt in the last i"i yards, and just beat Waldrm. by a foot for sueond pkee. Time, lO^sccs.

For the 440 yards there were six com petitors, L. E. Myor.s, Manhattan A.C, and F. Stuart Howard, J. I. Muspratt, \V. Look, G. G. Wood, U.K. Ball, of the London A.C. Ball made the running for Jof the distance, when Myers rushed by him, fol lowed by Muspratt, Howard, and Lock; they were, however, unable to get on terms with t.he American, who won by fix yards, Muxpratt second, Howard third. Time, ■1!) :i sth news,

Tlio 1,320 yards (tlireo laps) raco brought out a field of four, W. Snook and E. C. Carter, Moseley Harriers, [[. E. Fredrick*?, Manhattan A.C, and C. Cattlin, South London Harriers. Carter started oil'with the load, Krcdrickw second, and Snook last. After ono lap Snook rushed up to the front, with Frednoks after him, and they soon left. Carter and Cattlin behind. In tho last lap a splendid raco ensued between Snook and Kredricks ; at 300 yards from home t ho Yankee looked like winning, but spurting with great determination, the Mosoley Harrier managed to shako him oil', and

going down the straight at sprinting pace. won by II yards in tho fast timo of Sming, 10 1 -ut.ii Hoc.-i.

The walking raco was tho only disap pointing event in tho programme, all the "walkers" except tho American Meek, being really "trotters." No ono was, how ever, disqualified, and the raco resulted in an easy victory for E. I. Murray, of the Williumsburgh A.C, who won 15 3-ssoc. from .1. .)ervis, of Liverpool, who was •J 3.,1 th sec. before Meek, of West Side A.C, New York.

On Monday, 7th, tho .second mooting took placo at Birmingham, and here again honours were easy. The Americans won the 880 yds. and the walking race, while tho English won the 120 yds. and the mile.

A STARTLING PROPOSITION

Should Idiots and Monstrosities

Be Killed?

At a mooting of tho Pennsylvania dtaU: Medical Society, Dr. Lcffmun read a paper on tho advisability, propriety or wisdom of killing idiots, monstrosities, or persons suf fering intense misery from disease. Dr. Lell'mun slated that ho advanced his view* on the subject not because ho was irrevoca bly committed to them, nor wished to con vert his follow-physicians to them, but be cauEO ho desired to oxcito debato on the subject. Unfortunately other business in tcrfored, and tho debate was not oxtended1 Nevertheless, it was shown that there was an inclination on tho part of many to agree with Dr. Leflimtn that within reasonable bounds it would be wise and justifiable to remove horn life tho classes of persons men tioned.

That this proposition should be laid down lit all shows that scientific men are year by year becoming more bold and foarloss ; thai, it: should be seriously entertained shows that tho disposition to frown upon innova tions is passing away ; that the bare men tion of such a proposition does not excite horror and indignation snows that the masses of tho people havo learned that tho wisest plan is to suspend judgment until such questions are fully discussed. Viewed from an unprejudiced standpoint --that is, considering mankind in the ab stract, without regard to tho affections of blood—it must bo admitted that Dr. Loff mun's proposition, so far as it applies to idiots and monstrosities, is worthy of serious consideration. We do not consider that tho proposition to remove persons suffering from incurablo diseases ought to be enter taind for an instant.

Tho characteristics which distinguish man from the brute aro language, a desiro and capacity to acquiro knowledge, a sense of individuality or personality, ail abstract concoption of the existence of a Supreme Being, and a hope or desiro for a continued tnturo existence The absence of any of theso characteristics brings man noarer the bruto; the absence of nil of thorn would transform him into a brute.

An idiot—and we use tho word in its most strict sense —possesses none of thoso characteristics, except occasionally that of language ; in a majority of cases they have only voice, the power to utter sounds but not to form them into words. The mental qualities of man, and not his physical form ation, constitute his claim to superiority over brutes, and in that view of the matter what cluim has an idiot to bo considered a human being ? It is impossible to believe that ho was created to serve any end, and if ho was he fails to do it. His lif» is a mere animal existonce. Ho is more capable of taking care of himself than the brutes, for the instinct which is given to them is denied to him, and ho lacks oven a degree of the intelligence which is implanted in the breast of men. The idiot is not only useless to society, but he is dangerous. Having no conception of the difference be tween right and wrong, he is likely to commit murder, arson, or any other crime. Under certain circumstances, he might propagate his species. Viewed from a religious standpoint, tho idiot can serve no useful end, for neither by in stinct nor education does he recognise the existence of a Supreme Being, and he has no hope nor desire' for a future existence. Viewed from a worldly standpoint,' his life is of no object, for he does not possess the intelligence necessary to make him a de-. sirable citizen, and there is no hope that his condition will ever change. Viewed from an economic standpoint, the idiot is a charge upon his friends or the community. Ariewed through tho spectacles of the scientist, the idiot, lacking in everything that distin guishes man from brute, occupies space and consumes food in a world that is now not too largo for the people on it who aro desir able inhabitants. All the observations on idiots apply with equal force to monstrosi ties.

It is plain, therefore, that it is desirable to remove these unfortunates from a world in which they arc unfitted to live. Whether it should rest with any man or any set of men to decide upon their fate we will not attempt to say, but those who admit the justice of capital' punishment will find it hard to urge a valid argument against the right to remove idiots and monstrosities.

New York city has a newly-formed Sun day society to promote observance of the day. The annual mortality in Great Britain from intemperance is 40,500. SKINNY MKN.-"p!U>,ll ; «;,hl:-;t::;. ; ;«;. a {...« '.<■.!!!.

SPORTING

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTUKES.

Now Zealand.

Gcraldinc R.O. Spring September 2p, 2G llawke'B Hny J.C. Spring October G, 7 Taranakl .1.0. Spring Octobor 2S Wa.iKa.iui J.C!. Spring ••• •■•■ >£ v- ■> Citnterlmry J.C. Metropolitan....Nov. U,lo, U Auckland H.C. Spring gov. lj> Takapuna J.C. Spring • • ■ N%- -■' Wellington it.C. Spring • N°VVC°' Uui-cilin J.C. Spring Nov. 29, Dec. 1 Australia A..T.C. Spring August 30; September 2, J, 6 V.A.T.O. (L'aul(leld) Meeting. .October 11 and IS V.R.C. Hpring November 1,1, 6, 8

To Correspondents.

W H M.-Ul Captain Webster i9 by St. Albans- Piissyi Johnny Faulkner, by St. Albans impudenoo. (2) Carlton is an own brother to Otideia and Nonsense. H.F.-Tromando was purchased at Mr A. guineas. Wi.-N-rwoitTii —At the time tho New Zealand "fn is run July in reality will be only a four- Handicap at tho C.J.C. HpTIW Meeting, in which ho ran unplaced. J.P.-Auatralian papers slute as a matter of ' fact Btiua'anule and u-lmlfin the Hawl<esb;:vs Handicap. Which he covered in 2mm. 36iaee., is not the (asleat mile and a-half over achieved in Australia, as Wallangra ran the distance in ■1 nuartor of a second lesa time when he won I he Hoi ham Handicap on the first day of the last. V.tt.C. Spring Meeting, and carried on at Ihcfiiime rate a distance further. Hastings a lime for th« mile and a-half on Saturday last was the SiHiie as Stinu'a, viz , 2min. 3G]sec.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Tiik Spring Meeting of the Australian Jockey Club will bo commenced at Rand wick this afternoon, when the Derby comes up for decision, and tho result will be anxiously looked forward to, ag it may be depended upon to throw some light on the hi'- Victorian event. On Tuesday the (i roat M etropolitan Stakes will be contested, for which the following horses have ac- C°lltCd: ~ Stlh Btlb Maliia .. ..9 7 Reginald .. •• 6 « MirModrod .. 810 Hoscawen .. <> ■> Oil' Colour ..8 7 Cracker Colt ..6 7 \Vnnvick.. ..8 5 Erin .. ■■ Willcroo .. .. 8 o Blazes .. ••5 5 Mtastings.. ..8 0 Kathleen .. ..6 1 B-istol . 8 0 Phj-lhs .. •• fi , Hurricane ..8 0 Princess of Lorno 6 i U-3DOt .. 7 12 Brian O'Lynn ..6 1 llapd i: -.7 12 LordClifden ..6 4 fcfc&r :: Sffisa.:: :: Comut ..7 1 Fernlea ~ .. h 0 Bonnie Bee .. 1 3 Palarenda .. 6 0 HiLttttlloua ..7 2 Isqnomy .. .. <> « UldOold .. ..7 2 Albert Victor .. fl 0 Privateer.. ..7 0 Tramp .. ... « « Wallanera ..7 0 Mlrabeau.. ..0 0 Brown and Rose « 0 tlndudin? 51b penalty. According to cablegrams received this week, Hastings is favourite for the eventat 6 to 1, and if we take a lino by his Hawkesbury running, he must prove a thorn in the side of the best engaged. Wallangra is held next in esteem, and I notice from late Sydney papers that he has been doing a lot of good two-mile work lately, and is in first class condition. If Despot receives the sup port of his party, ho too must prove a very dangerous customer, for the stable have ovid'ently been waiting to pick up a good thing with him for a long time past. The New Zealand Stud Company's matron MirtS Laura has produced a bay filly to Musket, and My Idea (dam of Nelson) a colt to Anteros. Mr Sydney .lame?, Secretary of the Dimedin Jockey Club, has sent me a neut li Ulo book containing the programmes for the Spring and Autumn Meetings of the Club. The Spring Meeting ie fixed for the •2iHli November and Ist December, and the Autumn Meotitig for 2<ith, 27th, and 28th February. At tho first-named gathering, the good sum of £1,505 in added money is to be given away, and at the last-named £3,585, showing a total of £5,190. Nomi nations for the Dunedin Cup of 1,000 soys., D.J.C. Handicap of 400 boys., and Forbury Handicap of 300 kovs., close on the 20ih September. From a private cablegram received in town I learn that Mr S. Martm's colt Reginald won the Mares' Produce Stakes at tbo"Hawkesbury Meeting on Saturday last. Tli is makes his sixth successive victory, and as it is almost certain that Bargo would be among the starters, he indeed must be a clinker. Reginald was got by Grandmaster from Aye Maria, but unfor tunately his owner did not nominate him for either tho A.J.C. or V.R.C. Derbies. lii:i name, however, appears among those left in the Great Metropolitan Stakes and Melbourne Cup. It will be pleasing to the New Zealand Stud Company to learn that at the annual show of the Now South Wales Agricultural Association, the Musket—Bergere colt that was taken to Sydney in January last was successful in gaining the first prize for thoroughbreds in the one and under two years class. He was exhibited by Mr j. Brown, of Scone, who has named him Musketeer.

The members of the Pakuranga Hunt Club have decided to make the principal event a handicap this year instead of a woieht-for-nge raco as formerly. Messrs Waterhouse, Stevens, and Shepperd have boon solected to allot the weights. Messrs Whetham and Walker's "N.Z. Turf Register" is now to hand, and may be obtained from Upton and Co., book sellers. The price is 6s 61. Colonel Ben Williams, of the Indian Re mount Service, who paid us a flying visit this week, had a look over Musket, and states that he is the finest stallion he has yet soon. In his opinion there was nothing in Australia to equal him. Judging by the victories of Bargo and Tremando on the first day of the Hawkes bury Meeting, it would appear that the Hon. J. White has an unusually strong team this season. Bargo, it appears, had little difficulty in securing, the Guineas, and Tremando had an equally easy win in the Maiden Plate, but it is stated that Cairn gorm, the runner-up to the latter, came homo like a racehorse. In Melbourne, I notice that Tremando has been backed to win the V.R.C. Derby for a couple of thousand at 7 to 1.

Sylvia's son Goldsbrough is certainly getting his name noised abroad in Australia this season, for I notice that at the V.A.T. C. Grand National Meeting one of his pro geny was again to the fore. This was in the Sapling Stakes, Melodious, by Golds brough—Melody (full sister to The Broker), boating eighteen others.

At the annual meeting of the members of the Wanganui Jockey Club, the following resolution was passod : —" That in all handi caps of one mile and a quarter and under tho lowest weight shall not be under 6st, and if the highest weight accepting be under 9st, it Bhall be raised to 9st, and the others proportionately." "In all handi caps over a mile and a half the lowest weight shall not be less than sst 71b, and if tho highest weight accepting be undor Sst 101b, it shall be raised to that weight, Consolation Handicaps excepted."

Tho V.R.O. Derby candidate Garfield is " under a cloud," and tens to one are freely on oiler against him in Sydney for the big three-year-old race. Garlield's name is also missing from the Wagga Wagga Cup nominations, and "Nemo," referring to the matter, says :—His absence would lead one to believe that all is not well with him. That is one of the evils of having to deal with horses that arc trained on private tracks. A horse may be dead lame or even dead in reality, and yet none save a favoured few be any the wiser. Why, it is within my certain knowledge that a horse ruled as a decided lirst favourite for a big race to be run at Rand wick for fully a week after he had to be destroyed, and his carcase burnt. But the news did not leak out until it was too 'ate to save the public, who were being quietly robbed. This has nothing whatever to do with Garfield or his friends ; but the public are getting anxious to find out .a reason for his backward place in the betting upon the Victoria Derby.

One of the most bare-faced affairs that tauen place in Sydney turf circles for a long time past was the scratching of Sir Modred for tho Hawkesbury Handicap. Tho greatest indignation was expressed on all sides, and this is what " Martin dale " says about the matter: —Wo have had horses scratched before under a variety of circumstances, but this beats them all. Wo are literally lost to find reasons for this mysterious case. No horse in training at Kandwick had done such good ivork, and any amount of money had been put upon him, and knowing the horse to be in the hands of a clever honest trainer who had a rider to pufc up on his back beyond reproach, the public were, as they thought, justified in putting their money upon him. Then why his owner elected to scratch him is open to all forts ot doubts and sugges tions. Sir Modred has been a hard horse to train, and Allsop has spent no end of time and trouble over him, and it appears a very hard case that when the horse is well he is not to run. It is a noteworthy fact that one bookmaker in particular was always ready to lay against this horse, and was willing, when the horse was favourite at 6 to 1, to lay 3 to 1 that he did not get a place. When the people who are acquain ted with the ways of the turf saw this they did begin to think that there was something more than appeared, and notwithstanding

the fact that tlic^ s&w the horse doing bet- ; ter than anything olss at Randwick, those ■ who believed they knew a thing or two " stood off." The latest in that Allsop has given orders for the horse to be taken away, and it is rumoured that the affair is to be dealt with by Tattersall's. < EVC'. Disraeli's truism that " nteding succeeds like success," ie peculiarly (W licable to the turf experience of certain spjrtsmen. Call the cause of success what yoil may—luck or judgment—most racing men diirii>cruie;r' career must have experienced in tJieir own persons what they would term " a run Oi luck," either good or bad. The most recent illustration of the persistent fashion in which Dame Fortune will at times smile on the individual whom she deigns to favour (cays the "Melbourne Sportsman") isthe gentle man who races under the now dc course of Mr " W. Neill," who has been exceptionally fortunate of late. Mr Neill purchased Chippenham a couple of months since for £107, and won three races straight off the reel with the grey, including the V. R. C. Grand National ; hethendiscovered another old grey steeplechaser which he had pre viously lost running between tho shafts ot :a\ Simpson's Road threepenny cab ; ho claimed him, put him into work again, and won a steeplechase at Moonee Valley ; sold him'afterwards to a hunting man, who_ at at the very next hunt came down heavily, breaking Hailstorm's back. We next hear of Mr Neill at Deniliquin, where, with the /w-atic Tichborne—a cast-off of the Pytchley stable-he won four races. The Marquis of WaterforJ was his next investment, and or. tho first occasion, oh which he races him m public he wins the" V. A. T. C. Grand National, going to tho post, at the remunera tive oddTof 10 to 1. Thus', with two of the Ballarat cast-off (both greys,, Mr vv. Neill hn» won the two great cross «-"oun™7 events of tho year—the V. R. 0. and V- A. T. C. Grand National Steeplechases. Verily, in his caso, nothing succeeds like success. A sporting writer has lately drawn atten tion to the late Admiral Rous's views on the thoroughbred horse, which include the as-, scrtion that the stature of thoroughbred stock has increased an inch every 25 years since 1700. The average size of horsee was then 13 hands 2in., and in 1870 the average si/.e was 15 hands 2in. Is this to continue, and where will it end ? One or two animals nearly 17 hands high have been seen on racecourses—nearer 17 than 10, unless I am. greatly mistaken. Will the average in crease? Shall we—not we ourselves, but will our descendants—see horses of 20 hands and upwards in future centuries 2 If sst 71b is the i;:inimum, the spectacle will be curi ous The admiral thought, when he wrote, that Eclipse, Ftying Childers, Highflyer, and other flyers might have been able to win celling plates, but would have bad no chan.ee against moderate handicap horses. "Bella Life," remarking en the sale of Lord Falmouth's horses, says :—" It is said with regard to Queen Beitha, the dam oj both Gertrude and Spinaway, who fetched fiuch good prices, that Lord Falmouth bad his first memorable bet of 6d with Mr« Scott of Whitewall, in connection with the mare's Oaks victory. The coin which he lost waa encircled with crystal, enclosed with rows of pearls, brilliants, and rubies, and waa the centrepiece of a handsome bracelet, which is now a treasured relic at Whitewall House. Aa all the worldknows, his Lordship's second bet was a new tjat with Lord Abington, who backed SlHlderig to beat Jeannotte in the St. Leger."

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Mr J. Lennard has sold Kenilworth to a i Waikato sportsman. Buperba was favourite for the Doncaster- St. Leger when the English mail left. 104 bookmakers were registered by the Hawkeabury Racing Club for the Spring Meeting. l'hil Athol will havo to cany Bst 101b in . the V.R.C. Derby, it not being a weight, forage race. f* Mufti, by Tradueer—Flat Iron, who baa. been at the stud in tho Wanganui district, i died the other week. Mr A, McCartnoy.of Napier, has purchased Piacatorius. He is to stand in the Hawke's Bay district. s Silver King it seems is not scratched for the Caulfield Cup, The name was errone ously telegraphed to the Sydney papers. _ A petition is in course of signature in South Australia for Parliament to again legalise the totalisator. At the sale of the Blankney yearlings, a chestnut filly by Hermit from a mare by Musket fetched 1,600 guineas. The Irish Derby, worth 550g5., was won this year by Mr G. Moora's Theologian, by Uneas, a son of Stockwell. That arrant old rogue Maori goes to Tauranga, he having been purchased by a'"! sport down there for £60. The American "Plunger" Walton has offered 5s in. the £ to the layers of odds, but the generous offer has been declined. ■ The Israelite, who has been thrown out of work for a while, has had the pen put ' through his name for the Caulfield Cup. Harry Harrison, who went down to Christchurch in charge of Nelson and Wapiti, returned by tho s.s. Manapouri on Tuesday. The Victorian horses Malua, Off Colour, King of the Gipsies, and Little Sister are all expected to take part in the A.J.C. Spring Meeting. It is stated that the Adelaide sports man, Mr McDonald, intends to remove his horses to Flemington, where he will train for the future. . .■.

An attempt was made lately to cut the throat of the Melbourne hurdle-racer Sir Patrick. The miscreant was disturbed while he was in the stable, and he made off. The Wanganui Jockey Spring Meeting is fixed to take1 place on the 9th of November. There are six events, and the added money tots up to £330. Mr James Wilson, jun., has started training on his own account at Flemington. His team comprises Guesswork, Conjecture, Hesperian, and the Ta3manian colt Meteor. It is whispered in Melbourne that Leporello, by Don Giovanni—Affectation, is a good thing for the V.R.C. Derby. Piggott has already been engaged to ride him.

Wallangra was scratched fortbeHawkes bury Handicap a few days before the race. Baron yon Mueller, Sling, Willeroo, Kath leen, Mirabeau, Warwick, I lizzy, and Coir also had the pen put through.their names for the event.

Craig Millar has met with an accident, and it is questionable whether he will be of any use for stud purposes again. The son of Blair Athol was only recently purchased from Mr Hume Webster for the Hungarian Government Stud.

The latest sensational doubles laid in Melbourne have been Coulstoun and Con ningsby, and Conjecture and Conningsby, for the Caulfield and Melbourno Cups—the former couple to £25,000 at 1,000 to 2, and £10,000 to 36 about the latter pair. Infidel, the sire of Chuckster and other good horses, is dead. He was a chestnut horse, bred in England in 1868, by The Marquis (winner of the Two Thousand Guineas) from Vishnu, by Lambton (by The Cure) from Christabel'e, by Fern hill, &c.

Blackthorn is unquestionably the steeple chaser of the day (says the "Melbourne Sportsman,") for at the V.A.T.C. Meeting, with 12st 101b on his back, and in heavy ground, he gave Friendless 2st 61b and a beating, and finished in the front of ten others in the Steeplechase. The weights for the Doncaster St. Leger have been altered this year, and the mares now only receive 31b in place of 51b from the colts. The colts carry the same weight, 9st, as they did in tho Derby, but the fillies put up Bst 111b. The old conditions read— colts Bst 101b, fillies Bst 51b.

The Venice of the East .

On Bangkok, the capital of Siam, travellers have exhausted their powers of description. It is on the Menam, about thirty miles from the sea, and accessible to the largest vessels that can cross the bar of the river. It is sometimes called the Venice of the East. The broad and handsome river is its chief highway, and a large portion of its more than a half million of inhabitants live and trade in floating houses moored for miles along the water-front. Floating bouses and shops are not an uncommon feature of Chineso cities, but those of Bangkok are considered more characteristic and remark able. It is now stated that they are de creasing, owing to the modernising of the city, by the opening of new streets and drives and the addition of numerous Euro pean improvements. The palace of the King is a modern building, furnished in European fashion, an example that many Siamese nobles have not been slow to imitate The Buddhist temples, which are among the most magnificent dedicated to that religion, are conspicuous ornaments of the city, and often described by those who have seen them in the most extravagant terms. To most Eastern travellers Bangkok is Siam. Thoso who go there see little but the city and its suburbs. The country, except along the Menam where the sea wind is constantly felt, is hot and unhealthy. In the forests the jungle fever operates with deadly effect. No doubt if the forests were cleared and the land cultivated it would become healthier, but that process goes on at a scarcely perceptible rate. A race whose home is in tho tropics and whose; religion is fatalistic BmlHhif m have not in, them the spirit or ihu physical eleraeata pfji progress, ; . .•''■'s f>&ssk

THE AUCKLAND EVENING SfAR, SATURDAY, AUGUST KO, 1884,