SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand.

.Marlboroufth Races February 13 and 14 Dunedin J.C1. Autumn...February 21, 22, and 23 Wanganul J.C. Autumn March 6 and 7 Henderson's jVlill Turf Club March lo Takaimna J.C. Autumn March 17 Hawko's Bay J.C. Autumn March 17 and 18 Taranaki J.C. Autumn April 1 and 2 Auckland K.C. Autumn April 14 and 15 Canterbury J.C. Autumn April 11 and 15 Australia. "V.R.C. Autumn March 1, G, and 8 Hawkesbury K.C. Autumn April 3 and 5 A.J.C. Autumn April H, lfi, 18, and 19 S. A. J.C. Autumn .May 10,15, and 17 Dates of Nominations. Entries and Accep tances. Nominations Takapuna Autumn Meet ing Feb. 22 Nominations Henderson's Mill Cup and Hurdles :' --■ Feb. 22 Nominations A.R.C. Easter Handicap, Autumn Handicap,and Steeplechase..Feb. 29

To Correspondents.

Tk Awamctu.—Ariel won the Auckland Cup three times, viz., in 1877, iB7B, and 1879. M.N.B.—The Poet carried 7st 71b in the Dunodin Cup last year, and failed to gain a place. Hat.—Navifator carried Bst 31b when he won tho last Australian Cup, beating VVilleroo, 7st

101b, and Guesswork, Bat3lb, in 4.2. Qukkv.— July is by Tr«iducer—Tdalia. therefore own brother to Sir Modrod, Betrayer, and Cheviot He la in reality only a three-year-old. F. (Grey-etreet).—Grand Flaneur was never beaten. As a two-year-old he only Btarted once viz.. in the Normanby Stakes, which he won. As a threo-year-old, ho won thu Derby and Mares' Produce Stakes ut the A.J.C. Spring Mooting; the Derby. Melbourne Cup, •and Marcs' Produce Stakes at the % .R.C. Spring Meeting; tho Champion Stokes at the V.R.C. Summer Meeting; and tho St. Leger and Town Plato at tue V.X.C. Autumn

Meeting. In" answer to those correspondents whoßquirod whether Lunn rode Clarence with spurs in the last Auckland Stcoplechass, we may mention that we telegraphed to him this week, and his reply was "No." He further states that he has not ridden him with spurs for some time pa3t.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Major Wai.ii.slev returned from Sydney by the s.s. AVaihora on Tuesday, and brought over with him an English-bred mare called Lady Vivian belonging to the Hon. J. White for the purpose of being served by Musket. Lady Vivian was got by Strathconan. Before leaving,the Major disposed of the Bergero colt and Realisa tion colt, tho former finding a purchaser at 175 guineas.and the latter at 100 guineas. The colt out of Pungawerewere was left behind, be having gone lame on the voyage to Sydney.

The Henderson's Mill Turf Club have drawn up a nice little programme for their annual meeting, which takes place on Saturday, the loth March. There are six events, and tho added money amounts to £300, distributed thus :—Hurdle Race of 60sovs, 2 miles ; Maiden Plate of 35sovs, 1£ mile ; Henderson's Mill Cup of lOOsovs, 1J mile ; Selling Race of 30sova, 1J mile ; Railway Handicap of 50sovs, 1 mile; and Novel Race of 25sovs, 1 mile. Nominations for the Cup and Hurdles close on Friday, ■22nd February. Tho quotations for the Dunedin Cup are as follows: —

5 to 1 agst Nonsense 7 - 1 — July 100 — 11 Oudeis 100 — 10 — Vanguard 100 — 10 Lady Emma 10il — 10 Turquoise 100 — 10 Talaroa 100—7 — Salvage 100—6 Captain Webster 100 to 6 to 3 agst the others. In referring to the local candidates, " Mazeppa " says that Taiaroa is in beauti ful condition, and iit to race at very short notice, while Captain Webster, -who has grown well but not too fast, kliowb more improvement perhaps than any youngster ho ha? seen in the colony. He is at present a picture of good health, and by his appear ance, he thinks, should be about cnerry rijxj by the time the meeting comes on. Old Matn, although at times showing symptoms of lameness, i« doing well, while Lady Emma and Adamant are also reported to be getting through their daily work in a satisfactory manner. The following are the nominations for the Taranaki Autumn Meeting :— T.J.C Handicap.—Landscer, Consul, Ad ministrator, Senior. Maori, Larrikin. Laurel, Armourer. Libeller, Muskotecr, Fiahwoman, Yuba Bill, Bayard, Leonessa, Turquoise, Daphne, ltcfriKcrator, Ina. Duchess colt, St. Clair, Satoria. Noriimnby, Witiora. FLYING Handica!'.—Landsecr. Scotch Mist, Danebury, Consul, Administrator. Maori. Larrikin. Venture. Laurel, Musketeer, Sweet Home, Fishwoman. Mitrailleuse. Leonessa. Hinemoa. Claude, Sir Georgo. Okalo, Duchess •colt. Satoria. Pointer (late Itaphaell, Norinanby. Witiora. illue Gown. AUTUM.S Handicap.—Landscer, Danebury, Consul, Administrator. Maori, Larrikin, Laurel, Armourer. Libeller. Musketeer. Sweet Home, Fishwoman. Ktilo, YiiuaJ'.ill. Jiuvard.Leoneasa, Hinemoß.Turi-iuoise, DapUnu, Ci:LU(!o. HcfriKera- lor, Duclio=s colt, Satoria, Normanby, Witiora, Ulue Gown. Stbki'Lkchare.—Horculcs. Chandler. Mount, Shotov'-r. Woodpecker, Hurbarr, Home Ilule, ■Chevalier, Diomedos, Caoutchouc, i'lyiugScud, New Year, Hilly.go-by-'ein. Hukdlks.—Hercules, Chandler. Woodpecker, ■Shotover, Harkaway, Harbary, Mount. Cheva lier, Diomt-des, Homo Kule. Caoutchouc. Flying Scud, Never Fear, Billy-go-by-em, The Pearl, A noteworthy circumstance in connection ■with the Wellington Racing Club Summer Meeting was that while an outsider turned up in every raco on the first day, the favour ites, with one exception, had all the best of it on the second. It may bo also noted that Salvage followed in the footsteps of Tasman last year by winning the Hutt Park Stakes and Racing Club Handicap, his nearest attendant in the latter event—as was the ease on Saturday last—being The Poet. A cablegram from Melbourne this week states that Martini-Henry i.s favourite for the Champion Raco at 0 to 4, Commotion's price beinj; Bto 1. From late papers I gather thut the- Melbourne Derby nnd Cup winner is getting in something like his Spring form, nnd one fcribe notices, his ■doings on the Randwick training ground as follows: —Martini-Henry nnd Despot, after a canter, put in a strong once round. At the finish tho so:> of Musket and Sylvia was only cantering and considering that this is about the first time thit ho has really been asked to go fast, it only shows what a great horse he must bo to equal the time made by tho best of tho others, and they fully strung up for an important race like the Anni versary Handicap. What an unfoitunatc horse tho game Sardonyx, a son of tho New Zealand Stud Company's mare Onyx is, for I notice that in looking over the account of the Sydney Turf Club Meeting, he again had tho bad luck to finish second in flic principal event. Since he first commenced to raco he has, started 3C times, and has been out of rj situation in only 14 events, having finishe/S first in six, second in thirteen, and third / n three. Besides the above-mentioned rtfee, his seconds this season have been in jfuch important events as tho Hawkesbury /Han dicap, Spring Stakes, Randwick jfi'late V.R.C. Handicap, and Tattersall'Jf Cup' while he had to be content with thijjfji place in the A. J.C. Summer Cup. It i£ under stood that Sardonyx will not figjure again in a handicap, and Buch a true-rr3p nn j ne an d consistent performer is well enfj.: t j ec f to a spell. M 1 A coloured lithograph of by tho well-known Melbourne orttst^ Jf r F. Woodhouse, has been oil ,h,, w sT the window of Mr A. Tilly, tob*^, £ rm *

the week, and has attracted no ■ small amount of attention. Bestriding the son of Musket is Williamson in the pretty blue and white banner of the Hon. J. White, and the background of the picture is a re presentation of the grand stand and hill at Jflemington. ... During the Wellington meeting, a bit of business took place on the Wanganui Cup and Derby. For the former, Bayard was backed to win £1,000 at. 100 to' 12 and 15, The Laird being also supported at 100's to 12, while 100'e to 10 were accepted about Tim Whiffler, The Poet, Leonata, and Normanby, • Ahua is favourite for the Derby at 100 to 24 (tk); Consul, 100 to 25 (tk) «nd 100 to £0 (off); Refrigerator, 100 to 16 wanted; Musketeer, 100 to, 15 ; 100 to 10 anything else, offered. The following are the weights for the Aus tralian Cup, to be run at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting on March 6 :—

st.lb. st.lb. Commotion ..10 5 Sardins .. .. 712 Navigator.. .. 912 Archie .. .. 711 The Drummer .. 9 4 First Demon .. 710 Guesswork ..9 2 King of the Vale 7 8 Calma .. .. 8 13 Santa Claus .. 7 6 Martini-Henry .. 8 12 Wheatmeat ..7 5 Coriolanus .. 810 Merman .. .. 7 5 Stockwell.. ..8 9 Boscawen .. 7 4 Sweet William ..89 Needlet .. ..74 Magnet .. ..89 Groavenor .. 70 PcllMellt.. ..8 7 Astronomer .. 613 Segenhoe .. ..8 7 Old Gold .. ..6 12 Nicholas .. ..8 6 Lesbia .. .. 612 Chuckster.. .. 8 5 Doncaster.. .. 610 Morpeth .. ..8 5 Conjecture .. 6JO Warwick.. ..8 4 Ferryman.. .. 610 Off Colour .. 8 3 Camerine .. .. 6 8 Kuclid .. ..8 2 Vergy .. .. 6 8 Polllo .. ..8 0 Victress .. ..6 8 Ringwood.. .. 713 Attache .. .. G 7 Le Grand .. .. 712 Hoburt .. ..67 Aide-de-Camp .. 7 12 Agitation.. .. 6 7 Glencoe .. .. 712 Omelette 6 7 tScratched.

After the Anniversary Handicap had been run off at the Sydney Turf Club Meeting, a very pleasing ceremony took place in the committee-room, where Major Walmsley, manager of tho New Zealand Stud Com pany, presented Mr M. Fennelly, on hehalf of the Company, with a handsome gold Waltham watch, as a recognition of the talent he had displayed in training Martini- Henry, The watch bore the inscription : " Presented to Mr Fennelly by the Auck land Stud Company, Martini-Henry, V.R.C. Derby and Cup, November, 1883." In mak ing the presentation, Major Walmsley said that on leaving Auckland he was requested by hi 3 brother directors to present to Mr Fennelly some token of their appreciation of tho brilliant manner in which be had brought out Martini-Henry. The results of the events in which the horse was engaged in Melbourne were received with an extra ordinary amount of enthusiasm even in the land of the Maories. He had much pleasure in presenting tho testimonial, as he believed to Mr Fennelly belonged the credit of bringing out the merits of the colt. He h«ped that the colt would always show his head in front, and he trusted that the owner would not be content with his victories on this side of the Equator, but would try him against the horses of England. He hoped the watch would keep as good {/me as the promising colt,and lie believed that, although they might not produce Martini-Henry's superior, they would in the next decade produce, several colts equal to him. Mr Fannelly briefly thanked Major Wahnsley for the handsome presentation, and hoped he would find it useful in timing not only Martini-Henry, but other horses that might be placed in his hands; and be would do his best to induce Mr White to take Martini-Henry home to England. At the Sydney Turf Club Anniversary Meeting, the hero of the afternoon was Mr W. J. Forrester's three-year-old gelding, Here's Luck. After winning the Flying Handicap, 6 furlongs, from a field of eighteen, he was soon afterwards saddled up for the big svent, the Anniversary Handicap, with the presumed intention of making the pace for his stable companion, Soldier Boy (with Hales up), but he made it with such determination that he never was caught, Sardonyx being second, two lengths away, and Empress third. The re sult was a great surprise to his party, who thought he could not stay the distante, and he left the paddock at 100's to 5 (Offered). Here's Luck was got by Kingsborou.'gh from Hussy (the dam of West Country Dick), by Yattendon from Ultima, by The Doctor from Gulnare, by Gohanna from Deception, by Theorem from Cutty Sark (imp.). In the Flying Stakes he carried 7st $lb, and in the Handicap Cst 111b. After the weights for the Australian Cup and Newmarket Handicap were posted in Sydney, 500 to 25 was taken about Martini- Henry for the former event, and 1,000 to 50 was offered on the field. Offers to lay 2to 1 that Martini-Henry would rjot start failed to meet with a reply, and 1,000 to 40 was offered on the field for the Newmarket Handicap. In Melbourne; Segenhoe has been backed for the last-named rnce to win about £12,000 at 100 to C. The annual return of English winning sires again Bhows Hermit a* the head of the poll, but the son of New minster's total - £30,S01—is far short of:Vs record for ISS2. Nevertheless, the Hermiite are still the most prised of all racing stocks and in ISS3 his cause was championed by such cattle as St. Blaise, Tristan, the Adelaide filly (favourite for next Derby), Tiebais, Clairvaux, Hamako, and others. An idea of Hermit's value may be gathered from the fact that he commands a full fjubscription of 200 guineas a mare, and thie New Zealand Stud Company aro to be congratulated on owning his half-sister, Steppe,? lor whom Mr Stead gave 760 guineas in Bmgland. The second on the list is Galopin,/ whose stock have won £15,735, and Speculum keeps his place with £11,575, while the / French-bred Salvator owes most of his Cl 1,745 to Ossian, and Sterling, with £11,»73, is tho last of the five horses who have cot into double figures. The son of Oxford was no Isonomy to fight for him now, butt his two-year-olds keep him in the front ifenk. See-saw, Hampton, Rosicrucian, Mflcaroni, and Springfield have all done i/retty well, but Doncaster has lost tho pla'Jße his son Bend Or gained him at the outsfct of his stud career. It is understcpod that Mr Wentworth in tends to take /the chestnut colt by Grand Flaneur frony Amethyst (imp.) that he pur chased at: Mr/Town's sale, to England. He is said to be A>ne of the handsomest colta that ever stoppc/fl into a ring, and had he not had the misfortune to be foaled on the 15th of July (w'hiioh would make him a yearling on the Ist jot last August), there can hardly be a douhft that he would have brought 1,000 guineins instead of 500. In/America, as in England and Australia, thjere are numerous instances of the success oythe descendants of old sires. Leaming ton was 24 years of age when he begat l lroquois, who made the American-bred racehorse famous in the annals of turf his tGry. by winning the English Derby and St. I Len-er. Lexington sired Duke of Magenta i(a °ereat racehorse) when he was 24, and Bonnie Scotland got Luke Blackburn i and Glidelia when he was 23, and George - Kimiey, another distinguished American performer, when he was no less than 26. In Australia Yattendon got his best sons, j Chester, and Grand Flaneur, in the decline - of his life; and The Peer begat Darebin i when ho was 23; and his celebrated rival 1 Commotion was foaled only a few weeks i before his sire Panic died. Maribyrnong is now in his 21st year, and if restricted to a i few mares. we may see hie stock go r on winning the big two and three-year- B old races. Angler and The "Marquis wUI r probably, in the last years of their lives,

beget something that will outshine Robin son Crusoe, Progress, Newminster, and Grand Prix, because, though the former is 20 and the latter 24, they are confined to a few mares of very choice blood. Traducer is another whose name was not made until he began to enter the autumn of his life, for he was 12 years old when Lurline and Calumny were foaled ; and before his time The Premier and King Alfred were very successful much later in life.

The cases tried at the Sydney Water Police Court, in which the Australian Jockey Club prosecuted G. A. Davis for a breach of their rules, has caused a great amount of discussion in turf circles there. The case was dismissed, the presiding magistrate remarking that the Jockey Club had no power to make a by-law to compel book makers to pay a license. The next case was Davis against the Hon. J. White for allowing a portion of the Randwick Race course to be used forthepurpose of betting. This case ended in the Hon. J. White, as Chairman of the A.J.C., being fined £20 and costs. Appeals upon both cases are to be made to the higher courts. Sir W. J. Clarke purposes purchasing three or four of the cleverest steeplechasers he can obtain in Australia as a present to his son in England. Negotiations have already been entered into by the Sunbury baronet with a view to the purchase of Blackthorn and Abdallah, so more unlikely things may happen than that the winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase carries the silk at Aintree next season. At the sale of the Hobartvillo yearling.?, the bay filly by Kapid Bay from imported White and Blue, the dam of Blue and White, was knocked down to Mr F. Wontworth for 250 guineas ; but Mr T. Chirnside thought it was his bid, so the matter was determined by tossing a shilling, when the last named gentleman won, the filly becoming his property at the price mentioned, The bay colt by Rapid Bay from Starlight fell to the nod of Mr H. Osborne for Go guineas, but Mr Wentworth gave him ten guineas on his bargain, and made the colt a present to J. Monaghan.

CONDENSED ITEMS.

The South Australian two-year-old flyer Helene is to have a spell. The final payment for the Danedin Cup is due on Monday, the ISth of February. Liberator, the winner of the V.It.C. Normanby Stakes of ISBI, has been put in training again. Hurricane, who ran third to Martini- Henry and Sardius for the Victoria Derby, has been turned out for a holiday. Two Australian jockeys, Sims, who can ride 7st 101b, and James Smith, Bst 71b, are now in Dunedin, in search of employ ment. General regret was expressed in Sydney that the New Zealand Stud Company did not send over Martini-Henry's sister for dis posal. The Adelaide Racing Club will this year give 500sovs. to the Birthday Cup, and are limiting the nomination and acceptance fee to lsov. each. It is said that George Fordham, the celebrated English jockey, will have to pass the winter abroad on account of failing health. The Waitara Jockey Club have received 14 nominations for their Derby of 1887. Musket has one representative in the shape of a filly out of Queen Bess. Navigator is reported to bo doing well at Terrara, so there is every probability of him measuring strides with Commotion, Martini- Henry and Co., in the Champion Race. The Glenormieton stud has been with drawn from sale—Mr Finlay, sen., who lately returned to Victoria from England, having determined to carry it on. At the Takapuna Jockey Club settling on Wednesday night, the owner of Yuba Bill accepted 1500 to 45 that the son of Day Dawn would win the next Auckland Cup. Mr J. Enko notifies by advertisement that he leaves for the Dnnedin Meeting on Thursday next, and during his abjenee Mr May will have charge of his book, and pay and receive on his behalf. Australian paper? state that Barlow, the English jockey and cross-country rider, who has been most unfortunate there, has gone to New Zealand under engagement to a prominent breeder. The sentence of disqualification passed on Joseph Brennan by the Victorian Trotting Club, for suspicious riding at Elsternwick Park, has been endorsed by the Victoria Racing Club. Mr Montague Smith has disposed of Her culaneum (full brother to Fitzhereules) to a Gisborne sportsman named Mr W. Bailey, and his Hippocampus—Venus Transit filly to Mr Hugh McLean, of the same district. At the annual meeting of the Australian Jockey Club the report showed the financial position of the Club to be highly satisfactory, and signal success had attended the new rule providing for the registration of country clubs and raco meetings. There seems to have been a considerable falling-off in the value of the principal races of the English turf for ISS3, for only thirty four of them have been worth a? much as a thousand pounds, whereas last year forty one ran into four figures. Progress's half-brother Ironmaster, owned by Mr J. Whittinjrham, has at length suc ceeded in appropriating a race. At the Moonee Valley races (Melbourne) he managed to beat a lot of moderates in a Maiden Plate of 2osovs. The annual sale of the Bundoora Park yearlings will take place at the Pastoral Hotel, Newmarket, on February 20, the day preceding the V.R.C. Autumn Meet ing. The catalogue contains the names of 26 youngsters sired by Angler, Tubal Cain, and Quamboneson. Mr H. Sandford, the American sportsman who visited Englnnd a short time ago, not placing implicit reliance on the time taken on English racecourses, made arrangements with another American to test the records. The result was that he found they were generally wrong from three to five seconds. Hales rode Linda, the winner of the Geelong Gold Cup, and the other starters were Little Sister, Agitation, Guesswork, Aide-de-Camp, Lesbio, Essex, Ferryman, Doneaster, and the much-talked-of Wheat meat, who finished fourth. Precious Stone, a full brother to Turquoise, won the Trial Stakes. Very few of the crack two-year-olds of ISS3 are engaged in this year's English Derby. "When the mail left, the filly by Hermit out of Adelaide was favourite at 10 to 1, the only others backed being Fritz and Harvester. The Adelaide filly cost about £3,500 as a yearling, and last year she got back her purchase money by winning the July Stakes and the Dewhurst Plate. The "Melbourne Sportsman" is en deavouring to discover the opinion of its readers as to who 13 the most successful and popular trainer in Australia by issuing a coupon weekly. Up to the 30th January, Mr F. F. Dakin headed the list with 372 votes, Mr De Mestre coming next with 365, and Mr Fennelly close up The final state of the poll was to be published on the sth February. Transferred, who will be remembered as running third to Tyropean and Colstoun for the last V.R.C. Newmarket Handicap, beat Gudarz and the English horse. Father Prout, in the Trial Stakes at Calcutta, and ran the mile in lmin. 44sec. Transferred was conceding Father Prout 91b. and Gudarz 141b. The latter finished second, and j Camballo (-who has been re-christened I Loyola) third.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION.)

Athletics.

Woods v, Hnlston Race Feb. 16 Dinnie v. Mathieson (hammer-throwinj:).Feb. 1G

Aquatics.

Rowing Association Regatta March Edward Ilanlun v. Elias Laycock or the next best man in Australia, £1,000 a-aide, before -March 31

Bicycling.

Auckland Club (rendezvous at Service's, Karangahapc Road). Waitemata Ctus Runs (starting from Park Gates, Princes-street).

CRICKET.

February o. —Auckland v. West End, United 2nd v. Excelsior, Auckland 2nd v. South Knd. Excel3ior 2nd v. Sefton, Our Bors v. Gordon, Ot&huhu v. North Shore, Parncll v. " Herald," Eden v. Grammar School. Stand ard v. Avondale, Ponsonby v. Alpha, Na tional v. Our Boys 2nd. February 16—Auckland v. United, Grammar School v. Excelsior, Our Boys v. South End, West End v. North Shore, Avondale v. United 2nd, Eden v. Ponsonby, Herald v. National, Sefton v. Standard. February 23—Auckland v. United, Otahuhu v. Excelsior (at Otahuhu); Our Boys v. South End, West End v. North Shore, West End 2nd v. United 2nd, "Herald" v. Carlton, . Our Boys 2nd v. Standard, Eden v. Parnell, Gordon v. , March I—United v. West End, Auckland 2nd V. Excelsior, Otahuhu v. South End (at Otahuhu), Our Boys v. North Shore, We?t End 2nd v. Waverley, Avondale v. Eden, "Herald" v. Our Boys 2nd, United 2nd v. Parnoll, Standard v. Alpha, Gordon v. Grammar School. March B—United v. West End, Grammar School v. Excelsior, Otabuhu v. South End, North Shore v. Our Boys (at North Shore), United 2nd v. Alpha, West End 2nd v. Eden, Standard v. Waverley, "Herald" v. ——, Strion v. Ponsonby.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Ixquirer.—Our correspondent writes:—" To decide a dispute, will you kindly lay down the law in cricket with regard to runs made during tho interval between the batsman striking tho ball and being caught off his bat." No runs can be allowed.

X.Y.Z.—Our correspondent asks : " To decide a waser would you please state whether the yacht Christina run in the race with the Arawa and Rita in the Auckland Regatta of 1883?' Yes, she did, and was beaten by the Rita, and Arawa.

Nothing further has been heard relative to the possible visit of theTasmanian team. They have abandoned their intention of visiting Nelson and Wellington, so that there is very little chance of seeing them in Auckland. Ponsonby was to have played against Tuakau last Saturday, but didn't. The Toy was sold by C. Bailey to M. Severn for between £70 and £75. The catch taken by Arneil from Mathieson was one of the best things in the Auckland and West End match. P. Dufaur was playing a pretty innings when given out leg before wicket last Saturday. He got 14 runs in style. The race between Woods and Hulston ,akes place at the Caledonian Grounds, Dunedin, on Feb. 16. The open-sailing boat Gertie has been purchased by E. B. Wallace, of Hokianga. The price paid was £25. The 16ft. open boat Nellie, recently sold at auction by JR.. Arthur, was bought by Vlr Compton, jun. It is stated that the Hon. Ivo Bligh will visit Australia towards the end of Febru ary. G. F. Vernon, the well-known English cricketer, has left England for a short tour n Australia. A. G. Major has been appointed selector of teams for the Victorian Cricket Associa ;ion, in place of Horan. Eden, which is one of the best of our junior clubs, gave Auckland Second a iressing down last Saturday. Roberts and Ohlson bowled exceedingly well. The United bowling analysis last Satur day showed—W. Lankham, 51 balls, 5 maidens, 20 runs, S wickets; Buckland, 34 balls, 3 maidens, 19 runs, and 2 wickets. At the Sydney annual regatta, the Waitangi (Auckland yacht) was beaten by the Sirocco, a vessel twelve tons smaller than herself. The wind was light. The annual meeting of the Auckland Re gatta Club will take place on Tuesday, the 12th inst. Subscribers should roll up and put in a good committee. On Saturday evening a meeting of all interested in the Ponsonby Regatta will be held in the Ponsonby Club Hotel. Now officers and committee are to be elected. The sculling race between Bubear and Ross has been definitely arranged to take place over the championship course on the Thames, on the 10th March next, for £200 a-side. The Otahuhu and North Shore match will bo resumed this afternoon. Otahuhu made 76 last Saturday, Leahy getting 36 of these, while North Shore lost 53 runs for 4 wickets. G. Wynyard (15) being top scorer. W. Hudson, the present wrestling champ ion of New Zealand, is challenged by J. Sher win to wrestle in the Cumberland and Westmoreland style for the championship and a stake of £50, £100, or £200. It is rumoured that in New Zealand Kendall will probably make his last appear ance as one of a Tasmaniari team, and that at the close of the season he will return to A 7ictoria. The takings at the late intercolonial match in Melbourne amounted to £1,553. This sum does not include the por-centas-o paid to the Melbourne Cricket Club upon the grand stand receipts. The hammer-throwing contest between Donald Dinnie and TV. Matheson is to take place on the Dunedin Caledonian Society's "round on Feb. 16. It is probable that the wrestling match between Dinnie and Hud son will also take place on that day. My attention has been drawn to a fact previously overlooked in connection with the Auckland Regatta, viz., that the Arawa, which came in last, took second place by time allowance from the Rita, which camo in ahead of her. The match between Auckland and West End was to have been resumed this after noon. Auckland made 175 last Saturday, Coxon getting 34, Robinson 46, and Mathie son 40. West End had.three wickets, down for 41, Arneil, not out, getting 35. In the Auckland and West End match, •Reid came out best in the bowling analysis with 75 balls, 44 runs, 4 wickets ; Arneil next, with 94 balls, 2 maidens, 62 runs, 4 wickets; and Twohjll with 85. balls, 3 maidens, 53 runs, 2 wickets. At Cobar recently, J. A. Byrnes is re ported to have cleared 37 feet 4 inches, in three standing jumps. Ho also booked himself to clear 100 feet in nine. At the end of the eighth jump he had cleared 9£ feet.

It was a snj^Ht for tlio gods to see Lionel Phillips fielding at short-leg in the Brewers and Publicans' match. I don't know much about tho short-leg, bat 1 am prepared, to say that nothing passed his feet.

Tho display of cricket in the Di main on Thursday was astonishing in irmny res pects, but perhaps there was nothing more Striking than the diabolical attempts made by some of tho batsmen to get round on leg balls. In a cricket match between Ucf.onials and North Dunedin second eleven, placed at Dunedin last Saturday week, the latter team scored only two runs in their first innings. Davia toak seven wickets for no runs. In America, on November C, at tho Man hattan Athletic Club's Sports, Mr F. P. Murray, an amateur, walked three miles in 21min. 9 l-sth see. The best previous amateur record was 21min. 28.->ecs., by H. Webster, in England, in 1880. Tho following rule is now proposed for adoption with the object of preventing; un fair bowling in cricket matches :—"The ball shall be bowled with unchecked swing of the arm, and without downward notion of the elbow. If thrown or jerked or other wise unfairly delivered, the umpire shall call ' no ball.'" Tim O'Connor's throw with the heavy stone at Gisborne the other day was about five feet behind Donald Dinnie's be.-st. This is, however, not by any means Tim's most creditable performance, and I am informed that a gentleman in Auckland is quite pre pared to back him to beat Dinniy's best records. The action of the master of the Vixen in placing a gilded cock on the masthead of his vessel in memory of his victory of Regatta Day is paid to have lu<l up to the challenge from Alncdonald, of the Result. The Scotchman says he could stand getting beaten and being nearly wrecked, but that "sanguinary brass rooster" got his blood up. The challenge was accepted, and the result is known. Here is an item which should be read with interest by lovers of field sport?. "The 15 Chicago champion base ball players will visit Australia towards the end of this year, and endeavour to introduce the national American pastime into the colonies. '1 Ix-y are engaged by an Australian theatrical manager, and will be ' engineered ' by Mr Donway, of cricketing renown."

Mr Thomas Henderson, the local manager of the Union Steamship Company, has re ceived from the head office a very handsome silver cup, valued at 25 guineas, which is intended as prize in a rowing race. The condition under which it Mas given was that it must be won twice in suc.ission or three times in all before it could become the property of the competitors. United defeated Excelsior by 5 wickets and 110 runs last Saturday. Excelsior got 40 in their first innings, while the United score stood as follows wheß stumps were drawn : —Dufaur, 14 ; Testro, 24 ; Lankham, 36; MacCormick, 22; Yates, not out 22 ; McKinney, 13 ; "Whiteside (snb.), not out 13; Extras, 12. Total for five wickets, 156. A six day's bicycling contest lately took place in Chicago, to which was attached the title of " Professional championship of the world." Prince, of Washington, was the winner, with SS9 miles 4 laps, and Morgan, of Chicago, BS3 miles 9 laps, and Woodside, BGS miles 10 laps, ranked next. Woodside rode with one arm broken^ and strapped to his mtchl-o. There was some tall scoring in the match between Christchurch Midland and Adding ton Clubs last week. At the conclusion of the afternoon's play, the score stood :— Jj Fowke, not out, 50; W. Dudncy, c Turner b Moorhouse, S7 ; O. Rayncr, lbw, b W Ogier, 21 ; E. Barnes, b W. Ogier, 11 ;T; Buchanan, run out, 20 ; G. Watson, not out, 10 ; extra, 1. Total for i wickets, 206. W. L. Murdoch's score of 321 was the highest single innings ever made in Aus tralia up to last Saturday week, when young Bruce, of the Melbourne Cricket Club Eleven, put that record into the shade by scorine in a single innings against the Hotham Club 32S not out. Murdoch's 32), however, was made in an intercolonial match and against first-class bowling. Swift alse scored 105 in the same innings, eight wickets, having fallen for the enormous score of 635. Concluding a review of the Auckland Regatta programme, the aquatic writer of the Sydney " Town and Country Journal " says :—-"It seems to me, to say the least, to be extremely rough on our aquatic men, when a place like Auckland, possessing nothing like the class of boats we have, and certainly not the harbour and advan tages for sailing wo are favoured with, can organise a regatta on such a gigantic scale, while we have to bo content with, in many sentc~, a much more modest display." Few who know the history of Warbrick's whaleboat and its crew will not feel glad that she succeeded in winning both races. While credit is due to Warbrick for build ing a veryfast boat, great praise is also due to the darkie Alick Murphy, who, I am in formed, bore the whole expenditureof getting together a first-class crew and keeping chem. in training for some considerable time He is indeed a most enthusiastic fellow in boat-racing, and it is a great pity that there are not more like him. Although his crew won the race, he will be by no means enriched, for his expenditure in paying the crew is far in advance of the prize received. Still he is satisfied, and thinks only of the honour attached to the victory. •-■••■ The Auckland-built yacht Waitangi has scored another victory at Sydney; Hf-a. recent handicap race under ; the auspices of the Koyal Sydney Yacht Squadron, the starters were—Waitarigi, A. G. Milson, 22 ions, scratch; Sirocco, E. W. Knox, 10 ---tons, scratch ; Guinevere, S. A. Want, 10 tons, 9min. ; Daphne, H. \V. Under wood, 10 tons, 12min. ; Pleiades, E\ B. Lark, 0 tons, 12min. ; Sao, JF.i Milford, M.D., '6 tons, 13min. The Waitangi, went away with the lead, was four minutes ahead at the first mark, and seven minutes : at the second, while the race eventsally Snished as follows: —Waitangi, oh. 5pa... 10s. ; Sirocco, oh. 16m. 255. : Guihovere, sh. 18m. 10s. ; Sao, sh. 2(5m. 455. i; Daphne, ' much later. From Sydney papers to hand I take- the Following scores in the match between New" South Wales fifteen and Australian eleven :" New South Wales Fifteen.-—First in nings: Jones, 0; Gregory, 49 ; Mopes, 147 ; Tobin, 4 ; Evan?, 39 ; GarretV 4 ; liiddil ston, 11 ; JTunn, 17 ; Turner; 0; Marr, 4; Mcvilinchey., 8 ; Tooher, 13 v Powell, 35 ; Bryant, not out, I's ; Kirke, 4 j extras, -231 total, 373, Atfstoalian Elkvem.—-First innings:, Baanerman, 1 ; McDonnell, 47 ; Murdoch,:. 50 ; Giffen, 21 ; Bonnor, 6;' Midwinter, 43 ; Blackham, 8 ; Alexander, 12 ; Palmer, 11; Boyle, notout,44;H.Cooper, 15; extras, 16; total, 276. Australian Eleven.—Second innings : Bannerman, 81 ; McDonnell, 24 ; Murdoch, 2*2 ; Giffon, 58 ; Bonnor, 64 ; Midwinter, 17 ; Blaekham, not out, 45 ; Boyle, not out, 16 : extras, 23 ; total with 6 wickets down^ 355. ■ -'

STA^I SATTTKT>AY aTTT'PT^TVITCIsr'T Tn7TtTjXT AR¥ a , 1884.

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