THE GARDEN.

(By HonTtrs). Calendar of Operations. February 9. [Hortds is willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must give their full names and addresses, though not for publication.] TO CORRESPONDENTS. I'EiiXS (A.D., Newmarket).—To successfully export ferns, natives of New Zealand, to Aus tralia, they must be prepared. I will try and • tell you what to do: First, have an ordinary packing-box prepared, making a few holes in the bottom; put a little rough gravel in the bottom, then some good soil. Afterwards col lect the ferns. Whenever you have obtained one. plant it in the soil in the box, continuing so till you obtain a good collection. Keep them in a cool, shady situation, growing thorn till they havo got thoroughly established in the bor, which will probably take about three months. Then give a good watering, cover up with a canvas covering:, and ship them. They ought to carry well, and when they ' arrive they can be potted. The early spring is tho best time to collect. Kitchen Garden, As every largo break of ground becomes vacant of crops, have the debris cleared away, and the break trenched two spits deep, if the ground has not been trenched before; if it has been trenched go three spits deep, bringing up some of the subsoil to the surface. Put plenty of litter on the ground while trenching : never mind of what quality as long as you give it the quantity. This is the best season of the year for trenching ground. Trenches now ■will be in splendid order for planting out the autumn crops upon. Any rubbish which will not rot easily burn, and then spread the ashes over the surface of 'the trenched ground. Braining should now be undertaken as crops comes off, adding a new drain as opportunity offers. No kitchen garden produce can thoroughly succeed unless the ground is well drained, trenched, and manured. Tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, etc., attend to last week's directions. The main crop of broccoli and greens should now be planted on the first favourable opportunity. Make another sowing of French beans, earth up sweet potatoes, attend to the watering of cauliflower, cabbage, etc., using plenty of liquid manure. In a great measure the supply of these vegetables will depend on the attention they now get. Flower Garden. The dry weather will now be telling on some of ' the different flowers. Continue mulching and watering: the moister thf soil can now be kept the better, and they will bloom. Continue the tying and staking of all tall-growing plants • regulate such as may be making too much wood. Recol lect while doing such that it is for the sake of the flowers they are grown. Pinch or train so as to increase or improve these . Qualities. Pick off all deid blooms as they appear. All debris from plant? which are past flowering oug;ht to be cleared away at once. Annuals should be taken away whenever the flowers aro done unless you want to save the seed : then only the best flowering stock should be re tained, cutting away the others so as to get all the strength of the plant into the seed. Bedding plants: Water frequently and copiously; peg down and thin out. Lawn: Cut the grass, water heavily, and apply the roller in the evening. Walks : Hoe, rake, and roll. ■ ■ . Greenhouse. Give plenty of air and shade during the day ; re-pot plants when necessary. Calceolaria.—This, when in flower, is one of the prettiest of our greenhouse plants. The calceolaria was originally in troduced from Chili and Peru under various specific forrr>=. and by hybridising has been developed into one of the most iiandsome flowers, some of the flowers show ing exquisite markings, and the "plants being large and healthy, with light green folu.<_-e and flowers in profusion. The plant is now generally raised every season, but from seed sown about the end of January or beginning of February, in seed pan.?, in a mixture of loam, leaf-mould, and sand. The Feed being very small, care must be taken not to cover it; only slightly pressing it into the soil will suffice. Wheii the plants are large enough to handle they should be pricked out into other seed pans ; and as they get a little more advanced they should be potted off into pot? singly and placed on a shelf near the glass. About June or July pot into eight or ten inch pot?, using a compost of three parts good turfy loam, one part leaf-mould, and one well-rotted dung with sand. Keep growing near the glass, giving plenty of air and water. When the pots get well filled with roots, water liberally with liquid manure. The calceolaria is subject to the attacks of the green fly. When so attacked, fumigate with tobacco. Growers should try andget a good strain of seed, and then try and improve by .hybridising. It is much better than keeping up the stock of old plants. Xicj. Uenltural Society. I have just been presented with a schedule of prizes for the autumn show of the Auckland Gardeners' Horticultural Society. The schedule i? arranged for three classes : —First class.—Allcomers, which will consist of nurserj-men, professional gardeners.mark et gardeners,orchard ists,and all who like to enter the lists against them. Second class.—Amateurs : This will consist of gentlemen who do not employ pro fessional gardeners. Cotters can'also enter in .this class. Third class: This is for cotters only. In all there are about 300 prizes in thes>ehedule, for which the Society allot about £(30 in prize money, the prizes ranging from £1 Is to 2s Gd. There are some special prizes to be given not mentioned in the schedule, which will be duly advertised. Nov.- there is going to be a strong competition. I would therefore advUe iniccdir.:* competitors to obtain a schedule anU commence making their preparations, so that they may attain a small measure of success. Autnznrxil Growth of Fruit Trees. In the Northern Island of Kew Zealand the above growth is very troublesome to OrchardistP. Every season. abot;t the end of January or beginning of February, we receive the usual autumn showers. Some of the fruit trer« then seem to come to life again :' a frc?'> growth soon takes place. Perhap?, for a month or so, the weather has-been very dry; if such has been the case- a certain stoppage of growth must have resulted, and, consequently, some of the buds have partially ripened off. When the tains conic it seems in a measure to bo like a second spring. To some of the fruit trees blossom buds begin to swell, and if allowed the tree will come out into full flower : ; .'■ . !ii . ome instances producing new-wood and leaves. It is the effect of dry weather, then a nice warm hv.rr.irl atmosphere, that causes this growth. Now, fruit tree? which undergo these conditions cannot be in.a good condition forfruitingnex ytar. Wood which is formed at thatperioc ■will not have sufficient time t fully mat rre that season, and thi growth hr.s simply drained th forces ■which the tree, earlier in th season, had commenced to store for the pro duction of next season's fruit, their power being greatly weakened. The tree shoulc at this period, have been still further riper ing and storing up its strength for the fo owing season (instead of experding it upo

futile attempts to flower at tho wrong sea son), find going to rest early with all its :>uds and wood well matured. Whenever t tree shows a tendency to produce this rrowth, the powers to do so must be cur ailed. There are several methods of doing his, but I will only give two, although i consider one of them almost impractic ible here —and that is keeping the rain >r moisture from getting to the roots. Che next I have tried, and can recommend t —that is, checking the absorbing powers jy root pruning. Some will say that it is itterly absurd to root prune at this season. vVell, let them say so. But only let them »ive it a fair trial on one tree, and I predict ;hat every tree which shows this tendency (rill be root pruned at once, whenever it is observed. Root pruning will at once result ,n a temporary suspension of the absorbing iunetions of the roots, and this is all that is needed to deliver the wood from a super lbundance of sap, which, at this season, nearly always overmatches their elaborating powers, and causes buds which havo been ripening off to burst out into flower and leaf. Witness what often occurs on our plum and pear trees. Check the absorption, and at onoe the sap will begin to descend the tree instead of ascending. The buds re lieved from the ascending force will soon ripen off, giving a greater certainty of a good crop of fruit the following season. To meet theae cases, I would root prune in April, and continue doing so whenever v tree showed any tendency to swell its bud. Seme will say that this treatment would simply kill the tree. All I can say is, that in the beginning of April I have" lifted a pear tree and transferred it tc another part of the garden. The following season it had a" splendid crop of fruit — the frnit not so large but far better coloured and far richer flavoured than fruit of a similar variety in the same garden. The early pruning assists in counteracting the effects of the usual autumn rains. This cutting of the roots tells at once, and fully determines the early ripening off of the wood for that season. The whole tree i 3 benefitted by this cutting. Lonrr, stringy, deep roots are removed, and healthy, fertile, fibrous ones are induced to grow. The wounds on the roots heal before the winter sots, and a number of litter roots will be pushing out in all directions, before all growth is stopped : and in spring these little rootlets will be ready to provide the tree with food of the highest quality, and in sufficient quantities to feed the tree and produce fine crops of fruit. In concluding the subject for the present, I would only ask orchidists to give the above a fair trial. If you only try one pear and one plum this season, keeping a good distance from the bole of the tree, I am quite certain that next year you will adopt the system when ever the tree gives any indication of an autumnal growth.

A QUEEN'S ADVENTURE.

One rainy evening towards the close of April, 1791, a ponderous old travelling coach toiled wearily up the hill, the summit of which is crowned by the ancient town of Jougne, on the road between Lonsles- Saulniers et Besancon, the capital of the province of Franche-Comte. There were two women in the vehicle ; one tall, hand some, and exceedingly elegant, occupied the seat facing the horses ; the other, who sat opposite to her, was a young person of sprightly countenance, whose simple cos tume and deferential manner at once an nounced her to be either a waiting-maid or a "dame de compagnie." From time to time, one or other of the two travellers would thrust her head out of the carriage window to urge on the postilion, or look back down the road, apparently to see whether any one were following. Notwith standing the entreaties of the ladies, and hi? own best endeavours, Maitre Jacques, the postilion, failed miserably in his at tempts to induce his two heavy Flemish horses even to get into a trot, let alone a gallop. The road was so bad, the ram so blinding, the ruts were .so many, and the mud was so deep, that the best the poor beasts could do in response to their master's oaths and loud cracks of the whip was to give an occasional jerk forward or a stumble, and then resume their wonted funereal pace. Heaven help us, Susanne ! The dreadful journey will nevei end !We cannot possibly reach Besancon to-night, obsorved the lady who sat with her face to the horses ; " mon Dieu ! how I wish we were well over it and safe !" "Madame is too nervous ! That gentle man on horseback we have seen at the three la«t stations, and who has followed us has frightened her. Believe me, lam sure he is no spy !he is too nice-looking for that. lam persuaded he is only instigated by madame's charms, and has not recog nised her. Oh !heis no more asans-culotte than I am !" "It matters very little what you think about him; I have my fears, and my reasons for having them. Put your head out onoe more, and see if he is still in tight." Susanne did as she was bid, and presently, shutting down the window as quickly as ■she could, to prevent the rain from pouring in, gave her mistress the re-assuring news that not only had the obnoxious stranger disappeared, but also that the gates at Jounge were close at hand. " And, madame, through a break in the clouds, I saw the mountains of Switzerland ; so, you see, we are approaching the frontier." "That ir< well ;wo will stop for supper, iere, at the Lion dOr, and then hasten on :o Besancon this very night," said her mistress. In a few minutes more the carriage rum- Died through the narrow^etrects of Jougne, and presently stopped under the " Porte- Cochre " of the Golden Lion. " "Will the ladies get down';" said the jolly innkeeper, as he stood with the half-opened carriage door in one hand and his cap i>. the other, bowing with extra civility to his two new guests, and delighted at the prospect of their being detained all night under his roof, for travellers had become very rare in these troubled times ; "will the ladies get down? Supper will be ready at a moment's notice." "Certainly ;we want it at once, and let it be a good substantial meal, for, I can as sure you, we are really hungry," answered the tall lady, as she jumped out; and, turning to the postilion, inquired if it were possible to reach Besancon before mid night. "Perfectly impossible, madame; tht roads are in a shocking state. We shoulc only run the risk of a breakdown half-way.' " And that would be Intolerable, Aliens Susanne, get down, and bring in with yoi all the shawls, pillows, and rags that yoi can find ; for since we must sleep here we may as well make ourselves at home." Susanne, loaded with rugs and satchels followed her mistress into the house, anc the two travellers, emerging from the shadi of the hall, entered the brightly illuminatec dining-room. A fire crackled cheerily on the hearth, an( the large apartment, with its many littli tables covered with snow-white cloths an< shining glass, looked quite cosy. Thi ladies, taking off their wraps, Boated them selves by the fire, and presently tho land lady drew in front of them a table, 01 which she placed two steaming bowls o£ ex cellent broth. The bright light of the fin threw its cheerful glare on the countcnano

of the tall lady, and showed her to possess I such rare and stately beauty that the I worthy lady, on returning to the kitchen, ' proclaimed to her sattelites that she had never before seen so queenly a personage. : " Ccst tine veritable reine (She's a perfect ' queen). I warrant she's some fine court marchioness on her way to the frontier," said she ; "and poor soul! I would be the last to prevent her flight !" The two travellers had scarcely tasted their first spoonful of soup, when the doors of the apartment were thrown open, and a . " fonctionnaire " of the provisionary go- i vernment, wearing his tri-coloured scarf, entered. Striding up to the table at which the ladies were seated, he drew from his pocket a letter, and, fixing his eyes with avid interest on the tall lady, made a mental comparison between her countenance and | that of some ono described in the document j he held in his hand. " What is your name, r citoyenne?" ho asked suddenly, in a tone of authority. " May I first ask, sir, who it is I shall hare the honour of answering when I do I give my name ?" returned the lady, who, although she had become exceedingly pale, retained her self-possession in a remarkable manner; for it was no joke for women of position to fall into the hands of " fonction naires " in those days. "I am the Mayor of Jougno." " In that case, M. le Moire, I am Madame dePryne." "Have you no papers about you—no passport!" " jion Dieu ! yes—no ; that is, of course I have; but in my trunk," answered the lady; "wo are only going to Besancon. This is my maid Susanne ; wo are travelling in France, and for that I had no idea pass ports were necessary, M. lo Maire. " You said you had one in your trunk. Very well, Madame de I'rync, allow me to see this passport." "Willingly ! Call in your men, and let them bring my largest trunk, all my papers are in it." The order was given, and tlio box was opened. "It is at the bottom of all," said Madame do Piyne, rising as if to search herself. " It is useless your troubling yourself, citoyenne. See! Look at these grand trains ; they alone suffico to prove that you belong to the court, and intend emigrating to Switzerland," cried the Mayor, as he threw out of the box on to the table several magnificent robes of velvet, one of which was lined witk ermine; "and here—here my suspicio.n3 are more than confirmed. Ah ! ah ! Madame de l'ryne, you wear a crown, do you !" exclaimed the Mayor, aa he suddenly rose from his inspection of the box's contents, brandishing triumphantly in one hand a crown studded with large gems, and in the other a sceptre. "Ah! ah!'' laughed to exultingly ; "madame, 80 you were goin» over the frontier with the crown jewels of France V I know who you are !" " Who !" said the lady, as pale as a sheet. "You are Marie Antoinette, sometime Quean of France." " Is the Queen expected to pass this way in her flight!" '' She is—and you know that better than anyone. In the name of France and the law, I arrest you !" " Without any further proofs ?" '■ Certainly—l do not require them." " Will you not at least look a* my pass port ?" "Bah ! a borrowed passport" said the Mayor in an impatient tone; -" you had better give yourself up, madame, without any further trouble. Believe me, it will be the beet." " Then, sir," said the lady, rising majesti cally from her seat, and assuming an im perial attitude—" I am the Queen." It would be difficult to imagine a more noble figure than that of the unfortunate lady, as she spoke these four words. Seeing that Susanne was impatiently about to in terrupt her, she silenced her by an impera tive gesture, and then reseated herself with much dignity in her chair. So queenly did she appear at this critical moment of her existence that, staunch Republican as he was, the Maire of Jougne forgot all about egalite, bowed low before the fallen sovereign, and retired at once to give the necessary orders for Her Majesty's deten tion, and to announce the news of her capture to his fellow-citizen?. A few moments after his exit two gens d'annes wero sent to mount guard at the doors of the salon, and the unfortunate queen, concluding a few words of conver sation with Susanne, threw herself on her knees, and prayed earnestly for Divine as sistance. In less than an hour the Mayor returned, accompanied by a dozen or so of members of the municipality. They found the queen calm, and even cheerful. She acknowledged their deferential manner towards her with regal grace; and when informed that the upper part of the hotel was placed at her service until further in structions were received from Paris, fol lowed them thither, with so quick and even gay a step that several of them afterwards remembered it as an unusual instance of self-command. When once the queen was safe, and a guard placed at her door, the Mayor of Jougne gave himself up to a transport of revolutionary joy. He had the "'Queen of France under lock and key." On him, before three days were over, would be fixed the eyes of the world. His name would descend to posterity, and live for ever in the annals of his country. Having as sembled his fellow " fonctionnaires " in the salon of the inn, he made them a patriotic speech, in which he invoked the spirits of Brutus and of Cato, and wound up by pro posing " that the patriots of Jougno should form themselves into a battalion of true Republicans, and placing Marie Antoinette ■ of Austria in their centre, lead that arch . traitress before the National Tribunal. ! Possessed, as they were, of her crown, i sceptre, globe, and royal mantle, they could ; r.arry these emblems of fallen despotism in < their triumphal procession, and otf'er them i as a holocaust on the altara of liberty." An i address to the National Assembly, stating i their intention, and giving the most minute details of the queen'w arrest, was forthwith t written and signed by the entire conclave, • and despatched immediately to the capital. 1 To this letter was added a private- one from , the Queen herself, but so artfully sealed 3 that, do what they could to read it, not one - of them discovered a word of its contents. Having dismissed the council, the Mayor 3 went once more to the Queen to inform her 1 of what had been determined. Being a " kind-hearted man, however, lie spaied Tier ! the knowledge of the manner in which lie l proposed to conduct her back to Paris. v While he was conversing with Her Majesty, s a gendarme hurriedly entered the chamber in a state of great excitement: ;, "M, le Maire ! M. le Maire ! we have I arrested Polignac of Lamballe !" c " Ah !" exclaimed the Queen, " it is that d young man." "What young man?" inquired the Mayor, d "A gentleman who followed our coach, c that is all," answered she, in some con d fusion, seeing that Bhe had evidently com e mitted an imprudence by this last obaerva i- tion. I- "Let him be brought up here imme n diately," ordered the Mayor, and in a few :- moments a tall and very handsome young o man was dragged into the apartment bj c two guards.

I! His clothes were dripping wet, he Tiad lost his hat, and his soiled clook dragged on ' the ground behind him. "It is the same," whispered Susancs ; "perhaps ho may help us." "Please God," murmured the Queen. No sooner was this young gentleman dis engaged from the hands of his captors than, throwing himself upon his knees, he raised her hand to his lips. " Pardon me, madaine. Had I but sus r:cted it was the Queen of Franco to whom presumed to raiso my eyes, I would have died rather than have so far forgotten what : was due to my sovereign, especially in her hour of trouble. lam a gentleman by birth, the Count de Moilettcs. Unaware of your true rank, I followed your carriage, struck by your surpassing beauty and en slaved by its power, hoping through my . persistence to be favoured with one glance jof pity if not of love. Now that I recog nise my error, aa your Majesty's moat humble servant and subject, my life is at your service, and 1 cravo only your gracious pardon." | " Oh, you have it, count. I grant it wil lingly, and only see in your conduct," answered the Queen, smiling, but with an evident meaning, for she fixed her keen eyes on the kneeling gentleman in a manner that forbad his answering ; " I see, sir, in your conduct only a proof of your desire to serve an unfortunate woman and a fallen queen—" "It is well," broke in the Mayor ; " not withstanding all appearances to the con trary, this young man evidently forms part of your cortege, mndame. He is arrested, and shall share your apartments. The chamber at the end of the corridor, sir, is yours. You have, however, the right of free access to the Queen when sho desires your presence. Mesdames, I wish you a very £To°d night : citoyen, bon soir!" and, bowing civilly, the Mayor withdrew. When the door was closed the count was about to withdraw also, but the Queen pre vented his doing so, entreating him to remain and partake of her supper, which was presently served. During this meal Her Majesty became exceedingly lively, and the merry laughter of the imprisoned sovereign and her new friend, being heard outside, led the guards to observe that Her Majesty was a singularly ] fearless woman ; for in spito of the danger she was in, she laughed like a true daughter of Moraui), and was having a fine time of it with the prince, who was evidently her lover." It is unnecessary to tell how the im prisoned Queen passed her time in her con finement at tho Lion d'Or. Wo are com pelled, however, to record that her inti macy with tho count becamo so great that once the guard at the door, spying through the keyhole, actually saw him kiss her before retiring for the night. The sixth and last day »f her captivity at; length arrived. The answer from the National Assembly reached Jougno towards noon, and the Queen was at breakfast with the Count and Susanne when the Mayor entered her presence, followed by the whole municipality and several guards. The good Mayor was flushed with excitement, and in his hand he held the as yet unopened docu ment. Arrapging all his colleagues accord ing to their various official grades in a semi circle around him, he addressed the Queen, who rose to hear him with a stately air. " Marie Antoinette of Austria, we havo this morning received the following answer from the Government of Paris, and hasten to communicate to you its contents." Here the worthy magistrate broke tho seal, and read— " Citizen Marie.—Marie Antoinette i. still in Paris, and has never loft it. Let Mademoiselle Sainval, of the Theatre Francais, pass on without hindrance to Besancon, where she has an engagement." Had the earth opened at his feet, the Mayor of Jougna could not have looked more dumbfounded. "So you have played us a trick, havo you, Mademoiselle Sainval ?" ho said furiously. "My dear M. le Maire, allow mo to re mark," answered the quondam Queen, "that it is you who have played me a trick. Had you but examined my pass port, as I told you, you would have found that, although I have been Queen of Tyre, Sidonea, Greece, Jerusalem, Rome, and Mesopotamia, I have never, up to the present timo, laid claim to tho throne of France, even for a single night. You, however, have forced me to play a part which does not belong to me for six successive days and nights, and an irk some role it has proved. I confess, now, that it is not my fault, if you mistook the crown and sceptre of Mesopotamia for that of Gaul. But, since lam free to proceed to Besancon, perhaps you will order my carriago to the door, for, as 5-oon a.-* I have finished breakfast, I intend to be off. Bon jour, messieurs," she added, bowing to the mortified council as sho withdrew. Sud denly recollecting herself, she cried out, " Eh, may the count como tooV" " To the devil, if he likes," answered the Mayor snappishly, as he slammed the door. Mademoiselle Sainval turned gracefully to the count, and said, as a sweet smile illumined her charming face, " And you,my dear count, when you have done justice to that omelette, perhaps you will give me your arm, and lead me down to the coach ? Oh, how I wish that the poor Queen had indeed left Paris whilst I was enacting her part; which I did in the hope that these people, beliovinc; tbe paste to bo a real diamond, would let the true jewel pass ! Poor, poor Queen ! Allona, Susanne, let us go. Count, you have served me as sovereign of France, will you not still con tinue to be my squire or tragedy-queen ':" Tho count, bowing low, raised tho fair actress's hands to his lips. Then, leaning on his arm, and followed by her faithful maid, Mademoisille Sainval swept down the staircase to the carriage, in which the count took his neat opposite Susanne.

A young English bicyclist, now in San Francisco, proposes to make a trip round the world on his bicycle, starting in the Spring. He will start from San Francisco eastward by way of Ogden, Omaha, and Chicago, and, crossing the Atlantic from New York, will ride from Liverpool to Dover. He will cross the English Channel to France, and ride through Europe into Asiatic Turkey, thence through Persia and Turk estan into the Chinese Empire, and make his way down the valley of the Yang-tso- Kiang to Shanghai, and thence by vessel to San Francisco, consuming a year in the travelling. Lately at Now Plymouth an amusing ex am pie of esprit de corps was given while a number of volunteer recruits were engaged trying on theirnowuniforms. Anoldcavalry officer of the late Mounted Kiflos was present, when he saw a late member of the Mounted Rifles step forward and don the new infantry uniform. With an exclama j tion of surprise, the former said ; "What You have left the cavalry and joined the ! beetle-crushers. What bad taste." It j need hardly be said that the officers of the I infantry corps -who were present felt their dignity touched, and a challenge to hot coffee and pistols was likely to nave even ■ ; tuated, but the cavalry officer hastened to ■ I explain that for the moment he had been ; I carried away by the old feelings of jealousy r ! cherished between the infantry and cavalry 1 regiments of the line.

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

[By Euterpe.] Me Gokdon Goocii, tho very popular musician so recently resident in Auckland, has been appointed principal ba?s and director of tho choir at the fashionable charch of All Saints', St. Kilda, Melbourne. This choir consists of about 20 boys and 12' ■•a'-. gentlemen. He has alrobeen engaged forth© chief role in Ciounod's "Redemption," to bo performed by the Melbourne Philharmonic Society about the last week in February. Mr X. W. K-eene, an American tragedian, has been engaged to appear in Australia in, 18S4-5. He is great in the "legitimate," Chiarini'a Cii'eus is doing well in Belmore Park, Melbourne, the nightly receipts averaging £600 ; tho Montagu-Turners are singing at tho Gaiety; and Thompson's Diorama of tho Egyptian War is at the Academy of Music Efforts are being made to induce Booth, the great American tragedian, to visifc Australia. Tho sum of £1,900 is a fair monthly in come for a dramatic author. Henri Meiihac, the popular French librettist, netted that amount last October for royalties on "Ma Camarade," "M'solle Nitouche," "ITrou Frou," and " Carmen." "' The Spider's Web," a new piece by Mr Henry Pettitt, produced at the Olympic Theatre, is a decided failure. It was fairly laughed oil tho stage on its iir.st produc tion. The receipts of "Fedora" in America average 7,000 dollars a week. Signor Kossi, tho Italian tragedian, has just published a version of " Juliua Ciuaar" in his native language. A gentleman in now South Wales has written to the Shakespeare Society with tho laudable intention of settling a very knotty point. For the sum of £30,000 cash, down on the nail, ho offers to reveal the name of the real author of ShakespcaroV plays and poems. The Society is considering the otter. Mr W. E. Sheridan ia in New York, play ing with Mr Edwin Booth. fount Gleiehen is doing a bu.st of Miss Mary Anderson, it is said for Royalty. Mr I). H. Harking, tragedian, made his reappearance in Now York at the Twcnty third-street Theatre as Riehclieu, on 27th October last. He was warmly received after his several years' absence in Australia and Great Britain. A singer in a suburban theatre began to sing the song " For Goodness' Sake Don't Say I Told You," and was promply hit with a r-rtten egg by ono of the audience. " Who threw that ?" ho howled. "It was me," cried a voice in the gallery, " but fo goodness' sake don't say I told you." Thi3 brought down the house, and tho singer re tirpd. The publication next year is announced of a " Biographical Dictionary of Musician 3," compiled and edited by Mr James D. Brown, assistant librarian at the Mitchell Library, Glasgow. There will be between 8,000 and 10,000 articles, and with the name of each composer will be given a list of his principal works. Rainer's panoramas of the American War and Russo-Turkish War are advertised for sale. Ths advertisement states "that these shows having cleared for tho pro prietor a net profit of £30,000, are for sale, Mr Rainer, now being independent, wish ing to retire." Prince Kvapotlan, though ill in his cell, is writing busily upon several ai-tlcles for the " Encyclopedia Britannica.' r M. Jules Coste, coinpo-cr of " Les Char bonniers," has just died in Paris. The death is also announced, at Berlin, of Count Wiihelm Yon Redern, once a well-known pianist and composer. Ho was SI years of ase. Dominique Rubini, a well-known P.ussian musician, is likewise dead ; a<rcd 7G. An attempt has already been maie to cap ture Mr Henry Irving for the Australian colonies. Mr Irving is reported to have said :—"I mean to enrao to .Australia under the management of my old friend, Mr George Uignoid, under whom I began my professional career as a utility man." Jules Verne is growing fat, mid his hair is turning white. He is . r>o years old. Mr Edmund Yates's book of reminis cences, " Fifty Years of London Life," will soon be brought out. Mr J. P. Macdonald purposes shortly bringing to New Zealand a company specially selected for the representation of the comedies of tin: late T. W. Robertson. • Caste," " School," " Ours,' "M. P.," and :he other works of that famous dramatist, will be included in the repertoire, and will be produced with specially painted scenery. The "New York Clipper." on November 10th last, under the head of " Califomian Theatrical New.-," had the following para graph -.— "DivoncED.— Thomas Derby has )een divorced fiom his wife, professionally tnown as Emilie Melville." The lady is Hat now in Australia organising a company or a tour of the entire colonies. M.u-s iracie Plni-ted, the smallest and best of opera-boune artistes, will support her, and Charles Harding, Edward Farley, and Geo. Leopold will also be members. They open at Sandhurst shortly Professor Anderson, "The Wizard of the. North," at present in Melbourne, is contem plating a New Zealar.d tour. The feat of vivisection, in which tho Professor, armed with a sword, apparently cuts off a lady's head, one log and one arm, is said to he a very clever illusion. Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Mus grove's Opera Troupe, which opens, here on February ](!, includes Misses Nellie Stewart, Fanny Liddiarcl, Ida Osborne, Maggie Stewart, and Lillie Forde ; Messrs H. Vernon, W. IJ. Woodlickl, Edwin Kelly, J. F. Fordo and Jno Wallace. Here arc some interesting figures as to the profits realised by the Williamson Opera Company in Australia. During OS weeks (from 2nd September, ISS'2, to December 22, iSS3), .£!7,!>.->,l !)s 3d was netted, being equal to £264 0s (id per week. Oil the; season from October 20 to December 22, ISS;S, £5,100 prolit was realised. Mr Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels, which have player* so successfully in Melbourne and Sydney, may be expected soon. Mr John Grain, the well-known tenor, lias had a narrow escape from drowning at Nelson Creek. He was travelling with tho Fisher Company, and whilst crossing tho suspension bridge, MrCrain was swept into the water, through tho "skylarking ' of a young man. On being rescued, it was a considerable time beforo he could bo re stored to consciousness. Tho Dunning Opera Troupe open at Danedin on thfclGth instwitb " Boccaccio." The company comprises Appleby, Johnny Hall, Loridaß, Ivanova, Kelly, Bremer, Slater, Aston, Keilj\ and others, and brings scpcery, wardrobe, appointments, and a strojig band. '' Rip Van 'Winkle *. and " Les Manteaux Noirs " are features «f the repertoire. In tho former opora the Say who dances the jmis dc fascination in the. demos act has her dress covered with small electrtclamrecomiectodwitli the liattery.; As she rises from beneath the stc^je they sjlow like myriads of diamonds; whon she leaves the "trap" to dance the -wire is • I adroitly disconnected,n:id bar tttess becomes I dark.

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