RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiki..]

6ome write, a neighbour's namo vo lash, Stamo write—vain t_iousht!-_o- needful cash, Some write to please the country clash, And raiso a din. For me, an aim I never f ash— I write for fun.

In me lio tutissimus ibis. The battle of the routes has been fought, and the central has triumphed, realising the old adage that a middle course is safest. It is Horace, I think, who counsels us to

" Not always tempt the dangerous denp, Nor always timorously creep Along the treacherous shore;

and that Select Committee have shown not a little of the true Horatian philosophy in the way they have steered clear of the Scylla of competition with water carriage on the West Coast, and the Charybdis of mountain gorges and crags on tho East. Wellington people have worked the oracle well in securing the central lino, which is another important aid to making tho Empire City a great commercial centre; they have played their cards admirably and with every appearance of honest dis interestedness, and even now they have the consummate hypocrisy to say that Auck land's object was to obtain "a monopoly of the trade of Ta'anaki." Why, all that Auckland wanted was to be placed on equal terms with Wellington, instead of being practically cut off from the fertile West Coast, and it was Wellington that was fighting for a monopoly ! Still, though the route adopted for tho trunk lino may not suit nil palates, it is to bo hoped that all will unite in pushing on that lino which nn impartial Committee has deemed best for the colony at large, instead of cavilling over the merits of rejected routes, and thereby causing disunion. Should any rabid Aucklandors or Taranakians continue to raise the senseless cry of " The Stratford line or none," then "Zamiel" will bo tempted to exclaim, "Oh,that these had been born elephants instead of asses, for then each of them could have carried his trunk before him !"

If the doctrine of the Survival of tho Fittest be true as applied to election ad dresses, the politics of the future are likely | to be of a lively stamp. From the wrack ; andruin of the hundreds of formal "addresses to the electors" issued in July last, only one, so far as I have observed, has survived the attack of time, and is still leading a sort of vagabond life in the country news papers, where it is quoted with approval. This is an address to the electors of Egmont by "John Jackson, late of Ngaire, now of Wanganui," in which the valiant son of Jack sets forth his political creed in unmis takable language. He begins by proposing to reduce Parliament to four members, who should receive no pay; to abolish the Native Office and Armed Constabulary ; to reduce the civil police in number and pay, and to try to keep the latter "outof mischief." His land policy is a bold and striking ono. He says:—" The waste lands of the colony should be taken and distributed, free of cost, amongst the present inhabitants of the two Islands, who have had all the hard ships to put up with; and I consider we nave got more right to the waste lands than tho natives, who came from another island, and found theso islands unoccupied. We came from another island, and found a great portion of these unoccupied, therefore we have got as much ri< ht to the unoccu pied land as they have; and there are a great many parts of the colony they never aiw." This is true wranglers' logic, by means of which you can prove a horse chestnut to be a chestnut horse. All that is necessary to constitute a valid claim to land is to come from " another island" nnd tako hold of what is unoccupied; therefore, if we do not make haste to possess these waste places of the earth, we may be displaced by an incursion of Fijians or natives of some other island. Having abolished the Native Minister, tho Armed Constabulary, and the natives themselves ; having seized the native lands and starved the " foorce " to keep them out of mischief, Mr Jackson's next step would be to stop all Government expenditure on railways or harbours. With a terse brevity, which shows his terrible earnestness, he proceeds: "Do away with the Agent-General. Bring out no immigrants except at their own ex pense. Every branch of the public service is filled up with political loafers. Do away with the Upper House as being a nuisance and waste of public money."

Mr Jackson saw nothing before the colony but bankruptcy and ruin, unless his scheme were adopted and himself accepted as one of the four legislators who should guide the hark of State safe through the breakers. His address closed with the prophetic ut t9ranco: "H the Government continue to go oa at tho present rato, the moneylenders will seize on all the property of New Zea land, nnd the inhabitants will he reduced to a kind of Blavery." This strikes one as rathef a groundless fear, and quite un worthy of the man who could calmly propose the revolutionary measures I have quoted. If he could keep the police out of mischief, I cannot see why he should dread the money-lenders, or fancy that they had power to reduce the people to "a kind of slavery I" It is unfortunate that Mr Jaok gon should have retired from the contest, for the colony has lost much in the way of inoculation with new ideas by his modest self-effacement.

For heart burnings and bickerings com mend me to your little Church coteries. Brotherly love and Christian forbearance are pretty phrases, but they are oftener heard from the pulpit than practised in the pews. The Diocesan Choral Festival wag one of those soul-moving services that ought to have carried the participants in ita spiritual songs into the third heavens ; instead, I am told, it nearly split up a Church choir and produced a scene border ing upon the profane. At the preliminary choir practice, the first-chosen basso ap proved himself more for his willingness than his ability; he was clearly not up to the mark for a difficult quartette. Now, if the con ductor had beon a wise man.overilowing with benignant impulses, he would have taken the young soloist quietly aside,and told him that the part was unsuited to his voice. The rebuke administered publicly before a large mixed choir, and the order to stand aside, was cruel; but the young man had his revenge. Any dtitic is at a disadvantage immediately he becomes an executor; when, therefore, the conductor undertook to shew tho basso how tho score ought to be rendered, he delivered himself into the hands of the enemy. The amateur was much flatter in his singing than in his intelligence and self-confidence, so when the quartette was finished without him he roared to the conductor, " Well, you made n pretty fine mess of it that time, any way !" Tho young ladies giggled, and tho men cave vent to a subdued guffaw ; but the choler of the presiding genius of that band of Christian singers waxed warm. "How dare you address me in that way I" he shouted, " do you know who you are apeak tn» to ?" The young man, unabashed, observed that he did, nnd repeated tho objectionable remark. Tho conductor ordered him to leave the place. He refused, and the practice was brought to a dead Standstill. Tho situation, from being amusing, became embarrassing. The ladies got fidgety ; no one knew what was eoing-tcThappen. The conductor would "not go on until the obnoxious critic had been expelled, and the latter firmly stood his ground. After this suspense had lasted eorne minutes, the deposed basso, address incthe ladies, said, " Well, ladies, out of respect for you I will retire," and tho practice was then resumed. Now, my sympathies are entirely against the con ductor. He received only a Roland for his Oliver-measure for measure. Ruthless in humiliating a volunteer in the cause, he lost his temper because of an out rage upon his own feelings no greater than he°had inflicted. The withdrawal of the victim, after asserting his right to respect and courtesy, rather than prolong a painful scene, was also creditable. He had decidedly the best of it, and the occurrence will, let ns hope, enforce the lesson that the essence of good breeding is consideration for the feelings of others.

Another incident in a suburban We_s leyan Church a couple of Sunday nights ago made considerably more sensation -than the sermon. A member of the ■ choir busied himself turning and re turning the leaves of his hymn-book in that aimless fashion that denotes a mind heedless of the words of wisdom. The preacher paused two or three timeß, and fixed his eyes upon the callous member of I his flock; he, however, -was as impervious* .as Jones's bulldog to the fascinations of the 1 human optic. Annoyed beyond endurance i by the distracting operation going on right under his note, the parson stopped, and joking dircetty at the offender said; "I you wolfci stepturning over thojb book.' ■ipe wtoikoa Chorister Instantly became the

cynosure of all eyes; ho flushed rod, turned upon his beloved pastor a look of anger and mortification, and thou busied himself for the remainder -of tho sermon in turning over tlio- ..leaves out of pure ostentatious bravado;'' Tho rebuke in this instance wa-- probably not wise, although pardonable, for nothing em barrasses a speaker more than inattention ; but the offensivo continuance of the cause of annoyance exhibited neither good taste nor sensitive feeling. " Let brotherly lovo continue " is a grand motto ; yet how few of us apprehend one-half of its meaning.

Thero is ono clergyman whe makes a practice of firing shots over the heads ol truant members of his congregation. The sinn-in"- has been cultivated in this church to such a pitch that many of tho congrega tion appear to have got tho idea that it comprises the whole of the service that is worth listening to. These people slip out in a furtive way just before the sermon begins. A Sunday or two ago tho parson, who had watched the movement with disap proval, roso and said :—" I notice that five persons have gone out already; if any more of you wish to retire, you had better do so now, nnd not interrupt the sermon." No ono went; but if they remained only because of the implied rebuke, their attend ance was no compliment to the preacher.

Thero was groat excitement at sundown ono afternoon at a little up-country colonial town. The cause of the hubbub was simply this:—A washerwoman, in emptying her tub at the conclusion of the day's operations, had observed at the bottom somo minute bright specks of what seemed to bo gold. The nows spread, and soon there were callers at the house to examine tho curious deposit, which was made out by certain knowing ones to bo without doubt gold. There was not much of it, to bo suro; still it was gold. It was also equally plain whore tho water used for washing had been obtained. Tho town had just then but one source-the turbid creek which crawled through it. Not many hours elapsed before many sets of apparatus wero improvised, and dozens were engaged in investigating tho mud which had now been shown to bo what was never before suspected—aurifer ous. Those citizens who were not " wash ing" wero watching, but, unhappily, their vigils wero not rewarded with any great surprises. No more gold was got; but it was weeks boforo tho last enthusiast gave in, nnd reluctantly resumed his former calling. Then it leaked out that tho wash tub had been "salted" by some brutal practical joker, and the victims thirsted for his gore.

I havo heard an example of " the ruling Eassion strong in death," which I think wili ear repetition. Very likely it is nn old story, but I am free to confess it seems fresh to mo. An old bird-fancier, a Lancashire man, sent when] on his death-bed for the clergyman, who responded to the summons and administered spiritual consolation. The sick man seemed penitent, and to receive the reverend gentloman's exhortations in a becoming spirit. Tho latter thereupon pro ceeded to enlarge, secundum artem, upon the delights of the better woild to which the patient was hastening—to speak of tho streets of gold, tho harps, and the angels' wings. " Wings, mon ?" said tho quondam fancier of birds with culminating interest. " I'll flee thee for a sovereign !"

The mildly sensational railway collision which occurred tho other day at the Domain tunnel to chemior tho monopoly of journal istic life in "the dead season, "nnd to relieve the soporific character of newspapers sur charged with tho dulnoss of Parliamentary intelligence, recalls to my mind a very re markable incident which happened in the South some years ago. It took place upon tho Oxford branch lino at the timo tho Canterbury railways were under the superin tendence of Mr J. Lawson, our present esteemed Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, The line extended in one long incline, somo 15 miles in length, from Christchurch at its then northorn extremity, past Moeraki, tho next station, as far as Kangiora junction. Works were proceeding at Christchurch for the extension of the line, when ono morning a ballast waggon, heavily laden wit_f; material, broko away from that place, and started off at a rapid and accelerating pace down the lino. As it came thundering along the rails down to wards Moeraki, a large train, well laden with passengers and -freight, stood at the latter station directly in its way. A moment's hesitancy or incertitude after the careering waggon came suddenly into sight might have sealed the fate of fully a hundred people. Fortunately, however, an employti named Murphy tool in the whole situation at a glance, and with rare presence of mind turned down tho points and ran the passenger train upon a siding.

This was done just in the nick of time, for the clear-headed and plucky fellow had barely time to throw a heavy sleeper across the main rails before the fugitive waggon was upon him. It was thought that the sleeper would pitch it off the line, but to the unbounded surprise of overyono it leaped over the obstacle as neatly as a greyhound, took the rails again on the other side, and continued on the even tenor of its way. The chances, of course, were ninety-nine in a hundred that it would have been thrown off. Left to itself, the waggon dashed furiously on its course, and was soon out of sight. The railway officials were in a great state of trepidation as to what the upshot might be, and telegrams were flashed to all the intervening stations. As it happened, there was time to take the necessarry precautions, and all went well. The waggon ran on until within a mile or so of ilangiora junction, when it gradually slackened its speed and stopped of its own accord. But for the tact and coolness of that one man at Moeraki, how ever, the consequences would have been dreadful to contemplate. His reward was a very deserved promotion.

How wonderfully refining and ennobling must he the influences in which the railway guard is nurtured in "childhood's happy hour I" As he sleeps on his canopied cot of eider-dewn, he is probably attended on by twenty ladies of title (specially engaged at enormous salaries to act as nurses); and in his waking hours he is doubtless amused with golden Jack-in-the-boxes and be jewelled jumping-Jacks. The mamma of the future railway official never lets him play with anyone of less rank than the son of a duke. As my readers may suppose, a youth reared under such favourable aus pices becomes in course of time a quite-too utterly-too young man, and in every way calculated to be an ornament to the railway guard profession. But all this refinement occasionally causes its possessor great annoyance when, inj'the fulfilment of his duties, he is brought into contact with that common underbred individual, the average passenger. The delicately nurtured guard's tender sensibilities receive a rough shock every time an uncouth mor | tal, speaking under the irritintion begot of a railway journey at the rate of Id miles an hour, remarks, "d this train ! I think we'll get out and walk, Maria," and his gorge rises every time he hears a big, big D. But all these troubles arc not to be mentioned in the same breath with the frightful experience last week of a guard on a local train. While collecting tickets, he happened to get out of " sympathetic ac cord" (I cannot suffer giving "granny'the monopoly of that expression) with a pa3sen ger, and this rascally, ruffian of a traveller showed tho depth of moral turpitude to which his Hades-bound soul had sunk by telling, yes, actually telling, tho railway gentleman "to go to the devil." My readers may be inclined to scout'the story as a wild imagining cf a whisky soddencd brain: tis not so, but a melancholy adamantino fact. '' Zamiel" is glad to hear that the railway gentleman has set the law in motion in re his treatment by the out rageous malefactor. The charge reads as follows:—" John Splash, charged with! using provoking and insulting language towards William Dash, railway guard, by | telling him to go to the devil." Joking ; apart, don't you think that such a tenderly nurtured creature as William Dash is thrown away as a railway guard ? He should chew up moat at a mutton pie foundry, or get a nice little berth as first bread and milk manufacturer in a baby-farming establish ment.

I have been struck during the week by tho strange vagaries in language and com position indulged in by advertisers. A diaper, for instance, pins his name to tho following :—" Wanted, a bad boy, about 13 or 14 years of age." Nov., I wonder how many good boys applied for this bad boy's billet. Not one, I should imagine, and unless the advertiser wished to.realise on it as a general business notice, or went so far as to expend a, shilling to air his wit, he probably got no real satisfaction out of his rather novel idea of requesting applications ;forthe position of "bad boy." What, by ■tlio way, are tho qualifications of a bad boy . Sometimes I have fancied him to be that perfect little nuisance whose heart and soul appears to bo concentrated in one supreme effort to play practical jokes. At other times he has appeared as that miserable little spy who will persist in turning up at awkward moment?, when perhaps iho hand

somo Adolphus is whispering sweet nothings into tho too-willing car of the fair Clarinda, or, It may be, is stealing tho dewy fra grance from her rosy lips. His " Oh, Sis ! I'll tell ma," is enough to freeze the marrow in any man's bone?, for, if what ray bachelor friends assure mo be true, it is usually ac companied by visions of broomsticks nnd flat irons in tho hands of tho prospective mother-in-law, or tho polite invitation from " pa " to immediately declare his intentions.

Then wc have the bad boy whoso most sublime idea of exquisite pleasure Is to send a miserable-looking puppy down the prin cipal thoroughfare with a kerosone tin tied to his tail; tho bad boy who fancies an ancient-looking rooster looks veil with a newspaper attached to his rear quarters ; tho young scamp who fancies that a wedding is very much "off" if he is not thero with a tin-kettle, and has a scramble for coppers, cither cool or hot, which unfortunate victims may present him with as an incen tive to go "into the next Btreet;" the young larrikin who amuses his chums by fooling the "peelers" with a pea-whistle, who will try to start off a train with the sanio article, and then laugh at the sur prised looks of all the guards and passen gers who know that time is not yet up. 1 wonder if any of theso artists would suit (he advertiser. If so, he had better sell his dog, drown his cat, and if he has any poultry, screw their necks. If ho is a married man, he had better get a divorce from his wife at once, or the bad boy' will soon bring it about; or if he has a daughter, he had better send her. off to the country, for fear that tho bad boy will frighten away all her "fellows." If he keeps a gun, it must never bo loaded, and the powder must bo kept locked up. If he has a cupboard with anything in it, it should bo fixed up like a fire-proof safe, and a hundred othor things too numerous to mention should bo arranged boforc that little terror, "'tho bad boy," is admitted into the business.

I'm afraid that tho " bad boy " is only too easily found, but it is not likely that the advertiser was troubled with one of them, for wlion it comes to the pinch, tho little urchins are all good : they nearly all go to Sunday-school (except when they play truant), and they have thoir dirty little faces washed overy morning (even if they do get muddy splashing in tho gutter directly after), ana they havo decent clothes (until thoy fall down and burst the pants at the knoes and bruise their little hands.) Yes, they are all " good " until they ore found out. So in conclusion, just a word to the advertiser. Whon you want a " bad " boy again, ad vortiso for a " good," tidy, rospectablo orphan, and tho chances aro about even that you will find him turn out all the wickedness that heart can desire or draper yearn for.

The Head-mastership of the Girls' High School is vacant, and that reminds me that Mr Heath, the retiring master, baa very strong views regarding the necessity for muscular exercise on the part of the young Indies whoso education was entrusted to him. There has been some discussion as to whether Mr Heath's successor should boa lady, a man, or a gentleman. Whatever may bo resolved upon, I trust tho muscular development of "our girls" will not bo neglected. Sir James Paget, a London physician of very high standing and Sergeant - Surgeon Extraordinary to tho Queen, has expressed tho opinion that all games in which boys and men engago—except football—should be shared in Dy girls. He thinks "leap-frog" would bo of especial value to tho petticoated sex, "as it would givo them a freedom of action and elegance of attitude un attainable by other means." Considering the grace and elegance to which young ladies have attained without the aid of leap frog, I fancy they would become thoroughly angelic if "they were introduced to that delightful game, which is, I boliovo, known to the youth of Auckland as " mutton pies." But is Dr. Paget an advocate of the " bifurcated garment" for ladies V Or how docs he imagine girls are to play leapfrog with tight skirts, or (oh horror !) " im provers ':" The bare idea of a sylph-like creature Hying through the air and sud denly "coming a cropper," or sticking in the middle of the performance, is horrify ing, and suggests anything but " elegance of attitude ! " With overy wish to en courage the physical development of youth, "Zamiel " yet hopes that no such "freedom of action" will bo allowed in the play ground of the Auckland Girls' High School.

Year by year the barriers of conventional society are being broken down. Splendour of ancestry, length of pedigree and grandeur of title are all falling bofore the growing spirit of dfniicracy ; and it is right that this should bo so, for the truo and real superiority lies only in tho morals, In the intellect, in knowledge, and in the physical constitution. All other distinctions are fanci ful, are the result oither of birth or acci dent, and in no sense a tost of merit. It is c-irious to note that many individualsof rank, even in half-civilised communities, preserve a correct record of their pedigree, but few aboriginal racos aro so careful about their genealogies us tho Maoris are. Take, &3 an example, a certain Maori of rank at Kawhia, who wa3 left to look after Tawhiao's spouse during tho visit of that shadow of a King to England. His name is Hnki, Anglke John Wesley, or Hone Wetere, who was the son of Puke Kohe, who was the son of Te Homni, who was (ho son of Ikaiaroa, who was tho son of Pakn, who was the son of Ikaiaroa, who was the son of Tamaten, who was the son of Tuawhia, who was the son of Tawherotane, who was the son of Tuteingangarei, who was the son of Whati hua, who was the son of Mam, who was the son of Pikirangi, who was the son of Tawhiao, \i ho was the son of Whatuhopo, who was the son of Whaturoa, who came over in the canoe Tainui, vide old legend. This would give about sixteen generations, which, multiplied by S3, gives 528, about the number of years the Maoris are said to have been in the country. But although this is a somewhat lengthy pedigree, I am told that the elite of Parnoll and the jam tarts of Remuera could lick it into a cocked hat. But heie is one that eclipeeth all- Hero lies tho body of Moses Pryer, A Bon of Adam and Eve, who can go higher!

A fluent young minister in our midst has long cherished a desire, like the French poet Lamartine, to visit tho Holy Land, and dwell awhile in Jerusalem, and his wish seems likely to be gratified. His willing flock are not lambs, oven in this spring sea son, and they have shown of late a disposi tion to grumble. Some of tho members have gone so far as to say, " Our minister is getting too prosy." Tho minister feels that novelty is wanting—the continuous cry is, "Give us something new — something fresh." A few evenings since tho shepherd unburdened his soul to his flock, and uttered words like unto these: —" I feel that physical change is necessary to spiritual good. I have had from my boyhood a desire to visit Pales tine. My failing health requires a change, my spirit yearns for a <jlimp<e of Zion, and my heart for a bathe in the refreshing Jordan ; but—but a journey of this sort, among the hallowed scenery of the Ea*t, needs money, and my purse, liko a poet's, is very light." A meeting has been held approving of the minister's suggestion, and, as he can very well be spared for twelve mouths, it is proposed to present to him one hundred guineas, and permit him to stilt for Jerusalem at his pwn sweet will. It is darkly hinted that somo would n.tt be disappointed, though, when he is there, he should go further—say, to Jericho I

The Examination Mania.

Fi:om a report just issued, it appears that in the London elementary schools largo numbers of children in Standard IV. are only nine or ten years of age. Here are some questions which inspectors have j thought suitable for children of nine :—(1) "A lady spent in shopping t'l 17s BJd, which was 2s Id more than half of what she I had in hor purse. What had she at first ?" "The four quarters of 181)9 began as follows: —March 22, 12hr. Imin. p.m.; June 21st, lOhrs. 4min. a.m.; Sept-em bei-23,25min.a.m.; December 21, 3hrs, 2Smin. p.m. Find in days, hours, and minutes the length of the spring, summer, and autumn of 1509." Apart from (he fact that no child on earth . needs to know how many minutes thero f were in (he autumn of 1860, the last ques tion is cruolly puzzling in form. We have some twenty other specimens before us; but tho two chosen at random are typical. A child who brought a wrong answer to the ridiculous conundrum about the quarter.l- of ISC9 would fail, and the teacher's year's work be thrown away. These "sums" are printed on c.arda, and do duty in school after school; so that a good deal of torture may be inflicted by means of one ill-set question. Boys and girls grow excited as the examination day approaches ; for there is always much emulation in the classes, and sensitive youngsters often suffer acutely when they know that the fatal cipher is marked against their names in the schedule. Fancy the state of mind of an eager little nine-year-old who finds himself confronted with thatclumsy riddle of 1869 I Decidedly such questions should be cut out of the in spectors' test cards, I

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

Now Zealand. Pakurunga Hunt. Club Steoplcchaso Meet ing October 2"i Taranaki J.C. Spring Oetoher 2i Wanganui J.C. Spring Nov. 2 Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan Nov. 11, 13, 1U Oxford Jockey Club Meeting Nov. 10 Auckland K.C. Spring Nov. 11 Onehunga R.C. Spring November 22 Takiipuna J.C. Spring Nov. 2(1 Wellington J.C. Spring Nov. 27 Wellington H.C. Spring Nov. -28. 29 Dm edin J.C. Spring Nov. 29. Dec. 1 Cambridge Spring Meeting December a Australia. V.A.T.C. (Caulilcld) Meeting 12nd day).. Oct.. IS V.U.C. Spring November 1,4, 6, 8

Dates of Nominations, Entries and Accep tances.

Nominations Onohunga Spring Handicap and Hurdles Oct. 21 General entries and acceptances A.R.C. Spring Handicap and Hurdles .. .. Nov. 7 Nominations four principal eventsTaka puna Spring Aloeting Nov. 7

To Correspondents.

iNQUtRHR.—I. The Fleuiington race course Is pear-shaped. 2. i'ho training ground round the outer or sand 'rack is 11 furlongs In cir cumference. G.N.-The double event, v.R.C. Dei by and Melbourne Cup.ha. been curried otl'flve times by one horse Lantern. Briesls, Chester, Grand Flaueur, and Martini-Henry are the names of those who won hotli events. Cambi-IDqe.—Very little attention is paid to tho time test in England, and, as v matter of fuct, only tho most import ,nt races are olllcially timed at all at home. Maitini-Honrj's Mel bourne Cup and Derby and Manilla's Miirl hyriiong Plate time, are the host authenticated feats on record.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

On Saturday next, the annual Steeplechase Meeting of the Pnknranga Hunt Club takos place, and it promises to be the most suc cessful that has yet been held. Thoro arc six events on tho programme, but to wit ■ ness the race for the Hunt Cup should alono be well worth the journey to Ellcrslic. The names of the horses engaged, and the gentlemen who will ride them, aro as follow : — Horse. Weight. Iti'or. St. lb. I.one Hand.. .. 13 0 .. MrII. Llnnoll Simmy .. .. 12 10 .. MrF.Yougo. Sir Garnet .. .. 12 8 .. Mr T. Whowoll. Jedwater .. .. 12 0 .. Mr 11. Smith. King 12 B .. — Fly 12 G .. MrK. Laxon, King Don .. .. 12 1 .. Mr F, Burtt. Corrigan .. .. 12 1 .. Mr T. Halstoad. Tidal Wave .. 12 0 .. Mr T. Jackson. Topthorn .. .. 1112 .. Mr J. Chadwick. Artist 11 7 .. MrH. Tonka. Chieftain .. .. 11 7 .. Mr I_. O'liorke. The field will probably consist of ten, as it is not unlikely that Lone Hand and King will bo reserved for the Hurdle Race. Fly is now first favourite for the Hunt Cup, and this week ho has been sup ported with Lone Hand for the Members' Hurdles, to win £300, tho taker getting it on at 100 to 6. My selections for the lead ing events will appear in Friday's Stau, but I am of opinion that Fly and Sir Garnet will bo the hardest to beat in tho Hunt Cup. The Caulfield Cup was to bo run off this afternoon, and by tho time theso linos roach the majority of my readers the result will have been known here. A deal of specula tion has taken place on tho event in local circles during the week. At Sylvia Park Fairyland has dropped twins to Musket (a colt and filly), but the latter died soon after birth. Krycina (dam of Mitrailleuse), and Florin havo each pro duced fillies to tho son of Toxopholito. Aida has produced a colt to Antoros, and Atalanta, Aida, and Perfume fillies to the same sire. I'ulchru (tho dam of Lady Eve lyn) has dropped a colt to tho defunct Sterlingwortli.

Stops are being taken to put tho local Tattorsall's Club on a more satisfactory footing, and with that end in viow thu Committee havo loaned a Btiitablo room ad joining tho Occidental Hotel. It is at pro sent being fitted up, and will bo ready for opening at tho end of next week.

Tho commission in favour of Plausible was executed by tho Hon. W. Pourson him- Belf, who transacted it during tho intervals between tho races at tho Melbourno Hunt Club Meeting. Two days afterwards a second commission was floated, and al together Mr Pearson's horso has been backed to win something like £50,000, it being got on at all sorts of prices in to 100 to G. It is stated that the public havo not followed suit.

The well-known horsemen, J. Wattie and Farrell, returned from thoir visit to tho jSapierMectinginthe early part of tho week. Wattie rodo threo winners, and again distinguished himself "ovor the sticks'' by getting Pastime home in front in the Hurdle ltaco, but he had his work cut out, for Farrell,who rodo tho second horse Denbigh, was only defeated by half a length.

From Christchurch I learn that Mr J. Marshall's maro Necklaoo, is going on nicely, and has suffered no bad offocts from the trip down. Sho is being worked along with Cutt's team.

Mr J. Thompson, tho Loviathan book maker, and his brother, Mr 11. Thompson, who have beon on a visit to England, arcon board the in-coming mail steamer due here to-morrow.

Rufus. who wo aro informed by cablo has come into the V.R.C. Derby betting, is owned by Mr M. Jacobs. Out of the throo times he started last season, ho got second to Regiuald in tho Juvenile Stakes at tho Caulfield Summer Mooting, nnd won the Nursery Handicap at tho V.R.C. Autumn gathering. He is being trained by Mr J. Rcdfearn,who hns some rare trying tackle in his stable. Rufus was got by King of the Ring from Princess Alice, and I am informed was favourite for tho Caulfield Guineas the evening beforo it was decided. I find that unfortunately Tigredia is not among those engaged In the Christchurch Derby. She was nominated for tho race, but her owner failed to make the second payment on tho Ist of August last. It may be as well to mention that the next pay ment for the Derby, and also the N.Z. Cup, ia due on the Ist of November.

Sandal, the winner of the Caulfield Guineas, was bred by Mr W. Bladder, of Fulham Park, South Australia, from whoso paddocks also came lost year's winner Sardius, Her sire Wintorlake, died last year, but Mr Blackler still has Instep (Sandal's dam), in his possession, and a beautifully-bred ono eho is, being by Lord Clifden (winner of tho Logor) out of Sandal by Stockwell —Lady Evelyn (winner of tho Oaks), by Don John (winner of tho Legcr) —Industry (an Oaks winner), by Priam.

Mr W. Walters informs me that Venus Transit has dropped a chestnut colt to Leolinus, and Hipporina a bay filly to the same sire.

Mr H. McClelland, secretary off tho Oxford Jockey Club, has forwarded mo a copy of the programme of their race moot ing, which is fixed for Monday, 10th November. Thero aro seven events, tho principal being the Oxford Handicap of IlOsovs., and the Hurdle Race, of 20sovs. Nominations close on the 25th of Octobor.

I am glad to hoar that tho support given to the first number of tho "Now Zealand Turf Record " is pood enough to warrant the compilers continuing the work next year. The vast majority of the minor Racing Clubs, however, have not assisted tho work in any way, but probably by tho end of next season they will see tho boncfit of it. The Auckland Racing Club, Takapuna Jockey Club, and Onciiunga Racing Club, I may mention, have each contributed towards the cost ot the undertaking.

Breeders and horse-owners have nomin ated very freely for tho Hawko's Bay Guineas of ISS6, there being no less than sixty-nine entered. Auckland is particu larly well represented in the list, the N.Z. Stud Company having eighteen opposite their name, Mr Walters bix, Mr " Sommervillo " four, and Mr "Howitt" ono. Last week's " N.Z. Referee " gives tho following quotations :— NEW ZEALAND CUI*. 100 to 11 agst Vanguard 100 —10 Sou-wester, Nelson, Jehnny Faulkner. July. 100— 8 Tasman, Tim Whllllor, Ike, Oudois, Captain Webster, and Liverpool. 100— 7 Necklace, Welcome Jack. 100 — G Ttirnuoißo, Leonora, Trenton, Eskatos, Lady Kvelyn, 100—5 Charmer. Sir J.edlvcro, Sal vage, Itubina, Wapiti. DEUBV 5—2 Liverpool (off) 4—l Trenton (off) 100 —15 —- Lady Evelyn, Water King 110 —12 ( hnrmer, Carlton 100 — 10 Black Rose, E.katos lfiO— 8 Fusilier 10.1 — 7 U._,-ly Buck, Forerunner

Tho Canterbury Jockey Club may feel proud of the large number of entries r - ccived for the several events that closed on Saturday last. For the Stewards' Stakes, run at the Spring Meeting next month, 38 nominations have beon received, and for the Hurdles 18. The Midsummer Handicap and Middle Park Stakes, run at tho New Year's Day Meeting, have each filled up well, while no less than 01 entries have beon received for the Challenge Stakes, six fur longs. This last-named event is to be de cided at the Autumn Meeting, and is intro duced into the programme for the first time.

Mr W. Percival's Qullp, who was a good deal fancied for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, has been scratched for that event, owing to jiaving gojje lame.

The Dunedin Jockey Club have ordered two now ! (i'm) ir.ntors for nre at their race mi.et.ings, and they will b-:- ready for the Spring" Mooting. Tli-.: order lias been given to Messrs Have--; ami Jenkins, of Wel lington. The totalizator that Messrs Hill and. Stock have lifted up for inspection at the Occidental Hotel is by theso makers. The " Australasian " publishes a list of winning owners for the past season. The Hon. J. White heads the list with £0,570 to his name,'Mr U. S. Wallace coming next with G5.753. Then follow:—Mr J. O. Inglis, £4,538 ; Hon. W. Pearson, £2,1)70 ; Mr W. J. Forester, £2,t1(!7 ; Mr A. F. Smart, £2,10(1; Mr W. R, Hall, £1,818; Mr J. Mayo, JCI.SOj; Mr S. Barnard, £1,741; and Mr W. Branch, £1,482.

The following are the names of those who have paid-ip for the Maribyrnong Plate :-•

Hon. W. Pearson's Arsenal and Dincsuese, MM.. J.Striit.hcr'sAllJllacl:. MrW. X Da kin's 'Hie Pencil, Mr T. ('Mins .77. I'.oeclht, Mi'T. Chii-nfci.le's Cani]i_.iilla, Mr C. 11. I'Wher's hr c, by Robinson Crusoe-Crack _r, .Mr!-. Gardiner's hrf Maguilh-r, Mt-M. Jacob's Lady Claudia,Sir W. J Clarke's Siiuviguon and Chahlis, Mr V. Toner's Westminster, Mr M. O'Shanassy's First Prince, ifr J. Wliiiiingham's Local Option, Mr .1. Patterson's Tell Tale, Mr K. Leo's hr c. by King of die Ring — Remembrance, Air V\. Dnrgin's Umbra, Hon. James While's Uralla nnd Monts Cbri.to. Hon. .1. iiales's Crystal and Crown Jowel, Mr W. A. Long's Sister Unice, Mr J. Monaghnn nsh £ Cm-day, Mr A. F. Smart's Hui-rilda (late Osrio). Mr T. Laniond ns he Hurford, Mr T. Cliirnside's h f by Maribyrnong, Mr X, Lee's h c Toward. MrT. Laniond's I'haon, Mr J. Mondy'3 Cairo. Hon. L. L. Smith's Melodious, Mr J. It. Mill's lic.llaniite. Mr J. H. Hill's Newstead, Mr J. Wil-on's, jun., The Teacher.

" Old Sport" writes as follows to tho "Wellington Post":—"Mr Gillies mado the astounding statement in tlio House that £'28,000 hud been gambled away on a Dunedin racecourse in a single day. Sucli a statement is only calculated to excito tlio ridicule of every sensible person. A sum of £28,000, I believe, went through the total isntor in Dunedin during the tlr.eo days' meeting in February, but this is a very different matter, as during the three days thero was altogether an attendance of about 18,000 people, and there were six races on oaoh day, so that probably the bulk of the money wont through the totalisator 18 times. A sum of £-1,1.00 or £.1,000 would bo amply sutlloient to do this, and tho whole of this money, less the pcr-eontnge taken by tlio Club, would remain in the hands of tho public themselves, for no ono either wins or loses lurgoly through the totalisator. If the wholo sum of £5,000 wero lost—melted away or disappeared, so that tho publio uovor saw it again—it would average 5s (id a hoad, surely not an extravagant expendi ture for a day's amusement."

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Commotion is doing good work. Mr B. McCaul, of Wanganui, has pur chased Izaak Walton.

Tho Melbourno Cup candidate Sir Garnet has a "dickoy log." The fielders of the English turf haro had a bad time of it this season.

The Hon. W. Robinson's chequo at tho Geraldino Moeting amounted to £247. Sir Modred's brother Cheviot is adver tised to stand tho season in tho Ashburton district.

Tho Middlo Park Stud Company hold a yearling sale the day after the C.J.C. Spring Meeting. Tho weights for the A.R.C. Spring Handicap and Hurdle Race aro duo on Friday next. Precious Stone (full brother to Turquoise) won the Flat Race at tho Melbourne Hunt Club Mooting. Bristol is doing first-class work at Flem ingtoti, and is said to be worth watching for the Melbourno Cup. Mr W. E. llakin't. colt Tho Pencil has boon backed for tho Maribyrnong l'late at 10 to 1 to win n big sluko. Tho removal of (lie disqualification of Bob liny by tho V.R.C. has been endorsed by tho Australian Jockey Club. According to tho English pipers Dal meny, the winner of the last Brighton Cup, i"ti one mi to in I mm. 30Jsecs.

Sir Hercules Robinson intends to do a little racing in South Africa, and has pur chased two or three horso? In England.

Mr " W. Neill " is reported to bo tho pur chaser of Salvo, the cast-off from Fonuclly'u string. Ho is being trained by Cripps 15 rot hers.

" Vazeppa " snys that during his career r.och Lomond started in SI races, of which ho won 28, worth to his owners close on 11,500. Empress, the winner of (lie last Hawkes bury Handicap, and who wns purchaseiHor a wealthy rajah, died soon utter her arrival in India.

News to hand from Sydney this week states that it is now certain that King's Own will not bo able to start for the V.R.C. Derby.

Tho Christchurch sportsman, Mr It. Wesimncott, has leased Tho Dauphin to Mr M. O'Brien, of Tnrannki. Ho stands the season there nt tlio feo of lM 10s.

" Sonex " says that Siesta looks a picture of equine symmetry. Sho has not grown porcei.tibly in height, but has thickened considerably, and deepened in tho brisket and ttank.

Mr 11. Howie's colt Sea Ilorso, got by Kolpio from Claribel, is said to have a good outeidoshow of winning the V.R.C. Derby. He has beon supported in Melbourno at 100's to 8.

Sinco hor arrival at Flemington, tho Hon. J. White's filly Uralla, does r.ot appear to havo greatly impressed the early risers, and she is a trifle ca.ier in tho Maribyrnong Plate hotting. Mr A. F. Smart's team, which arc work ing at Flemington, comprise tho much talked-of Warwick, Privateer, Brown and Hose, Nopicallina, and tho two-year-old colt Burildn (lato Osric). News has been received in Sydney by cablo that Damo Agnes, tho property of Mr W. A Long, by Hermit from Bella Agnes, won tho Champion Nursery Stakes at Kompton Park, London.

The Chrysalis.

The holes in tho cabbage leaves are thero ; but the caterpillars havo gone—whither ? Next spring, as tho gardener himself Is dimly conscious, they will bo fluttering hither and thither as butterflios, but where —now that his spado is lifted up to slay— are the vermin now ? Forowarned, not co much of the approaching footsteps of tho gardener as of a certain impending chango in their own condition, with a blissful fooling of complete repletion, a sense of a life's dinner woll eaten during six weary weeks of gormandising, and a painful tightening of tho skin at tho nape of the nock, each caterpillar has laboriously descended first tlio midrib of tho groat leaf through which ho has admitted tho grate ful sunlight in so many places, then the leaf-stalk, and finally tho cabbage-stem. He has braved untold perils of earwigs and ichneumon flies, and has reached tho ground. Consumed with an overpowering desire to reach he knows not what haven of refuge, ho has climbed up crags of crumb ling garden mould, has fallon down two inch precipices, threaded mazy forests of groundsel, plunged through a glado of box trees half a foot in height, and emerged at last upon the gravel path. Hero new terrors arise. Ants with tho strength of giants, albeit mere pigmies in stature, aro prowling with ceaseless activity all around. Earth - shaking sparrows may at any moment swallow the wayfarer. Gleaming boetles, with ferocious sickle shaped jaws, may dart out from behind each pebblo. Tho gardener's broad soles are crunching the gravel, his spado is upheaving volcanoes of ourth, somewhero in the neigh bourhood. But timo is precious. Tighter and tighter grows the skin at the nape of tho wanderer's neck, nnd ho must onward to somo placo when he. can split in safety. At last, after many wanderings nnd hair - breadth escapes, the caterpillar strikes his head against an im penetrable perpendicular expanse of masonry, stretching abovo him far beyond tho somewhat limited range of caterpillar vision. It is tho wall of tho stable yard ;— " And from his heart escaped a _rroan. Excelsior 1"

Ever highor and highor he mounts, pass ing like a slow green stroak obliquely upwards, with outstretched neck spanning the brick crevices, dislodging infinitesimal rocks of mortar, sending tlio little wolf spider staggering many inches backward in sudden fright—(it must be very consoling to tho fugitive caterpillar to find some ono at last who is afraid of him) —but ho has neither time nor inclination to play the bully. He must still onw-ard and upward beneath the blazing sun, over the burning bricks—his back, so long accustomed to vegetate its juices beneath the cool shades of his cabbage-leaf home, now well-nigh bursting with deferred hope and the tightness of tho skin. At last ho reached the three-inch belt of shade beneath the superincumbent coping-stone upon the summit of the wall, and at last a voice within him says that here is peace and the goal of hjs wanderings. Stretched at full length in some cool niche, ho rests con tented lor tho present, takes a firm grasp with all his feet, and awaits further develop ments of the situation.

"There in tho twilight cool and gray. Lifeless, but beautiful he lay ; And from tho sky, serene and far, A voice fell like a fallina star. ExoelBlor!" r-" Longman's Magazfae,"

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(IJY ACT.-S.ON.)

CRICKET FIXTURES.

Octobor IS-Alpha 2nd v. Alpha Ist; V.-i'.'aboiKls v. West Knd Ist: Auckland 2n.l v. Paniell 1-t; Auckland Ist v. Cordon Ist; Gordon 2nd v, I. Zingari.

October 25—Auckland Ist v. Gordon Ist (con tinued). Alpha Ist v. Alpha 2nd (continued), West Knd Ist v. Vagabonds (continued), Auck land 2nd V. Gordon 2nd.

November 1 — West End Ist v. Gordon l3t, Gordon 2nd v. Auckland 2nd, Alpha Ist v. West Knd 2nd, Auckland Ist v. Otabuhu (at Ota liuliu).

November 8-Go-don Ist v. West Knd Ist (con. tinned). Gordon 2nd v. National, Alpha Ist v United 2nd. Auckland Ist v. Olnhlihil (continued at Otabuhu), Aucklnnd 2nd v. West Knd 2ml.

November la— Cordon Ist v. Warehouse!; Cordon 2nd v. Wi'kt Knd Ilrd ; Alpha Ist v. United Ist; Wist Knd Ist v. Auckland ; A tick land 2nd v. West, hnd 2nd (continued).

November 22 -Cordon Ist. v. United l.t, Gor don 2nd v. United 2nd, Alpha Ist v. Auckland 2nd, West Knd Ist v. Aucklnnd Ist (continued), Auckland 2nd v. West. Knd 2nd.

November 20 —Alpha Ist v. Auckland 2nd. United Ist v. Gordon Ist (continued), West Knd 2nd v. Gordon 2nd, West Knd Ist v. Auckland Ist (continued).

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

Octobor 18—Opening of the boating season. October 20—Mattel son v. Kemp, £200 a-side, on tho Nepean course. November—North Shore Tri-il Fours. November 9—Whim River Regatta. January 20—Auckland Annual Regatta. February 7—lJjiiil-.ii v. Ciillbrd, ATM a-side. February 28—Cli/I'jrd v. Reach. £.100 a-side March 28-Hanlan v. Reach, £300 a-sido and chainpioiiship of the world, on the Paramatta River. April 18-Clilt'ord v. Haitian (if the former is victorious in his match with I'lcnch). Clifford v. Teenier, £.100 aside.

CYCLING FIXTURES.

Auckland Bicvole' Ci.uii Runs. Octobor 18—Friini top of Upper Queen-strccl to St. Heller's Bay. . October 23—From top of Upper Queen-street to Mount Albert, Three Kin.cs. and Onohunga.

Skhvick is building a v.mc canoe, which my informer says is going to beat anything previously turned out.

The Star Boating Club, Wellington, is talkingof sending an order to Auckland for n now racing whaleboat.

Tho Ponsonby trial fives on Saturday last were rowed in tho whnleboats Mercury and Florence. Thoy won three races each.

The Wanganui Rowing Clubs have run short of oars, nnd the members cannot got to work until supplies arrive from England.

Waiteinata Bicycle Club had not fixed up thoir season's runs up to the timo at which I write. To-day's run was to be in the direction of Ouehuuga.

Ponsonby Rowing Club intend to send two crows for every event for which they cuu enter at tho coming Whau River Regatta on Novcmbor 9th.

Eighteen members of tho Newton Foot ball Club had their photographs taken in a group by Hcmus and Hanna during the week.

1 hear that Bloomfield is building a Rob Hoy canoo with only 1G inches boam, in which ho expects to secure an exceedingly fast boat.

Sevoral canoes belonging to the Rob Roy Canoo Club were out during tho week. Tho Club Intended to open the season with other rowing clubs this afternoon, if per mitted to do so by the Association.

Wilding, captain of (ho Lancaster Park Cricket Club, put together IH2 runs ut Christchurch on Saturday, October l>, with nineteen men in tho fiold, und thrco bowling, at any rate, straight.

A ladies' tricycling club has been formed at Boston (U.S.). Thoy carry out their runs and make records in the ordinary way, and somotimos (as a favour) invito, good young men to join them.

W. Furnan, champion boxer of Victoria, has challenged L. Foley to light for £50 aud upwards, and the championship of Aus tralia (under the Marquis of Qucensbcrry rules).

The Rob Roy Canoe Club intend to have water laid-on to their boat-shod and a shower bath fixed up, which will no doubt be much appreciated by member... There aro now 10 boats in the shod.

W. E. Barton <'.-ive a fine batting exhibi tion on Saturday last, when he put togethei n total of 120 runs, and carried his bat uftei being at the wickets for nearly three mid n half hours.

Committeo of Whau Regatta, to be held November !), have decided to engtigo two steamers, probably Enterprise and Anno Milbank, to convey passengers io ami from Auckland on day of races.' The return fare has been fixed ai 2s; children half-price.

Tlio Gisborno Rowing Oiub have ordered from Edwards Iho wull-lcnown boat-builder of Princes Bridge, Melbourne, n four-oared clinker-built practice boat, with slides, and two sculling boats, fitted with all the latest improvements.

In tlio ten miles running match for £ICO at Newcastle on October Bth. Livingstone v. O'Connor, of Kow Zealand, Livingstone won by about 200 yards in sGmin. A col lect ion of sovereigns was made on the ground for O'Connor.

I understand that all cricket clubs belong ing to tho Association have fixed up their programmes for the coming season, and sovernl are now in tho printer's hands. Secretaries should send along copies oarly, and secure insertion amongst other " fix tures."

"Tribune"of October 10 gives particu lar* of a sevon milo walking handicap for £50 a ..ide at Sydney, in which J. M. O Con nor (scratch), of Now Zealand, was defeated by W. Harris (75 yards), of South Australia. Tho timo takon was, Harris, 59min slsecs ; O'Connor, GOmlns 49secs.

Tho boating season was opened at Lyttel ton on Saturday, the 3rd inst., whon tho Naval Brigade cutter headed a procession of boats, including several crows from Lyttelton Rowing Club, and n number of orews in whaloboats from ships in harbour. Sub sequently a scratch four-oared raco was got np, and passed off successfully.

The following clubs aro now represented in tho Auckland Cricket Association:— Soniors: Alpha, Auckland, Auckland United, Gordon, Newton, Our Boys, Otahuhu, United Warehousemen, West End. Juniors: Auckland Gas Company, Avondale, Franklin, Holland's, True Blues, National, Parnoll, I. Zingari. This makes a total of nineteen clubs.

Tho Legislative Cricket Team presented Mr W. F. Buckland with a new bclltoppor, in recognition of his admirable bowling in tho recent match with Wellington lawyers. Ho performed tho hat-trick of taking thrco wickets with t! roj successive balls, and in tho first innings got six \w.ket3 at a cost 8 runs. His hand was injured in the second innings, and ho did not bowl so well.

Arrangements havo, we believe, been completed for n sculling match, for f 100 a sido and the championship of New Zealand, between Hoarn, the present champion, and Harrington, a Biverton oarsman, whoso frionds scorn to fancy him. The match will bo rowed at Rivertcn towards the end of next month, Hoarn being allowed £20 for his expenses.- Wellington "Post."

Thero is again some talk about tho action of tho Takapuna Jockey Club in fixing their Summer Meeting for the 29th of January every year. This is the Anniversary Day, on which tlio Auckland Regatta is held, and it is unfortunate that such a strong counter attraction ns a race meeting should bo held so near to tho harbour on that day. It has been suggested in connection with this matter that the Auckland Regatta courses should bo made so as to be easily overlooked from tho North Shore beach, which always contains a largo number of spectators, and that in return tho North Shore peoplo should uso their influence in changing the date of their summer raco meeting. This is reasonable enough, nnd deserves careful consideration by all interested.

" Warrior," the Sydney sporting corres pondent of tho "Otago Witness," is re sponsible for tho following :—" Beach has requested mo to stato his intention of visit ing tho wholo of the colonies, and more particularly New Zealand. He has made arrangements with a gentleman to appear in Melbourne dining Cup week, and has been offered (.'350 and his'expenses to go to New Zealand and givo half-a-dozen ex hibitions of rowing. He would most cer tainly accept this offer, as he had a sister and a number of friends in Now Zealand whom he would liko to sco. Most likely you will have the pleasure of seoing Mi- Beach in Dunedin about the latter end of November. At tho time of writing his exact measurements wero as follow: — Height, Oft. lOin. in socks ; 42in. round the chest; calf, loiiu. : biceps, 14in. ; forearm, 12in. The champion was, on the Olh Sep tember last, 33 years of age."

The following crows have been chosen to represent Ponsonby Rowing Club at the Wnau Regatta : —Seniors (whaleboat race) —one crew, viz. :G. E. Smith, F. G. Letham, G. McKay, J. Edmonds, A. Webster. Maidens (whalebrat race)-two crews, viz., No. 1 :J. Braund, J. O'Brien, W. George, M. Kirby, It. Whiteside ; No. 2 :T. Lamer, Dawson, J. Ainoil, A. Gee, and Froudo, Jy!»iore(vihalebo»t race)—two

crews, viz.. No. 1 : A. Watbriok, W. War ) brick, A. Wehster, Graham, mid J. McKay I No. ■>.: A. Ciiut-7', A. flulpan, 'V.7-

Dixon, and I. F. Hain'tl, Senior Gi;_; Haw — two crews, No. 1 :G. K. Smith, F. (.!. Lctham, G. McKay, J_. Millar No. _.: i>. Wat.--on, 0. S tan ford, T. liicoro, J, Hondcrcon. Maiden Gig Race, two crows. No. 1 : Hall, (>. Scott, H. Culpan. W. Fogden. No. 2: W. Johnson, C. E. Camp bell, 11. Hammond, J. Locdham.

There was some very curious "cricket" on the Domain Ground last Saturday. In a match between employes from Gasworks and from Mr Holland's ;builder), the former suffered a one-innings defeat, and thcii scoring included the biggest collection of cricketing "duck's eggs" (hat I havo come across for sonic con.-idorable time. The batsmen will no doubt be anxious to have their name? and performances handed down to posterity, so here they arc: First in nings— Edmunds, 13; Oeako, 0; Furncs-'s, 0; Hodgson, 1; Kothoihaui, 0; It. Stilwcll, 0 ; Sutton, 1 ; Woodall, 0; A. Stilwcll, 2 ; Hamilton, 0; Lockley, 0. Total, 17. Second innings ; Hamilton, 0; Edmunds, •2(1; Botherham, 0 ; Geako, 0 ; Hodgson, 0 ; Funics*, 0; It. Stilwcll, 5 ; A. Stilwell, 0; Sutton, 0; Woodall, 0; Lockley, 0. Total, 31. Thus I find that out of a total score of 48, one player made 3D, while other ten suc ceeded in putting together the grand total of nine. If cricketing "duck eggs" were saleable, what a fall there would bo in the market!

Judging by tho scores made in some of the junior matches on Saturday last, there must have been a largo number of " out for the first time," arid they cut a most pitiful spec'acle. Elsewhere I have recorded a very curious score made by Gasworks em ployes, and now I will add a list almost as singular compiled by tlie Franklin and I. Zingari Cricket Chilis' representatives. Eleven from each mot on Saturday last, and scored as follow: Franklin— If. Nightin gale, I ; If. Tal.tcrs.dl, I); W. Ro-s, 1 ; \V. Stemsnii,.il ; It. Nightingale, _!; 11. I'otter, l); A. Service, _!1 ; ... Sheddon, 0; T. Searchlield, •_': 11. Ilonkiii, 0; W. Nesbitt, 0 ; byes, -1 : total, 1)2. Tho total is not, so bad, but it dors seem queer that two men should havo contributed M runs, leaving the other nine players only .si'.r runs to re present their united batting totals. I. Zingari scored as follows:—Chatfiold, sen., 15; Lewis, 0; Mullins, 1(1; Webster,]; Johnston, 0; Laird, 2 ; Anscnno, 0; Milner, 0; Tatter.ull, 0; Poulscn and Chatfield, jun., to bat; extras, 2 : total, 30. Sothatoutof a 'Mi total, two players con tributed 31, leaving two oxtras, and seven playors succeeded in putting together the wonderful total of three. This is very funny "cricket."

A CURIOUS CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF CRIME.

The Neuilly Dcsporadocs.

Details ol Thoir Operations and Capture,

Thk Paris correspondent of tho "Daily News'' sends an interesting account of tho band of burglars and assassins who were for two winters tho terror of Nettilly. The trysting place, he says, was a low eating house, called " Les Dixhuit Marmi.es." There they were at homo, und could chat freely. They also at the Eighteen Soup-pots arranged for the business of the ensuing tlay, Small thieving and hawking was to bo the occupation until live in tho after tio-'it. As pedlars and seeking for employ ment thoy could " spot " houses. Each had his circuit, The evenings were devoted to tlio cult of St. AlphoiifO. After one in the morning, when the gas of ca/es and of many .street lamps aro turned off, they worked with le piitre monsr.iijneirr and skeleton keys. This tool is u.od by French liou.o-breakers in cutting through iron bars and bolts. Operations were confined to Paiis and its environs. thk l ii.i-: a dam mckdrr. Tn awineshopat St. Dennisonoofthegang heard quarrymen talk of the old innkeeper and his wife ot the forest of L'He Adam, who were said to have 15,000 francs hidden in thoir drawers. They ngreetl to murder and rob them, and started on a Saturday evening. But the ir.n was then too full of company for them to execute their project. They waited until the following night, when they ascertained the landlady would be alone. Which of them took thu initia tive in stabbing her, the pair who killed and robbed her only know. Wounds made by knives of different si_-.es were found in her body. When they despatched her they could only find J'_!o, a silver watch, and some teaspoons. Tito treasuro which had excited their cupidity was thrust in an old cheese-box under a press. It nover occurred to them to look thero for it. A 111-.TECTIVI-.'s IXSrIRATION". French causes celebre have ever a drama tic interest. Tho Hash of divination of the police commissary of Neuilly, as he was driving at night with a detective to his office, and saw three follows skulking along under tho shade of a wall, the incident of the watch and tho recognition of the assassins by the innkeeper's dog heightened interest in this affair. " Where do you live':" asked the commissary, as he jumped down from his cab and walked up to thorn. "In tho Rue do Longchamps," quoth Delbnry. "At what number':'1 "I don't know." "And you (turning to Cornet), what is your address?" "At the same houso and number that my friend has told you." "Come, then, since you are so bad nt figures, and show nic your domicile" A revolver was discharged. A (iosperato struggle onsued. Tho thieves were finally worsted, and sont to tho Prefecture of Police to be examined.

Tim TELL-TALE WATCH AND THE DOO,

No suspicion that they wero in tho lie Adam affair existed when they were brought ono by ono beforo the head detective Mace. Ho has a womanish way of jumping to con clusions to which somo rapid intuition leads him, and thon trying to verify their truth. Marquelet had in his waistcoat pocket an old turnip watch in a silvor caso Leroy was its maker's name It was a vulgar-looking watch, butsomohowout of tho common, and might havo been 70 or 80 years in tiso. Mack's fingers tingled ns ho examined it. Ho had an intuition that tho queer old chronometer could tell an awful tale were it able to speak. "How camo you by this watch ?" he suddonly asked. Marquolot answered quiotly, "I had it from my mother." "Tako care," rapidly added Mace, " how you bring in your mother's name. Do you know that a mother is a sacred being, and that ill-luck cliags to the son who desecrates her memory ?" There was a pause. Tho chief of tho detectives ended it by saying, "And so you are not afraid to say that this ) \atch came to you from your mother?" "No." But Marquolot reddened in tho face. Mace ob served the change of countenance. Turn ing to his clerk, ho said, " Take good care of this watch. I feci that it will put us on the right scent." Some days later details of tho He Adam murder wore sent to the Pre fecture of.Police, by the Director of Public Safety. A watch with a silver case, and mado by ono Leroy, had disappeared. Mace, in reading tho report, cried, " I have the mur derer." Marquolot was fetched to his bureau. Questioned a second time, he ad mitted the crime,to deny it later. The dog. was next produced. It had been found howling beside the corpso of its mistress. When the assassins-were confronted with the poor brute, it got into a corner, bristled up, and expressed violent animosity. Its attitude led tho murderers to confess and to recriminate each other.

Sewer Rats in New York.

A veteran ratcatcher of Now York says that large rats aro found along tho wharves, near whore tho sewors empty into the river. "I remember," he said, "a pitched battle that took place between throe of my ferrets and live rats, down at a sugar boiling houso. Each rat was fully from fifteen to eighteen inches in longth, and must have weighed from four to iivo pounds. They had it? hot and heavy for a quarter of an hour. The ferrets fairly chewed tho rats to pieces and c.-imo out victorious, though they got severely bitten themselves. Subsequently one of the ferrets died. That night I sue ceeded in killing ninety rats. But I havo seen larger rats than those in my time. A few years ago my dogs caught a rut down ac the Washington Avenue grain elevator, which was much bigger tlian a cat. It was two feet long and weighed twelvo pounds. I was very anxious te capture him alive, and it was hard work to drive tho dogs off. I managed to draw them awuy, and then I threw a net around him and brought him home. A salooh-keoper near made me an offer of i?_!0, and I sold the rat to him to place on exhibition. He did not make much by the venture, as tho saloon-keeper's wife was afraid of the big rat, and, being anxious to get rid of the animal, poisoned it. Whilo tho animal was on exhibition there was a sign displayed on the iron cage in which it was confined, saying ' Don't fool with the rat.' "

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By Eutf.t-1-k.)

JIiiUH. Path's suit for divorce under the new French law has gone against her.

The monument to be erected to Mozart at Vienna is open to international com-

petition

Adelade Ristori is stated to have signed an engagement for the United States, to commence immediately.

Princess Beatrice has accepted the hono rary position of President of the London Musical Society

M. Alfred Andran, a tenor singer, and brother of the composer of " La Masnotte," has just died at Marseilles, aged thirty-six.

Miss Mary Anderson will essay Cynibclino during her next London season* besides entering upon a Juliet competition with Miss Eastlake.

The "Melbourne Bulletin" says it is whispered that the wife of a well-known comedian has eloped with n circus per former.

Signor Nobili, lately manager to the Williamson Opera Company, is now offici ating in the same capacity forßemenyi, the Hungarian violinist, in Sydney.

English opera is to r.-iake a determined stand against German and Italian art next season in London. Mr Carl Rosa has announced a season of sixty nights certain.

Mr Wybertßeeves's Company have scored a great success at the Sydney Gaiety in a dramatised version of Ouida's sensational novel, "Moths."

Mr Bracken's lectures and recitals have "taken" so well in this colony that it is said a lecturing trip to England is now contemplated.

M. Jules Verne has just turned out a new volume. The ideaof the story was sug gested by the Krakatoa earthquakes, and the title of (he book will be " L'Archipcl en Feu."

Professor Fowler's next contribution to literature will bo a little treatise entitled " Progressive Morality : an Essay in Ethics." Messrs Macmillan- are to be the pub lishers.

Sir Julius Benedict's " Bride of Song " is one of the items down on Madam Cave- Ashton's opera company's programme for early performance. The revival is receiv ing the direction of the composer.

Mr George Macdonald is writing a preface to a book that has caused no little stir both in Denmark and Germany. The volume bears the title "Letters from Hell," and will be ready almost immediately.

The Lord Chamberlain had his uses. Dion Boucicault is going to submit his play, "Robert Emmet," for examination, and, if it is not licensed, he will advertise it in America as a " prohibited play."

Next to the suggestivo "Trois Femmes pour un Mari," tho greatest Parisian success of the season is "La Flamboyante." This piece has already been adapted for the American stage.

The pantomime at the Theatre Royal this year will most likely be the last Christ mas Drury Lane production of "Cinderella," with a real live fox hunt and other curios ities.

The Misses Susan and Jane Rignold will accompany Barry Sullivan on his forth coming tour to the colonies. The latter is to play Ophelia, Beatrice, Julie, Lady Macbeth, Mrs Beverley, &c.

Webbo's Royal Marionottes concluded a successful season nt Napier on October -Ith. They are now at Wellington, whero the great Barry O'Neill is giving his lightning changes in connection with the show.

A Chicago paper makes tho doubtful as sertion that the dudes carry microscopes to the performance of " Adonis " in that city, in order to be convinced that Miss Vernona Jarbeau wears a costume.

Mr James Payn is preparing for publica tion in book form the interesting series of " Reminiscences " that he has recently been contributing to the " Cornhill." The little volume will be ready early in October.

Concerning " Twelfth Night," Mr Dion Boueicaultsays :] " The play itself, 1 think, is dreary in tne extreme ; but Mr irving is so worshipped in London that I doj't think his audiences would care much if ho played the New Testament."

A now orchostral symphony, composed by Anton Dvorak, will be the chief novelty of tho Philharmonic Society's next season. Tho season will also be marked by the appearance of Sir Arthur Sullivan as con ductor.

Mr Charles Dv Vol, tho monologue enter tainer, has received tho samo honour that has been accorded to Maccabe. He was recently summoned to Marlborough House to appear on the occasion of a garden party, given in honour of tho Prince's Victoria of Wales.

Ono of the brightest writers in France- Charles Monselet — has completed the libretto of a '.hree-act comic opera which he calls "Le Diablc Boitoux." Lecocq has agreed to write the score for it, and the piece has therefore been promptly secured for the Nouveautes.

Mr Arthur Elliott mado a most favour able impression in the Western States of America and on the Coast, supporting Mdmo. Rhea. He is now engaged for the leading part in a piece called "Queena." Miss Pomeroy is not connected with the Company.

Woodyeor's Circus continues to be well patronised in Sydney. Donald Dinnie, the Scottish athlete, who is said to have beon a victor in no less than 7,<>00 trials of strength, displays his strength in wrestling, and in feats with dumb-bolls and iron bars, &c, Tho tent was recently blown down.

J. B. Polk, who is back in America, is likely to bo engaged for the chief part of "Twins" on its production in New York. Mr Polk reports that although he has had an interesting and exciting career in Aus tralia, his tour of the antipodes has not added much to his stock of shekels.

A new and original drama by Mr G. R. Sims, which illustrates the slums of Lon don lifo, has been placed in rehearsal nt the Adelphi Theatre. Mr A. M. Palmer, who has purchased tho American rights of the piece, says that it is of a higher order than " The Lights o' London," or anything Mr Sims has yet attempted.

The municipality of Vienna has decided to remove the remains <Jf Beethoven and Schubert from Wahring to the new Central Freedhof. A monument to the first named composer will be erected by the Conserva torium, and one to Schubert by the " Man nergesang Vorien." It is probablo that a musical festival on a largo scale will maik the importance of the occasion

G. F. Root's cantata " David" was recently performed by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Choir, Dunedin, assisted by somo musical friends. " David" is described as a very popular cantata, the music boing very light—indeed, in .01110 places it is almost oporatic— while very fine solos and part songs" occur in it. The choir consisted of 40 voices. Miss Grey took tho part of Abigail.

Tho Dunedin Choral Society's last con cert consisted of Gade's " Crusaders " and a variety of other items, the most note worthy of which was the duo for two pianos by Herr nnd Mdme. Schorek, Chopin's "NoctumeinC, op. 73." The vocal soloists during tho evening were Mrs Murphy, Mrs Israel, Messrs L. Fcrgusson, Jago, and Smith. Herr Benno Scherek intends to re sign his position as conductor. X

Miss Emclio Melville and her opera com pany sailed by tho s.s. Rome for Calcutta on Sept. 24. The troupe comprises : Miss Eva Davenport, M. Fischer, Steele, Cohen, Thomson, Mervin, Sterling, Hubert, and Penrose; and Messrs Verdi,, Far ley, G. Beaumont, Scott, Hhssell, Walsho, Vernon llcid, Bruce, Dovei-oux Fox, Wilson, Fawcett, Rigby, Dra_rr C r' Sanders, Ramngo, and ethers—a fairly large crowd. Mrs Edward Farley died on the way to Adelaide, and was buried at that place.

Several of the men of tho Greely expedi tion, as well as a number of tho sailors from the relieving ships Thetis, Alert, and Bear, have been appealing during their furloughs on the stages of the American theatres in Buchanan's drama of "Storm beaten." The Greely party, comprising Sergeant Brainard, Henry Briederbick? Connell, Long, and Frederick, appeared in the "great Arctic rescue scene," one of the novelties of which was that the men were clad m the Esquimaux furs which they wore in the Arcticj-egions.

I (Pans is likely to be well off in the matter of music next season. Tho list of the art istes engaged for the Theatre Italien includes Adehna Patti, Marcelle, Sombiich, Caroline de Cepeda, Nicolini, Edouard de Reszkc, Novelli, and Maurel. The followHte new works will bg produced:--'Abeu Hamet "by Theodore Dubois ; "Le Chev alier Jean," by Victorin Joncieres; "Richard 111." by M. Salvayre, thoauthor of "Bravo;" "Benvenuto Cellini" by Diaz, The theatre opens on Ootober 2". with ratti in "La Traviata."

ArthurL.ssnnt.the Opcrnsinger, appeared last w«el: M Iho Wcll_:i;:.o., i'olke UmrtH. the novel yi.'.i. oi v.iic destu ier. He plea.-!,, d guilty to the- char.;:., but stated that ii.c matter hnd been amicably .settled. Tiio plaintiff also raid that s.-ho wished to with draw the information, as defendant had con sented to contribute to her support. Tho Bench granted a remand for eight days, to allow of a settlement being made. Bail was allowed in i'2o, and one surety of £10. It will be remembered that during the Dunning Comic Opera season Lissant married a barmaid who was employed at the Albert. The friends of both partita will regret to learn that matrimonial in felicities have followed so hard upon the heels of the honeymoon.

The body of a young man was found in tlio Varra on September 2,"i(h, and was identified as that of a youth named Smart, who passed under the name of Clark. H a was only 15 years of ago, and committed suicide for love of Emily Melville, the vocalist. He was employed in Mr Heyman son's, Flinders Lane, and was completely stage-struck, ns an extract from one of his letters, which I gave in my last " gossip " clearly showed. He arrived from Tasmania only about 10 months ago. His mother and brothers reside in Melbourne. At the in quest, held on September 26th, a verdict that he drowned himself while ho was of unsound mind was returned. Tho coroner said that Emilie was old enough to be his grandmother.

A concertwhich Mdme.Patti gaverecently in aid of the Swansea Hospital realised over £1,000, and it is said that the prima donna sang "Aye Maria" as it has never been sung before. After the entertainment some of the artistes returned with Mdme. Patti and Signor Nicolini by special train to Craig-y-Nos Castle, a charming house in the heart of tho Welsh mountains, and sur rounded by prettily laid-out grounds. The Edison-Swan electric light illuminates the dining-room, winter garden, drawing.room, and billiard-room, where the guests retire after dinner, some to play billiards, others to chat and listen to the music of an enormous orchestrion, which plays all sorts of operatic selections, and cost la diva £2,000.

Just after the afternoon performance of Bnrnum's Circus in Cortland, at the end of August last, a terrible wind and rain storm began to rage, and without the least warn ing the entire tent was blown over. There being about 10,000 people under the can vas, a panic naturally ensued. The rain fell in torrents, accompanied by vivid lightning. The cries of women and children were fear ful, but the final horror was reached when the animals began to make unearthly noises, nnd a herd of forty elephans commenced to bellow and throw dirt. The attaches wero all drilled, and soon relieved those held down by canvas. It was reported that several people are killed and a large number injured. Mr Hutchinson, of the firm of Barnum, Bailey and Hutchinson, has ordered everything possible to be done to relieve the] injured. The loss to canvas and wardrobes is about £2,400.

Mrs Lewis's Sparks Company opened at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, during the week for a season of fourteen nights, the first six of which will be devoted to comedy and the remainder to pantomime. The troupe includes Mr H. N. Douglas, Mr St. Lawrence, Mrs Lewis, Mrs J. P. Hydes, Misses M. Weir, P. Young, M. Pullen, C. Peachey, Marie Brooks, Alice Brooks, "Little Florrie Russell," Messrs K. D. Haygarth, W. Forbes, H. Hoyte, C. Thomson, and Caisar. Mrs Lewis has tried the novel experiment of commingling adults and juveniles, and it will be interesting to notice whether the different methods har monise. The repertoire consists of " Jane Shore," "Lovo's Sacrifice," "Not True," "Jealous Wife," "Masks and Faces," "Leap Year," "Cobra," aud tho panto mime, "Bluebeard."

" Sarah Bernhardt is going to the dogs," writes Archibald Forbes to tho South Australian "Advertiser." "I don't mean as regards her character; of that tho lady never had any. But she is giving way to a vice that is already making shipwreck of her powers as an actress. This weakness she first began to indulge in during her American tour, where the long journeys, followed immediately by performances, are excessively trying to excitable organisms. It is killing work, an American winter theatrical campaign, and the strain of it sooner or later tells on the strongest Sarah's state was noticed more than once towards the end of her American tour, and in her vicissitudes since she returned she has committed herself several times in differ erent parts of Europe, although the matter has been kept quiet. The other night in ' Ruy Bias' sho was really bad indeed. ' Motionless and inexpressivo was the lan guage in which the kind critic described her. Her indifference was simply the most obvious alcoholic stupefaction ; she could barely articulate ; sho did not dare to move or to gesticulate, but stood at the table like a statue—all but holding on to it, indeed. When, just before the curtain falls, she should have thrown herself passionately on the body of her lover, what sho did was this : She let go of the table and came down on the stage with a placid sort of a drop, and began drivellingly to fumble with her hands about the head of Ruy Bias. It was time the curtain fell on tho travestie of an emotional scene."

A Singular Tribe.

Ik the "Transactions of the Anthropological Society of Washington " some account is given of a tribe called Innvits, who inhabit the coast of Alaska from Cape Newenham nearly to Bristol Bay. The people are of an amphibious nature, and present some striking features in their oconomy which seem to put at defiance all recognised sani tary laws. The houses are built so close to the 3ea that storms and high tides fre quently inundate them, compelling the in habitants to huddle together on the roofs, sometimes for whole days at the time. Thoir usual home, howover, is their skin boat, or "kiak," in the management of which even the very young children are perfect proficients. In fact, the kiak is the peripatetic homo of the tribe, and it is much more useful than an ordinary boat, inas much as when overtaken by a storm the kiak is runashoreand turned over on its side so that the whole family can sleep under it* One peculiarity of the Innvits is that as long £>s the head is sheltered the rest of the body protrudes unclothed from beneath the kiak, and the appearance of a sea beach where 400 or 500 families may be seen with their limbs all radiating from the kiaks but their heads and shoulders invisible is perfectly unique. To inure the body to ex posure of all kinds is the chief education of a young Innvit; and no excuse is allowed on the part of the old peoplo, who are very severe disciplinarians. The use of water externally is unknown, for they never bathe or wash their bodies—the cleansing process, such as it is, being only resorted to occasionally when the men light a hrein the Kashima or council house, and jump about until they are in a profuse perspiration Thoy then apply liquid to their oily skin, and rub it into a lather, after which they take a plunge into the nvor. It is singular, however, that with such dirty habits they keep their weapons and boats scrupulously cleat, although they eat then- food uncooked. What water they do drink is taken by preference from stagnant pools, where the fish are cleaned and offal is thrown in, and when they go to sea, frequently for days at a time, thly never take fresh water with them, but prefer to drink sea water. Dirt and hard ship are common factors in the Hveß of savage races but the fact of systematically drinking salt water with impunity is, re marks a contemporary, an unparalleled

Wealthy Widows.

A journal in Now York has announced the disquieting fact that there are in that city thirty widows who are each of them worth more than a million dollars. Mrs A T ft^Ho 8 tl\ e r licll«t them, but thetare two others, Mrs Commodore Stevens and Mrs Moses Taylor, who are ,___ _ them possessedl of over £1,000,000, while WnrWl? ' ► /"T T l **« Commodore \andcrbdtjust touch that amount. And. S_l in.I,!™™ "*,' u<H ß,,t P«>v°cation or the mpecumous bachelor, (ho journal in question goe:. on to narrate how Mrs James Brown is vorth £000,OCO, and Mis X L Stewart and Mis William Coleman £500,000 each, with widows Dodgo, Green, and Sr by' Cl°fe yon ~heir '-eels' w h _-4u0,000 a-piecu. Finally, tho names of nineteen other widows aro given whose worldly possessions amount in each case New °Y_Sf a £' 20°'0(a The nol t < if «"r VSR? PPr e»deavours to point is that these ladies, havintr found: marriage so far so profiteblo would have no hesitation i„ entering & holy state again. But there the subject is dropped, and thonervons Benedict isTft to his own resources, utterly nprnlVvf^ -1 the abundance of maSl. P6 fes beta J»*» bebwoen Mrs Commodore Stevens nnd Mrs Moses Taylor' ffiZt, T thero of hCs forming any 'sensible nt?" 06 " amid tlie pletliom tL peferC,6 thousand-pounders ? It fa j J \^T^ B jtuation,r.. Echo," ' lndeed- a try,nS

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY^ OCTOBER 18, 1884.

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