RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamhx.]

flome write, a neighbour's name to lash, Somo write—vain thoa ß ht I-f or needful cash, Some write to please tho country clash, And raise a din. Bto ffl *anatalneverfa£- rto

The axiom that "Freedom and whisky gang thegither " would seem to be inter preted by some publicans in a very broad and liberal sense. The more fact that they are licensed to' sell whisky (they prefer to say "empowered by the State to follow a legitimate trade ") they consider gives them the fullest individual liberty and collective independence of law—in fact, makes them "a law unto themselves," and burning and shining exemplars to the whole community. Despite restrictive enactments as to hour of closing, gambling and 3unday soiling, they appear to think their license confers a power to override the statutes. Are they not called into existence for the public con venience? Does not the "public con venience" demand a drink after 11 p.m.., a game at euchre in the private parlour, and a " pick-me-up " on Sunday forenoon ? Of course it does, and that publican would be" false to his obligations who failed to supply the public wants. Ergo, a publican is bound to sell drink at all times and seasons, and allow all sorts of games on his premises, no matter what the law may say to the contrary. Q.E.D. Such really seems to be the argument of the members of the trade.

lii Melbourne, lately, the fact that they consider themselves outside and in dependent of the law was elicited in evidence, a publican declaring in Court tHat ho waa not' going to stop Sunday traffic until overy othor publican in the place did the same thing. It is probably some" similar feeling which actuates our Auckland hotel-keepers, when we find some of tho moet intelligent and respectable members of the trade charged with the flagrant offence of Sunday soiling. Hitherto ",Zamiel" . and others hove been in the habit of charitably supposing that the Sunday Belling was tho work of a few •' black slieop —ono or two illegitimate among the large body of " legitimate traders;" but recent events indicate that publicans repudiate such a view. And Wo the broad nnd Hboral ideas of the class again'assert themselves. Though society is Joth' to admit it, the status of a class or community is no higher than that of its humblest individual members—a truth which "the trade" tacitly admit when they frame their ethics and regulate their con duct by the attitude and example of their law-breaking brethren. ■ . ■ . ' :".V "■ .x . x ' x.. ,V, ,

"The punishment of imprisonment without the option of a fine is suggested by the Mel bourne "Age" for those publicans who pursue their calling on Sundays, and there , really is some reason in the proposal, as the law as in danger of being .brought into con tempt;. At present, publicans labour under no exceptional restraint so far as Sunday trading is concerned. Generally speaking, no person in the community is allowed to pursue his calling on the Day of Best; but publicans ore the only class, who habitually, and in defiance of law, persist in doing so. The Police Offences Bilt which passed the New Zealand Parliament last session, im poses a fino of £10 on "any person " who, on Sunday,- publicly works, trades, or plays at any game or pastime, the excep tions being as follow:—" But nothing here in" contained shall apply to works of neces sity or charity, or the sale of medicines, or the sale or delivery of milk, or to hair dressers-or barbers-before flino o'clock in the forenoon, or to porsdifß^cM^ing any public .or. private carriage of Wfa or to per sona employed in the working of railway trains or tramcara or cable lines, or on steamers, '■ vessels, or ferry-boats." No doubt some.publican of broad and liberal mjncl will be ready to urge that to allay.the thirst of a "drouhycustomer" on Sunday, .who had a drop too much ' on Saturday night, is distinctly a work of "necessity and charity," while• others may maintain that their dispensing of grog comes under the category of "sale of medi cine,','and may claim that they are there fore specifically empowered to traffic on aijrwWa Tf. ja 1i — -i—«™*bu» minded publicans, else there would be such a flood of "freedom and whisky" all over 5 ; the land that liberty would develop into univors.il license. It will be seen that even printers are not excepted from penalties for working on Sundays, and therefore every Monday morning's paper is produced in de fiance of evasion of the law. "The liberty of the press" seems very much restricted „ here, where it is less than that, of milk vendors, cabmen and barbers 1 It could | not, of course, be expected to attain to the fall dignity of tha liberty of the pub ! ' V*; . ■~■.* -, X X Tho "Cannibalism at Sea" case has given ' rise to. not a few curious speculations, and * ;■■• I, for one, .have not yet decided all the

"pros and , cons " raised by the circum gtanees, I consider,, however, that the sen tonoe of six months' imprisonment passed m upon the captain and mate of the Migno nette is, quite sufficient punishment for their , offence. .They had taken life, it is true, but it could fairly be argued that in their case " killing was not murder." The head - and front of their offending was that they ■ bad killed without proper authority, license, . or legal necessity. The soldier is a licensed slaughterer, justas the hangman is. Under -martial law, or the law which prevails on board ship, the commander has the power r •! life and death—in other words, is authorised to kill at discretion. Thus (to take a case not far from being "on ■-~■ all; fours'" (.with, the Mignonette tragedy), Lieut. Greely was adjudged free- from '.•-,' blame, though he ordered the shoot; V o^. ;?.n6j $ his, party who had stolen .provisions ..,and - thereby com mitted - a breach ,of ; discipline which, m threatened the lives of the whole party. 'The substantial facts; are the; same—a | . human being was murdered, and his flesh was eaten in each instance; in the Greely | C»3e it was not, indeed, under the stern pressure of actual starvation, but only as a prudential measure for the preservation of 1 their stores; yet,Greely is commended, and Dudley is' sent to gaol. Had the boy Parker ' stolen the food upon which the party de pended for sustenance,,Captain*.Dudley, I presume, could have exercised his authority, and ordered his legal execution; but drink ing spa water and making himself delirious I did not constitute an offonca, and such are the nice distinctions of the law, the deed of ' the' captain and mate' was declared .-". Brarder>,; ; , , t • ' ; ., '..-...■....

Be it observed that the cannibalism formed no part of the crime charged. Canaibalism ia indeed a perfectly legal , practice in. every country in Christendom. This jb not the least startling reflection suggested by the Mignonette case. But after all the law is consistent in not declar cannibalism, a crime, for it is at. the very basis of our social order, and of natural law itself. Every-infant tea cannibal, and eata its. mother just an truly as the young of the horn-bill devours the | stomach of its parent.. It is but a modified 'form of cannibalism for young people to exist upon the toil of their parents, or for genteel " to be supported by their relations. By the operation of the law of .the survival of the fittest, murder and cannibalism stalk hand in hand through the world, for in the dire struggle for existence the strong feed upon the weak, endulti: mately rob them of life. Through the agency of privilege, position, and land monopoly, titled idleness is daily eating the vitals of the honest toilers of the earth, and drinking their heart's blood. And as ~ an English Court has decided that even the pangs of actual starvation cannot justify a banquet of human flesh, how can anyone defend the perpetual ghoulish feasts of the -idle and luxurious at the cost of the pale and-emaciated artisan? But the whole difference lies in the method, and so long as it is done decently, quietly, and without violence to the letter of the law, wholesale ■laughter may proceed unchecked. We Call ourselves a humane and Christian people, but, we scarcely deserve the title; and so long hb our laws permit such a state Of things, we have not much call to deplore the deeds done on' the ' • cannibal islands.'"

Anent the recent indignation of our City, Fathers over the doubt'east upon their -literary ability and taste, a good story is told. .< Two Councillors were disoussine the' ; subject, one of them being a member of the "Library Committee, and the other not, The. former wished to air his opinion oh books," | ■'- but^the latter declined, for the four follow r ing reasons.:—" In the first place, I am a j : perfect ignoramus on the subject of books ; ;-jn the second place, you don't know half as i;jnuch; about books as,. I" do;'in the third Mjilace^-'if ' you do knoiy anything, about |sooks f you have Jtot ga sense enough to

express yourself intelligibly; and,' in the fourth place, you aro so grossly pig-headed that you cannot see your own ignorance."

The leaders in tho Port Albert holiness meeting no doubt earnest men, 'and In ordinary matteru shrewd and sensible— soem to bo still of the opinion that the ex traordinary manifestations at the recent gathering -were a Pentecostal out-pouring. If the same class of phenomena had occurred among the whirling Dervishes, the Shakers, or in a crowd of devotees before the car of Juggernaut, or even at a circle of modern Spiritualists—and in all the cases named trances and wild hysterical exhibitions are common—Brother Thomas would have had, no doubt, that the Devil was at work, while his moro moderate companions might, using their reasoning faculties undisturbed by prejudice, have named the true cause— excessive nervous excitement. Trance and magnetic (states in men, and hysterics in women, are produced easily enough, under conditions that are well understood and have been scientifically de fined. It is extremely dangerous, however, to tax the mental and nervous organisations by unhealthy exercises. Insanity and suicide are common effects of morbid mental conditions. One of the men who participated in late revival movements gave considerable anxiety to his friends by persistently lying on hia back for three days—first on the floor, and then, finding that position un comfortable, on the sofn ; in a semi rational state, expecting some supernatural manifestation. :It is, perhap, a not altogether reprehensible aspiration to desire spiritual exaltation ; but those who try to simulate it by "holiness" extra vagances, instead of attaining it by the calm consistency of the good life, forget that Christianity is an eminently, reasonable system, and it is a retrogression to pass from the endeavour after a natural and permanent spiritual elevation to a vain search for abnormal excitement in the favourite ;hunting grounds of fraud and imposture. One of the most dangerous attendant results of the state described as having been produced at Port Albert is that it involves an abandon ment of control over the natural passions; hence ths charge so commonly made in America, and supported by substantial evidence, that camp revival meetings add considerably to the population of tho country by methods neither supernatural nor approved by Christian ethics, although eminently human.

I hear that the wife for tho Maori appli cant in the Whangaroi district was shippod by T. B. Hnnnaford, por b.b. Macgregor, on Tuesday. She is a presentable young woman of about 26 years, who has been in domestic service at 15s a week, out of which she had put away a tidy little Bum in the Auckland Savings Bank. Five other un successful applicants declare their readi ness to accept alliances with any native chief who is in search of a fair spouse. The matrimonial market must surely be dopreesed when girls who can earn a good livelihood are eager to make such pre carious experiments in the pursuit of wedded bliss.

x xx The days are happily, past when gaiety was considered incompatible with religion ; but the clergy still find it necessary, it would seem, to apologise for the Church giving countenance to popular amusements. Tho Anglican body is freer than most others from the narrow Puritanic view ; but even Bishop Neville, of Dunedin, has felt con strained to undertake the justification of holding an All Nations Fair there for be hoof of tho church funds, and has done so in a letter to the " Star." Jf It is evidently suspected," he says, "by the sincere, and insinuated by the censorious, that there is something in such undertakings which is inconsistent with Christian life. I cannot within the space of a letter discuss the wide questions which grow out of this, and must content myself with saying generally that while everyone allows that amusement and displays have their,attendant dangers, yet not every display is. to be regarded as a pomp, nor every amusement a vanity. The cay attire was not donned from love of dress; the performances were innocent ex hibitions of special abilities for a worthy purpose." After disposing of the question, Would St. Paul have been present at such a scene? the Bishop goes on thus:—"To sum up, then, I hope we shall always re member that our Christianity is to affect our whole true human nature, ennobling and purifying it all; and from this point of view I have always felt that the clergy do iwelLta_hn<ir-1 **-"»™*A'1'v*rf^udßTilor its ex uberant vitality, and thus they do woll, not ill, to devise or countenance those recre ations which provide this harmlessly,"

The last-quoted sentence offers the beet excuse yet put forward for church bazaars and fancy fairs, and shows that "J. N. Dunedin " is rapidly coming to see things in the same light as the London clergymen who started singing and dancing rooms as auxiliaries to Christian work. The bishop is just a trifle Jesuitical when he pleads the worthy purpose as excusing the pomp and vanity of the affair. This is the only approach he makes to the question of how far it is legitimate to raise church funds by such means-; but he might very well have argued that the means, being innocent and legitimate, require no justification. The ease is altogether different when swindling, gambling, and other objectionable practices are carried on at bazaars, for then the end not only does not justify the means, but the means disgrace the Chinch. Credit.may justly be claimed by the press for having pretty well purged the Church of the abominations of gambling and extortion formerly practised at bazaars, and which at one time threatened to convert the whole of the churches into gigantic dens of thieves. The press accomplished this work of clear ing the Temple, not by means of a literal whip and scourge, but by the weapons of satire and humour. -

While' Bishop Neville has thus shown himßelf to have liberalised views of Chris-. tian duty, he. in common with other Anglicans, has still most exaggerated and erroneous'notions of clerical and social status.' I have not forgotten the Bishop's absurd attitude towards a clergyman of his diocese who proposed to abandon the Church for the Law j but his exhibition of pettiness on that occasion was dignified and noble when contrasted with the conduct of the rector of South Witbam, Lincoln shire. That worthy gentleman and humble Christian lately addressed the following letter to the master of the village school :— ■ ; South Witham Rectory, Sept. 1,1881. All the villagers desirous of coming to my house approach it in a becoming and respectful manner—ie, through the back way and to the kitchen door. There is nob la fanner in the place who ever has had, or would have, the im pertinence to do otherwise. I desire that in future you will do the like. (Signed) Bi W. Li TOIitaUCHB-ToUiBMACHE. This is a perfect masterpiece of haughty im pertinence, and quite worthy of the sonofthe great uncle of theßarlof DySart,asMr Ralph William Lyonel Tollemache-Tollemache is reputed to bo. The Earl aforesaid was a disgrace to the peerage, and I have no hesitation in saying that his descendant with a duplicate surname is a disgrace to "the cloth." How such a person.dares to make the horrible pretence.that he is even a follower, much less a representative, of Hun, the meek and mild, who washed the feet of'his apostles, passes my understand ing. That he should insult the honest people who maintain him, and tyrannise ov&r them with all the pride of a pampered priesthood, is a sad result of the State endowment of religion, which is fortunately impossible in this part of the worid. Many of our colonial clergy are men whose boots, this scurvy Tollemache-Tollemache is un .worthy to polish, yet here the poorest parishioner may "stand erect in self respect," and enter in even at the Bishop's front door, sure of a kindly reception and patient hearing.

Commendable is the activity of the Sanitary Inspector and .his company of three in taking steps to, prevent disease-in this opening summer woathor, in spite of the,frequent,murmuri of those who have to pay for their own or somebody's dilatori ness in not keeping their premises clean, A defendant a few days ago made a some what reasonable plea in mitigation of his fine, "Did' not he write to the Inspector,. and , did not the Inspector come?" Instead of a letter of thanks, however, for his exemplary conduct, the sternly-dutiful man sent him a summons to appear, before the Bench to answer, as he said,- for " other people's sins.'.' The Bench considered that a nominal fine would serve as a warning, and meet the ends of justice. The poor man heard, with a smile of satis 'action, the sound of the Mayor's voico, and pulled out half-a-sovereign for the pur pose of squaring the matter. "What are the costs?" said "counsel, with eager eyes. "£4 10s,. including, the fine," was the astounding reply I, Defendant opened his eyes, apparently in a frenzy, literally gasped for breath, and I have: been credibly informedthat he his watch in order. to sustain his character as an honest fellow.

Despite personal surprises and lawyers' fees, those who writo and thoae who act in the interests of.the public have duties to pet form in their kindred capacities. " Zamiol" might give a seasonable hint or two now lamb ond green peas and gooseberry pies are temptingly spread before yearning eyes. Perhaps now a timely word may be softly said in support of the precautions which local authorities are exhorting citizens to take, on the axiom, " Preventien better than cure." " Zamiel" would advise persons to live tomperately and rogularly upon those articles of food which they are accustomed to use, and which they know by experience will asree with them. Fish, fruit, and vegetables may bo taken liberally if sound and free from taint. Among children, according to medical authority, sour milk is ono of tho greatest sources of disease; whilst one of the surest sources of health is fresh air, plenty of physical exercise, and, above all, care should be taken to secure pure filtered water for drinking purposes. The con dition of the mind, no doubt, has much to do with the health of the body; hence, persons who' would be healthy should cultivate a cheerful spirit, perform their ablutions regularly, and be careful about their diet and sanitary surroundings avoiding as much as possible overwork and worry, bearing in mind the old poet's lines:—

Joy and temperance and roposo Slam tho door on the doetor'B noso,

XXX Such purely formal application^ as those which are regularly made in camera^ before Mr Justice Gillies for probate of wills and letters of administration must bo tho abomination of the news>hunting scribes of the press. Compared with the luscious sensation which one may encounter almost any day in the purlieus of tho Police Station, or with the gory horror which occasionally finds a habitation in the Morgue, they are as dry as Dead Sea fruit, and as devoid of interest as the ordinary publican is of Scottish Sabbatarianism. Yet this general isation may at rare intervals be found at fault. It would, for instance, have stood in need of qualification on Wednesday last, when circumstances connected with at loast three such applications which came before His Honor produced a mild nutter of surprise and a suppressed titter of merriment in the legal circle. The first case was that of a bachelor who had died intestate. An affidavit which wan put in solemnly assured tbo learned judge that the deceased had "died a bachelor and without parents." His Honor remarked, with a twinkle in his eye, that this strange celebato must have been liko Molchisidec— without father or mother ; but the moro proemc solicitor who hart tho matter in hand gravely surmised that there must be some error. Very probably, the omission of the word " living, for instance,

The executors of an eccentric old identity, named Johann Ludolph Subritzky, whose name is familiar about Mahurangi, applied with a perfunctoriness which, under the circumstances, does oredit to their kind ness of heart, for probate of a singular codicil to the will, said codicil declaring that "should my daughter Henrietta so far forget herself as to marry with George Tuck, she shall be cut off, and her share divided among," etc., etc. They had previously obtained probate of the will, and now that the codicil was reluctantly produced, the Judge similarly leant to pity's 'side and refused the application as being unnecessary. Hence Henrietta may wed as she lists without fear of worldly loss by operation of the dead hand.

Another oddity in this collection of testa mentary literature was the will of John Clas son Courtney, an Epsom farmer, who re cently " shuffled off this mortal coil." After tersely defining the division of goods and chattels, the will concluded with the follow ing rather confused homily :—" My door children, —I trust that you will very hap pily transact this little business [Not a bad effort of grim bucolic humour], and my fondest desire for you, who are children of God, is that you would more and more believe and feel the tenderness of a father's and a brother's love to you, that your joy therein may deliver and keep you from conformity to this present evil world. And if one or another still has not peaco and joy through Christ xifiod and risen, &c, my dear dear child, God has linked eternal life with the sinner's look at Jesus, just as He linked inferior life to a look to the "™"a" ~X X x

I wonder if the advertising seekers of haunted houses have yet started work. It may interest them to learn that some amateur investigations in this same de partment of the occult have turned out re cently in a manner which was not at all contemplated. Down at the Groat Barrier uncanny noises were heard from time to time in a dilapidated wood shed, and at last the settlers determined to havo a great spiritualistic corroborree for the purpose of plucking the heart out 01! the mystery. They met, fall of large expectations, ex hausted a wonderful stock of patience, in trying to render intelligible the noises which they heard, and at last dispersed with the disappointed knowledge that the conditions had not been favourable. In the morning it was discovered that all the ghostly trouble had 'its origin in a nest 'of young penguins, which was secreted in the shed. Coming nearer home, the wits of a few weak-minded people in the St. Helier's Bay region have been nearly paralysed by unaccountable noises, which some strong-minded person at last managed to trace to a fugitive rabbit.

There are, however, numerous apparently well-authenticated stories of haunted houses in and' about the city, so that the psycho logical ghost-hunters should have no lack of engagements on hand if they moan busi ness. Common report used to assign a regular visitant from the world of shadows to a. house in a lane off Lorno-street, and a residence in Wellington-street is accredited with a similar encumbrance, which, to the landlord's mortification does, not appear to enhance , its . letting value. More than this, a well-known limb of the law is prepared to take his affidavit that he saw two apparitions by his bedside one night in Coburg-street, and he had not any oysters upon his stomach either. The event happened about seven yeara ago, and a circumstantial statement of it appeared at the time in the "Herald/ But why pursue the theme further t Such stories are as thick as big gooseberries or pumpkins in season, and I shall be astonished if the local explorers of spiritualistic phenomena do not metaphori cally have their hands full of haunted houses before long.

Tobacco Smoke.

Zowssky has recently published, in a Polish medical paper, the result of a large series of

expetfments on men and animals, made for

the purpose of ascertaining the physiological action' of tobacco smoke on animals. Ho

has found that the smoke is a powerful poison, even in very small quantities. In the case of man, tobacco smoke, when not inhaled too freely, is only deleterious to a

limited extent.. Zulinsky declares that .the poisonous character of the smoke is not entirely due to the nicotine which it contains. Tobacco smoke rendered free from nicotine remains poisonous, though not to so great a degree as before. The second poisonous principle is an alkaloid, colidin. Carbonic oxide, hydrocyanic acid, and other noxious principles are also contained in tobacco smoke. . The bad effects of excessive smoking depend very much both on the kind of tobacco consumed, and on the man ner of consuming.it. In cigar-smoking, the greatest amount of poison is inhaled, in cigarettes much less, in pipes still less, while those who indulge in the nargileh or any similar luxury where the smoke is drawn through water take tobacco in its

least mischievous form. Such are Zulinsky's conclusions. There can belittle doubt that many of the light-coloured tobaccos have been partially bleached in order to give them that pale tint which moderate smokers believe to be an infallible indication of mildness. The decolourising agent is suspected to be, in many cases, a deleterious chemical compound. Some of the light tobaccos smoke exceedingly hot, owing to the quantity of woody fibre which they csntain. This is especially the case with -"bird's-eye," which is cut near the stalk of the leaf, the slices of the midrib, thick in this part of the leaf, giving this variety of tobacco the characteristic ap pearance whence it derives its name. "Bird's-eye " is very apt to cause slight in lammation of the tongue, on account of the irritant character and' heat of its smoke; and, together with other light tobaccos, must act very prejudicially in elderly smokers, who may be prone to can cer of the tongue or lip. Dark tobaccos are readily adulterated; but when pure they are probably the most wholesome for pipe-smoking.—" British Medical Journal."

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

Now Zealand.

Auokland Summer Meeting.. Deo. 26, Jan. 1 and 2 Thames J.C. Summer Decembor 20 and 27 Hawke's Bay J.C Summor Deo. 26 Canterbury J.C. 5umm0r.......\.......... Jan., 1 Northern J.C. Summor Meeting... .Jan. 9 and 10 Takapuna J.C. Summer .Jan.Hl Wellington J.C. Summer Feb. i, 6. and 7 Wellington R.C. Summor .......... Feb. 6 and 7 Dunedin J.C. Autumn ...' Feb. 26,27, and 28 Wanganui J.C. Autumn March 5 and 0 Hawse's Bay J.C. Autumn .. ..March 17 and 10

Dates of Nominations, Entries and Accep tances.

Acceptances for Dunedln Cup Deo. 27 Nominations Onehunga Cup and Hurdles D0e.27 Nominations Takapuna J.C. Summor Mooting Doc. 29

To Correspondents.

W.H.—Alaric did not Btart last soason. L. V.—Turquoise was gpt by Tubal Cain from Topaz. Xmas.—The Takapuna Jockey Club are in quiring into tho matter. New Hat.—Wattio has riddon threo Auokland Dorby winners. 11. Ray was on Danebury , when be won in 1877. Jack.—Linwood, who is engaged in tho Auck land Steeplechase, started eight times last season, ana won two racos, viz., the Maiden Hurdles at Heathcoto (Canterbury) Summor, and Hurdle Raco at tho Poninsula Meeting. T. Hilt. (Ponsonby).—There vcro two Strops, one belonging to New Zealand and tho other to Tasmania.. Tho New Zealand Strop dropped dead aftor running in a race on the Rand wick course but Tasmanian Strop is still enjoying his easo on the Enllold estato of Mr AVilliam Field.

X.Y.Z.—(I) They wore published in tho " Aus tralasian" of June last. Sond to the ofßco in Melbourne. (2) "'Centaur's Indox" is pub lished in tho spring and autumn. The prioo ia la per copy, and they can be obtained from H. P. Hurron, printer, Melbourne. (3) Thore is no sporting pamphlet published in New Zealand, but you can obtain the "N. Z. Turf Record" from Mossrs Upton and Co., booksollerß, or at tho publishers, Dunedia. Tho price is 6s 6d. (4) Melbourne Cup nominations are reoeived on the Ist of June.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The acceptances for the Christchurch Mid summer Handicap, which is run on New Year's Day, caino to hand in tho oarly part of the week. Out of tho good number who woro nominated, tho race has dwindled down to oight, tho following boing tho names and imposts of those who have cried content:—Tiisman, 9st 71b; Vanguard, Oat 61b ; Taiaroa, 7st 121b ; Iko, 7sfc 41b ; Tim Whilller, 7st; Lady Evelyn, 6st 121b; Wapiti, 6st 71b ; Leodogran, fist. To thoroughly tost the Musket—Slan dor colt, his owner is vory ambitious of having a cut at Welcame Jack at woight-for-ago, and if all goea well, it is proposed that the two-year-old shall meet the champion in tho Railway Plate on the first day of our Summer Meeting. This event is run over a threo-quartor mile course Auckland Gup betting, etc., will bo found in another part of this issuo. The New Zealand Stud Company havo made arrangements with Me T. S. Clib born to hold their second annual sale in Sydney on tho 28th of January next. Seven yearlings will be submitted, comprising the colt by An teros—Sylvia, and five colts by Musket out of Onyx, Rosette, Atlantis, Realisation and Titania. A filly by Musket —L'Orient will also bo sent over, and ar rangements have been made to ship the youngßters by the e.s. Te Anau, which leaves for Sydney on the 13th of January. Local " sports " will be glad to hear that at a meeting of tho Taranaki Jockey Club last week it was agrood to remove the dis qualification from Mr B. Coyle. It is agreed on all hands that Coyle has boon a much ill-used man in the matter, ho having been made to suffer for the sins of others. Horso-owners should boar in mind that the Bweep of 13sovs. for the Auckland Cup is due at tho post. Chaudler and Dressmaker wero taken to tho Thames this week for the purpose of taking part in tho Thames meeting, which takes place on Friday and Saturday next. The pair were in charge of J. Rae. "Grand Flanour" intends drawing his consultation on the Auckland Cup on or about Tuesday next. The full complement of subscribers have nearly been received, and, as usual, it will bo drawn in the presence of a committee and tho press. " Grand Flaneur" has forwarded me an in vitation to bo present. _Djir...WJ«flffaSf h AWttteoaHg 'Vtiarrto'a success. This year they offer over£4oo to be run for, the two chief events being for £100 and £85. The Club own ono of the finest country courses in the colony, which together with grand stand,, cost £3,000. The railway runs on. to the course. Last January races were an immense success, and the Auckland visitors said they had never attended a better country race meeting. Whangarei is only seven hours' steam from Auckland. At the fettling over the Takapuna Spring Meotinij, Mr Robiirtson's two-year old colt by Muiikot out of Slander came into some notice ior the next Melbourne Cup, being backed to win about £8000, the taker getting it at 1000's to 3, 4, and 5. Mr Robertson took a couple of thousand of the amount, Mr J. Marshall's Thunder bolt was also backed to win £2000, and 1000 to 5 each was written against the Auckland-bred colt Nordenfeldt, Oudeis, and Welcome Jack. At Tattersall's Club on Wednesday night Bob Ray took 1,000 to 40 about Ike for the Dunedin Cup. Lady Emma was aleo supported to win 400 at 100's to 10; and 1,000 to 30 was taken about Clogs. Mr Sydney James, the Secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club, has forwarded me a printed card giving the official weights for the principal events at their big meeting in February next. I may mention that the first sweep of ssove. for the Cup is due on Saturday next, as well as acceptances for the Hurdle Race, Publicans' Handicap, and Stewards' Purse.

Mr P. Butler's two-year-old colt The Shah, by St. George—Red Rose, has been added to the list.

Out of the 47 brood mares owned by tho New Zealand Stud Company, 31 have been served by Musket this season, 10 by Lea linus, and five by Cap-a-pie. Lurlino, full sister to Lure, has been served by Anteros and Musket, while Mata's dam Raupo is amongst those who have visited Cap-a-pie's harem.

St. Leger has again been thrown out of training, and will now be relegated to stud duties.

The Taranaki Jockey Club have decided upon the following programme for their Autumn Meeting :—First Day: Maiden Plate, £50; Steeplechase, £60; T.J.C. Handicap, £250; Welcome Stakeß, £30; Novel Race, £25; Flying Handicap, £75. Second Day: Derby, £100; Handicap Hurdles, £50; Hack Hurdles, £30; Autumn Handicap, £125; Nursery Handi cap, £40; District Handicap, £50; Con solution Handicap, £30.

On the appearance of the weights for the Dunedln Cup (writes " Mazeppa,"), Lady- Emma was immediately installed first favourite; but the continual inquiries for Vanguard have had the effect of forcing him up in the market during the past few days, and he is now as good a favourite, if not firmer, than the mare. July is also nominally on a par with these two, though he is not so much asked after as either. Lady Emma has been backed at 100 to 10; Vanguard at 100 to 8 fo* pretty heavy sums ; and Fusilier has been supported in Christchurch for £1,000 or more at 100 to 5 and' 100 to 6. Other wagers that I have heard of are—Mokoia, at 100 to 3; Ada mant, 100 to 3; Necklace and Welcome Jack, each 100 to 5.

In the last issue of the "Australasian " to hand, a Sydney correspondent thus speaks of the Auckland-bred youngsters owned by the Hon. J. White:—Matchlock, a son of Musket and Yatterina, and resembling Tremando somewhat in confor mation and stylo, is doing steady work. The other Musket colt from Onyx is only just broken, and has not made his debut on a metropolitan course yet. The Hon. Jas. White has an idea that the Musket progeny are better served with time, consequently these youngsters have not received an early tuition. After the lengthy controversies which appeared in tho columns of " The Australasian" in ro early two-year-old racing, tho career of these youngstora should be watched with interest.

Mr T. O'Brien, of the well-known Aus tralian firm of Messrs Miller, Jones, and O'Brien, intends to take a trip to New Zea land for the good of his health. It is said £10,000 has been offered and refused for a colt by Sterling from Casuistry, a candidate for the next English Derby. Perhaps after the.race as many shillings would buy him.

"Martini" relates an incident which occurred at the recent Wellington races, and is forcibly indicative of the .slips between cup and lip. A Wellington gentleman went to the totalisator to put a pound on Potaka in the Hack Kace. Potaka's number was 7, and Dan O'Connell's 8, and the indignation of the the investor when he found that a number 8 instead of a number 7 ticket had been

given him was only equalled by his delight when Dan OConnell won the race. Of nis feelings when the Irishman was disqualified and a big dividend paid on Potaka, this deponent sayeth not. A peculiar sporting case was decided at Poxton recently. The Foxton Racing Club brought an action against S. M. Baker to recover the Bum of £1 Is, amount of sub scription fee for the season of 1884-1885. The defendant had acted as a steward and member of the Club during last year, and this year had sat on the Committee and voted on questions affecting tho financial administration of the Club, and had remained a member live weeks after tho subscription was due by the rules of^he Club. After tho subscription was payable defendant sent in his resignation as a member of the Club, owing to a private difference with a member of the Committee, and on being asked to pay the subscription declined to do bo. Tho stewards considered they were appointed to guard the interests of tho Club, and had therefore brought the present action. His Worship, in giving Judgment, said the case was a moat unusual and extraordinary one. He had never mot a case of tho kind before, nor had his attention been drawn to a similar one. Personally, on several grounds, he would nrefer not to havo to deal with the matter. But, viowing tho matter from a strictly legal standpoint, hovvevor much defendant might in honour be bound to pay his subscription, he could not be legally made to pay it. Tho partnership was a m»st peculiar one. It was not of an ordinary character, and yet the members wore banded together for a certain fixed purpose. He failed to see that a legal consideration had been shown, although defendant was in honour liablo for tho sum, and he could quite understand why members of racing clubs had to resort to tho posting of a member. Still, honestly, as a matter of law, he must hold defendant was not legally liable, and a nonsuit would be given. Darebin's half brothor, Prometheus, who was so highly, thought of when being pro pared for tho Melbourne Cup, two seasons ago, is to be put into work again. Captein Haimes, of Melbourne, has achieved tho object ho had in view when ho gave £2,000 for Rapidity andDugenio, for last month tbo latter had a colt foal to tho former. This little stranger is there fore full brother to Archie.

Tho English stallion Wild Oats is doad. Ho was purchased at tho break-up of tho Cobhara Stud in 1881 for 2,000 guineas.

Seeing and Hearing Under the Sea.

" Can you soo under water ?" "Very soldom, I remombor years ago going down to havo a look at the wreck of the Forfarshiro—the vossel Grace Darling and her father pulled to, not far from tho windward of the island, as tho story says, but from tho loe side, whero tho cobble lay ready, and whero tho wator was smooth. I divod just out of curiosity, and saw tho old hooker plain enough. Oil' that samo coast I've been down in water so bright that l'vo stood among weeds as tall as this room, a beautiful gardon of them, and watched 'em with dolight, almost to forgetting the job I was down there for, and I saw all kinds of fish swimming about and appearing quito close through tho glass in my holmet, though if I put out my hand to them I found them to bo fathoms away." " But as a rulo you can't Bee ?" " No more than if I was looking through a London fog. And then take a ship. Suppose you wero to come iDto this room at night without a light—you couldn't see. So it is with a ship s hold and cabin under water. . It's pitch dark. A man can only grope." "It must be dangerous work moving about among cargo under such circum stances."

" Why, not when your used to it. A bit of a sea above is often inconvonient, by making tho vossol on tho surface roll and tauten the tacklo for heaving up tho cargo, and so running up a mass of dead weight on a sudden before you're roady, and thon lotting it come down crash again. A ground swell—l mean the swell at bottom —is also troublesome, for it'll swing a man to and fro a distanco of seven foot and moro. But this is only on dock. It's quiot enough in the hold."

" Suppbso such a swell should dash a diver against anything?" "It wouldn't hurtliim, sir. Tho dress makes him so light. I havo fallen through for the depth of it, and havo gone vory softly, and havo como up attain just as quiotly." " Can you converse undor wator ?"

" Yos ; but very fow know how it's done. If you wero to stand up faco to face with another man,each might burst himself with yelling without producing tho faintest sound. Now, how do you think you can hoar ?"

"I cannot imagine." "By lying down. You and your mate must lie down on your breasts—it must be on your breasts—head to head or side by side, close, and in that position you'll hear one another as easily as you and I can hear each othor in this room."

" I suppose the sound is conveyed by tho deck or sand, or whatever you Ho upon ?" " Possib'.y, I only know it's truo. When I found this out I spoke to another diver about it, and ho would not believo me. Well, ono day wo happened to go down to a wreck togethor. 1 told him beforehand what position to put himself in, and after we had been to work some timo we came togethor and laid down as agreed, and I said, 'Jim, are there many moro casks left in tho forehold?' 'Heaps,' he answered right off. ' And so you can hoar mo ?' said I. 'Aye,' he answered, 'wonderfully plain,' and with that ho laughed, and so aid I, and we both heard each other's laugh just we heard each oflier's words."

" How deep down were you at tho timo?" "In about eleven fathoms."—" London Telegraph."

Dudes' Goggles.

Tub Eye-Glasses that Abe Now

Affected by Fops.

In the show window of an optician's store on Twelfth-street, above Chestnut, is the sign neatly painted on a placard : o o ! • dudes' glasses, j o o "Do people use coloured eye-glasses?" " Oh, yes ; I expect the brown glass to be very fashionable this winter," "Why}" " Because a young nobleman of the Lord Rosso party has just set the stylo for the society dudes of Philadelphia by wearing a brown eye-glass in public. The presence of several noble Englishmen, who nearly all wear the singlo eye-glass, has created quite a brisk demand for them."

A tray containing several piles of differ ent coloured glasses were placed in front of the sign. " I would like to see 6ome dudes' glasses," said a reporter to a clerk in the store.

The tray was brought from the window. " What colour do you wish ?" said the salesman in a matter-ot-fact manner, "brown," or here is a very nice light-blue that is becoming very popular." "Is there any pretence at havine them adjusted to the sight V "Hardly any. It seems to be simply a question of taste or preference." " But calling them dudes' glasses " "Now, you may think some persons would be offended at the wording of that sign, but they never appoar to T>e; they come in boldly and ask for dudes' glasses without a falter. That is why I placed that placard in the window. But dudes are not my only customers. A great many persons who would be very much offended were the^term ' dude' applied to them are beginning to use these glasses, under the impression that it gives them a more dis tinguished appearance." " Do women wear them?"

. " Ladies will wear the singlo oyc-glnss vory extensively this winter. It was only yesterday that I sent my assistant with a tray of glasses to a iashioimblo residence on South Eighteenth -street. Three of the young ladies there purchased glasses. Ido not know whether they intend wearing them in public or on the street, yet you may see the glass dangling over the corsage of very many fashionable women." " Does the glass ever injure the eye ?" "It certainly does. In some cases I have noticed by producing an inequality of vision."

" When will the rage stop '!" " When the dude goes out of fashion." 1 Philadelphia Times."

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

<BY ACTION.)

CRICKET FIXTURES.

December 20-Auokland 2nd v. Warohouso men, West End v. Our Boys, Auokland v. United (continued!, Alpha v. Gordon 2nd, Gordon v. Otahubu (Domain), Newton v. West End.

December 27-Nowton v. Alpha, Gordon v. Otahuhu (Domain), I. Zingari Club Match, Auckland v. Our Boys; United Warehousemen v. Avondale. »

January 3-Auckland v. Our Boys (con tinued), Alpha v. Gordon, I. Zingari v. United 2nd; Newton v. Parncll. January 10-Unitcd v. West End, Gordon v. Alpha. I. Zingari v. Avondale, Ajckhind v. Otahuhu (Domain), Our Boys v. Parnell (15). January 17-Auckland v. Otahuhu (continued in Domain). United V. West End (continued), Alpha v. West End 2nd, I. Zingari v. Alpha 2nd, United v. Weßt End, Newton v. Avondale. Shaw's English Eleven. December 23, 2t, v. Sandhurst. December 26, 27, V. Ballarat. tall January 1, 2- 3, 5, v. Combinod Australian Eleven, at Melbourne. January ».10, v. Wollongong. January 12.13, v. Candelo district. January 16 to 22, v. Narrabri and the North. January, 23, 21,26,27, v. Now South Wales, at Sydney.

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

December 20, Nelson Regatta January I—.byttelton Regatta. January 2—Hearn v. Harrington, at Rlvorton, for £200 and Championship of New Zealand, January 2, Bluff Annual Regatta January 22, Wellington Annual Regatta January 29—Auckland Annual Regatta. February 7-Hanlan v. Clifford, £500 a-slde. February 28-Clifford v. Beach, £500 a-sido March 28-Hanlan v. Beach, £500 a-aido and championship of tho world, on tho Paramatta lliApf'il 18-Cliflbrd v. Hanlan (if the formor Is victorious in his match with Beach). . Clifford v. Teemor, £500 a-side.

CYCLING FIXTURES.

Auckland Bicycle Club Runs. Saturday, December 20—Tho caves, Throo K Saturday, December 27-Northcoto, Tho Lako, and North Shore; 315 boat.

To Correspondents.

Kamo.—Hlß average is 80.

The Wellington Regatta Club appears to bo in a bad way. Wcvoral meetings were called for the purpose of winding up the concern, but they all lapsed for want of quorums.

The latest oatitnato concerning cyclers an nounces that thoro are 300,000 cyclists in England alono, and tho capital inyostod in tho manufaoturo of machines is about £3,000,000, employing botwoon 0,000 and 10,000 mon,

Arthur Hancock, the colobrated English walker, has arrived in Canterbury. He visits the colony for tho purpose of mooting Scott to a trial of skill which will take place in January. He will also give ex hibitions in tho principal towns.

A privato letter vocoivod from Welling ton stato3 thatTaylor.tho boatbuildor thoro, has in course of construction two racing whaleboats. Oho is for tho Potono Naval Brigado and tho. othor for Wellington. Both boats aro oxpoctcd to tako part in tho Auckland Regatta.

William Hcarn, accompanied by Burns, who is looking aftor the champion, arrived in Christehurch on Tuesday, the 9th inst. Hearn is said to bo well, and appears to bo in good condition for his coming raco with Harrington at Rivcrton on Jan. 2nd.

Herbert Slado, the Auckland pugilist, ha» boon matched to fight J. Brady—contestants to wear glovos—Tor £20 aside and the heavy-weight championship of the Pacific Coast. Slatlo is to bo handled by H. Soymour, of Australia. Slade also challenges any man in America, Sullivan exceptod, with fists or gloves, for a stake of £200 or £500 a-aido.

W. G. Georgo had another chance of wiping out tho Deorfoot record of 11 milo? 970 yards in ono hour at London on October 20th. He accomplished nine miles in 48min8. 2-sths sees., and then jotired. George was to sail for Australia early this month, and should ho decide not to permanently settle there, will return home via San Francisco and Now York, thus making a comploto tour of the world.

At Boston, on Soptombcr 29th, Tcomer and Wallace Ross rowed for 2,000d015. Tho stakos at issuo wcro 2,000d015., for which tho contestants wcro compelled to traverse a course li milo long four times, a total distance of 5 miles, Koss being given a Btart of Bsocs. There wero odds oU'erod of SOd.ils. i.a.2odpls- in favour of jioiiiflor. .Koss Ted tor threoquartors of a milo, uftor which Teenier put on a torriliic burst of speed thatactually jumped his boat over tho lino from throo to cix foot ahead. Tho oflicial timo was 35min.

Thoro will bo two intercolonial bowling contests this season in Molbourno. The Now South Wales team has timed its visit for tho latter part of March, and the Now Zealand team will arrivo about tho same timo. Tho three colonies—Now South Wales, Now Zealand, and Victoria —will compete for tho Fedoration Cup presented by Mr Mark Mosß. Tho contests are looked forward to by tho bowling world with tho greatest interest. Twenty repre sentative men from each of the colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand are ready to tako up tho gauntlet for their own parts. Clifford expresses the utmoat confidence in his own powers. He thinks that Beach will require more "wiping out" than Hanlan. Ho considers that ho has a re markably good show against Hanlan. as Beach had so much the best of tho last match, Ho has covered the champion course under 20 minutes on an averago tide, and can do so again. Ho will leave hero on Tuesday, and will at onco go to his old quarters at Itydo, when ho will bo under tho charge of Foam. At present ho weighs about last. 71b., but ho will como down to 12st, 101b. for the raco.—"SydneyMorning Horald."

Tho all-comera' race in connection with tho recent .tfahnain regatta was ro-rowod on Saturday last, December Cth, when Pearce made an easy win, Messenger second, and Mattorson third. Matterson must be stale after going through such an amount of training, and if be has any idea of carrying out tho rather premature prophecies mado by the sporting press witn respect to hie future career in a shell, wo would adviso him to take a lengthened period of rest. Not that we think his scale ness had anything to do with the result on Saturday last, for, leaving the rough water out of the question, there cannot be much doubt he is not yet up to Pearce's calibre, given tho Double Bay man is in anything like condition.— " Bulletin."

Tom Clifford, of Ulawarra, who has several matches in prospect with tdwardHanlan and William Beach, champion sculler of the world, arrived in Sydney on Tuesday last, He is looking and feeling exceedingly well (says the "S. M. Herald,") and notwith standing frequent rows on the Ulawarra Lake, which ho has been able to take in tho wny of recreation after his daily labour oil his farm, ie still considprably over his row ing weight. Now he U down here, Clifford will remain in Sydney for a few days, the guest of one of his most ardent admirers and supporters, after which "spell" he, with Georgo Feurn, will take up his quarters at Jordan's, where he will remain in train ing for his first match, which is against Edward Hanlan, and takes piace on 7th February next.

Jacob Gaudaur, who has won several im portant sculling matches recently, is the champion sculler of the Mississippi Valley. He was born at Orilla, Ont., in 1556, stands 6ft. lin. in heiejht, and weighs about 1801b. On July 4th, at the city of Boston Regatta, on the Charles Kiver, he won first prize in the three mile single-scull race in 21miu. SOsec, defeating McKay (second) and McMorey (third). The same day he made a most remarkable performance in also winning the three-mile singlo working boat race against frosh competitors in 22mins. 20secs., Sylore Gookin second in 22mins. 42socs. At Lake Connecticut on July 15th, Gaudaur rowed seocmd to John Teemer, and pushed that sculler to show bettor time than he had previously made in a public race. In Soptombcr last ho de feated Hosmor eaailv.

A Sensation in a Theatre.

Your correspondent at Valencia, Spain, sends a report of a terribly sensational occurrence at the Princess Theatre, in that city, last Tuesday night. Miss Leona Dare, the American acrobat, was suspended from the roof of the theatre by her foot, and held in her teeth the ropes of a trapeze bar, on which a male acrobat,, known as M.Jjjeorge, was performing. During the act Miss Dare was sezied with a nervous lit and dropped the trapeze. Oeorgo and the apparatus dropped, whirling to the floor. The audience was horror-stricken. I Every one rushed for the doors, and a panic ensued, in which many people wcro crushed and otherwise injured. Miss Dare clung to the roof, screaming hysterically. She was rescued with difficulty after the excite ment had somewhat subsided, and is now confined to her bed from exhaustion fol lowing the shock. M, George is dviDg.

THE GARDEN.

[Br Hortus.]

Calendar of Operations, December 20.

f HOKTUS is willing to answer any Queries. Cor respondents must give their full names ana addresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Difficulties of Gardeners' Labour in N.Z. (New Uhum.)—l Boarcely know where to begin and end In this question. First, the gardener horo has to take in hand soils, unlaboured, unmanured, untronohed, undrained: soilß whoso component ports and capabilities are littloknown. GardcncraatHomehave, inmost places, to deal with soils that have been heavily manured, trenched sometimes to a depth of threo feet, and alsb woll drained. In nearly overy place of noteftt Home, Whenever a work is determined on, the moanß (low freely, so as to obtain tho onds in view. Whoroaa hero, though some of the gcntlomen are pretty freo in Improving their gardens ; thov nave nottho samccommand of thnmoans a" tho gentlemen in Britain. You say our climate is bettor; I acknowledge that such is tho caeo, but at tho same time, that is onei of the dinlculties that a gardenor labours under hero. At Homo tho rulo is about one man to tho acre; horo one man, porhaps, has six acres tinder his ohargo. In tho growing season his consideration ovory morning is "What can I lcavo alone today V Every thing is pushing on in growth. Sometimes he almost gets heartbroken with the quantity of work staring him in the face. Porhaps ho has a cow to milk, flrowood to cut and split, perhaps a horso to attend to. Home references ire of very little uso here. I have known applications for placos made hero with first class Knglish references fail. Try and get a gontleman's placo. and you will learn more of a gardeners diflicultics in threo months than I could make you understand by writing for 12 months. It ia only practical experience that will teach you. If you would like to got introduced to tho gardeners here, seek out the Secretary of the Horticultural Society, and I havo not the slightest ho will introduce you to tho Committoo of tho Society, and tlioy will bo glad to meot you as tradesmon should meet one another.

Tomatoes (U. 8., Epsom).-If your plants are planted in a row tho best way to support them is by making a trollis. Drive stakes in tho ground to a considerable depth: they havo a good weight to support; then tie cross-bars to the stakes—about five will be sufficient— making about four feet in height. As the lilants grow, tio the branches to the cross-bars. •Inch out all superfluous wood. Give occa sional waterings with liquid manure. I think you ought to havo more than sufficient fruit for your own use with tho number of plants you have. Lemons iFrult).—l have never seen the lemon grown from cuttings. It might be possible to grow it with care, but I don't think it is worth tho trouble. The boat way is to layer tho branches of your tree. Do it this autumn, about tho beginning of April, Oranges are better grafted upon seedling stock. Stock can easily bo raised by sowing the pips taken from tho fruit. They germinate quite frcoly. When strong enough graft the hotter varieties thereon.

Kitchen Garden.

Make successional Bowings of kidnoy and running beans j earth up and stake those that are growing. Continue the planting out of tho main crop of celery and leeks ; make fresh trenches for the latter crop, also plant out maia crop of Brussol sprouts, drumhead cabbago, savory, and brocoli. Tomatoes : Tie up and pinch back. Pump kins, molons, cucumbers, marrows, etc. : Pinch back and regulate. Make a small sowing of caulillours and cabbages in a moist situation for planting cut the latter end of January or beginning of Fobruaryj earth up thoao that are growing. Mako succeesional sowings of small salacfings in a moist place ; keep the soil moißt with frequent waterings. Peas : Earth up and stake. As early crops aro picked, clear away tho haulm to the rofc heap in layers, dust "with en.lt and lime to kill insect life, have tho ground manured and dug so that it may sweeten for another crop. Where there is plenty of long grass, straw, or similar materials, mulch between 1 the rows of vegetables. Keop tho hoe con tinually going, so as to keep the surface soil free and open,also keeping weeds under. Give thoso crops that roquiro water an occasional doso of liquid manure. AVhoro ever slugs are manifest, dust with lime in the evenings after dark.

Flower Garden.

All planting out should now be over in this department. A good number of tho plants aro now showing considerable quan tities of flowers. Whenever any flowers begin to fade cut them off; don't allow them to form seed, as tho ripening of seed pods robs tho other flowers to come of portion of tho strength of tho plant. Pinch or pruno back any shoots which have a tendency to show rank growth ; regulate all plants to their nroner kp»~»- »r*><-r> «•« hon -=*>« tinunlly stirring the surfaco soil. Bedding plants ought vow to bo ar.king a very activo growth. They must receive con atant attontion to pegging down and pinching back. Sco that each plant is made to grow so us to fill tho oxact spaco al'ottcd it. Tho bods will bo better mulched, so as to savo watering. Give liquid manure to produce a healthy vigorous growth. Lawn : Mow frequently and apply tho roller immediately after rains- Walks slio ild be frequently hoed, raked, and rolled, so as to give them a neat, tidy appearance.

Greenhouse.

Growth will now bo very active. Give plonty of air and water. Coleua, etc : Pinch and regulate, repot into larger pots when they require it. Stop all rank grow ing shoots on flowering plants ; only en courage thoso that will produce the most flowers. Climbers will now require con tinual attention by tieing up and regulating tho shoots. Tuborous-rooted begonias, colous, and plants of a similar free habit of growth should rocoive liberal supplies ot liquid manure. See that no plant suffers for tho want of water. If such does occur, take and plunge the pots in a bucket of water for a few minutes, thon put the plant in a shady place for the roafc ot tho day—it will soon recover. Look aftor insects, keep them undor. Shade the house on all bright sunny days.

Save tho Best for Seed.

That thero is a limit to tho progress of both plants and animals there can scarcely be a doubt, but just whcrp the boundary line is no one has yet detoriniued. Wo can Bcarccly expect to improve our wheat until the stalks shall be as large as hop-polos, or tho heads produce v bushel of grain, but just how much larger or inoro productive varieties will be produced is one of the questions to bo decided in lite future. That all domesticated plants and animals possess an inherent tendency to improve upon the caro bestowed up on them is a fact so well known that it would scarcely be worth referring to were there not a few persons in every community who are prone to look on the dark sides of nature, and declare that degeneration of species and varieties is everywhere going on, and the nearer we reach perfection the more rapid and certain the decline While it is certainly true that in breeding animals and plants errors have been committed whioh wero not thought of until too Into, still [these cannot be con sidered as the unavoidable results of all at tempts at ~ progression. Many of our largest and highest flavoured fruita pro duce lew or no seed: henco further pro gress in that direction with those varieties is impossible; but this' doss not provo that from others which do produco perfect seed eoinothiue in advance of any yot known may bo obtained. Wo may reach a fixed limit in one direction, but this is not to bo taken as thoperfection of the thing being ex perimented with. The largest and best of our fruits, flowers, and grains can scarcely bo called perfect, because they usually possess somo property or char acteristic that wo should like to havo changed for tho bettor. In somo wo would have tho size iucreased, in others tho quality improved, while in some there is lesa vigour and productiveness than would bedesirablo. Some are too early, others too lute, while there is a very large class of plants that have not as yot been acclimatised or adapted to our difibront soils and variable climate It) fact, thero is a wide field in which to experiment and progress. If no change is dejjred in any satisfactory variety cultivated thonwehave only to select tho very boat for seed in order to keep it up to the proper standard of excellence; but it often happens that while wo are quito satisfied with the size, quality, and productiveness of the variety cultivated, we would havo it come on earlier or later in the season. In such cases we would select the earliest or latest specimens for seed and continue this from year to year until the desired change had been secured. Our very earliest varieties of tho tomato are not, as a rule, tho best in quality, but it is possible, by selection, to advance the later Borts without losing anything in quality. The desirable properties of a tomato are fair size, smooth surface, with evenness in ripening and a solid flesh, and throughout the fruiting Beason always choose the best fruit, and these are generally to bo found amongst the earliest of the crop. (To be Continued.)

A church advertises in a San Francisco paper for "a minister of the Gospel who can preach, two strictly original sermons every Sabbath, one in the morning for saints, and one in the evening for sinners."

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

(Br EuTEKrE.)

At latest Mr and Mrs Polk were doing nothing in America. Sankey, the evangelist, was one time with a burnt-cork crowd.

Violin playing has become quite the rage recenty among American ladies.

Emelie Melville opons in London six months hence.

Bandmann and Beaudet are having bad luck on the Pacific Slope

Billy Wilson, of big-mouth repute, and C. B. Hicks are in New York.

The Christmas number of "Longmans Magazine " will open with a sketch by Bret Hartc, entitled " Sarah Walker."

The only amueement in Dunedin last week was Clifford's Colossal Mirror of the World, which was being well patronised.

A quaint " Elegiac Ode " by Walt Whit man, has been sot to music by Dr Villiers Stanford.

An American tenor, Signor Perugini, known in the States by the more homely namo of John Chattorton, has been engaged for the Paris Italiua.

The Pollard Juvenile Opera Troupe opened at Wellington on Monday last, playing their trump card—little Marion Norman in "Tho Littlo Duko "—first.

Mr R. W. Carey, who first brought the "Pirates of Penzancc" here, is now managing tho amusements at the Jubilee Exhibition in Melbourne.

Signor do Vivo is planning another Aus tralian tour. The operatic magnets are Mdme. Godina and Sig. Baldanza. De Vivo has vainly tried to induce Ilmadi Nunska to make another Australian tour.

Berlin has produced a novelty in the shape of a Lilliputian opora company. The artiste range from twenty-two to thirty-seven years of age, and from twenty-four to thirty-two inches in height.

Mossrs J. B. Lippincott and Co. will publish " The Indian Tribes of the United States; their History, Antiquities," &c, abridged from Schoolcraft's work, and edited by Francis S. Drake.

Mr Fred Marshall is said to be rapidly recovering from his illness. It is further reported that he will reappear at an early date under the management of Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove.

A variety compination company known as tho Strasburg Clock Company arrived in the South by the last Melbourne steamer. They Bhowed for a few nights at Invercar gill, and then left for Dunedin.

Mr Walton has beon playing with Bouci cault's company in Chicago, and he is specially engagod to play the title role of " Robert Emmett," which is to be produced shortly.

Mdino. Janausohok hafl a now drama en titled "My Lifo, JI written by Harvey Mere dith. Geo. D. Chaplin figured in the initial performance. The play is set down as a failure.

Horr Bjßrn Bjornson, a son of the cele brated Norwegian poet, dramatist, and patriot, has recently made an almost un paralleled so nsation in Christiana by his performance of Shakespeare's Eichard HL

Tho Rev. Charles Clark, the ■well-known lecturer, by preaching and lecturing at Ealing, has cleared off a large portion of the debt that encumbered his church in that fashionable suburb, the last western station on tho district railway.

" Hindu and Mahommedan Laws and Customs " is the title of_ a cyclopedic work now in the press, consisting of six bulky volumes from the pen of Mr Cadwallader Waddy, barrister-at-law, of tho Madras bar.

Tho creat work on "British Fossil Reptiles," upon which Sir 11. Owen has been engaged for the last forty years, is now complete. Only 170 copies have been printed, and tho plates are to be at once destroyed.

The Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, U.S. A , decided that pome of the full-length portraits of the " Adamless Eden " company there transcended the limits of decency, and ordered the posters and hangers to be torn down.

A syndicate has been formed in New York for the erection of a new theatre upon a scale of magnificence-hitherto unprecdented in that city. The probable site is the juncture' of Broadway and Thirty-fifth street, and the cost is to be £400,000.

Wilhelmj, it is said, intends to abandon systematic concert giving as an unpayable gamo, and is about to open a violin school near Mayence, on the Rhine. He has built a largo house for the reception of boarding pupils.

Lord Tennyson's new play, "Thomas a' Becket," will, it is said, rank far above "■■arold," and "Queen Mary" as a dramatic effect. It was virtually written five or cix years ago, but several alterations have been made since Mr Irving read it with a view to Us production at the Lyceum,

Owing to the absence of Mr J. C. Wil liamson in England, the idea of bringing over the "Silver King". Company for a tour through this colony, commencing in Dunedin at Christmas, has been abandoned. Mr Williamson is expected to return to the colonies about March next, with a large selection of musical and dramatic novelties.

Mr Van Ghele, musical conductor to the Emelie Melville and Verdi .Company, which left a short time ago for India, is now stated to be in a lunatic asylum at Columbo in consequence of severe mental illness. Be sides this, Mr Erßkihe Scott, one of the leading chorus singers, has succumbed to tho climate and gone to his last home.

_ It Is difficult to know what are the attrac tions Mr Williamson haa so far secured for the colonies during his visit to America and England. One is believed to be Mr E. E. Rice's Surprise Party, which will be sent to Australia next year. Mr Williamson has also purchased from Mr A. Heyman the ex clusive right to play Ciprico's " Daughter of Nature" in these colonies.

A wator curtain has been established at the Opera House, Munich, to guard against fire. It conaists of a wide, thin stream continuously poured-from the. top of the stage between the acts, completely inclosing the stage in a transparent curtain, and it was owing to this precaution that a recent sre which broke out during the performance of " Fannhauser" was checked immediately.

Mr A. L. Isaacson, manager and designer for. several years of the pantomimes at the Standard Theatre, London, arrived in Mel bourne by the John Elder, from England, under engagement to Messrs Rignold and Allison, to produce the Christmas panto mime at the Opera House.' He has brought with him all the music, costumes, and mechanical contrivances intended for use in the new production.

It is once more statedthatMies Fortescue, now that she has socured her £10,000 com pensation for' broach of promise, will bestow that snug little sum, together with her hand, upon her early admirer, Mr Harry Quilter, a well-known art critic. The gentleman has remained constant through out tho Garmoyle. episodo. Colour is lent tho rumour by tho lady's retirement from the stago.

The annual performance of Handel's "Messiah" will be given by the Choral Society on Tuesday next. I understand that tho soloists will be as follow: Mrs Judson, Miss Staunton (soprano), Miss Maunsell, Miss Curbott (contralto), Dr. Cobbott and Mr B. Harker (tenor), and Messrs H. Brett and Taylor (bass). The quartettes will bo sung by Misses Culpan and Covbett and Messrs E. Harker and Taylor. Mr J, Knox will wield the baton.

Mr Dion Boucicault is in treaty with J. O. Williamson to arrange in Australia for the production of his new pieces, tho "Omadhaun" and "Robert Eminett," which the author declares to be his finest work. He will bo accompanied by one of the finest Irish comedians in America, Mr G. Reynolds, who, bythe-by, is a brother of Bishop Reynolds, of Gawler, South Australia. They will only remain in Aus tralia for a few months.

According to the Sydney "Bulletin," mouth whistling is becoming quite a draw ing-room accomplishment. Miss Kennedy daughter of the late' Sir Arthur, Governor of Queensland, often entertained her guests on reception days by a mouth solo, and ac companied heiself on the piano. As she sang only indifferently and did not shine as a pianist, she was determined • that she would not be a drawing-room nonentity, so cultivated the whistle. What next in the musical line ?

"The Rose of Sharon," the new opera by Mr Mackenzie, composer of " Colomba," turns out to be singularly like an oratorio, especially seeing that nearly every word of the libretto is a fresh and free translation

ofvarious parts of Holy Writ. King Solo, man is depicted throughout the work ag a libertine of pronounced type. As for the music, it is declared by so. competent an authority as the " Athenmum "to place lit ■ Mackenzie at the head of living English/ i romposers.

A gap not easily filled up will shortly be left in social and art circles by the departure. -' hence of two young men who have achieved : i considerable distinction in the city. One >; is Mr Samuel ft. Keesing, who, besides being a good musician, has displayed rare natural aptitude as a painter. He goes M to Melbourne to continue his art studies a ■; The second is Mr Ralph Hood, the most popular and perhaps also the most brilliant ' pianist who has over resided in Auckland.) He w Bound for Germany, where he intends' to complete his musical education.:. Mr- r- Hood will have a farewell concert before ha. leaves, and Mr Keesing an art union. A sensational extravaganza in three acts based upon the fairy-story, "La.Poule "• Oeufs dOr," and ombellished by thirty.".'. seven tableaux on earth in the heavenstand- H in hell, was performed on Sept. 22 at the ' Chatolet Theatre, Paris, France. Thepl§j||g was produced in 1848, and waa revived in § 1872. A dance of four hundered red and ' ' green demon 3 closes the first act, while in"1 S the second an entire counting-house, with"* all its dependencies, is constructed on flie'vi stage by two hundred pigmy artisans to^ the most lively music. The chateau thenS:' catches fire, and pigmy firemen, poiiceI,;' soldiers and real fire-engines appear on therv stage and quench tho conflagration. !^: Pretty professional cantatrices are still in'; request by matrimonially incline* scions of "^ noble houses. Miss Mirtini. Simonaenja* ongaged to be married to a wealthy German> £ baron. She will, therefore, leave the stage,! { though she has been spending some com' 5 siderable time in Italy with her father in .■} tho study of music. More than this, Miss* : Annette Iyanova, the popular priina. donna 7. ~ in Dunning's Opera Troupe, now in", ' Adelaide, was married at the Registrar's '. office there on Tuesday, Dec. 2, to the Hon. Clement Tyrwhitt, fourth son of Sir Henryf' Thomas Trywitt, Bart., and of Baroness f: Berners, his wife. Mr Tyrwhitt is ;WeU-;"' known in Christchurch. Miss Ivanovo,}*,, ■' whose real maiden name was Annie Wabb, \ "■' continues on tho stago. ■ ■. ; ;. The stream of anecdotes concerning. the i late H. J. Byron has not yet run dry. Herß-«>" are one or two of the more recent:—Upon !'i one occasion, whon he was %vith Bandmann, I the latter endeavoured to explain a figure j-; which he wished to have lithographed fora-; large poster. Ho tried to make a sketch pif it, observing apologetically, " You .knowjf;,; don't draw." "So the manager sayß,".waß# Byron's instantaneous repartee. Entering * a tavern in company with- two friends,' Byron called for three "goes "of; brandy..•■; His quick eye discerned a deadly fly in;his: own glass. " What! only one among three : of us," he exclaimed j "this is ; unfair.* i Waiter, bring two more flies." One day.!'; after being kept waiting for a long time at ] tho gate of a cemetery, whither he bad - gone to follow theremains of an old comrade k : to the, grave, he joined another procession by mistake. "Ah!" he remarked, when he ,| found out that the resil coffin hadnotarrlviedi^ •'just like Bill—never in time." • ■ ..vi

Some Stories about Lord Byron.

"I found Madamo Guiccioli in great dia- .'■■;' tress at having received an order from the ' policenotto quit Rome (she wasaßotnan sub ject), all her family and she herself boiag > conspirators. She wished to return tq"neiS?:ll father, Count Gamba, at Ravenna, then" itf^l the Pope's dominions. As I had1 not seen that most interesting town, I offered to take" her there in my carriage. But how were we to get out of the city, as we ehouH be ' examined at the Porta del Popolo? was accomplished by my starting at night?'^ she walking out of the gate by day, and'1 my taking her up a mile out of tboV; town. . . . Count Gamba's house at at Ravenna was near the Pinetum,' a primseval pine forest, which, alas! lam told is now dying fast from the soil having?-;-; been drained by the caw railway -works.'* The Gambas might well have been called;*! the Osbaldistones of Italy; they were all?J sportsmen according to their knowledge,-S which consisted of hunting ajplow pointer, . who stood woodcocks and partridges Si, equally well, through the forests and vine-'j'i yards. They had juEt begun to bear of | copper caps vice flints, and when I gaVe";% Vincenzo my double-barrolled Purdy his;' pleasure surpassed any demonstration 18 ovoi- saw. -They lived in feudal style as far .<$ as an abundant table supplied them and ' their guests, and were as good a type of • worthy, though self-educated, gentlemen^ as it was possible to find. The house waa^ very large, with a long gallery of bedrooms,^ the doors of which, from the great1;;; heat of the weather, were riecea-;; ---sarily open all night, and the- }M 0 mates would converse from therr beds one?f to another vith Italian sons faeon. Thereifij was a permtinent priest whom they called* Don Juan, Bon being the usual title of aSS domestic Levite, no one but Madame Guiccioli seeing the absurdity. Inreferendeft to Byron's famous poem of that name,' sheisi told me that he wrote all the last cantos on play-bills (some of which I saw myself){pr&t on any odd piece of paper at hand, anflftf with repeated glasses of gin punch by iig;^ side. Ho tb,en usad to rush out of his room to read to her what he had written, making ', many alterations, and laughing immoder- *' ately. She was very proud and fohd'»'o|M! him, but described- him as having a very# capricious temper, and with nothing of the passion which pervades his poetry, -and -h which he was in the habit of ridiculing—in fact, with a cold temperament. With all his abuse of England, he insisted on keep ing up old customs in small things, such as having hot cross buns on Good Friday >arid/s roast goose on Michaelmas Day. This last fancy led to a grotesque result. After buy* I ing a goose and fearing it might, be-too <$ lean, he fed it every day for a montMl previously, bo that the poet:and the bird became so mutually attached that when September 29th arrived he could not kill it* but bought another, and had the pet goose swung in acago under his carriage, when he j travelled, so that after four years he was moving about with four geese^ It waasur*! prising to see the number of letterij written to Mm by women offering thehiKl? selves to him on. any terms. Madame •="■ Guiccioli had a largo box of these epistles, '■ '• which he never answered. They wSrl3 mostly from English ladies, such was tbs!V? folly and enthusiasm which his verses in-.'■ spired at the timo;—" Autobigraphy Of!tl»|p Earl of Malmesbury." . . ; • |

A Lord Mayor in the Pulpit.

A somewhat unusual spectacle w&'wit-;|: nessed at Limehouse last evening,' .^hfepjl th 6 Lord Mayor (Mr Alderman Fowler.;:,,,' M.P.) preached a sermon at a service .het^; to celebrate the reopening of the-Bruns^ick, s Wesleyan Chapel, 3, Colt~street. There waa'Sj a large attendance. Basing his discouise:^ upon the text, " Believe on the Lord JTesjuj^ Christ, and thou shalt be saved," hia 'WmM ship explained the circumstances attending ' Paul's great missionaiy expedition int^ja: Macedonia, and his imprisonment at,, Philippi, specially dwelling on ttle fact | that, dospite his bodily suffering, i tha|| apostle was happy during his incarceration,';!?! and gave expression to his happiness by • singing praises to God. His lordship helct} jj that Paul was enabled to maintain thls" f ' composure because he knew that GodriWaSg his comforter and friend. By accepting th£» words embodied in this text—the wordsjj which Paul uttered to tho gaoler on his.-.' release—all men could obtain tho happiness" which they longed for, and it was only by1, attaining that happiness in this life that'!■ they could hops to realise tho joy of tlio :'£ life hereafter. If they believed in Christ they would have nothing to fear from-deatlu jh ': Death would then bo the entrance into a* better and more enduring inheritance.— " London Standar '."■

Railways in Russia.

Of the forty-nine railway-companies in : Russia during 1881 only four were using* <~ wood exclusively for their locomotives. ; The lines wore all short ones, running ' through forest tracts abundantly supplied]^ with wood and far away from coal guppU 68..' The bulk of the lines used coal, and during the year the aggregate consumption of all ■ the railways was 563,029 cubic Russian fathoms of wood ansl upward of 1,230,000 tons of coal. The quantity of English coal, used was only 150,450 tons, most of which was burned on the Baltic and on the bo uth- "■'" western lines. The report notices a gen eral tendency toward a larger consumption of ■ Russian, and a diminished one of foreign coal. The increase in the use of Russian coal is given at 70,000 tons, or 8 percent, within the year. Only 30,000 tons of G er- i man coal were burned, and these Were us ed on lines near the German border. Sin oe th c report was drawn up there has been a ' considerable enlargement in the supply'to the railways of the Donetz and Moscow coal j: 'and the use of petroleum as an engine fuel has become almost general on the lines near.r the Caucasus. The Russian import dv ties : on foreign coal were increased not loner ago.. ~ . - :. .-■..:.■:.?<-}. .~■ " .'."- .

THE. AUCKLAND EVBNINW STAR, SATURDAt, DECEMBER 20, 1884

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