SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

Now Zealand.

Poverty Bay Turf Club Meeting.. Jan. 15 & 16 Onehunga Kacoa January 19 ' Takapuna J.C. Summer January 29 Tauranya J.C. Meeting Tanuary 29 & 30 Wellington IS-C. Summer February 1 and 2 Marlborough Races Fobruary 13 and 14 Dunedin J.C. Autumn...February 21, 22, and 23 ■ Wanganui J.C. Autumn March 6-and 7 Takapuna J.C. Autumn March 17 Hawke'sßay J.C. Autumn March 17 and 18 Taranaki J.C. Autumn April 1 and 2 Auckland R.C. Autumn April 14 and 15 Canterbury J.C. Autumn April 14 and 15 Australia. ■V.R.C. Autumn March 1, 6, and 8 A J.C. Autumn April 12, It, 16, and 19 ■S.A. J.C. Autumn May 10,15, and 17 Dates of Nominations, Entries and Accep tances. Acceptances and general entry for Takapuna Summer Meeting .. .. Jon. 18

To Correspondents.

Inquirer.—Krupp's dam. Maid of Athol, Is a New South Wales bredmare, by Maribyrnong out of Paraguay,

Wager.—The winners of the English Derby from 1863 to 1867 wero as follows:—1863. Mr Naylor's Macaroni; 1864, Mr I'Anson's Blair Athol; 1865, Count de Lagrange's Gladiateur; 1866, Mr Sutton's Lord Lyon; and 1867, Mr Chaplin's Hermit.

F.M. (Dargaville).—The fastest times on record for ono milo and half-a-mile are as follows: — Stockdaleran a mile at Wagga, with Bst up, in 1.411. and tho American horse Ten Broeek is credited with having ran the same distance in 1.39}. At Adelaide, Bis Bis ran half-a-milo in 48sec., and at Saratoga, Olitipa in 475.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The latest sensation in the racing world is that of the South Australian Jockey Club, who have announced that the Adelaide Cup, run in May next, will be endowed with £2,500, of which £2,000 will go to the winner, £300 to the second horse, and £200 to the third. Of course, tho Club hope to

get the greater part of this money back from owners, but they do not anticipate or attempt to make any profit out of the race. If there should be a surplus from the payments, tho conditions provide that it shall benefit tho second and third horses. A popular distance, viz., one mile and five furlongs, has been adopted, with a view to inducing a liberal entry ; and although it will cost £45 to run, any owner paying this

amount will bo getting £2,000 to that sum

about his horse for a win, with the chance of picking up substantial place money. The

Adelaide Cup is the most " sensational" stake ever put before the public in Aus tralia, the largest sum previously added to a colonial race being I,oOosovs. It must bo mentioned that Sir Thomas Elder, as usual, also gives a gold cup—this trophy.of course.goingtothe winner. Entries (osovs.) close on 19th February, the weights are to be declared on 25th March, and the «coeptance of lOsovs. must be made by 22nd April. The final payment of 30sova. is due on 29th April. With the exception of Salvage and three of Mr Pilbrow's team, the Southern horses who took part in our Summer Meeting were shipped by the s.s. Kotomahana for their several destinations on Thurs day. Mr P. Butler was to go no further than Glsborne, Tim Whiffler being engaged in the principal events of the Poverty Bay Turf Club Meeting next week, but the two"year-old colt Fusilier was to be taken on to Christchurch, to which place Mr Stead's Sir Bedevere, his new purchase Trenton, the steeplechaser. Hercules, and Ugly Buck were also bound. Salvage and Welcome Jack are to remain here until the Wellington Racing Club Meeting draws a bit closer, at which, I am informed, both will figure. By the Kotomahana were also conveyed to Napier, Captain Russell' 3 Escopeta and tlio two-year-old filly Gretna Green, both of whom were in charge of W. Edwards.

The weights for the principal events of the Takapuna Summer Meeting will appear on Monday. Acceptances and general entries for tho meeting are due on Friday next.

The Now Zealand Stud Company year lings that are to be sold in Sydney on the 28th of the present month will be shipped by the s.s. Ringarooma on Wednesday next. They comprise nine of Musket's progeny, two got by Cadogan, and one each by Leolinus and Cap-a-pie. Major Walms ley and J. Chaafe go in charge of the youngsters. It may not he generally known that it was a mere accident the Auckland Cup winner Salvage ever sported silk on a race course. The son of Castaway was given over to Hay by the Hon. W. Robinson to get in a decent state for hacking purposes, but after having him in hand for a while, Ray found out that he was a better animal ■than several of those he had in work. This, of course, he communicated to his employer, who gave instructions for Salvage to under go a preparation.and the Wellington Cup of 18S2 was chosen for his debut. How warmly he was served up for that event, and his head defeat by Hilda through his swerving, is now a matter of turf history, but tho Grip Lodge party were soon re compensed for their disappointment, for n few months later he placed the Christchurch Great Autumn Handicap to their credit. A number of horses have incurred penal ties for the Wellington and Dunedin Cups besides those, mentioned by mo last week. By winning the Midsummer Handicap and Craven Stakes at the C.J.C. Summer Meet ing, Cheviot's weight now for tho Dunedin Cup in 9st 51b. Sir George carries a penalty ■of 51b in tho Wellington Cup on account of his winning tho Manawatu R.C. Handicap, and Leonnta, by his recent wins, incurs a penalty of 81b for the same event. The Poet's weight for both tho Wellington and Dunedin Cups is now 7st lib, consequent upon his Win at the -Wellington Spring Meeting. < ... ., Christchurch papers record the arrival from England of Mr P. Campbell, who brings a stallion called Ingomar, nnd a ■mare, Corcyra, with him. Ingomar is an Irish-bred horse, 11 years old, by Uncas out of Wild Deer, by Red Hart put of^Mary O'Toole; Uncas by Sticickwell out of Nightingale by Mountain 'Deer out of Clarinda by Sir Hercules. Corcyra, the mare, is 12 years old, by King Tom out of •Cerintha, by Newminßter out of Queen

Cerintha was bred by Lord Stam

The Hon. J. White and MrW. Cooper, ■owners of tho two-year-olds lolanthe ancr

Buckingham, have made a match to run six furlongs on the last Saturday of the Randwick Autumn Meeting for £l,otit) a side, Bst 81b and-Bst 101b respectively. lolanthe, who is by Maribyrnong—Rose dale, won the last Maribyrnong Plate, and Buckingham is a half-brother to Chester, ; - being by Chandos —Lady Chester. At the A'A.J.C. Summer Meeting on Boxing Day, -the pair met in the December Stakes (5 fur longs), Buckingham, who received 4lbfrom lolanthe, beating her by a head. > apis At the Victoria Racing Club Meieting on New Year's Day, thßtßagot Plate, won by -Archie, was one of the fastest 1J mile races

yet run at Flemington, the distance being covered in 2.10£. In the Normanby Stakes there were only five starters. King of the Gipsies and The Broker were the' most fancied. The Broker ran well forward from the start, and on reaching the distance he singled out and won very easily; the Bohemian, who swerved badly at the finish, was second, and King of the Gipsies third. In the Standish Plate, Napier cut out the work at a great pace from the post. Ho was ridden with no judgment, and was fairly run out before reaching the post, where Chuckster just managed to beat him by a short neck. ■ <

At a sale of raoehoirses in Melbourne by Messrs Yuille and Co., a number of two year-olds from the stud of Mr S. Gardiner, of Bundoora Park, brought a total of 1,670 guineas. Rank, Love, and Loyal Lady (all by Tubal Cain) brought 27 guineas each. Mr T. Chirnside bought three colts by Tubal Cain for 250, 200, and 130 guineas. Eleven colts were sold, averaging 167 guineas. Lady Hampden was passed in at 140 guineas.

"Warrior," who tipped Martini-Henry for the Derby,' seems to hold a very high opinion of the Queensland horse Wheat meat, who is undergoing his preparation at Remington for the V.R.C. Autumn Meet ing. He says :—"ln Wheatmeat, Queens land has a racehorse far above the majority of our first-class three-year-olds. Mr Kent's V.R.C. St. Leger candidate moved like a piece of machinery, and his coat shone out like polished mahogony. Next to Martini- Henry, I take him to be the best-con ditioned racehorse in the Australian Colo nies, and should he be in the same fettle at the Australian Cup time, the Melbourne Derby and Cup winner will have to look to his laurels." In another letter he writes :— "Wheatmeat improves every gallop, and should he persevere, ' Warrior' will cer tainly go for him straight in the Champion Race. There is not "the least doubt but that the son of Melbourne is intended for the big event."

At the settling over the late V.R.C. Meeting (says "Augur"), a backer who had been cutting a great dash could not pay on Archie. He hod, however, effected a commission in favour of Martini-Henry, and transferred the wagers to Mr T. W. Phillips, but one member of the ring would not pay the latter a bet of 500 soys, which he asserted had not been transferred. The case •was brought before the Victorian Club, and after a lot of evidence on both sides the bookmaker gained the verdict.

On Mr W. A. Long's arrival in Mel bourne, he was questioned concerning the correctness of the cable that appeared in the Australian papers stating that he was prepared to back Trickett, Edwards, or Hush against Hanlan for the championship of the world and £1,000 a side. Mr Long ridiculed tho idea, and said that the man who telegraphed such a report should be f)laced in safe custody or in a country unatic asylum. John Michael Cregan and Robert White, the promoters of "The Great Victory " and " Melbourne Club Company's" sweeps, who, when fined £100 each in the Melbourne City Police Court, and announced, through their counsel, their intention of appealing against the decision of the Court, have abandoned that intention, and paid the fines and costs, amounting to £220.

A betting transaction of a somewhat unusual_ character has interested sporting circles in Stroud. A well-known book maker in the district offered to bet five shillings on a certain jockey winning a race, and undertook to double the stake each race. The jock had 14 mounts on the first two days and lost every one ot them ! The bold. bookmaker by that time thought it was quite time to cry peccavi, for in this very simple way be 105t—£4,095 15s ! Had the game been continued for seven more races, and the jock still been unlucky, the latter would have run up a debt amounting to more than a million.

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Lone Hand is to have a spell. Envious and Barbary are for private sale. The Onehunga races take place on Satur day next.

The will of the late Hon. E. K. Cox has been proved for £95,572. The final payment for the Wellington Cup is due on Monday next. Mr F. Wentworth, the well-known Syd ney turfite, has returned from his trip to England. The Canterbury Jockey Club have granted the use of their course for the Grand National Steeplechase Meeting on May 24. Grip, the hero of the C.J.C. Spring Meeting of ISBI, has gone into H. Fuller's hands, who intends to put him into training again.

Precious Stone (a full brother to Turquoise) won tho Maiden Piute at tho Moonee Valley Meeting, Melbourne, the other week.

Paddy Pigott is about again, but is still suffering from the effects of his injuries, and it will be some time before he can don silk again.

In speaking of Mr G. G. Stead's new purchase Ike, " Warrior" says that the people of New Zealand will find him a very good nag to back for places. J. Williamson, who rode Martini-Henry in his three victories at the V.R.C. Spring Meeting, has purchasod Mr R. Sevior's training stables at Melbourne. The Summer Cup,at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club Meeting on Boxing Day, was won by Guy Faux (6stlolb), Norfolk being second,and Little Sister third. Nine others started.

The Two Thousand Guineas of 1885 has closed with 90 subs, and the One Thousand Guineas with 65 subs. The Middle Park Plate of 1884 has secured 128 entries, and the Dewhurst Plate 100.

Mr XV. Branch has sold Dukedom to Mons. Couve, of the Mauritius. London delly, who it will be remembered rode for Mason and Vallance last season, has been engaged to accompany him. A novel match took place near London recently wherein a pigeon was backed to give a donkey six minutes start in two and a-half miles. After a very exciting race the pigeon' won by about 50yds, in 2min 30sec.

Hales rode four winners' 'at Sydney Tattersall's Club Meeting on New Year's Day. The Colonial Archer has been en gaged as first horseman by the Hon. J. White, who has long desired to secure his services. ,' " ' j;>-

The principal winners at the Victoria Racing; Club Summer Meeting were Mr W. S. Wallace, who received £830; the Hon. W. Pearson, £470; Mr S. Barnard, £403; Mr A. F. Smart, £352 ; Mr C. Martin, £201 ; Mr J. Foulskam. £188 ; and Mr J. A. Lang, £100.

At the Waipawa races on New Year's Day Radnmcs, by Lcolinus—L'Orient, won the big event of the day, and the Maiden Plato. Loch Lomond appropriated the Hurdles and Railway Handicap.' In the hack race, the totalisator paid a dividend of £4065. ..,..'_.!,

According to a Tasmanian paper, the Melbourne Cup winner of ; 1882, The Assyrian, has had ah excellent season at the stud, having had 40 mares, besides those of his owner. One of tho mares that visited him was Promenade, by Panic, out of Es §lanade, the dam of Quickstep' and gramd am of the two Melbourne Cup'winners, IHmblefoet and The Quack. ''•'

Racing in Australia.

The following is a full description of the running for the Summer Cup, run at the A.J.C. Meeting on Boxing Day, and Tat tersall's Club Cup, run on New Year's Day:—

The Summer Cup, a handicap swoep3takes of 20sovs each, with 500sovs added. Second horse lOOsovs, and third horse 50sovs from the prize. 1J miles.

Mr Clayton ns b g Sloth, by Tho Drummer— Romping Girl, 6 years, Cst 81b (Kelso) .. .. 1 MrThomas Jones's br h Coriolanus, by Tubal

Cain—Pauline, 5 years, 7st 101b (Hales) .. 2 Mr J. Monaghan ns br a Sardonyx, by Fire works—Onyx, 5 years, 8s 121b (Huxley) .. 3 Also ran: Sir Modred.9st2lb(McGrade); Mor peth, Bst 91b (Williamson) j Soldier Boy, Bst 71b (Yeomans); Pell Mell. Bst 71b (Colley); Pole Star. 7st 91b (Gallagher); Ascot, 7st 71b (Gains forth); Old Gold, 7st3lb (Nicholson); Normanby, 7st 21b (Gough): Favo, 7st (Smith!; Empress, 6st 91b (Ellis); Gladiator, Cst 61b (Vetter); The Demon, 6st (Wilson).

Betting : 100 to 35 v. Old Gold, 100 to 25 v. Morpeth, 100 to 14 v. Coriolanus, 100 to 14 v. Soldier Boy, 100 to 10 each v. Sardonyx and Sloth ; 100 to 8 each v. Empress, Sir Modred, and Polo Star, 100 to 6 to 100 to 4 v. any other.

A very good start was effected, Sir Modred on the outside being the first to show, but as soon as they settled into their strides Gladiator dashed to the front, and led past the stand by two lengths, closely followed by Sloth, Pole Star, Sir Modred, and Empress, who were a length in front of Old Gold, and a closely-packed field, which was whipped in by The Demon, who, with Pell Mcl! remained last all the way. Sloth was then steadied, and Gladiator carried on the running to the back of the course, where ho had an advantage of a length of Old <!old and Empress, half a length from whom were Pole Star and Sloth, while Sir Modred and Coriolanus showed most prominently of the other... The hill settled the pretensions of Gladiator, and Empress just led Pole Star and Gladiator past the trainer's stand ; and scarcely a length from them came Old Gold, Sir Mod red, and Morpeth. A littlo further on, Gladiator, Pole Star, and Old Gold were in trouble, and Morpeth joining Empress, the pair led round the bend. Empress was done with at the home ti^rn, and Morpeth was left in command, with Sir Modred, Sloth, Empress, and Coriolanus next, in close order. Morpeth tired before reach ing the distance, and Sir Modred took com mand, but only for a dozen strides, when he melted away and gave place to Coriolanus and Sloth. Here Sardonyx came with his ÜBual rush, and the three settled down to finish. A brilliant race took place to the post, and the judge decided that Sloth had won by a head, and that the same distance separated the second and third. Sir Modred was a good fourth, and then came Morpeth, Normanby, Ascot, Favo, and Empress, with Pell Mell and The Demen last. Time, 2 minutes 39 seconds.

Tatt__rsa__i_'s Club Cup, of 500 soys. and a sweepstakes of 10 soys each, toeether with a cup value 100 soys. presented by Mr M. Decry; second horse to receive - r>o soys, and third horse 20 soys from the prize. Distance, two miles.

Mr Thomas Jonesnshr li Coriolanus.by Tubal Cain—Pauline, 5 years, 7st 101b (T. Hales).. 1 Mr J. Monaghan ns br ii Sardonyx, by Fire works—Onyx. 5 years, Bst 101b (Huxley) .. 2 Mr W. Kelso's br m Prima Donna, by Bar barian—Mabel, aged, Cst 51b .including 31b penalty) (Kelso) .. .. 3 Also ran: The Drummer, 9st Sib (Yeomans); Morpeth, Bst 71b (McG-rado); Soldier Boy. Sst 31b (Colley); Bristol, 7stßlb (Xerricker),fell; Ascot, 7st 61b (Gainstorth); Lord of the Lake, 7st 51b (Williamson); Empress, 63t 81b (Ellis); 31oth, 7st lib (including 71b penaltyl (Nicholson); Eva, 6st3lb (Williams) ; Albert Victor, 6st 31b (Wilson); Rosmante, Gst2lb(H.Smith); Friend ship, 6st(Vettcr)fell;Major,ost(Smith);_Mirabeau (late Vagrant), Gst (Milne).

Betting.: 5 to 2v. Coriolanus, sto 1 v. Prima Donna, 7 to 1 each v. Sardonyx and Sloth, S to 1 v. Morpeth, 10 to 25 to 1 v. any other.

The signal was given to a pretty good start, Prima Donna, Sloth, and Empre.s showing most prominently. Making the most of her position, Prima Donna led Em press and Lord of the Lake a length past the trainers' stand, with Eva showing clear of a closely-packed ruck. They ran round the Denison turn in something like the same order, and when passing the stand the leader had increased her lead to three lengths, while Eva lay second, with Em press and Soldier Boy at her girths. Passing Cutts's Prima Donna had a lead of two lengths, and increasing it slightly, she led along the back of the course attended by Eva, Empress, a length from whom succeeded Soldier Boy and Friendship. Here Major and Bristol fell, and after topping the hill Empress cut down Eva and went up to worry Prima Donna. The two leaders drew further away at every stride, and, with a neck between them, led their field at a great pace round the bond ; but the effort told upon them, and at the home turn Empress retired in sore distress, and Prima Donna, on whom the severity of the pace began to tell, led the Wollongong mare into the straight by half a length. Empress then compounded, and Sloth, Sardonyx, Corio lanus, and Ascot drew close upon her, while Morpeth also improved his posi tion. Huxley brought Sardonyx with a desperate charge at the distance, and after a short and sharp battle cut Prima Donna do^vn, but had hardly reached the distance when Hales satdown on Coriolanus, and, the Champion Race winner answering with the greatest resolution, passed Prima Donna, and outpacing the wonderful little son of Fireworks and Onyx, drew away in the last SO yards, and won com fortably by four lengths from Sardonyx, who beat Prima Donna by the same dis tance for second place. Empress finished fourth, three lengths from Prima Donna, and after her camo Morpeth, Lord of the Lake, Rosinante, Sloth, The Drummer, and Ascot. Tune, 3 minutes 32£ seconds.

Absence of Mind.

Many amusing stories are told of the absence of mind of great men. It i= related of Adam Smith, the author of " The Wealth of Nations," that one Sunday morning he walked into his garden at Kirkcaldy dressed in little more than his night-gown. He gradually fell into a reverie, from which he did not awake till he was roused by the bells of Dunfermline, in the streets of which town he, to his great surprise, fouud himself. He had walked twelve miles thus scantily attired in pursuit of a train of ideas. The other day a man was charged at Salis bury Quarter Sessions with stealing a port manteau from the railway station, and he wanted the Recorderto believe that he was so absorbed with his thoughts that he took the portmanteau in mistake for his own. He added that it was not till he felt inside it for his pocket handkerchief, and did not find the article, that he became aware that he had got hold of the wrong port manteau, and then, unfortunrtely. he was arrested, and was thus prevented from putting it back where he had found it. This would no doubt have been an in genious defence but for the fact that he could not have felt in the bag, as it was locked. The Recorder, disbelieving his story, sentenced him to seven months' im prisonment < T

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION.)

Aquatics.

Rowing Association Regatta February Auckland Intercolonial Regatta January 29 Edward Hanlan v. Elias Laycock or the next best man in Australia, £1,000 a-side, before . March 31

Bicycling.

-__i__._v__a.-vu *___ub (rendezvous at services, Korangahapo Road). W__itemata Club Runs (starting from Park Gates, Princes-street). Athletics.

Eight Hours Demonstration Snorts Jan. 29

The Ponsonby Cricket Club ,is amongst the things that were and are not.

The Imp comes up from Tauranga to take part in the Auckland Regatta.

Warbrick is building two rob roy canoes each 15 feet in length, for Onehunga.

Hanlan is expected In Auckland from San Francisco by the mail steamer this week.

A whaleboat and crew to take part in the Auckland Kegatta are expected to arrive from Waitara shortly. Ponsonby Rowing Club has disposed of two practieo boats to the Onehunga Rowing Club, which was formed very recently. Smith is getting on rapidly with the new boatshed for the Ponsonby Rowing Club, which will be finished about two weeks hence. ' . It is stated in a New York paper that Wallace Ross and Young Teenier will pro bably form a double-sculling team next season. Miss Theresea Johnson and Miss Agnes Beckwith will probably meet to decide who is really the lady champion swimmer of the world. Bigelow launched the new twenty-footer for W. Farquhar, junior, this week. She is a very pretty boat and should sail very fast. Her name is the "Dream." The open boat Transit has been hauled up at Clare's shed. She is being cared for by Sam Dove, who intends to have her in excellent trim for the coming contest. Messrs William Warbrick, Arthur War brick, Wynyard, A. Webster, and another from the junior crew arranged to row in Alf Warbrick'*- whaleboat on Regatta Day. The Naval Brigade pinnace will be launched from Bailey's yard early next Meek. She is a pretty boat, substantially built, and should prove a serviceable boat for her owners. Dunedin Wanderers were defeated rather easily by Canterbury Midland a fortnight ago: Frith made fcwo 16's for the Otago men, while Iveng, formerly of Auckland, bowled for them. George Waller and F. Wood rode 25 miles for £25aside, at Newcastle-on-Tyno, Oct. 20. It was a close race throughout, and Wood won by a machine's length inlhr 27min and 57 2-sth sec. The Waitemata Boating' Club held a meeting on Tuesday evening last, when four tenders for the new racing whaleboat were opened. It was decided to give the work to Bailey.

Waymouth, instead of building a new " twenty-footer " for the Auckland Regatta, as was expected, has resolved to get the Observer in trim for the event; She is now; undergoing a thorough overhaul.

Mr Butler, of Wellington, has given Bailey an order for a small yacht to measure 20ft in length, 6ft 6in beam, and about 3ft deep. She is to be diagonal built, the outer skin to be of cedar.

Reynolds's twenty-feet open sailing boat Demon, which won the yacht race at the Dargaville Regatta, will arrive here next week. She wUI be entered at the Auckland Regatta for the twenty-feet sailing race.

There is some talk of a whaleboat crew coming from Dargaville to take part in the Regatta, but nothing was definitely known up to the time at which I write. It is ex pected this means another order for War brick.

Charles Keeble, a well-known English pedestrian, was, when the mail left, at tempting the wonderful feat of walking 1,025 miles in 456 hours, making 2£ miles in each consecutive hour (day and night) for three weeks.

At the Dunedin Hibernian Society's Sports, on December 26th, great interest was taken in the wrestling. Wm. Hudson threw both Tyson and the Maori Robertson, with the latter of whom he had a prolonged struggle.

The Pay, which won the open boat race at Dargaville, in which the Madge ran second, is a twenty-feet boat built by a German named Thompson. She is to be sent down to Alf Warbrick for entry at the Auckland Regatta.

Owing to opposition against entry of Clare's new cutter for the forthcoming Re gatta, the builder has decided to go ahead with other work which presses, and finish the cutter at his leisure, which, of course, will not allow her to be ready in time.

A rather serious accident happened to the Waitemata Club's whaleboat early this week. The crew were launching her from the dockyard by means of the crane, when she slipped out of the slings and fell on a pile, the end of which stove in several planks. Repairs have since been effected.

Warbrick's new whaleboat was launched on Tuesday, and on Wednesday her "darkie" crew w:as out for a spin in the harbour The boat appeared to go very well, and her crew comprises several very good men. One is a Maori, two Portuguese, and the others look like South Sea Islanders.

Edward Hanlan, tho champion sculler, was to have left San Francisco for Sydney about December 10, and while in Australia will be open to row any sculler for £100Q a side. He intends to make a tour of the Colonies, giving exhibitions on rowing machines in theatres, halls, &c. After his engagement is over he will return to America via England, arriving here about August. •; - - ' ;'

On Nov. 3, on the New York Athletic Club Grounds, M. W. Ford, of the New York Athletic Club, gave an exhibition of standing long jump without weights, and on the second of three trials sucoeeded in covering 10ft s^in, which" is the longest amateur record in the world. It beats the 10ft sin of J. J. Tickle (English), and the 10ft 3|in of F. Larkin (American).. Ford's first jump was 10ft 2Jin, and his third 10ft 3Jin. '•■-••-'

Ai a special athletic meeting of the Man hattan Athletic • Club, held at the Polo Grounds, New York, Myers did a note worthy performance. The champion .ran four separate quarter miles in 3mm 31 4-sth sec, beating the record, wKich was four minutes, by the English professional, C Westhall. The first quarter was ran ;in 51 2-sth sec; thirteen tninutes after he ran the second quarter in 55sec ; fourteen minutes later he ran the third qurater in 52 3-sth sec; and after another rest of fourteen minutes he finished^(he fourth and*.last quarterfin 52 4.5 th sec, doing the whole distance in 3min 31 4-sth sec. The time from start to finish was 44min 31 2-sth «c.

One of the Canterbury cricket team tele graphed the following in reference to the recent interprovincial cricket match to a Christchurch contemporary:—Auckland has won by four wickets. Ashby and Pocock continued their innings, and were both un fortunate, Ashby being given out as caught, the ball hitting the pad, not the bat, and Pocock for leg before the wicket. Arneil blayed very good cricket, and undoubtedly won thematch for Auckland. During Sunday night and Monday morning the pitch at each end had beon watered by someone, and as a consequence the wicket played grandly for the Auckland men in their second innings, as they had the option of rolling the ground afresh. A new wicket was offered by Robinson, the Auckland captain, but was refused. ;

ODDS AND ENDS.

Charles (playfully): "How much really did that hat cost, Jennie ?"—Jennie : "If you really want to inspect the bills for my millinery, Charles, there is a way to do it." And what else could Charles do but to pro pcsi on the spot?

Lady (between thedanees) : " I remember my first ball as if it were yesterday 1" Her partner : " Dear me, what a wonderful memory you must have I"

At the Brighton Railway Station the other day a young man helped a pretty girl with a good many parcels to get out of the train ; as she was about to walk away he stopped her by saying " I beg your par don." Sho looked surprised, but answered "Icßdnot speak." He: "Ob, I thought you said 'Thank you.'"

A very reprehensible "joke" was perpe trated the other evening at one of the most popular theatres in Paris. An individual dropped a number of small glas3 globes filled with asafcetida in the foyer and pas sages. The globes crushed noiselessly beneath the feet of promenaders, and the result was a smell so inconceivably nauseous that a large proportion of the audience abruptly quitted the theatre, which had to be thoroughly fumigated on the following day in order to get rid of the sickening odours.—"World."

It is not often that we have a good thing said in the streets ; but this happenedinPall Mall the other day. Two exquisites met one another, both faultlessly dressed ; but one of them, who had a bad cold, wore a scarf round his neck, the loose ends of which somewhat detracted from his appear ance. " 'Pon honour, Jack," observed the other to him, "you look like one of Mar wood's failures." The association of Beau Brummel and the hangman struck us as very meritorious. i

In Monday's list of crime it is interesting to observe that most of the " great events " appear under such names as O'Donnell, Moore, Coghlan, Donohoo, and Flanagan, who " spoke with an Irish accent." The Irish invasion of England has already com menced with the occupation in force of our police cells. The reformatories will be taken next, with a turning movement upon the treadmill.—" Globe."

A dramatized version of Zola's "Pot- Bouille," which is about to be produced in Paris, has, it is said, been submitted to two well-known London manage b with the offer of the right of reproduction there, but both have decided against its production on the English stage. i .an" . '

The effect of the Salvationist Army teach ing cannot be better exemplified -than by the letter Miss Charlesworth's father wrote recently to the authorities at Geneva, "They,"said he, "have robbed me of my child, who, until she fell a victim to this pernicious sect, was a good and dutiful daughter; now she is lost to both father and home."

Anent duelling, " Figaro " tells rather a good anecdote; A young" Irishman, in course of conversation at mess, said that he had seen anchovies growing upon a tree. A brother officer laughed at him for the assertion. The young Irishman called him out for doubting his word, and at the first shot he pinked his opponent in a tender place, which caused him to jump about, whereupon the young Irishman called out, "Ah, sure, it was capers I meant."

" General " Booth's son has succeeded in capturing an heiress, and the marriage is to take placo during next month.'1 Booth, jun., is an officer in the Salvation' Army, and Miss Charlesworth is a recruit. Booth family have thus secured a position of wealth through the discernment of the son of the " General."

Commenting on the sale of the late Mr Marwood's effects, a writer in the "Globe" remarks :—Ninety shillings is a long price to pay for a rope, though there may be emergencies in which men would only too gladly give the same number of pounds. The rope which was recently sold at Horn castle for £4 10s., had, however, belonged to the late*Mr Marwood, and the corde dc pendu seems to be as highly valued in Eng land as it is in France.

Mr Bartholomew Binns, tho new execu tioner, is a proud man now. A few days ago he hanged his first victim, according to the Governor of Wandsworth gaol, "in a quiet, methodical way, as well as Marwood could have done it." To leap at one bound into all the honours of the late Mr Marwood. Weak human nature could hardly bear up under greater praise than that.—"Globe."

The French are a strange people, and as straws show which way the wincl blows, so does the following show the state of the moral atmosphere. One of the most famous of the demimonde is credited with a roman tic history. Married .while very young, and adoring her husband she was sud denly thrown into despair by the arrest of that gentleman foi an embezzle ment of public money. He W3S condemned to fifteen years of hard labour, >md she, to "kill care," went to Paris, there joining an already well-known member of the gay world.' Her career was a success of its kind, and enable. her to send supplies to her convict husband.

"Figaro" says aeronauts are in high spirits owing to the success of Some interest ing experiments which have been made with electricity applied to ferial navigation. An electro-dynamo machine, with its accom panying battery, has teen used in an ascent to work a screw of sufficient size to appre ciably affect the direction taken by the balloon. It is claimed, indeed, that the latter was moved to the right or left by the action of the said screw, independently of the influence of the wind currents which were at work ; and should this prove to be the case, an important step towards serial navigation has certainly been matte.

Mrs Langtry as again in New York. , Her arrival has passed almost unnoticed. . How extremely different was her reception one year ago, when she arrived in America for the first time t Then she was besieged by scores of reporters, and-the daily papers con' tamed column after column about her, and chronicled her slightest movements and her silliest speeches. Now, beyond stating her .arrival, tho papers have _Wt hor severely alone. Mrs. Langtry does notseem to be at all affected over the want of enthusiasm displayed by the public. On the cqntrary, she is in the most exuberant spirits, and is i hopeful of having a most successful tour.

STAR SATURDAY SMEBIiEMfENT, JANUARY 12, 3&84.

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