RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamif.-.]

Some write, a neighbour's name to lash, Port-e write—vain thought!—for needful cash. Some write to plca3c the country clash, And raise a din. For nil, an aim I never fash— 1 writo for fun.

So an Auckland member really was found sufficiently weak-kneed to accept office in the Stout-Vogcl Ministry. Captain Morris, of Tauranga, was the gentleman who agreed to act the part of respectable dummy in the South Island Cabinet which was formed. " Faithless among tho faithful only

ho"(toreverse thequotation),Captain Morris

attained the dignity of a Cabinet Minis ter at the expenseof an unenviablenotoriety; 'he gratified his own ambition at ttie cost of the unity and well-being of Auck | land in the House. Political treachery and 1 meanness are apparently in danger of bo coming habitual with him. Ho deserted tho Atkinson Government for no reascn I that could be surmised except that then honest native policy did not suit his in terests ; and now he has deserted tho >■■ North Island members at a time when it ' was of the most vital importance that they 1 should present an unbroken front to the common enemy of Southern greed and ag gression. " The labourer is worthy of his ; hire," and the member for Tauranga doubt '■'.- less felt that his action in helping to oust the late Government should meet with n fitting reward. And truly fitting has it | been. He was a Minister for two brief days, a and then ho was forced to forego tho sweets of office for tho bitter pill of disappointed . ambition and thwarted selfishnoss. His i-nominious fate forms the proper end to an - ignoble political career, for no party will in future seek the support of one whoso pre sence would damn the best Ministry that 1 "could be formed. I would hope that the ;. example of his fall may also prove a lesson i to selfish politicians for all time. "Had he but died as Honour dies Some other Morris might ariso To shame the world again; '■; But who would soar the solar hoight '-'■;"- To set In such a starless night?' ' I have to apologise to tho shade of Lord ... Byron for applying his noble poem thus, I and more particularly to the shade of the §§ great Napoleon for comparing him with 1 Captain Morris !

" More bricks." Such is tho brief paren thetic announcement which appeared the -A other day after a notification of the birth of twins to an Auckland citizen. I don't . - know the happy man, but I fancy ho is a I bricklayer's labourer who has become ac customed to hearing the cry, "More lime, Larry, and a couple o' more bricks;" and so when the twins came he felt inclined to H exclaim, " Here they are I" But I may be if wrong in this supposition, for there is a : classical use of the term " brick "as applied .;■ to human beings, and the happy father of the twins alluded to may be a student of I ancient history. How many people who '•use the phrase "He's a regular brick" know the origin of the curious expression ? Here it is, as told on the best authority. I In a crisis in the history of Greece, when an enemy was threatening to invade her, a general paraded his army. A critic sneer | - ingly asked how he proposed to defend the ': city without fortifications. "Ah," replied jgj the general, pointing with pride to his H soldiers, "there are my fortifications—these H are my wall of defence, and every mesua 7 brick r So, while Sir Wm. Jervois is "■-■ bothering himself over the coastal defences ; of New Zealand, and Major Atkinson is 1 dreaming of "depopulation," this worthy I citizen does his duty by producing "more i-- bricks I" xxx "f. It is doubtless a meritorious thing to dis- -1.,.I.,.1 '.',. seminate useful knowledge amongst our *;. fellow-creatures, and especially so of the 7 knowledge which tends to the conservation ■'• of health and the prevention of disease. Kg The most cursory glance at physiology H will show us how fearfully and wonderfully HS we are made, and fill us with admiration at H i the exquisite mechanism of the human ;, frame; nor shall we cease to wonder .'how this harp of a thousand strings KB remains in tune so long. Probably A. there is nothing under the canopy M, of heaven that evinces in a higher degree v. the divine wisdom and benevolence of the B Creator than the structure of the human Hi body. Keeping in view these facts, we shall S3;see the importance of "Medical Talks to H Young Men" (Mrs Dr. Potts has already o' enlightened the young women), whether of Ha tho Christian Association or otherwise ; but E§ that it is prudent for a hospital surgeon to ;•'; neglect his patients, even for the aforesaid ■ij laudable objects, " Zamiel" greatly doubts. JA No; such volatile spirits should be kept in ':,< "', Bond. '. XXX

Mr Knight Aston, leading tenor of the A' .punning Comic Opera Company, tells a H§ good story of how he managed to score a Ha point or two at the expense of a critic at '■; 1 tached to one of the American papers. B While travelling with Emily Soldene's I«! Opera Troupe through the Great Republic, X he Was both surprised and indignant at the na cowardly and offensive manner in which the >.'. contributors to some of the papers wrote of HI the prima donna. Having not a word to H§ say of the lady's qualifications as singer and WW actress, and paying no heed to the artistic H merits or defects of her performances, they \\\W seemed in all their references to her to find -■__ excruciatingly funny to crack vulgar AA: jokes about her age and figure, and to \_\ imagine extravagant yarns illustrating the ;i-vprodigions capabilities of her celebrated I mouth. Soldene was too much of an actress ___\ to betray her feelings before the curtain, H but behind the scenes the woman asserted A itself in her, and she was accustomed to I• .give way to passionate fits of weeping aB ■H each new piece of literary buffoonery at her EH expense came under notice. The members •■of the Company deeply sympathised with *.; her iothe Ungenerous treatment to which -"'-'. phe wm made subject, but felt themselves powerless to arrest it. W'" x x

___ In Chicago, the personal allusions were ;': exceptionally coarse and ill-tempered, and Hgpe critic of one journal—the " Tribune," if \_S I recollect aright—made himself conspicu- I' ous for the virulence of his affected humour. I 7One night the paper in question came out H1 -with a particularly insulting and ungallant A effusion, which Soldenetook very much to 3 heart. The opera under performance that Bj evening was "The Grand Duchess," and '' the prima donna was, of course, cast for the I -leading -file, while Aston was to play the "Vpirt.of Fritz. Although much distressed ji'-'ta mind by these repeated press scur [ rilities, the lady was in good form, and sang KHjind acted with her usual elan and self -'possession. The house was crowded, and 1 "othe. press-men made an good 1 muster in the front seats allotted to them. 1 During the third act Aston recognised in I their midst the critic of the "Tribune," and :; at once resolved to hold bim up to ridi -V eule. He bad reached that part of the opera '^wherein Fritz's degradation takes place. Shortly after the Grand Duchess asks BSsJ_e young Boldier what he should like ito be, and his reply is: "A school -1 master." But Aston, instead of fol m lowing' the libretto, replied: "I Bhould I like to be dramatic critic of the ' Chicago -■Tribune.'" This, of course, produced a I titter. Then follow the lines: "But you I cannot read nor write," and the answer, I vOh that does not matter in such a posi r_iori'i!'ra_d their effect was to bring down the - "house" in roars of laughter. The dis- I comfited scribe was generally recognised, %«a& in silence had to endure the boisterous i merriment of the audience. m x x x W% Next day he met Mr Aston and remon- I strated with him upon the unfriendliness of Wffltl conduct, pointing out that he had never anything unkindly of him. Aston .retorted that the " hit" had been justified __W the uncalled-for jokes at Soldenes ex- P'bense "Well," apologetically remarked i*'the critic, "you know I had to say some thing " "Just so," quickly interjected the I tenor "and I too folt that I had to say 'something last night. Consequently we're l_f_its" ' After this the Chicago press i! fought shy of its favourite hunting ground I of theatrical personalities. At least, Soldene IWjoyed for the rest of the season compara- W__M immunity from attack and innuendo. , X X x JgigVpiy'should not "Zamiel" try his hand at ; 'partible? _[o sound reason appears, so here goe.'-.—ln the most high and palmy state of Auckland there lived a pedagogue, who for a time flourished mightily, but like the Speed in the parable that fell on stony ground, '" ;he took ho root, and in the course of a few V . short years, his expenditure increasing, and ■ his salary remaining stationary, he become § choked with the expenses of this world, and A'vsA degraded from his office by the vote of A Mb virtuous and spotless overseers. 1 '-Amongst this high-minded body of men was '.one Timberandold, who, puffed up with" "the pride of office attempted to crush the Awot pedagogue, and did utter harsh and j Brutal language against him, whereupon the pedagogue did Sunk to bring an action sib the Court for libel against Timberand- Irgpjd ■ but did afterwards abandon the same. "- And the good people of Auckland said, "It

is an easier matter to impeach the pedagogue than to exonerate Timbcrandgbld.''

Tho athletic humanity of "our western ! suburb " (as granny delightoth to call it) havo a rowing club which at ono period of its existence' was suffering from that common complaint amongst such in stitutions—tightness of tho chest. So it was decided to give a concert, and a young plumber and gasfitter, who acts as secre tary, was instructed to invite ladies and gontlemen to wnrblo at tho forthcoming " feast of reason and flow of soul" to bo held undor the auspices, etc., etc. It was thought that if the services of my friend Spinks, the great amateur comique, could be obtained, tho affair would be a certain success, and deputation after deputation waited on Spinks, who eventually promised to sing, and went to an expense of £2 or £3 to got a character dress for a new song ho had specially comppsed for tho occasion. A few days before the dato of the concert, Spinks received the following letter from tho tin-pot secretary: — " Sir,—The com mittee, in thanking you for your kind offer of assistonco for their concert, beg to say that as so many vocalists, &c, have bcenasked and accepted, they have decided to cut out the comic clement altogether, and thereby shorten the programme. They therefore respectfully decline your kind offer, and hope to obtain your assistance at their next concert, which they intend to make simi(_V) ccmie. — Yours, etc., Chawlie Stewi_S\" Imagino Spinks's feelings when he read the precious missive. He docs not care a tinkor's continental about singing ill public, and instead cf having offered to sing would much rather have not. Tho thoughtof allthis mado him as mad as the Now Guinea nigger who tried to hide a ladlcful of boiling lead in his breech cloth, so ho sat down and dashod off tho following: — " Sir, —In reply to yours, I should liko to know_ your authority for saying that I offered to sing at your concert. I never push myself before the public, and I cons'Jer your letter a gratuitous insult. — Yours etc., Theo i riirast-S Spinks."

A most amusing story in which a well known footballer, a local shipbuilder, and a hardy knight of the forgo and bellows are concerned is going the rounds, and is woll worth relating here. The scene, lam told, was the North Shore, and it was there on Saturday afternoon last that the first and last-named of theso interesting individuals met. They disagreed, as people often will do, notwith standing the serene atmosphere of the marine suburb, and the athletic footballer having in some unexplained manner pro voked the fiery son of Vulcan, the latter informed his companion that he was " n stuck-up puppy." This sentiment, I believe, was expressed rather more forcibly than I care to reproduce it, but, at all events, the result was a regular set-to, during which the knight of the hol lows pvidently censidored that his duty was rather to " blow " than to fight, and having got rather tho worst of it,he made a precip itate retreat, followed by his antagonist. The fermer suddenly disappeared, and from this point the story becomes ludicrous. The footballer kept on in full chase, and soon came across what he believed to be his runaway friend, but what was, in reality, a well-known master ship-builder. How ho mistook his man is a mystery to everybody but himself. However, he no sooner cast eyes on this now character in the play, than he eagerly pounced' upon him and gave him a good hammering. The shipbuilder was not by any means of a pugilistic turn, and with a natural failing for the handling of timber in junk, he made tracks for a near pile of firewood, and armed himself with a good stoat stick. Thus protected,ho deter mined to punish his assailant, but found that he was among the departed. A diligent search, nevertheless, dis covered the much - sought - for indi vidual in a blacksmith's shop, doing athletic feats on a ladder. The worthy shipbuilder caught a glimpse of the athlete just as his head had been thrust through two of the bars in progress of some won derful trick, and according to Dame Gossip, he brought the titree weapon with terrible force on the skull of the unexpectant re cipient. One result was that the fpptbailer visited the doctor. Other results will bo duly notified as they transpire.

The three gentlemen who compose the Library Committee of Auckland City Council having differed among themselves as to the proper proportion of fiction to other literature, tho matter has been re ferred to the City Fathers, has by them been " shunted," and has since been taken up by newspaper correspondents. The attitude taken up by one of the Committee, Mr A, E. Mackechnie, fully exemplifies the old adage that "extremes meet." This gentleman, in his desire to cater for the popular taste, considered that a great pro portion of the books chosen should he novels ; Mr Devore agreed with him, and the result was that of 250 books recently bought more than one half were works of fiction— "lies," as a virtuous Highlander of my acquaintance roughly slumped them. But Mr Mackechnie has "outgrown the taste for novel-reading " so far as he himself is concerned; and the result of his advanced literary taste was shown in the choice of 31 volumes of Max .Miiller's works, including lengthy treatises on " The Religions of the East!!" A pill-roller and two of "the devil's own " may not be the best possible combination to choose suitable books for a public library, and "Zamiel" for one thoroughly approves of Mr Upton's sugges tion for a consulting board to assist the Library Committee. There is indeed no reason why the body should not contain much more than five members. "In the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom ;" still I would perhaps claim an exception in the case of City Councillors !

It has not been generally known that for six months past a small but very select society of young men has existed in one of Auckland's suburbs, known only to them selves as the Optimists, who held their philosophic meetings weekly for the osten sible purpose of selecting principles and sayings from the works of divines in association with views of their own. The retired hall of the Optimists lies westward of the city, is approached by a narrow passage, and surrounded by a square of buildings. This society, which has been carried on with considerable spirit, has recently collapsed—it literally died of inanition —in the calm serenity of intellectual decay. The society's proceed ings, while it lived, were occasionally very amusing. The confident utterings of its enthusiastic votaries were sufficiently at tractive to draw men of all ages, earnest women after a hard day at the wash-tub, and young inquirers who came for a draught, not of vintage, but of presumptive philo sophy at the Optimistic shrine. All ilial has passed, and many will miss the incan descent;, sometimes serious, brilliancy of the oratory displayed by its leading members. The teachers were mostly working men, J and not only were they critics in theology," hut intellectual luminaries, believing, as Pope expresses it, that everything I in nature is ordered for the best, or, in the language of Optimism, " Whatever is, is right."

These moderns professed to have an in tense horror of orthodoxy and High Church ism, and did not hesitate to express their feelings. In short, the Optimists nursed their own pet views, as the old dame in " Tarn o' Shanter " nursed her wrath to keep it warm. Once I ventured a question touching the Millennium, and met with this sarcastic reply, " If, going along a road, you saw a strong man beating a donkey, or worse, beating his wife, and you coun selled him that he had better stay his wrath ful indignation, ho might turn on you, and in hyperbolical terms give vent to his disapproval, as the Israelite expressed his to Moses, ' Who made thee a judge over us?'" This was considered a coup de maitre, and I had

to subside. Almost all strong natures object to criticism, and so did these Opti mists, although they invited it at their meetings. An elderly gentleman, much given to Scripture quotation, was quite a terror, owing to his pu?zling questions, which were usually declined without thanks. "Ah," said this aged inquirer, "he can't answer it," and with a satirical chuckle, exclaimed, "Let us sing the Doxology," at which the majority of the listeners smiled — they could not help it—thus reducing the religious position to an absurdity.

Philanthropy in New Zealand is at ia dis count I Zamiel" has been looking at that beggarly monument erected in memory of the munificent Costley, and he has been saddened thereby. He (Z. aforesaid) is not likely ever to bo a great philanthropist; but he feels that he would not, if he could, after seeing how ill-requited by the unfeel ing world such unselfish beings are. A small granite obelisk is all that tells of Auckland's gratitude to her great benefac tor, and even the few pounds necessary to procure that were filched from the Costley estate, for no response was made, to the suggestion to have a suitable monument erected by public subscription. By way of contrast, those interested have only to go a few steps in the, same cemetery to find a splendid tomb erected by an affectionate widow to- mark the resting' place of

her late husband. This cost ten times more than the Costley column. Yet in that caso tho deceased was famous for nothing save possibly his domestic virtues, combined with skill in soft goods and horse-flesh I Another contrast. Tho trustees on the Costley estate, who havo devoted £100 cr sp to recording the public gratitude to the deceased, ask £5,000 tor their own valuable services in adminis tering the estate I These things sadden me, and make mo resolve that if I wish for posthumous fame, I must try some other line than philanthropy.

Audi alteram partem is an excellent rule, too often forgotten. If a Star reporter had remembered and acted upon it, I fancy wo should have had a different version, dear reader, of alleged sensational dis closures in tho history of ono Jones, a city organist. Those who read last week the story of the said Jones's heartless desertion of a cripple wife in England, of his imposing upon a credulous colonial public, of his ex posure and disgrace, and of his contem plated desertion of the present partner of his joys and sorrows, must havo felt that Jones was a veritable monster, whom it would be a virtue to ostracise from human companionship. But hear tho other side, which "Zamiel" has been atsomo painstoas eertain, though with no bias in favour of Jones, and no desire to palliate his offences.

The facts are these:—At Homo, Jones was formerly in good circumstances, but ■when misfortttno overtook him and financial ruin threatened, his wife deserted him and her children rather than share the hardships which appeared inevitable. What was .1 ones to do '! Had he been a god ho might havo suffered and been strong : but he was human, and ho sought another mate, who, knowing all the circumstances and sympa thising with him, linked her fate with his and sot out to sharp his fortunes in this far land. Both had high musical abilities, and a happy career seemed opening before them; but the skeleton in their closet could not bo kept concealed. How it came to bo hold forth in view of tho grinning multi tude involves telling a talo of musical rivalry, ballled envy, mean conspiracy, and unfaltering vindictivenoss. Tho unhappy couple have been forced to resign their public appointments, but their misfortunes havo certainly not estranged them, but rather drawn thorn more closely together. It is a sad state of things at the best, but much sadder to havo it distorted and de faced by potty spite.

As I gather the story, it appears that when Jones was appointed organist ho dis placed a mediocre gentleman who had a few friends in the church ; and tho super seded musician and his friends at onco began intriguing to got Jones removed. They ferreted out a man, now in Auckland, who had been in Jones's employ in his prosperous day, and wormed out of him a few hints regarding the family skoloton. Then they wrote to England fishing xor further information. This came in duo course and confirmed the scandal, and the conspirators lost no time in making uso of the facts to accomplish tho downfall of the organist. It is some small comfort to know that the purpose of these diabolical machinations is sure to bo defeated. The rival organist has no chance of being re-instated, for if Jones's conduct has not been en regie ns a church organist, his rival's part in the affair has not been marked by high Christian othics. I

rojoico to hear also that there is true Chris tian feeling in the church in question. The officebearers, while unflinchingly discharging their duty, and dispensing with Jones's ser vices, and while condemning his error, have not only voted him a full quarter's salary, but arc getting up a handsome money tes timonial for his benefit. Such is the plain, unvarnished tale, and the reader may gather from it that Jones, though not free from blame, has been "more sinned against than sinning."

Those strongly self-assertive peoplo, the Freethinkers, are not inclined to hide their farthing rushlights under a bushel. With a Government in power (though only for four days) which had two leading Freethinkers in its ranks, ono of whom had got the helm of State in his grasp, tho Auckland Rationalists seemed inclined to grow more demonstrative and nssortive than ever. Mr A. Campbell, tiery Scot as ho is, came to the front with a furious demand for the name of a correspondent who suggested in a letter to tho Stab that tho laws against blasphemy should be rigo rously applied in New Zealand. He wants to know who it is who thus proposes "to trample on the rights of one section of the community and revive in the breasts of the rest the hellish intolerance and cruelty of past centuries." These bo " prave 'orts : " but does Mr Campbell know what he talks of when he claims his "natural right" to the free expression of his thought. ? He means the right to outrage the finest feel ings of tho majority of the community by ribald and indecent references to tho highest themes ; for it is only such that the laws on the subject of blasphemy are directed against. It is he and his fellow-Rationalists who do all the "trampling," as I see things ; and it is he and his friends who are doing their best by bitter attacks and furious declamation to arouse bad feelings in the breasts of men. Then what does Mr Campbell want that " Citizen's " name for? Has an orthodox citizen no "natural right" to speak in support of the law of the land 1 or have Freethinkers a monopoly of the "right" to express their thoughts? Unless Mr Campbell wished to make the writer of the letter the victim of persecution and intolerance, I cannot see what he wanted with his name. I would counsel the fiery Celt to cultivate a little more of the Lowland " canniness," and to try to be a little more rational, if lees Rationalistic, in his methods of controversy.

That reminds me of the audacious chal lenges which Mr Isaac Selby, the smasher of " gods and devils," sent to various lead ing clerics of Auckland. His "victory" over Mr Buchanan in the debate on the Mosaic account of Creation has evidently only whetted his appetite for gore, and ho now poses as the beardless stripling chal lenging the intellectual giants of orthodoxy to single combat, Yet he modestly disavows that he is a "seeker of effect," As the Yankees say, " I should smile ! " It is not bard to find

" the cause of this effect, For this effect defective comes by cause" Firstly, Mr Selby has an overweening sense of his own ability ; and secondly, he must have known that none of the gentlemen addressed would take up the gauntlet he so defiantly threw down. I believe the Bishop hit the nail on the head when he replied that theological debates did no good. To my mind, public debates do not advance the cause of truth one iota. Who believes that the Mosaic narrative could be either strengthened or weakened by the labours of a thousand Buchanans or Selbys 1 All the efforts of human erudition for centuries have not succeeded in materially affecting that wonderful narrative, which still stands intact, unique, and imperishable. And shall it go down before the tilting of a strolling lecturer armed with a lance of straw ? Or does it need the defensive shield of any highly-respectable but poorly gifted Auckland ecclesiastic ? Selby may knock Buchanan " into a cocked hat," and somebody in Newcastle may perform the same operation on Selby ; but this intellec tual pugilism, beyond affording some sport to the " larrikin" students of theology, has no other result. In a truly rational community it would probably be prohibited by law.

XXX That " bantam "is up smiling again. I should say rather that my friend Mr Wm. Cooper, President of the Rationalistic Asso ciation, is still inclined to assert his won derful self-satisfaction. He sends me his compliments (how. nice I), and expresses his pleasure that I have admitted that the step from Rationalism to Christianity would be a "goose-step." No doubt he thinks he has " cooked my goose" by this witty re mark ; but were it not that I incline to let him have the last word, I should ask him, "Does he know what a goose-step is"? However, let it pass. Pax vobiscum, as the ass said to the cabbages I

The supervention of ''Summary week" upon the appearance of Mr John Buchanan's wrathful fulmination deprived mp pf a timely opportunity to acknowledge the I little gentleman's complimentary refer ences to my humble self. At first I was inclined to metaphorically " chaw " him up, but with lapse of time there has come the remembrance that due allowance must be made for the galling wounds received in a losing en counter. Hence, while at first I was dis posed to show fight, I now find reason only to pity and compassionate. The correspondence which followed the debate is closed, and the whole affair has been consigned to a congenial oblivion. It is useless, therefore, to drag it forth again to the light of day. May it rest then in peace, and as reference has been made to mystateofdevelopment.letthere be inscribed over its tomb, for the special behoof of my polemical detractor, the-significant declara tion of the.immortal bard that "Com parisons are odorous." In his case the illustration might be too apt, «

THE GARDEN.

[By Hon. us.]

Calendar ot Operations, August 23'

[HORTUS Is willing to answor any queries. Cor respondents must givo thoir full names and addressei', though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Moss on Walls (P.M.).—Lime will kill all moss or fungoid growth, but it does not look well on the walks. The next best material is salt, taking caro that it does not kill whnt over edging materials you have defining the walk. The salt may be applied* in a dry state during showery weather; or, better still, dissolve the Bait in boiling water and sprinkle it all over the surface of lh. ground. This is the quickest mothod. Which ever way it is applied, recollect if tho weather is very wet it will bo liable to be washed to your edgings and might kill thorn. A fow days aftor use the killing properties of the salt will bo destroyed.

POTATOES _ or Seed (A.G.) — Medium-sized potatoes in my estimation aro the best for seed. Potatoes lor seed should not bo kept in a close, dark place, as the best eyes arc apt to sprout andsendoutlong.worthloss.whiteshoots. Scud potatoes should bespread thinly in the ligli(; tho oyes then nearly all start a good, healthy, green sprout, which will mako a good plant. Do not, when planting, break this sprout oil. When sorting the seed for planting, 1 would cut potatoes in two which wero large enough and showed two strong, healthy shoots—some times oven into three,but where tho seed only shows ono strong oye, plant whole. Assisting Trees to Fruit (Amateur).— Boring holcsin the steins of trees, introducing sulphur, quicksilver, and uimilur substances, as well as driving a wooden pin into the augur hole to make them bear, were a few of tho many non sonsical ideas prevalent among fruit-growers three or four hundred years ugo. No intelli gent fruit-grower of the present day resorts to any such operations, as tlniy are purely fallacious. If your trees are mulling too much wood, root prune. If they are milking none, apply manure to tho roots; occasionally work over tho sttrfacn of the ground; these may help you. Perhaps your trees are worked on stock which is incapable of producing heavy crops of fruit. Growing Veqktaiilks yon Mahk&t (Market Gardener).—lt would bo impossible for me to give directions for growing vegetables for mar ket. Markot-growers aro, as a rule, a class of men who, from long experience, havo obtained tho knowledge of what to grow, how to grow it cheaply, and the proper time to send to market. With ull this spocial knowlcdgo at their command they ofton mako mistakes, having too much of ono thing at a tlmo when thomarkot is overstocked from othor grow ers, sometimes taking all his tlmo to reuliso protltablo returns. To make markot garden ing pay it requires a special training. Begonias R. 8., Auckland).—Thoso ought to bo ropottod now. Take them out of their presont pots, reduce the bull of soil, and re-pot into smaller pots, using light Bandy loam and a, little leaf mould, if it can be procured; if not, some well-rotted stable manure. Keop them shaded from the sun till thoy got established, and as thoy grow re-pot into larger pots: water ocousionally with liquid niunuro. If they aro grown in tho window, keop turning thorn every two days, so as to keop them from getting one-sided, Thoy ought, with care, to make large plants before the autumn. Kitchen Garden. All rhubarb plants ought to bo put out at once ; tho crowns will be beginning to swell now, and thoy ought to bo planted before thoy break ; plant ns directed lost week. As soon as tho soil is sufficiently dry, havo the main crop of Onions sown. Prepare tho soil by treading and raking. If tho ground has not been manured when preparing it two months ago, give a good dressing of line bones before raking or treading. Make linos fifteen inches apart and about half on inch doop, sow and cover thorn, pat tho surface soil with tho spade. Onions like n rich, retentive loam. Attend to the fortnightly sowing of peas. Chooso tho dwarf - growing varioties whore it is hard to procure stakes. Plant a few more early potatoes in a warm dry situation. Celery, pinch and place under glass. Look aftei slugs. A few tomato, rock-melon, and cucumber seed, should be sown under glass for tho early crop. Continue digging all vacant pieces of ground as directed last weok. Mako another small sowing of lottuco ; plant out those sufficiently large from former sowings. Keep woods down ; givo frequent dustings of limo over all seedlings coming through the soil. In tho evening, after dark, is tho best time, as tho slugs are thon out feed ing. The limo soon loses its strength in moist weather. Flower Garden. Complete nt onco tho lifting and trans planting of all shrubs and trees, tlje sap is moving in a great number of plants now, and it is best to havo them removed boforo this movement is too much apparent. When tho sap is too much advanced, tho plants receive toogreatachock,which takes too long to recover. Roses: Still continue tho pruning. I give an extensive article this week on this subject from a grower in Britain. Amateur growers should read it and study what ho says. Continue, when opportunities occur, lifting and transplant ing of cuttings struck last autumn. Sow small patches of hardy annuals. Tho more tender varieties can bo sown in pots or pans ; place under glass or in a frame. Keep tho soil stirred around early spring flowering bulbs ; don't allow it to get caked. Finish planting out all tho roses. The sooner they aro in tho ground the bettor now. Give occasional dustings of lime to keep down slugs. Lawns: Keop the grass cut short, and frequently apply the roller. Walks : Frequently hoo or rake so as to keep weeds under. Greenhouse. Camellias and azalias past flowering, re move out to their summer quarters in some nice, warm, sheltered situation. Cinerarias and calceolarias keop near tho glass ; water occasionally with liquid manure Pot off fuchsia cuttings struck last autumn. Start achimenes tubers. Have all dirty pots washed in wet weather, so as to havo them in readiness for re-potting tho general stock. Givo plenty of air on all bright, sunny days. Pear slugs feed on the epidermis of tho leaves and live on tho ribs of tho leaf. The following year the trees will not bear a full crop. Dry dust or powdored lime thrown on the leaves, or sulphur and powdered lime, destroy them. Thorough washing with whale-oil soap and sulphur is tho best.

Russian foresters cut tree. just before tho bark tightens too muph in the spring for peeling. They strip the bark off, but leave the upper branches.and their leaves un touched. Through these leaves much of the sap in the body of the tree evaporates before they become dry, the trunk seasons rapidly and makes timber much more valu able for any purpose than that cut in tho winter.

Pruning Roses,

Time was when roses were pruned any time after the fall of the loaf. They were mostly summer kinds, and flowered but once. After flowering the wood and leaves ripened, and as soon as ripening was com ; pleted, roses were either pruned at onco op at any season when convenient up till the ond of 'February (corresponding to July in New Zealand). The exaot timo was held to be of little moment so long as the roses were pruned and tho wounds healed before the rise of tho sap. But now all these stereotyped times of pruning are set aside. Tho introduction of per petual roses, and tho virtual monopoly that this race has established in our rose gardens, has revolutionised our times as well as our methods of pruning. Instead of pruning before tho rise of the sap, the very copious ness of its flow is accepted as a sort of in dex that tho time to prune has come. What a waste of force 1 many exclaim, True, but what a saving of buds and roses. The fact is, in this manner of pruning roses, more than in most others, we lose to gain. The upper buds are left as decoys for the excitable sap. As they break into leaflets, the pros sure is removed from the lower buds, and the latter rest or virtually stand still. While they do they are safe from the vicis situde, of tho weather, and it is chiefly to keep these lower buds in a semi-dormant condition that tho time of pruning roses has been pushed further and further forward into the Bpring. With tho higher beauty and increased floriferoueness of perpetual roses we have to accept their greater sensitiveness to injury from cold and their higher excitability. So excit able are many of our modern roses that they can hardly be said to be ever at rest. This wakeful growing condition makes the time to prune a matter of difficulty —it is altogether so different from the long rest of cabbage, mos3, Scotch,'ancj climbing roses. Tho highest art in pruning roses may be paid tp be reached when wp "put them at the best timo to ensure th'g development of the beet flowering and begt plac_(j shoot-. But, alas I thpse are by po'means always nor often found together. The best flowers might often be produced from the buds on tho extremities of, the shoots; but were those chosen the symmetry of the tree and succession of good flowers within reasonable space might both be rendered impossible, Thus we must prjipp j)ot pnjy for the im mediate future, but for suoc.edfhg years as well.

,As to Modes of Ph.ning,—This will turn very much upon how much, or how far, should tho shoots be cut back. Pos sibly did we know our rosesinore thoroughly, everyone would have its one special cut that wouldsuitit bestin regard to length as well as time. In absence of such special knowledge, the pruner may safely generalise in practice thus: The weaker the" rose, the harder it should be cut back; the stronger, the less. The latter axiom may be run to extremes in Mar.chal Ni.l, for this magmpeent rpse thrives best probably,

urtpruned; at least as far as the practice, of stopping its shoots is concorned. It pruning, and that of a few others, shorl.l consist of a thinning-out of any excess of shoots and of weakly ones. But thoso roses are exceptional, though there is an infinite variety of strength and length of growth among hybrid perpetual roses. The whole difference in length may almost bo included within two extremes of an inch and a foot. To cut back to within an inch of tho old wood would bo called very short pruning. To leave a foot of last year's wood is more than most cultivators would allow. In practice from four inches to eight inches is a common longth to leave thostronger growers. Some, however, might bo left eighteen inches with advantage. A good deal may depend on the number and strength of individual shoots, as well as tho character of varieties. At times the wood of roses is very imperfectly ripened. There is nothing gained, but,.on tho con trary, very much, perhaps all, lost by leaving long shoots of unripened wood. It is needful to prune back as hard ns possible in all such cases. Better bloom and healthier wood will bo produced from ono ripe bud at tho baso of a shoot than from half-a-dozen spongy, watery—albeit probably better looking—ones at a higher elevation. Therefore, at whatever point wo pruno to, it is of vital importanco that it should bo to a thoroughly-riponod, well-posted bud.—(D. T. Fish, in "Gordon.")

SALA ON HIS WORK.

Kevikwinu Mr Saln's latest bonk, the " Pall Mall Gazette" writes ;—There aro many who look forward from week to weok to those columns of the " Illustrated London News" which Mr Sala calls his own, columns which from week to week the famous chroniquor, philologist, traveller, roconteur, leader-writer, fills with pleasant gossip, quaint lore, and varied learning. For tho benolit of Mr Sala's many readers who are anxious to prescrvo his good things in a less perishablo and more Tiandy form than that of an illustrated nowspapor, Mr Sala has for tho soeond time collected and odited thoso fugitive notes from tho " Echoes of tho Weok." Ne ono will turn ovor tho leaves of this bright-covered volumo (Romington and Co.) without deriving some benefit. Hero ho may pause to rcllcct, there he may laugh over a good story. Ho will finil notes on history and biography, notes literary and artistic, on topics sporting, social, political, and dramatic. If ho in clines to tho sciontitic, or to tho legal, he has but to turn to tho indox, and he will find what ho wants in a second. Evoryono knows that Mr Sala is a bon vivcur, and all recognise his claims as an authority on matters gnstronomical. But it would be impostiblo to enumerate the many subjects which Mr Sala's facilo pen touches, Wherever ono turns there is something for every man in ovary mood. " 'The Echoes for the Year 1883' will, I hopo," says Mr Sala, " bo taken with tho lawyer's saving clause, 'errors excepted,' 1 have a great natural capacity for blundering; and owing to that fact, and tho circumstance that my eyesight, normally weak, is grow ing weaker ovety year, while my hand writing, which was once a joy to tho com positors, has become their despair, it is possible that a groat many errors, typo graphical and otherwise, may have crept into these pages," Wo have often admired Mr Sala's beautiful clerkly hand, tho neat ness of his letters, the symmetry of thoir formation, tho delicacy of their lines, with envy, and foci confident, in spite of thes pessimistic sentences, that it will bo long before compositors do not wulcomo Mr Sala's " copy."

11l his preface Jlr Sula lets us into one or two little journalistic secrets which wo do not hesitate to reveal. " 1 have had," he says, "during a career much less of a literary than a journalistic character, ox tending over more than live-and-thirty years, a great deal to do with publishers. I may add that of somo thirty works to which my name is attached not one has mado its appearance in book form without its having previously passed through tho columns of a nowspapcr or tho pages of n magazine, or somo otbor periodical; and it has boon to me matter of standing astonishment that booksellers should have cared to buy, or tho public to read, that which, as a rulo, hud been written in a desperate hurry, and the defects of which no subsequent revision could euro. The fovv and unsuccessful novels which I have attempted have been, as literary performances, more hurried than my newspaper contributions ; for very many of tho latter wore penned in far distant countries before tho days of ocean tele graphy, and a special correspondent abroad did not (before ho was tied to tho tail of a wire) work every day in tho week, and (uuloss he was on tho warpath) ho had somo little leisure to look about him, confor >vith himself, and model his article in his mind, before committing that article to paper. But when tho journalist is at homo, and to tho functions of t? writer of leading articles adds those of a reviewer, an art critic, a dramatic critic, and a scribbler of gossip—to ?ay nothing of the production of a largo quantity of miscellaneous work of which tho public have no more sus picion of his being tho author than they have of his boing tho Mahdi—all that he does (tho leading article always excepted) must he done in a hurry. Tho oxercise last named, indeed, must of necessity bo de liberately planned, carefully thought out, and written with the greatest enro and at tention. It tills only a column and one eight of largish typo ; its actual composi tion does not occupy more than two hours ; hut, at least, preliminary three hours—and often more—must bo devoted to tho montal adjustment of its form and manner. In tho courso of twenty-four hours it is completely forgotten. I have written somesevon thou sand of these ephemeral essays j and I can conscientiously declare that very few of their number have been hurried in their composition. If an artisan is to be allowed to judge of his own work, I may say that the very bost of tho poor stuff which I have produced has appeared in the leading columns of a daily newspaper to which, during a period of twenty-seven years, I have been a constant contributor ; and now that I am growing old and past service, I sometimes reflect, with no small amount of bitterness, that the papers to tho preparation and execution of which I havo devoted all the knowledge and all the capacity which I may possoss, and which contain the whole marrow of what mind I may have, will never see the light again ; and that I shall only be re membered—if I am remenibered at all— as a writer of a mass of desultory essays and sketches of foreign travel, of a mass of bald chat, and four bad novels. Tho last, perhaps, show more than do any other of the things whiph I have written thoj marks of sloienliness and haste ; for when I am in England I work at my trade as a journalist many hours every day, ex cept Saturday ; and tho few romances which the proprietors of periodicals have induced me to write havo been flung off in tho brief intervals between the daily spells of grinding newspaper toil; flung off so rapidly that I have often, while rushing through an instalment of a talo for the ' copy ' of which the printer's boy has been clamouring in tho passage, forgotten the very names of tho characters whom I had introduced in the preceding portion," Mr Sala has a great army of correspon dents, hailing, he says, from every quarter of the globe, and belonging to all ranks and conditions of society—from noblemen and fine ladies to paupers and ticket-of-leave men. "From reverend divines and grave, arch_ologist3 to schoolboys and schoolgirls, from general officors to hospital orderlies, from physicians to undertakers, from mad doctors to mad folk—all seem to have arrived at the conclusion that the ' Echoes of the Week' in the ' Illustrated London News' are a series of answers to corres pondents, and should be nothing else; and tltey besiego mo with questions and importune me to answer them forth with." Ho s.metimes speaks reproach fully of those friends of his f.oitcer-ning their queries, b,it govne apparently contribute not only to his waste-paper basket but to more interesting redone of Mecklenburgh Square. "If I mention," ho writes in his preface, " with gratitude the Unknown ladies an(l gentieiirpn who have from time to time sent me presents of potatoes, Indian eorii, Kentish butter, apple jam, Bath Olivers, and gingerbread nuts—.one good soul offered teTsphd mo somp'conger eel, but the dreaded gift fortunately did not arrive—l do so certainly not with any inert intent of hinting that a repetition of such favours would bo agreeable to me, but with a view to respectfully deprecating the sending to me, under any circumstances whatever, packages of what the Americans term 'proinco,'"

There's nothing like giving a man his full title. A correspondent at Huddersfield in sending a report of the case in which William Blaoker was remanded for assault ing Lily Senior, describes the defendant as follows : A Primitive Methodist of 40 years' standing, chapel steward, circuit steward, class leader, superintendant of Sunday school and singing classes, and trustee of three chapels. 1

SKINNY MEN.-"Writs.He-Uhßc-iwer' iMtorMiealtb .wnl vigour, cuiiinUyHiet-ia.lniiJoteuce, Debility.. AtDrusght*. ;; •■■•• J-TOpthoni«,rrot»er*o..,4«Mil«. AiviWiSi^,

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RAGING FIXTURES.

Now Zealand.

Epsom Racing and Trotting Meeting .. .Aug. 30 Geraldino K.C. Spring September 20, 2li Hawke's Bay J.C. Spring October 6, 7 Taranaki J.O. Spring October 2. Canterbury.J.C. Metropolitan....Nov. 11, 13,14 AUckland It.C. Spring Nov. 15 Takapuna J.C. Spring Nov. 21) Wellington K.C. Spring Nov. 28, 2'J Australia. A.J.C. Spring August ,'!0; September 2, I, G V.A.T.C. (Caulfleld) Meeting. .October 11 and IS V.X.C. Spring November 1, 1, 0, 8

To Correspondents.

Backer (Union-street). — (1) Mr J. Lcnnard owned Chandler when lie won the Auckland Summoi Steeplechase. (2) He is by Havens worth. L.F—The threo placed horses in the ('up Handicap run at Kllcrslic Gardens wero King Quail ("st lib), Yatapa (fat 101b), and Libeller (7st 21b). Inquirer.—Miirtlni-Ucnry and Le Grand only met onco before the Champion Race. This was in the Melbourne Cup, which Martini won, Lo Grand nor, getting a place Nnw Arrival.—According to tho "SportHinan Almanac " Issued at the beginning of the present English rueing season, you win the wager. The " Elbow " of Tattonham Corner is 1-1. feet wide, and the course opposite the winning post K!0 feet wide.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Auktkalian sportsmoii are now ill the midst of tho excitement of the racing season of 1884-85, for after tho Ilnwkes bury Handicap is decided this nitornnon, attention will bo directed towards tho Spring Meeting of tho Australian Jockey Club, which commences at Kandwiek on Saturday next. Tho Derby is the big at traction for tho first day, and as tho addod money for tho first horse has been in creased to 500sovs. this year, with 100 for the second, and 50 for tho third, it is not unlikely a pretty strong field will face the starter. Looking ovor tho list of nomina tions, I find that tho Hon. J. White has no less than seven representatives opposite his name, including Bargo, Salvo, Tromando, and the English-bred Phil Athol, but I have an idea that Salvo will bo the choson one to represent tho stable Mr VV. K. Hall has Garfield and Lord Exeter to do battle for him, and among othor good ones that figure in the list, aro King's Own, Honeydow, and Tho Broker, not to mention Mr A. F. Smart's Coir and Cairngorm. Tho result of the raco will bo looked forward to with a deal of interest in local sporting circles, as it invariably gives a line for the big Victorian ovont.

There aro fow men who race in a small way that havo had more bad luck than our local sportsman, Mr Bcbbott, and now news comes from tho Thames that ho has lost his four-year-old colt Musketeer. Mr liobbott purchasod him from Mr \V. Walters when rising two years old for something like £100, and at that titno ho promised to grow into a first-class colt; indeed so highly was ho thought of when a yearling that his breedor, tho late Mr W. Walters, offered to match him against Martini-Henry tit the time tho V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup winnor was sold to the lion. ,f. White. Musketeer was got by .Musket from .at torina, and the only raco ho placed to his credit during his short career was tho Maiden Plato nt the last Auckland Summer Mooting. Mr liobbott, I understand, is so disgusted with his bad luck that ho has decided to retire from tho turf, and the rest of his team are to bo shortly sold by tender.

Tho weights for the principal events of tho Hawke's liny Jockey Club Spring Moot ing oamo to hand on Wednesday. In tho Spring Handicap, Loonatn is at tho head of tho list, and with fist, ho cannot bo reckoned out of it, but in awarding Emir Bey Bst. 91b., Mr Evett bus acted with great unfuir ness. Administrator must have a big show with Bst., and Bayard (7st. 71b.) reads extremely well, while if Pearl can get to the end of a milo and a half, her chanco also looks a good one. On his last season's form, Parvenu ("st. 41b.) has nothing to complain about, for ho was quito tho crack two-year-old in tho Wanganui district last season, winning four out of the five races that ho started for, and tho best of the light division I take to bo Gabble (list, 101b). For tho Hurdles, old Loch Lomond and Minuet read as well as anything engaged. Tho acceptances are due on the 23rd of September, when it will bo quite timo enough to talk about winners.

At Sylvia Park during the week, Rosette (half-sister to Bond Or, tho Epsom Dorhy winner of 1SS0) produced a brown colt to Musket, and Loos (dam of I .troleu.e) a chestnut lilly to Leolinus.

A cablegram from Sydney informs us that Sir Modl'cd has been withdrawn from tho Hawkesbury Handicap, and groat dis satisfaction has been expressed by tho public at tho matter. When the mail left Sydney last week, tho son of Traduccr was first favourite for tho event, and had been backed by his party to win about £30,000. In his work, however, he had not been giving the greatest satisfaction of late, and perhaps this has something to do with his withdrawal,

I have to thank tho Secretary of the Wel lington Rocing Club for a copy of tho pro gramme for tho Spring Meeting, which is to bo held on Friday and Saturday, 2Sth and •29th November. The added money to be given away during tho two days amounts to £610, and tho best events are tho Hutt Park Spring Handicap of loOsovs. and St. Andrew's Handicap of lOOsovs. Nomina tions aro duo on tho '20th of October.

There has been no betting of note in Australia on tho Melbourne Cup lately, and until the A.J.C. Spring Meeting is a thing of the past, there is not likely to be any change Bnrgo still remains n firm favour ite for the Derby at 5 to 1, and on account of it being reported that there is something wrong with Garfield, 8 to 1 can easily bo had about him. The owner of King's Own has made no stir i n tho market as yet, but the colt seems to be doing well, and so is The Broker.

Thefoature of Sydney Tattersall's August Meeting was tho Two-Year-Old Stakes, no less than nineteen youngsters going to tho post. When the flag went down, all were well together, but they soon spread out, and a pretty race resulted in a victory for Mr D. Lawson's nomination Cairo, who was got by Goldsbrough from Thirza (the dam of Wallarigra), Qsric, the favourite, oc cupied seoolid'jilaco, and Boh. Accord, third. Mr W. A. Long's filly Coral, by Musket— Erycina, was among the starters, and it is pleasing to note that the three placed horses were sired by Sylvia's famous son Golds brough, who promises to make even a greater name'for himself at the stud than he did on the r'aacoourse. After the raco Osrio was 'purchased by Mr. A. F. Smart for 750 guineas. The Tramway Handicap fell to Princess of Lome, who was got by Captivator from Princess l.Qilio, and in the Lottos Handicap, fiattalious showed a clean pair of heels to twenty others. In the "Answers to Correspondents" column of the last "Australasian" to hand I notice the following) — "'Annandalo' (Piako, N.Z.)—Tho stewards are not re sponsible, but if tho secretary wore acting as the agent of the Club, tho Club would then be responsible," This evidently bears on the case brought by Mr Brindle against the stewards of the Piako Turf Club to re cover the stakes won by his horse Robert the Devil in November Inst, and for which judgment was givon for defendants with costs.

Mr A. Town, of ths Richmond stud, 1 narrowly GrsOapcd having an early foal, for ! a colt by Grand Flaneur from Misfortune Came into the world exactly one hour after midnight of the 31st July. It will be remembered that Mr Town was not so lucky ■ last season, for Amethyst's foal by Grand Flaneur—and the first of his get—was un fortunately dropped before the Ist of August, which of course debarred him from being nominated for the big Australian two and three-year-old events,, lam^lad to see that a Jon of the N.Z. Stud Company's Stallion Anteros, in the shape of Mr' 11. Xunn's King Arthur, was to the fore at the' Christchurph Hunt Club , Steeplechase Meeting. In the big event of ithg day, witb'tho odds of 6 to 1 against him, l_ing Arthur succeeded in beating after a good race, Barbary, The Agent, Mustard, The Lad, and Melbourne. He carried 10_t. 7te-» trad was ridden by Charley Q/Ccnhoi, "Sir Launcelot," in I noticing King Arthur's win, makes the following remarks : —His victory gives Ante. 0? another place among the recognised sires of cross-country horses, and indeed, the imported son of Loiterer had previously earned fame as a progenitor of jumpers by siring Canard. Perhaps after King Arthur's win, the New Zealand Stud Company will not adhere to their intention—alluded to in our Auckland special's budget—of relegat ing Anteros to the duties of serving hacks in the Waikato. Lady Ravcnsworth, the dim of King Arthur, must not be con founded with the mare of the same name imported from England by Mr Stead, and now owned by the New Zealand Stud Com pany. King Arthur's dam is by Ravens worth out oiCountess (dam of Parawhenua), by The Peer out of Phoebe (dam of Sinking Fund), so it will be seen that Mr H. Lunn's gelding has some good blood in his veins. He was at one time—when the property of Mr L.. Walker -an inmate of a box at i Russley, and he subsequently passed into

tho possession of Captain Cotton, who sold him for i'CO to Mr H. Lunn. When first tried in public at Napior by our crack cross-country horseman lie failed most ignominious'!)-, and it was the sorry figure ho cut then that caused so many to " stand off" him on Friday. There has been a deal of discussion m Sydney and Melbourne lately with reference to tho allowance to be given to the Hon. J. White's English-bred colt Phil Athol, and to prevent misconception it is stated that he does not receive any allowance whatever in races such as Derbies and Lcgors, where " special " weights aro carried, but in those events where tho weight for ago scale is used ho will meet other, of his year at a difference in hi. favour of 101b.

All of the Hon. J. White's team are now doing good work at Kandwiek, and the "tout" employed by the Sydney Sports man slates, that Bargo pleases him better and better every time ho goes, whilst Tro mando is about the neatest mover on the track. With regard to tho last-named, " Vigilant" has the following :—Tremando, who,"in spite of the support accorded Bargo for tho Derby and Cup, is in my opinion the best of tho blue and white celts, has been backed for the double to win a fair stake. So far, however, the stable do not appear to have made any move. "Mu-enpa" has been reviewing the Christohureh Derby candidates, and con cludes his article as follows :—Of those we do know 1 may say that I ut present fancy Krupp, Water King, and Trenton, in that order, and I should take this trio to furnish tho winner, with Lady Evelyn, Fusilier, and tho Hon. W. Robinson, best as tho next likely, though tho selection must in fairness be qualified by tho consideration that two-year-old form is after all a poc.r criterion, and the apparently worst may eventually turn out the best. Mr J. D. Robertson's Precious Stone (full brother to Mr R. 11. Vallanco's Turquoise), still continues to -show form in Australia, for I notice that at tho Elsternwick Park races recently, ho succeeded in getting home in front of twelve others. At tho same gathering, a lilly called First Pop, by King Cole—Spes, won tho Sapling Stakes, boating sgvcral Maribyrnong Plato candi dates

Writes " SirLauncclot" :—-Several horses in training wore parading the course in the intervals of the Hunt Club racing, amongst them being Turquoise and Salvage —both very much in the rough—lke, Carlton, Puck, Sir Bedivere, some of tho Grip Lodge team, and Mr Bate's two-year-olds—the filly by St. George out of Fleurango, and tho colt by Feve out of Jenny Lind. Iliggolt gave the two latter a flutter at the back of the course, and I rather liked the way tho lilly got over tho ground. Tho sale of Lord Falmouth's stud on July 31 attracted buyers from all parts of tho world, and, as was expected, enormous prices were realised for the choice lots. Tho total realized was £75,410 for the year lings, marcs, foals, and sires, and this total, added to tho £30,440 received for the horses in training, brings the grand total of tho salo up to the enormous amount of £111,880, a result which never has been ap proached in the history of blood stock sales. Tho competition between the Englishmen and foreigners was very keen, but most of tho high-priced mares and yearlings were kopt at homo, thanks to tho enterprise of Mr Abbington (the owner of Busybody), tho Duko of Portland, Lord Zetland, Mr Man ton, and Mr Baird. Tho principal foreign purchases were made on behalf of a Stud Company which has lately been formed in [jucnos Ayres. In point of looks, it is said there was nothing in tho cata logue to compare with Jannotto, whom several competent judges pronounced the finest looking marc in England ; but Spinnway, as tin dam of Busybody, carried oil' the honours of tho day in tho matter of price, and next to her came Wheel of Fortune, while Jannotto took third place. The sires sold very cheaply, but tho yearlings made tho marvellous average of 1,1-17 guineas, two colts making 3,0.0 apiece.

THE BETTING MARKET.

Tho principal change in the New Zealand Cup quotations (says the "New Zealand Reforeo '' of last week) is the advance of Ike, whom an enterprising speculator—uncon nected with the stable—backed to win about £1,500 at 100 to 7, but there is plenty of money to be had now at a point less. Lady Evelyn has been nibbled at for a bit ; and Sou-wester is a trille easier in the market. For tho Derby, Eskatos advanced to 0 to 1 a/ter 200 to 30 had been accepted. Tho quotations arc as under ;— ?;i:\v zuai.ano cut. 100 to 12 atr.-tt Sou-wester full') 100 — 10 Otiduis (oir) 100 — 8 Yannuard, Johnny Faulkner, Ike, July, Lady Evelyn, ,Tas m an 100— 7 Tim Wliifllnr. Kelson loo— 0 — Captain Webster, Turquoi.o, Welcome Jack, Leonora, Liver ]imil, Trenton, K.kato. 100— a (.luirm.r. Krupp, sir Bodivere, XeckUco, Salvage, Hubiiia, Walptl DERUY 5_ i Trenton 8_ l -_ l_kato_ 7—l Krupp. kVi-tov King, Liverpool 100 — 1_ - - Lmly Kvelvn, I banner 100— 10 (.'mitou, Black Host? 100— 8 — Fusilier CONDENSED ITEMS. Bundoora is advertised for absolute sale. Tho Epsom race-meeting takes place on Saturday next. Dirk Hatteraick is doing good work at Flemington. Sir William Clarke's brood mare Petrca has dropped a colt foal to Dofoe. Messrs Lyons and Blaikio have put their two year-old colt Enfield into George I<ow and's hands. Mr A. Town has refused 1,500 guineas for his yearling colt by Maribyrnong from The Fawn.

Lord Rosebc.rry has bought tho American crack Foxhall for stud purposes. The price was £4,100.

Mr Robertson, the owner of Mitrailleuse a d tho two-year-old rolt by Musket— blander, has purchased Cubincor,

"Ada Mantua" writes me that ho has disposed of nearly 0,000 tickets for his Mel bourne Cup consultation.

Transferred, who was taken to Indian by Mr E. Weckes, won tho Trial Stakes at the Bangalore meeting.

The 'S'icterian horses Tho Joker, Basilisk, and Bob McAlister have been purchased for tho Indian market.

Mr C. H. Lushington removed his twe yoarolds to R. Thorpe's stables this week. Wood is still in charge of the pair. A tologram received in town states that our old friend Piseatorius will stand in the Hawke's Bay province this season.

Mr P. Butler has come to the conclusion that his good old slave The Agent has had his day, and he will not bo raced ar*ain Mr D. O'Brien has made another Addition to his string, having purchased the him. c racer Bordonpan, lqtely imported from Aus tralia,

Tho N.Z. Cup candidate Cheviot, w hile exercising at Ashburton recently, ran into a barbed wiro fcuoe, and sustained serious injuries,

The bookmakers paid tho Victoria Racing Club alone, for 12 months ended Juno last, tho sum of £3,204 for registration fees.

The Fornhill Stud is advertised to bo dis posed of by auction in April next. Dare bin and Vespasian will bo among the lots to bo submitted.

The Poverty Bay Turf Club have re ceived twelve nominations for their Guineas of ISBO-S7, and five nominations for the mares' Produce Stakes.

At Sydney Tatterssii's Club Meeting, a jockey named Londbeater was disqualified from riding for six months owing to dis obedienco to the starter.

How aro tho mighty fallen ! Kino- of the Ring, the sire of First King, fail«-!? i n find a buyer at Messrs YuiV-.. A7A stallion sale at £400, •I"' 3 lecent Owners, tra n6v4 and others are cm tioned agrunst working their horses on the -t ; ue«iie racecourse, without first obtaining Permission from Mr Percival. '

Mr George Lee has lost his grand old ' blood mare Sappho, who during her career producedLeptu_er,Kingsboroiigh,Savan.aka Emily, Nellie,Spinningda.lo and Saionara— all winners.

The '-'racing detective " of the Victorian Racing Club has been engaged to do duty at tho A.J.C. meeting and see that none other than registered bookmakers bet in the enclosure.

The Colonial Archer, T. Hales, was only just recovering from a severe attack of his old enemy asthma, when ho received news of his father's death,which took 'place in Adelaide.

Sardius, wno won the Caulfield Guineas and ran second in the V.R.C. Derby to Martini-Henry, has recovered from the accident he mot with some months a°_ at Flemington, Mr S. Gardiner has leased the stoutly bred Suwarrow. Mated with Lurline and the other highly-bred matrons of Bundoora lark, he should certainly get something above the average. At the annual meeting of the Victoria Kacmg Club, the Chairman stated the Com lnittee had done everything in their power to bring the totalisator into operation, but had been unsuccessful.

Masquerade, the winner of the Metropoli ten of 82, who left in the Carthage in charge of his owner, Mr R, K. Maitland, for India, in June, had a terribly ronch voyage, and will be unfit torun for some

A three-year-old half brother to tho cele brated American colt Iroquois, who landed tho doubles of English Derby and Lcger, has just dono a sensational mile in lmiri. 4sccs. on the Jerome Park course. The colt's name is Panique. Tom Kirk, the hero of the Newmarket Handicap of 1877, is dead. It appears that while being led about by his syce on tho Calcutta course, ho got away from him and injured himself so severely that tetanus sot in, from which he died. Mr P. Simpson, of Queensland, states that a son of Panic, bred in Victoria, lately accomplished a groat performance by carry ing his rider, Mr J. G. Lord, who rodo l.st. 31b., 203 miles in three days, 88 miles on the first, S3 on the second, and 92 on the third.

Mr llainlicld, who won the Molbourne Cup in 'S2 witli The Assyrian, and ran second last year with First Water, is said to have a clinking good representative engaged in the two-mile event this year in Sir Garnet (late The Hebrew), a full brother to Tho Assyrian.

Mr William Long has had a small slice of luck with one of his horses at present being trained in England. His filly, Dame Agnes, by Hermit from Belle Agnes, won tho Sudbury Plate of 400sovs. This youngster is engaged in next year's Oaks and St. Lcger.

Touting at Kandwick during early morn ing (writes " Martindale ") is not near the good thing that some people think it is. At the present time there are 135 horses located in the neighbourhood of that picture-quo racecourse, and, seeing that about 100 aro stripped oaoh day, it takes some time to learn the names of the whole of them, and bo ablo to tell ono from the other without any colours up. The indefatigable " Ma.eppa " has been trying to calculate the amount of money put through the totalisators at all tho meet ings held in Now Zealand during the past season, Ho could not arrive at tho exact figures in consequence of the absonce of in formation about many of the meetings, but ho roughly estimates that the total put through " the machine " at the 250 meetings held last .season was about £330,000.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACT__ON.)

FOOTBALL FIXTURES.

Auckland Rugby Union Programme.

August 23—Graf ton v. North Shore, Ponsonby v. Albert, Gordon v. Newton. August 30—Otago v. Canterbury at Dunodin. Augiißt SO—Ponsonby v, Newton ; Uordon v. Albert. Sept. fl-Cltlb tios.

CRICKET FIXTURES.

The Australian Eleven,

August 25—Brighton, Australians v. Past and Present of Cambridge.

August 28—Gravcscnd, Australians v. South of ICngland.

September 1 — Notti_gham, Australians v. North of England.

September .—Scarborough, Australians v. I Zirigari, September 11—Oval, Australians v. All Eng land.

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

August 23—Kdwards v. Matterson, on the Sydney championship course, £200.

September—lV. G. Brett v. A. F, Sharland, on l-i-_.mat.__.. for trophy and amateur champion ship of the colonies.

In England tho Australian cricketers have been nicknamed " Kangaroos."

Ttickott, the sculler, is now running a "pub " in Queensland.

A football team picked from the Associa tion clubs play a maich at Tauranga on Saturday next.

The North Shore Navals have not yet taken over their new boat from Warbrick, some " hitch " having occurred with refer ence to the order.

The well-known yacht " Toy," originally one of the " crack " open sailing boats, was sent to Tonga by the Myrtle on Monday morning.

The football matches between Ponsonby and Newton and Gordon v. Albert, post poned from hast Saturday will probably take place a fortnight hence.

Tho Ponsonby Football Club has been in existence since 1870, and has a Splendid re cord, it has taken part in 513 matches, won 9, and drawn 7.

A football match between Te Kopuru and Mangawhare Clubs was played *t the latter place on Saturday last, and Resulted in a victory for Te Kopuru by six points to four. J

( Judging by, gossip amongst Auckland Regatta Club "members, it appears almost a certainty that the prizes in the champion scliooner race will be considerably reduced for the event in January next.

Bailey has now in hand a new yacht similar to the Ethel, which proved very successful at the last Ponsonby Regatta, beating the Belle and others. Sh. w ,11 take part in the coming Auckland J.e_gatta.

The Waitemata Boatitra Ciu,b, will pro bably increase their Vp^t^ng stock before next season by th.opjureha^e o)5 * new out rigger and a, J<hjr<^halebpa*, the latter to be a out between, the, two used at last sf-aapya. rogattas.

There is already some talk going about i.s to what the Auckland Regatta Com mittee are going to do about the Cygnet and the champion schooner race, next year, and the subject will probahh- fee'considered by them at an early d^to.

T. _M. M^one, <jhe short-distance runner, who js ft present the fastest man in Aus tralia, is sft. 9in. high, and weighs in con dition list. 121b. His body measurements are :—Chest, 3_in. ; waist 30Mn. j upper arm, HJin. ; thigh, 23_in. ; Qa\f t }sin

A new cedar yacht, afeont _4 feet long, has been hnished at Bailey's shed for Mr Butler, of Wellington, and will be forwarded thei-Q shortly. Bailey has now under con struction a 24-feet centre-board sailinc boat for A. Alison, of Devonport. '

D. Holland's new fishing yaoht, a yen* fine vessel of about \_ tons measu_e-- men t

. w ~"4 had not th«r usual bad luck in iner. match against Grafton on Saturday -rtst, but yet they were beaten by 4 points to nil. ahe defeated had a good team and the day ought to have suited them, so that they were plainly over-matched by the united and excellent play of Grafton.

On June 7, at Point of Pines, near Boston, Mass., George H. Hosmer, of Boston, and Albert Hamm, of New Bedford, decided their three-mile 3culling race, with three turns, for £100 a-side, and £110 added, liosmerwon by two lengths ; time 23min. lOsec.

A 100 yards footrace recently took place nr! r. ln.? ton for £5 a-side between Mr J. V. K. Gibbons, of the " Evening Post," and a Uunedm gentleman named Henderson, the former conceding syds. Mr Henderson jvon by 2 yards in lOJsecs. Mr Gibbons tormerly resided at the Thames, and had a local reputation at that place.

In a recent football match, plavo. n. Sydney between Kedfern and St, Wward* Clubs Shappeare, for the, few ST. splendid goal, which disSowed by the S7™f> ffWa_t the ball tpifched n /. &_. °W of the Redfern players. Fact I, _ This (says tho " B^lletii^ "} i ? split ting hairs with a Yongea.nce.

Thomas Stevens started frona .Frisco, on a bicycle on 22nd Aprii, rode, across the Continent, and arrvved at Laramie, a dis tance of I,4oosmiles, on Ist Juno. He in tended going on to New York, crossin" over to Liverpool, and then riding through England, France, Germany, Austria, and Turkey, to Constantinople. I am credibly informed that Arneil in tends to give up football for good. White' side.Macky, and Turnbull are meditating a similar step. The loss qf 9B e men will undoubted y soon remove, the Pon-sonfe Club from tho primer position whi^h ifchas held for ao long;, unless other equally good men can be induced to Join, and Wisfe rather improbable. r , M

Ahl^ a""™ 1 ? amßaof _th 6 rntercollegiate a*ft_fsrySs ?a£s shinhl aJ.?Ualu A,, n J ateur Athle«° Clvampion- NatiS 7' h t eldund<* theawspiceaoTthe was held »? a R?r •At- letip *ib_Mlo_| when W. G. Georgo, beat the mile record mail."" 18. 3 ma t enifi«ent race in t_e Twi ■ 8 0f 4:? i- 18 2"sths sec. sec PZ« Kb^ reC°rd Was 4min"l9 3-sths sec done by George at Lilly Bridge in

Robert Edwards, who was to row Neil Patterson on the Paramatta this (Saturday afternoon, has been challenged by (jT iMsaS-ffl-mvlfljadoiMnfll^i.^" „?L_________

offers to row him for level money :f th P course is uiund the "two islands" _,„. asks odds of £130 to £100, or _300 to _20ft if the race is rowed on the Paramatte Ed wards replies that he will row him fa. £200 a-side over the champion course Mc t-lerken wants to make a match for £1(1 a-side. JU

The most disorderly crowd I ever saw at a football match this season assembled on tho Metropolitan Grounds on Saturday a f ter noon_, notwithstanding thofrequcn' .howera of rain which fell and converted '■ - 'n-onnd into a regular quagmire. Th.ic was too much of the larrikin element present and shouting and yelling was indulged into a disgusting degree. This is a . feature developed only recently, and is so objection ablo that I hope to see it speedily put «, stop to. l

When the mail left, arrangements were being made in Washington for an inter national single scull race, to be open to all oarsmen in the world for £1,000 in cash prizes and the world's championship. The race will probably be live miles,', one turn and will take place in September. The following noted oarsmen had agreed to enter tho contest:—llanlan, Ko.ss, Teemer Gaudaur, Courtney, Conley, Plaisted, Leo' Ten Eyck, -'Hosmer, Hamm and Bubear' and Largan, of England, and Peterson of San Francisco. , '

So far as can be gathered from their per formances up to date, the best En-lieh yachts of the year are in order the Genesta Marjorie, Dorna, and Miranda. The Genesta was designed by Mr Bevor Webb who from the days when he raced the gallant little Freda has made a name in the yachting world, and who is well qualified to turn out tho racing machines now in vogue At Harwich, on June 2, the Genesta finished 38sec in front of the Marjorie, and. two minutes ahead of the Vanduara. Great things aro expected of a new yacht named the Irex, which is stated to have the biggest lump of lead bolted on her keel that has ever been placed outside any _n_W vessel—"Bulletin." * gQ

The London " World " remarks how big a figu.-o " extras " cut in the totals nowa days. It says:—"There is no better wicket keeper in the world than Blackham • yet the Australians, in the nine matches'they have already played, have given their adversaries no fewer than 104 byes. With the slow bowling that was so long in vogue a longstop could be dispensed with, and thus an additional man secured for the out fielding. But fast bowling seems to be looking up again, and, besides, even oar slow bowlers generally indulge in one fast ball at least in the over. Palmer and Giffen, for instance, sometimes put one in quite as fast as Spofforth j and Steel can varyhis paceprettysmarWy. Runs come from, the bat, as a rule., quite quiokly enough, withoutthrowingthem awayinthisfashion "

The thousand-miles-in-a-thousand-half«S hours craze is beginning to spread at last.S Professor Rosike, of Ontario, has underJS taken to do the " spot" stroke at billiards'-* 5,000 timea in 5,000 half-hours ; theHobartl boating enthusiasts think they could part with £250 to see Hanlan pull a thousand, miles in a thousand half-hours; Pete Williams, a buck nigger of Ohio, hp; s been matched to eft a thousand pork pies in _ thousand half-hours ; and there is some talk of backing Lewis S; oot t to make a thousand villainous, W 00 d-curdling puns in a thousand half-hours also. Death will have no terrors for us after that affair comes • °»i hna talking of death, by the way, reminds us that le sport is commencing to animate our very cemeteries, for wo notice one Jim Warner, of Sandy Flat, Nevada, is open to back himself to dig a grave quicker and neater than any man his weight in the whole world. All we long for now is the hangman who will undertake to pull off a thousand executions in a thousand half hours, beginning with the mud-headed idiot who first began the "thousand* racket—" Bulletin."

THE LONDON THEATRES.

[FRO.t OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

London, Jnjy 4. The splendid summor weather w c are having is (vulgarly speaking) " playing o i d Harry " with our West End tl_eat.es, very few of which will bo ope n i n August. Georgo Rignold, at the. Eolborn, has already sue-

cumbed to fate, and put up the shutters'; j-oole announces the last nights of the J season at his little house in King William- A Street, the Bancrofts go to the Engadine us ' | usual next month, the Kendals invariably,:; : close the St. James/8 for six weeks at mid summer, and already placards are up ' announcing the final arrar,g omen ts for the too brief Italian Opera season. Meanwhile people who do not mind pei. ! spiring in a gas-s.ented atmosphere, vrith the thermometer at, 90. Fahr., have several < > dainty novelties, in prospect. Firs, and foremc*. there is Mademoiselle '4 baran Bernhardt, " the peerless, Sally " la the washes, of the new Club .all her) who : to. us better, cleverer, and mora fl I admirable than ever. Th e g rea t feature of ,la Bernhardt, repertoire, this time will ba : : Macbeth, with her .olf as the dauntless wife of the cowardly Tliane of Cawdor: Mf . ■ Oscar Wilde saw Sarah in Paris the othe. day acting Lady, Macbeth, and deigned to be much pleased. "There is," he mur mured rapturously, "absolutely nothing - like *er.. In the murder scene your blood •; ( Jims cold, and your heart turns to ice with \ horror. Oscar was also satisfied with M. : , R whepm . ridiculous translation of Shak spores tragedy. Ho calls it "rude^ majestic prose," whatever that may be. When Sarah returns to Paris she will bepin studying Romeo, a role she has \on_ : aspired to represent. M utfu. 0 -_lt£.lia^ °Pera on Wednesday Mdl c. Gertrude Gnswold, thoprima donna osjoiMteof the Grand Opera, Paris, made he first appearance in London, as Marguerite in 'Faust." Miss Griswcld is an American, ■• . so of course the Yankee contingent of society mastered in great force. She achieved a staking success. The Italian . Upera aud.ence at Covent Garden has the ; refutation of being the coldest and most} i enseal in the world, but on this occasion certainly it was warmly appreciative. M_g Griswold's voice is soft, clear, and flex^blei She received a double encore fr, r t__ l " Jewel '* song, and was recalled three times at the end of the third ac e M_H„ Scalchi, who, next to Trsbel _, B.ttini ia the finest of all Italian eon'„_altos shared the honours of the eveninf > v ifch Miss Gris^ wold. I would walk a good many miles to hear her do the "B'lowjr gong " Patti nights at th. c opera wp always a 7 terrific c^rush I V ent to hear la diva in ''Semiramide''the other evening. People beside me said v was very fine, but I wished we had selected " Aida." On Friday night, June 27, "Savonarola," a new opera by ?mk Tllll^ 8 Stanford, the libretto bi . c -r__ h ?„ck^ tt ' was Pr°duced at-Covent ! Garden by the German Company, why __v_ not done much good so far. * Their ,£____! " : ing of both "Tannhauser" and «____T ' grin' was voted __tt_^ "^ -Me^te^er" seems t, «c tlSj win ott {J'& "Twelfth Nigh t» IrvL,. J%rs*& tho Lyceum, with. Inmg as. (a part that ought to suit ,_^ and Ellen T ag Viola. >Q9Mij> i? rifle relative tothe splendour of the. i scenery, dresses, and general mounting-, ' 'They say at the Savage Club thaft Irvine' _IW3 spent £8,000 on the piece. £ For the last nights of his seasoiS Toole has revived those two old farces. %" The i Pretty Horsebreaker" and "DoWiesf,. ' Comedy, 'which now precede "Paw . frA? dian." "Featherbrain," an Enslish, b • of "Te do Linotto," by Mr jQS " was produced at the Criterir „ Irf-J> t ",eiy * Monday evening. This c " 7, PS.1 tT\ m long run in Paris, ft°*^l« »«*• elements of fun . A d ,con ta>nsioki man/ sembledexpec^\L;t^- getaudflrcelf '• Alas for s1 _v _ , enJ°y a heartj» laugh. duH a° k^ ted h°Pes ! the piecefpmved t*« ™ _U? h" Water- Chas. Wyndliam, in . | Wssbly have galvanised it into life, But ' T__ W,°" ld lmve foil"d it tougil, work. _vS.A_ >m5 1-!!? ltionß s° humorous tin the* o W_ ,edltl°? don't seem to s|,ccee_ aero, and yet the story is fully as nc|nSe_si oaUy frivolous as "Pink BoininoelL». or The Great Divorce^ Case." Tbi. plot turns on the terrors of a feather-bfca&ed wile whose compromising corresponM e nee w«th her lover is perpetually on the %,«,_ , ol discovery. Delicately handled, Vfis theme would certainly have yielded a loh«tAA ■■ tun, but Mr Albery has not caught Jthfl spirit of the joke. ' \ Miss Soldene has deserted the West ELa

musio halls for an East End Theatre, ar is appearing as "Chilperic" at tl Elephant and Castle.

A daring act of sacrilegious vandafisiL, has just been committed in P:enza, an ol<C* Tuscan town near Sienna. Some 400 years?" . ago Pope Pius JI. bequeathed to the cathe- v -s v dral of the town a valuable bishop's cope of' brocade, profusely adorned with pearls- . * and precious stones, the valuo of which* alone was estimated at two millions of: francs. One night last month the cope was < stolen, and a few days ago it was discovered* in the shop of a dealer in antiquities in- Florence, the .precious stones l.ri.jn- heeij-

THE AUCKLAND ETENING STAR, SATURDAY, AUGUST 2«, 1884,

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