RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiei,.]

Seine wrlto, a neighbour's name to lasb, U'uiio writo—vain thought!—for needful cash, UOUIO write to please the country clash. And raise a din. Jdor mil an aim I never fash— ft write for fun.

Britain and Germany having agroed net to disturb tho status quo in Samoa, tlio benevolent intentions of tho Government of this colony aro likoly to be frustrated This is docidedly " hard lines." Hero are the poor and oppressed Samoans calling out for deliverance, and hero is New Zealand * ready and willing to extend a helping hand ; but there— on tho other side of the world— nro Germany and England saying "It shall not bo I" Why, in tho name of all that is right and proper, slibuld such things bo ? If Samoa and New Zealand aro willing to entercnter into a matrimonial alliance, what light has Lord Derby or Princo Bismarck got to forbid tho banns, These eminently respectablejgentlomen are, no doubt, very learned in tho law of land grabbing ; but I submit that here thoy have no locus stam/i What is Samoa to them or they to Samoa? Tho latter ques tion is not quito unanswerable, but the answer might not bo of an agreeable kind, honestly given. True, England stands the capacity of a possiblo deliverer of though Lord Derby is probably un aware of tho Samoan potition now on its way to Her Majesty's Government; but of course, in view of this precious Anglo- German agreement to maintain tho freo dom of the islands, England is bound to return a negative answer to the tardy leap year wooing of Samoa. Meanwhile tho German storekeepers who wish to make Samoa an exclusive hunting ground for their own compatriots are quietly usurping the royal prerogative, and obtaining absolute control of tho Samoan Group. Considering the importance of tho island trade to this colony, and Auckland in particular, I mußt confess to great sympathy with Sir Julius Vogel's dreams of annexation ; but considering, further, that there aro several German men -o'-war about a£ these sea*, I should not exactly like to form one of tho annexation party. Supposing the Hinemoa to proceed on her high and holy mission, the following is not unlikely what may happen :— :• THE CRUISE OF THE IUNKMDA. It was tho Goutr Ministry, upon Now Zea land's shore To have the South Sea Islands so valiantly they Tho Treasurer bold called ont the fleet, and bade it sail away; The Captain stout he bellowod out—"We're sure to win tho day. ' Ods boba, hammer and tongsl Wove told you oft before. Wo haven't got land enough here, and wo re bound to have Samoa!" Sir William Jervois looked askance-" I'm not sure." said ho, , , „ , "That you can touch an inch of land in all the Southern Sea; Britannia rules the waves, you know. "No (ear," eaid bold Sir Jew, , , "Sho'sloft to Germany and Franoo tho work she ought to do. n Oda bobs! hammer and; tongs! Sail on, O, Hinemoa, , . We'll turn those Gorman vermin out, and then annex Samoa I" Away New Zealand's war-ship sped across the trackless deep: , Behold hor, sweet Samoan maid, and ceaso to monrn and weep. ,■ „ ~ Bould Buckley comes to " buckle-to - a noble Our/air child to your dusky sons brings life and Ods bobs 1 hammer and tongs 1 Our sauerkraut Kew^ZealanTson'Sio war-path now, and means to havo Samoa! Now lies Zealandla's mighty fleet In Pago Pugo Her M forco of five armod conatable3 parados so Her ISirße-stMTOi y flag ishoißted on tho palace of WhOTufar&l what foarful sounds are those Ods'boteY homm^and tongs! Three German Have salWl into the harbour and are firing on Samoa! Lord Buckley calls the army, he leads them to They *eek the Hinemoa, but she no longer She'saonk by German broadsides, and 'mid the < . The* boato «<f sunk-tho " bobbles" now are Oj ;tt«?S tongsl List to the ** We>aeio3t°our army and our fleet, and alao fair Samoa!". x x * "There is something rotten in the state of Denmark," says Marcellus in the play of "Hamlet "and " Zamiel" thinks there is something atrociously rotten in the manage ment of the Auckland Hospital. Solecism after solecism is committed, complaint after complaint is made, and still things seem to ba" setting no better fast." "Zamiol is Assured by one who ought to know that the mortality rate has Increased fearfully under the now reaime— that is.since the institution passed under local control. This statement havine been made, the Committee, to satisfy the public, should take steps to publish comparative mortality statistics to show whether or not the assertion U correct. x X x Thetrreat majority of the carpenters o* AucwinT being app™»«7 bent upon obeying the injunction, » Take no thought for the morrow," we have once more the not very creditable speotecto presented of if: • the hat being sent round in aid of those who havetort"their tools by fire. "Zamiel" fa not one who Jovea to dam the channels of charity; but he is firmly of opinion that the present is not a case in which that U " Give to him that asketh of thee,'1 should be literally obeyed. He would by all means give-not what is asked, something better and more •Pj»«P™te -a bit of sound advice, thus: "Go and ioln the Joiners1 and Carpenters' Society.' n camonter may not only maure his toola onen to of I members of the tnwte, those i mPen who suffer loss by fire have themselves |v fa Name, and must be the veriest loafers i and deadheads if they expect or think 1 ?hey deserve to receive assistance from tho I Sic! " God helps tho«o who help them- SSw" and the wxpoptM might very well in the present instance echo the «* dm, and telf those foolteh and improvident car, the first, as on former occasions, tc.proffer aid to their half-brothers in diatom in the hope thereby of showing them .the benefits of union, and drawing them into the fa bonds of brotherhood. So mote it be, and I hope the terrible conflagration in Customs street will cause many carpenters to be S, "as byfirp/'tomtheirformercawjer of selfish improvidence. x x * /•TheCampbell* are .Coming"sang the Gordon «* KtVtoiim. or he m.. ™» 11 mean, " The Cfliaels are coming, b. «» floldiers are now pu'oting those desert ships . *cross the savage wilderness m the nigh un trodden recesses -of tho Soudan, on their errand of relief to the beleaguered garrison ': of Khartoum. The newspapers point out that Lord Wolseley has issued an especial edict with regard to the,treatment^ our new friend and ally, tho camel. "Tommy — Atkins" is enjoined not only by no meaus to ill-treat him, but not to address him m offensive language. These Arabian camels, it would seem, are as hot-blooded and as Si' • ' ready to resent iftßult as are the Highland Cammells, who own allegiance to Mac- W callumMore. If you call them "hump backed galoots" or "flat-footed desert wobblers," they will absolutely decline to work, and if you beat them they will submia •i ■''■■- lively proceed,, but will let their riders their juafc resentment by a savage

kick or vicious bite when opportunity offers, though it should bo hours afterwards. Hence Tommy Atkins, given as he is to the use of "strange oaths," must|moderate his speech in presence of tho modest desert ranger. The Arabs know the animals' pet "vanity," it is said, and neither beat nor revile them. On the contrary, they coax and flatter them—toll thorn thoy aro beauti ful, accomplished,and all that sort of thing, which the simple creatures swallow with pleasure, and \vork|eheorfully all day lons. It sti'lkes me a goxl many of us aro like the c imel, and woi k all the bettor for a good supply of "tally." It ia truo that hard naraos break no bones, and that line pro mises butter no parsnips ; but all tho same, bad language is reprehensible, and compli mentary phrase is pleasant, as evoryono is rondy to admit when applied to himsolf, however sloiv ho may be to admit tho truth when presented vice versa.

A striking illustration of an old proverb was given by a hapless husband during the prosent week as ho cast an imploring oyo towards tho Resident Magistrate, viz., "Nobody knows whore tho shoo pinches but tho wearer." "Proverbs nro vulgar, because thoy oxpross common senso," says Lady Davenant, ono of Maria Edgoworth's most attractive characters. Proverbs aro sometimes shrewd, worldly, and witty, if not always corroct. No addition or modifi cation is roquirod for the provorb quoted by this disconsolato husband, who was dragged into court by his irato partner— once a blooming young widow—with a brood of cackling littlo onos around her, consist ing, as tho poor man said, of a round dozen living members of three|families. '' Thoro's where tho shoe pinches," said tho do fondant, "the finding support for other pooplo's children." Nobody knows, etc., is applicable in any region where a poraon wears a tight-fitting shoo of tho conven tional shape. If itshould boconio tho fashion to wear a soft shoo adjusted to the natural conformation of the foot, the proverb In question would havo aa littlo meaning as it has now to the. slippered Turk or the barefooted Maori. 1 did not know that it was actually a proverb in Komo, among those ancient sandal wearing people, but Plutarch puts tho phrastAnto tho mouth of -Emilius, who was anxious to rid himself of his wife by divorce, and when requested -to givo his reason for wishing to separate from his law ful partner, admitted hor virtues, but pointed to his shoo with a sorrowful ro joindor, "Tsono of you know whero it pinches me." In like manner tho unfortu nate man in tho Police Court confessed to his wife's womanly worth, but added, " Othor people's children : thoro'sthe rub— that's where tho shoo pinches ; would that I had taken the advice of the elder Weller, ' Beware of the widdies.'" XXX All tha abaurditios of tho Saturday night fire have not yet found their way into print. When the conflagration was at its worst, an old lady with a child in her arms, and hor hair flowing with the breeze, came rushing madly along ono of the principal thorough fares, screeching, "For God'a sake, make way, good people ; tho gas isgoingto bust," The crowd gave way to let her pa*, but as this was not the first falso ala'm, moat persons stood firm, willing to tike their chance in event of such a remote casualty happening. One young man, however, who was evidently a stranger to the gaa scare, took fright and went" streaking "along the road, anywhere away from tho gas works,at a good pace. He was from a soft goods warehouse, but it was probably at somo other shop that ho obtained tho aitiquated looking rooster which he vainly ondeavoured to smother under his coat, and withtheassis tanco of whose wings ho oventinlly Hew clear of the much-dreaded fire. Vhere the man and bird eventually brought ip I have not heard ; probably it was in some remote spot, where calm reflection disclosid that a littlo unseemly haste had been practised. Another funny thing during tho fire was the ridiculous manner in which people rushed to their meters and ahut off the gaa, while they stood afar off and waited in vain to see that dreaded article explode. One draper was struck with the danger of having nis shop open whilo there was such a great crowd about, and very soon after the bells rang, had every article carried inside and Bhut up shop ; indeed, the fire was of vast assistance to the early olooinß movement Business, however, is said to havo suffered considerably. X XX A beery individual that "Zamiel" wotteth of was pursuing an irregular course up Queen-street in the " wee short hoors ayont tho twal' " a few days back. It was a wet night, and he sighed heavily as he scanned the empty cabstand, and uttered maledictions not loud but deep at the pro spect of a long walk to his home in the auburba, and mediated on the welcome that would await him. Presently he gave yen( to an exclamation of satisfaction. A little distance up the street he espied the light of Krister's coffee stall, which he mistook for a belated cab. A few erratic strides brought him face to face with theever-smilingpieeman.whom he thus addressed : " Hie ! cabby, wazzer ye take to tic !-—drive me to Ponsonby ?" Brister explained to him that it was a coffee stall, not a cab, when the beery one, having pur chased a pie and a eaveloy, tacked off into the darknese. XXX I havo much pleasure in making public the following courteous note from Dr J. Murray Moore, to whom my best thanks are due :— Dear Zamiel,—As a diligent student of Tennyson, I beg to be allowed to reply_ to your question of Saturday last concerning the meaning of atanza 3 of Section LII, :— 3. What keeps a spirit wholly truo To that idoal which he bears? What record ? Not the Binless years That breathed beneath the Syrian blue. i. So fret not, like an idle girl, , That life Is dashed with flecks of sin. Abide: thy wealth is gathered In When Time hath suodereasheU from pearl. These two stanzas must be read continu ously, for the idea is one : the poet, personi fying the Spirit of True Love, seeks to ex plainhow a man, arrived at the full maturity of his life and powerß, keeps his cause'pure, and elevates his character by looking back over the foibles of his youth. I may para phrase the two stanzas thus, rendering, as I believe, the meaning of the author quite correctly.:— " What keeps the spirit of a man truo to the ideal which he carries in his heart? Not the sinless life of the Perfect One Christ) in Syria, but the recollection of the past sins and follies of his own youth, into which he dreads to relapse, and the effects of which he longs to undo. So be brave IDo not fret, like an idle girl, that thy life is spotted with Bin, but bo constant to thine idoal, for whatever is good and worthy of; thy deeds and character shall be gathered, in by tho Almighty when the soul (a pearl of great value) shall be parted from the body (the shell, of no value)." I cannot but think that the person ol- Juded to in Section XCVI. is the hero of 11 In Alemoriam," Arthur H. Hallam. x x Dr. Moore's lucid explanation of Section LII. certainly clears away every; difficulty, and makes the poet's meaning perfoctly plain. I had many times pondered the passage, but had never seen daylight through ifc. The obscurity lay in the words • • Not the ginlcs3 years That breathed beneath the Syrian blue. Their relationship with the preceding, and with what succeeded, v as*by m means evi dent ; indeed, they seemed an interpolation without connection at all. However, what was dark before is cow illuminated, thanks to Dr. Moore. But his explanation of the first stanza of Section XCVI. i must venture to disagree with. It runs thus— You say. but with no touch of scorn, Sweet-hearted, you. whese lightibltie eyca AirO tender over drowning flies,! You tell me, d< iibt is devil-born. • Now, it is quite dear to me that tie person ; addressed here is not Arthur Hallam, the hero of tho poem, but some girl |friend or relative of the poet's. To a girl (he words are fitly applied % but the man wlom they | wojjii describe-would t^a effeminate, to say f L - *esk.. A man does not uauklly weep tne. ■-»«ii)«#igss nor is the .caour of a over dro.. "-^tfy rfjuded.to injthe terns man's eyes gen. *..,., ]jajj anl is spoken ' here used. No; you ■ *u v J^ the of in the stanzas which fono. "-^ vsijant " one, indeed, I knew." He is thi --«4 i spirit who "fought his doubts and bathe^ strength " ; who " faced the spectms of the mind and laid them." Hallam woild never have said that "doubt is devil-turn:" he rather hold that. " There lives mora faith in honest d übt, Believe me, than in half the ere ds-" I find, on reference to the Ret. F. W. Robertson's " Analysis of 'In Monoriam'," that my opinion agrees with his. Tie section in question is there summed up in one line, "Bow he (Hallam) emerged isto faith thront'h doubt," I think that Di. Moore,

after a re-reading of tho stanzas, will see reason to alter his view. " Zamiel" may find occasion on some future Saturday to allude to "In Memoriam " again. It is a mine of rich thought, all too little worked.

I cannot resist the temptation to supply an unrecorded incident of Boxing Day, Tho scene was Grafton Road,at its junction with Park Road. A family party wero embarking upon a spring trap or waggon ette, seomingly bound for tho racecourse Tho father and mothor had seated them selves in front, and tho grandmother was loaning against an empty barrel in the contro of the space behind while further sitting accommodation was boing prepared for hor self and the young fry. Suddenly tho horse started oil' at a cantor, tho old lady was tilted back into tho barrel, and a moment later all that was visible of hor wore her protruding legs. Aa I was myself in a desperate hurry at tho timo, I did not wait for the donouihnont, but as tho news papers havo beon silont upon it,l shall,with Chawbacon in tho song, " S'poso it bo aw right."

THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

We havo rocoived from Mr N. G. Lonnox, booksellor, Quoen-stroot, a readable littlo book entitled " Mistakon Viows on the Education of Girls," written by a school master resident at Christchurch, Mr Johanno Lohee. Tho author has' evidontly had considerable exporionco of his subject, and much that he has to say is worth listen ing to. Tho title is somewhat misleading, for he deals solely with tho oducation of girls of tho " higher claasos of society," as tbo roador is not clow in finding out in tuct, tho insistonco of Mr Lohso on tho re spectability of tho persons whoso sad lot prompts his indignant pen gives his book lot, if wo may be permitted to say so, a prifgish air which many will consider of fensuvo. Ho is particularly hard on certain girl graduates who are guilty of a "loud untutored voico, bad accent, vulgar laugh, and fearful twang, sad want of good manners and social tact,_ colloquial blunders, narrow range of reading, and de fective stylo," and accuses them of "for ovor dreaming and scheming how to creop on to a higher social stratum " (pp. 79—SI). Mr Lohso writes from Christchuicb, where femalo graduates aro most numerous, and it is to be hoped that his severe strictures have no local reference If thoy have, he will hardly oscapo scathless from tho hands of the maligned scholarly woinon, who aro perfoctly capable of defending thoinselves. It is not such graduates that tho author would see entrusted with the training of girls of "tho higher classos of society." No, ho says plainly, " the higher education of gilds ought to bo in tho hands of gontlo womon only." Tho majority of private girls' schools in the colony (and in Great Britain too) ho condemns as being injurious shams, and no doubt his remarks, sovero as thoyare, aro fully justified. A radical change is wanted, and as an important step in this direction Mr Lohso strongly advocates the necessity of having all toachors, whether in public schools or private, certiticeted. No others, ho maintains, should bo allowed to teach. The practicability of compelling all toachers in private establishments to bo examined and passed or rejected as tho case may bo, is not discussed, though tho question is an important one and has more than ono sido. There is unquestionably much fault on tho part of parents, who do not tako tho care and trouble they should in ascartaining whether the teachors of their daughters are compotont or not. The author, not unnaturally as the principal of one, is in favour of private schools, as against public; but here again thero is room for argument A great number of matters relating to education are discussed in this book, and thoro are not wanting many valuable suggestions, scattered up and down. Tho order observed by the author is not very obvious, and a full list of contents at the head of each of tho nino chapters, instead of the ornamental quota tion now standing there, would prove of service. Mr Lohse haa contracted tho habit of Quotation from miscellaneous sources in a bad form. He cites authors enough to fill a long list, and ho is ludicrously anxious to acknowledge all his sources. Ho lays under contribution tho Talmud, Holy Writ, George Macdonald, Cailylo, Macaulay, Cicoro, George Eliot, Rev. E. Thring, Herbert Sponcer, Dr. Hessoy, Canon Farrar, Sydney Smith, J. A. Froude, Dr. Liebreich, Emerson, Locko, Milton, Shake speaie, and many more besides. These numerous quotations give his style a patch work-like appearance, which is not alto gether pleasing to the reader. It is not everyone who can quote judiciously. Mr Lohse is presumably of German nationality, and as a foreigner he must bo said to write good English. Wo may bo pardoned for pointing to one or two small blemishes. His title is not abovo criticism. It would read better as, "Mistaken views o/tbe Education of Girls." His frequent use of the word " nice " is rather young ladyish, though it is curious that he has a funny depreciatory note on the word (p. 132). A word on the get-up of the book is deserved. 'It is singularly free from printers' errors, while the general style of the printing and binding rollouts great, credit on the publishers, Mtssrs Whit combe and Tombs, Chrietchurch.

The Queen's Invitations.

In connection with the Queen's invitations to receptions, Lord Malmesbary relates the following incident :—

"May, 1865.—A1l London is talking of the way in which the Corps Diplomatique has bten invited to the Queen* reception. It was in those terms: ' That the Queen would graciously receive them, male and female, at a Court to be held at Bucking ham Palace.' All those concerned are try ing to shift the responsibility upon one an other. The diplomatists have sent their cards of invitation to their respective Courts ; and, therefore, it has produced a great sensation all over the world, as the term male and female is never used in French, except in speaking of animals. We dined with tho Hardwiokes, and met Lord Clarendon, who told some amusing stories of the Americans at Home. One lady, who lived in tho Via Babuino, near a Jesuit Propaganda College, said, "I live in Baboon-street, opposite one of the Pope's propagating houses." An American gentle man on being asked what he thought of the Venus de Medici, said, " I never allow myself to be sat upon by those stone girls." Here is another one:—

"January 21, 1861.—1 heard to-day a good Btory of Jhe present Duke of Welling ton. He and the Duchess were invited to Windsor. She was in JJondon, and went; but th,e Duke haying a party at Staithfield saye, whjch he did not like to put off, sent an excuse, and when he was afterwards told of the offence he had given, he replied, ' Her Majesty has no right to be angry ; I obeyedjthe back of the cart!,and tho Duchess obeyed the front.' The invitation cards have printed directions on the back, desir ing that the card should be returned should the ladies and gentlemen invited be away from London."

History of the Manchester Dukedom.

Reviewing the history of the Manchester Dukedom, "Modern Society" says there is little to be said about the first four Dukes, ' sajre that they successively discharged the "onerous duties" of Lord of the Bed qhamber, and a groat house haying ap parently gone permanently to sleep after obtaining the dukedom. The fourth Duke, it may De added, held, in addition, the "equally responsible" post of Master of the Horse. In the positions of Head Valet and Head Groom they could probably do little mischief beyond drawing their pay. The fifth Duko was somewhat more ambitious. He became Governor of Jamaica, afra salary of about £i'4,OQ9 pc? anpum, and on his retirement obtained an annual pension of £2,000. He was' afterwards Postmaster- General from 1,828 to 1830. Ho was also for many years Collector of the Customs for the Port of London, the duties of which office were, of course, performed by subordinates'. Thjis office appears to hays been given in £° r ~"*>**iity fey ©harles 11. to a member of an- —'"iik qI fh§ family, for his services other taw _ ''■* Emigration 5 for the in promoting tuo "* tliat J^OfWi were Monks and Montagus 01 . •*>4a and not a whit better than the St. Arnau^.' Mornys of the coup d'etat of 1851. The family (forty relatives) of the- Dukes of Manchester have received in pensions, &c, the sum of £326,500.

" BUCHU PAIBA."-Quick, complete curt, ill unauj-inj KMne7, Bladdsr and IMumj jlliauw. At Diueslils.

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand.

Poverty Bay T.C. IVli.cimit Jan. 20 anil 21 Onehuuga R.C. Summer Jan. 21 Helonaville Turf Club Meotinß: Jan. 2!) Takapuna J.C. Summer Jan. 29 Wellington J.C. Summer Feb. 1 and 6 Wellington R.C. Suinmor Fob. 6 and 7 Dimedin J.C. Autumn Fob. 2G, 27, and 28 WuDßanui J.C. Autumn March 6 and b North Aucklnna (DargavMo) ltaces.. March (i. i Onmnru J.C. Autumn March 17 and IS Uawko's liny J.C Autumn ....March 17 una 10 T.J.C. Annivorsary Mooting March Ti and 28 Auckland li.C. Autumn April 4 und b C.J.C. Autumn Mottinß April 6and T Auckland B.C. Stcoploclmso Meet ing... .Juno tl

To Correspondents.

Hacickr.—Tho balance of tho swoop for the Dunodln Cup (lOaovu) is not duo till thu 23rd of February. W.—Tho Champion Stnlcea is run on tho 7th of Maroh. Mr J. IHlbrow'a Woloomo Jack is not nominated.

IxournKU.—Clo(?3 was Rot by Lcolinua from Crinoline. Hotli her sire mid (linn are owned by tho N. 55. Stud Company* Nklson.—Tlio fastest authcntloatod times that ono milo )ma beon run in aro us follow:—In Australia, Uoolkii, 1.40; Eiurland, Jiitucanoer, 1.33 ; America, Ten Uruuck, I.3DJ.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Tun stewards of tho Auckland Racing Club mot at tho oncl of last week to take into consideration mattors connected with tho rocent Stooplcchaso bungle. Lotters woro read from Mr J. Pilbrow (tlio ownor of Clarence) and Mr It. W, Maxwoll (ownor of Bunray) claiming rocompenso, and after discussing tho matter, it was docided to oiler each £100 without prejudico, which has boon accoptcd by both Mr Pilbrow and Mr Maxwell in the spirit in" which it was givon. Tho stewards arrivod at tho conclu sion on tho ground that tho Club woro in a monsuro to blnmo for tho occur ronco through the nogligonco of onoof their sorvants cloaring tho wronc jump, So as to prevont bungling in any futuro stooplo chases by tho horses going tho wrong courso, I am glftd to hear tho Committoo intond having substantial posts, six inches square, orocted at all of the jumps, with tops painted rod. In addition it will also bo publicly notHicd previous to oacli meeting that tho Club will tako no excuse should ridor.i tako thoir horses outaide tho different posts. I had a look ovor tho six yoarlings tho Now Zealand Stud Company shipped to Syd ney this wook shortlyafterthey worobrought to town from Sylvia Park. Tho batch woro all looking healthy and well, and if tho Musket—Onyx colt is landed all right, I shall expoct to soo him fetch a bijr nrioo, for ho is ono of tho (most yearlings I liavo clapped oyos on. Undoubtedly he is tho pick of tho lot. The colt by Anteros— Sylvia has improvod a deal of lato, and although still inclined to bo " leggy," has such a lot of quality and rare galloping points about him that ho ulso should command a good figure Captain Walmsley went in charge, and in addition to tho youngsters ho took ovor tho Hon. J. White's EnglLsh-brcd more Lady Vivian, who has boon sorved by Musket, By tho s.s. Wairarapa on Thursday, Mr K. H. Vallanco took Salvage and Youth to Gisborno. Tho first-named is engaged in tho sovoral events of tho Povorty Bay Turf Club Mooting, which takes place on Tuosday and Wodnesday next. Mi1 Bato'a string— Tho Poot, Minerva, and Tho Painter—wore shipped to Wellington by the samo boat. From tho Mnnukau, tho s.s. Hawea took Sou'-westcr,Ugly Buck, and Administrator, also bound for Wellington. Mr Kobortaon had intended that his mare Mitraillouso should have accompanied Wel come .lack and Claronco to Sydney. It seems that Mr Robertson only made up his mind to send tho daughter of Muskot across about noon on Tuesday, and immediately on determining the matter, ho telegraphed to Papakui-a, instructing French to bring hor down by tho aftornoon train. By somo moans or other, tho tele gram did not roach its destination until four o'clock, and whon French did arrive here, about half-past ten, it was too lato to ship her. Mr Kobortson was greatly dis appointed, for ho had made every arrange mont for Bonding tho daughter of Mu»kot across, oven to tho passing of tho Customs. Looking ovor tho ontriea for tho Now market Handicap, I find tho name of Mitraillouso is missing, so that her nomina tion, which was sent by cablo, inußt have been informal.

Mr J. Marshall has purchased Turquoiso from Mr R. H. Vallanco. Tho price paid has not transpired. Carefully troated.Tur quoise should bo ablo to win a raco or two at our Autumn Meeting for his new owner, while for the stud ho must provo invaluablo, for ho is a rare bred 'un.

I am glad to hoar tho Tnkapuna Joekoy Clab havo alterod thoir stoopleclmse course. Instead of the horses going down tho gully as heretofore, they will run on the hill above, so that spectators can havo an un interrupted view during the whole of tho race. The double jump has bean removed to the far side of the course, where it can be seen much better. A new totalisator house, to accommodate throe machines, has also beon erected, and the old one will be used for paying-out. J. llae left for Gisborno on Thursday under engagement to ride Macaroni in the Hurdle Race there. B. Vuile has also gone to Wellington to ride for Mr P. 1\ Tancrod. Black Rose is a firm first favourite far tho Wellington Gold Cup at 4 to 1, and "eights " are taken about Tigredia. Mr J. Chadwick lost his promising horse Topthorn this week. His death was caused by the severe injuries ho received in the ateeplechase at tho recent Thames Meeting. Johnny Faulkner pulled up very lame after running second to Taiaroa in tho Craven Stakos at tho C.J.C. Midsummer Mooting, It is said that he will have to be treated to a long spell. Tho Canterbury Joekoy Club incur a loss of about £150 over the New Year's Day Meeting, which to us Aucklander* will not cause a pang of regret. In deploring the non-suocess of the fixture, the " Now Zea land Referee" in its leading columns says :—"lt is evident that tho throe day* at Auckland, with such a liboral pro gramme as tho A.R- C. now puts forth, havo moro potent charms for owners and sporting mon generally than tho single day's sport in this city. Wo are not saying ono word to disparage the excellent bill-of -fare the C.J.C. issue for the opening day of tho year, but the Auckland Racing Club and the Lyttloton Regatta Committee aro too big organisa tions to fight. We fancy the C.J.C. havo loarnt a lesson in this direction with the three Summer Meetings thoy havo held. Could thoy not appropriate Anniversary Day, Dec. 16, for the future, or better still, issue a programmo for a couplo of days' raoing about Jan. 20 ?" £1,676 went through tho totalisator at the Whangarei Meeting last week. The Waitara Jockey Club Summer Meeting was undoubtedly o " benofit" for the local sportsman, Mr J. George, who won seven out of tho thirteen events decided. By the aid of Buzzard, he appro priated the J.C. Handicap of lOOsovs, Publicans' Handicap of 50sov8, and Hying Handicap of 30sovs; while his mare Awatea proved successful in the Derby of 75sovs, and Maiden Plate of 25sovs. Mr George also won the Hack Hurdles and Plat Race with Sunshine. Mr M. O'Brien's horses Normanby, Witiora, and Wide-awake, accompanied by the Cadogan—Miss Laura colt, purchased by him at the Stud Company's sale, were ghipped to New Plymouth on Wednesday. The Midsummer Handicap was very slowly run during the greater part of tho race. According to the official time-keoper, Mr Stead, the times were :~Half-mile, 56jsec ; six furlongs, 1 mm 25sec; one mile, lmin 52Jsec ; one mile and a quarter, 2min 19 Jsoc ; one mile and a half, 2min 46sec ; two miles, Stnin 38sec. Several private watches, however, made the time for the two miles 3min 35seo.

I extract the following from the " Napier Telegraph," which speaks for itself: —" It seems impossible to get horse-ownera to study their own interests and nominate in time. Following closely on the mistake, in reference to the acceptance of Black Rose for the Dunedin Cup, Mr Luckie, the Secretary of the S.B. Jockey Club, received this morning a delayed telegram from the Hon. G. McLean nominating Lady Emma, Lady Evelyn, Matanaka, and Mokoia for the Napier Handicap, arid the same horses with Rubizahalfor the Railway Stakes. The telegram was in the 'Napier Office last night at a few minutes to eight, but' beintr a de layed wire > was not put in the Secretary's letterbox till *bw morning. Of course, nothing could b.3 don« p fcfo matter, and there'was no alternative ?»£ tv Fe^ofc We entries. The Australian Jockey OJub have received —*«-four nominations fpi> tllflir first tweu.., *■- fun jn gmtember next. Oaks Stakes, -. £ Wf} 4 uc kland- Among the number are -»!j. a i g p™. bred ones, viz,, the Hon. J. Wm- -vi. cusaion.byMusket-Sißter Agnes, and Mr W. Kelso's Industry, by Musket-Pearl Ash,

Tho final payment for tho Wellington Gold Cup is duo to-night (Saturday), and for tho Wellington Cup on Monday next. At the Victorian Club (Melbourne) Meeting, tho Cup was won by Mr J. Kodfearn's mare Madcap, who defeated A'-utlui, Amelia Victoria, and seventeen others. Tho Bookmakers' Purse was won by Mr W. Fiold's Mozart, tho fino field of twonty-six going to .tho post. The Two Yoar Old Stakos foil to Mr T. Jones's colt Solo, who was got by Nowminetor from Lady Susan. Tho " ring " had a very bad timo at tho meeting, for out of six racos, iivo woro won by absolute iirst favountos, and tho winner of tho sixth—the Steeple cluisio—wns substantially supported both straight out and i» doubles. It is estimated that tho Holders paid away soinothing like iMO 000, while the amount down on the winning sido 6f thoir Bottling books was scarcely a third of that sum. t How disas trous tho day was for layers will bo roadily understood whon it is stated that a well known doublo-ovontor, who invariably " bots to figures," dropped half a monkey, although the price laid against the first winning double was at tho finish five to one. Bidding waH slack at tho sale of Mr_A. F. Smart's thoroughbreds. Tho highest fignro, 700 guineas, was givon by Mr W. Gannon for Warwick, whilo Arohie found a purchaser in Mr W. Long at 050 guinoas, and l'rivatoor wont to the samo owner at 400. After Mr Smart's lots wore dis posod of, Sir Moored was brought into the riii"-, but was passed in at 900 guineas. Prodigal also wont back to his stable at 250. Ono hundred and throe for tho JNew market Handicap, and forty-oight for the Australian Cup, aro tho totals of tho nominations for tho two big autumn handi caps. Comparod with past seasons, these figures rank amongst tho bests on record. Tho principal absentees in the Nowmarkot Handicap aro Fryingpan, Plausible, and Duration, whilo in tho Australian Cup Malua and Bargo aro conspicuous by thoir absence Tho well-known imported Amoncan trotting stallion Boccaccio, lately pur chased by Mr F. Underwood from Mr j. A. Roberts, of Sydney, has beon backed to trot ono milo in 2min IlSsoc for £1000. The exhibition takes place in May next. Tho fiold for tho Normanby Stakos this yoar was tho smallest that has ever faced the startor for that classic ovont. Tho timo, on tho other hand, was faster by half a second than tho provious best on record f-jr this race.

St. Gaticn's siro Tho Rovor hns had his throat cut by somo ruffian, Speaking of tho matter tho "Sporting Lifo " says :—" On Wednesday night a barbarous outrago was committed upon Tho Rovor, undoubtedly tho siro of tho Derby dead-heater and Ces arowitch winner, St. Gation. This stallion was located at Mr Shine's stable, Lostewel, County Korry, and as tho ownor is in tho Court of Bankruptcy, and as tho horse's futuro destination was in doubt, consider able excitement provailod in tho neighbour hood, especially an tho horso had for some timo beon in the hands of the Courts offi cors. On tho night of Wednesday wo re gret to say, Tho Kovor's throat was cut, and whon found in tho stable ho wus quite dead. Tho Hover, by Blair Athol out of Crinon, by Nowminstcr, in his yearling days cost IJBOO guineas at Coblmm, but he novor won ft race, and, sinking by degrees in tho social pcalo, passed into tho possosion of Mr KnowlcH, tho well-known Epsom Mly'pro prietor, who in his turn sold the horso—after unsuccessfully advertising him for Sftlo at i-50—for a few pounds to Mr Shino. But provious to his boing banished to Ireland, Tho Hover's services had been called into request for two or throo mares at tho Wor chestor Park Stud, owing to tho illnoss of Rothorhill, hence his allianco with St. (inticn'edam. It may be noted that The Kover was, in conformity with tho ordor of tho Court, ordered to bo sold at Swell's Re pository, Dublin, forthebonotit of Mr Shino'o creditors, and the last ofi'or refusedlorhim— a totally inadequate ono—was 700 guineas. Tho Detective Department has tho matter in hand, and two arrests aro doomed im minont."

DUNEDIN SPORTING NOTES

[By TfitiKOßAPii.]

[From Our Special Correspondent.]

Dunedin, Thursday. The Kon G. McLoaa will in nil probability bo represented at tho two approaching Wellington moetingH. Ho has Lady Emma, Mokoia, and Lady Evolyn engaged tliero, and most likoly Koan will bo sont up with tho old maro at loast. Hor numerous backers down horofor tlio Duncdin Cup aro consequently on thorns, for hor winning either of tho Wellington Cups moans 71b penalty for our raco. Disquieting rumours aro afloat re.-pocting several of tho Duncdin Cup horses. Captain Wobstor's soro heel is again troubling him, and whereas his party wero last woek anxious to got a lot of monoy about him, they will not now touch him. Trenton and Johnny Faulkner are also still in Queer street, while Ondeis is not doing strong work. These influences, and the uncer tainty about Lady Emma's movements, have caused tho betting market to bo rather dull, and quotations aro pretty woll nominal. Wapiti is, however, decidedly a strong favourite, notwithstanding his 71b penalty for winning at Christohurch, and anything over 100 to 15 is readily taken. Vanguard and Lady Emma come next ad 100 to 12 each, but this is only on offer, there being no backers, while there is the prevailing impression that both will go to Wellington. July, Fusilier, and Liverpool remain at 100 to 8 each, while o point longer odds is obtainable about Captain Webster, Tasman, Oudois, Sou-wester, Nelson, and Salvage. Tho result of tho second meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Qlub's Committee con cerning tho acceptance of Black Rose has given general satisfaction to all except thoso who had backed him for the Dunedin Cup, for there is an unusual /ecling that a club's rules should be strictly adherod to. Still there Is, of course, much sympathy for tho party connected with tho colt, as they suffer through a fault which is really none of theirs.

Tho retirement of "Ada Mantua" from the consultation business has opened a road to several new promoters of that kind of businosH, tho latest horo being Messrs Mason and Roberts, who work the totali sators at all of tho Dunedin, and most of tho Otago and South Canterbury meetings.

FAMOUS BETTORS.

When the history of betting comes to bo writton by. some competent hand it will appear that from the very earliost timoa nearly all the prominent members of the ring—that variegated region—havo sprung from very humble origin, and started with very little capital. As nearly all those who may, in a comparative sense, bo termed the saving members of tho fraternity die wealthy, and as tho rest livo in what they consider to bo ,a luxurious fashion, it will appear that bookmaking is a lucrative calling, and backing the reserve. Take old Michael Brunton, a true Yorkshireman for instance, born in 1755, and who, wo aro told, lived respected by all, and died rich at tho ago of aO, after having attended Doncaater racea for sixty-one years without intermission, and having carried on his trade till within three years- of his death. In the matter of bookmakers aspiring to municipal honours history repeats it3olf, for Michael was more than once Mayor of Rich mond, where he lived all his life. The interpretation of Acts of Parliament is said to have been the only thing that caused him any uneasiness, though in that difficulty *hia self-relianco never deserted him, and whan his brother magistrates disagreed witli his reading—and they appear to have done so pretty often—it was fciß habit to produce a handful of coins, and offer to lay the bench 6 to 4 all round that he was right. Quite as great a character was old William Richards, the Leicester stocking seller, who, like Brunton, in variably dressed in a blue coat with brass buttons, drab breechee and' gaiters. Richards used to hawk stockings in early life, and, while on his rounds, won some money at cards. A local race meeting gave him the chance of backing a successful out-sider v'ith his winnings, and fromthis small beginning he became the proprietor of Ragdale Hall. Whenever he went to a face meeting he used to take a supply of stockings with him to sell to the people ef the inns at which he stopped, and whenever Ihe won' over a meeting he always brought batfk brown Windaer soap and ribbons for his servants. As ail example of hiis c? reful inodp pjf living, it is said'ft-- he ftW<7 s rWuied tq fcesp,' f}" servant until he was worth £500 a year, ' He alrays read his Bible for an hour' pn Sunday, being as methodical fn his studies as old William Soott-ne relation to the racing fgndy who made It a practioe to read "Bailey s Dictionary 11 and the Prayer Book twice $very year-

Betting on horso-racing is, no doubt, as old as horse-racing Iteolf. At any rate, in tho timo of Charles 11. racing seems to have so f«r grown from ;< pli;.»suro to fi business as to cull fur le^i.Native inter ference. In those days, however, it must havo been well-nigh impossible to have obtained a correct return of the botting, as each bookmaker' was a law unto himself. A cortain Mr Ogdon, who had tho reputa tion of having such a marvollous head for figures ivb to onablo him to ama3S a forfcuno of .CIOO.OOO, was ono of the first to soo tho weak points in the old stylo, and to roduco bookmalting to a scienco. This was about 1780, or porhaps a little oarlier. Ogden was another example of a book maker ribing from nothing, for in the "Morning Post" of July 5, 1797, the following question, subsequently answered in tho auimative, appoarea : " Is Mr Ogdon (how called tho Newmarket Oracle) tho samo porson ivho, twenty-fivo years ago, was on annual pedestrian to Ascot, covered with dust, amusing himself with pricking in tho bolt, hustling in tho hat, otc, among the lowest class of rustics ut tho inferior booths of tho fair?" In 1821 Frank Richardson allowed his fancy to outrun his discretion, und plunged hoavily on Fortuna for tho Logor of that year, whon slio ran second, he was unable to meet his engagements. To his credit, however, bo it reported, that, instead of joining the army of wolchers, ho adopted tho business like course of asking for time, and issuing promissory notes to his creditors. These forboaring croatures must havo jumped for ! joy on hearing that Richardson had, at tho succeeding Nowmarket mooting, been lucky enough to back Michaelmas at tho remunerative price of 20 to 1 for tho Grand Duke Michael Stakos. It is not stated in what proportion his own uprightness and tho pressure of his friends contributed to tho rosult; but tho fact remains that the first uso ho made of his winnings was to redeem his paper. In 1824 Richardson had a great turn of luck by backing Jorry for tho Logor of that yoar, and rofuoing to lay against him. With the fortune—of which tho monoy so won was tho founda tion—ho bought land, and built a great house near York, called by tho owner St. Nicholas's Place, but dubbed by tho neighbours Jerry Hall. Before many years had passed he was again in difficulties, and died in 1833 atthe Golden Lion,Nowmarket, in straitened circumstances. .

Nowmarket Heath has ever been a favourite resort with Cambridge under graduates of the period, and in Bob Mutton's day they intrusted him with all their business, ana this juvenile connection gained for him the soubriquet of " The Baby Jumper." Bob, they say, had a hack, appropriately enough a son of Flatcatcher, who know a backer as well as hia master, and would stop dead whon one approached. Just when Mutton was at the height of his success ho, unlike the jockey in the story, "hedged," and, giving up the trade of bookmaker, became a dissenting minister. This by no means exhausts the list of men who have in somo way or other been remarkablo, and who owed their huccobs to booktnaking. There was John Gully, for instance, who was in turn butcher's boy, prizo fighter, public house landlord, outsido botting man, member of Tattorsalls, and M.P. for Pontefract. He was taken out of prison {where lie was confined for debt) by Col. Mellish, to fight Pearce, " the Gmno Chicken." He was beaten, fought Gregson twico, and then retired from Hie prize ring to settlo at Newmarket, where ho used to keep a " hell," and whore it is said ho began a system of corruption that " placed tho secrets of all Nowmarkot at his disposal," a statement that may bo a littlo wide of the mark, though trainers were not then the mon they now are.

Thoro have doubtless been several Davises in the ring, but tho only two whoso lives have boen recorded wero very different men. Davis, tho ex-tailor, began by attending a gaming house in Pickoring l'lace.after which ho took one of his own in St James's-stroet, and finally becamo a prominent bookmaker. Ho it was who callod out at tho Newmarket Subscription Room, " Hore, Bontinck, I'll accommodate you "—p. piece of impertinence for which he was well snubbed ; while on another oc casion ho anticipated tho man who, on booking n small bet to tho Marquis of Hastings, whon his plunging days were over, emphasised the entry with the remark " Mind, I expect this to be paid," by saying to a backer, " I wonder if I shall ever see your monoy if you lose." Tho other, Davis was tho well-k»own " Leviathan" who first had his attention called to the profits ofbookmnking while employed as a journoy man carpenter at the Newmarkot Sub scription Booms. On his return to town, he acted as bookmaker to Ihb fellow work lhon at Cubitt's, and then, aftor betting in tho streets, becamo a member of Tattersalls, and tho proprietor of lists innumerable, that were looked after by clerks in various public houses. He did not come into prominenco till 1848, when he laid Lord Strafford—to whom the commission to back The Cur for the Cosarewitch had been entrusted — £12,000 to £1,000 in a single bet. If Davit! was one of the best mon to win from, he was ono of tho worst to loso to, as he would never but again with any one who had to "ask for time." Besides the logs of £12,000 over The Cur, Hotspur's not winning the Derby is said to have mode a difference to him of about £50,000, and Barbarian's failure of nearly twice that sum. Voltigeur's Derby in reported to have cost him £40,000. while in Teddington'e year he paid Mr Grovitlo £15,000 in one check; but, in spite of losses, his winnings ore supposed to have boon large enough to have allowed him to begin the season of 1852 with £130,000 to his credit at the London and vVestminster Bank. It will be remembered that Davis left his money to the Mayor and Corporation of Brighton They, after coming to terms with the relations, who disputed the will, lately expended a large sum of what •' the Le viathan " left in the laying out of Preston Park.—" London Field,"

An English Doctor In Asia Minor

As my patients became numerous, and pes tered me at all hours, I fitted up a spare tent to serve as my dispensary, and gave out that I received at the time of afternoon prayer fassr). I took my seat at the door of my tent, and soon had a crowd around me, many suffering from real diseases, many from imaginary ones, and wady bringing for my inspection the effects of diseases, such as palsied limbs and still" joints. A young mon who was the first to show himßolf, most vociferous to see the hakeem. He entered my tent and desired a private interview. " Eshtarced, what do you want?"l asked. " Yahakee?n, shoo/," he began, " look hero: lam married to a wife, and am somewhat tired of her, and I have fallen in love with a virgin whom I wish to marry ; but my wife, curseson|her ! has found it out cc walla/i! and has given her a charm which prevents the beautiful virgin from loving me. I havo beaten my wifo, but that is of no use. Ya liakecm, I am your sacrifice"—taking me by the board, which he kissed—" God bless you, hakeem, give mo some strong medicine to kill tho charm, and I am your slave and sacrifice" " Here," said I, " take this pill fasting, and you are cured." And as ho re tired with the precious bread-pill, which he tiedup inthecornorofhis sleeve, hecalled down blessings on my head. An old woman next came forward, and taking hold of the corner of my cloak, she kissed it, and -then kneeling before me, began in a very wheedling manner to call my at tention to her case. She went on to describe tho most anomalous symptoms, affecting her. eyes, ears, limbs, and sometimes every part of her. On further inquiry blio con v fessed to be quite well at that moment, but a year ago having had these strange com plaints, she dreaded the same thing would invade her this year. I then promised to give her Btrohg medicine, but ordered the crowd to stand at a short distance from us. A space is cleared, and all await in silent admiration for my remedy. I slowly draw forth a bottle of strong liquor of ammonia (or smelling salts) from my medicine chest, and holding it before my patient's eyes, tell her to draw in a strong breath when I put it to her nose. I accordingly first hold ncr nostrils, then having removed the stopper, I apply the mouth oi the bottle to the nose, the fingers are removed, a long sniff is taken, followed by a sort of spasm, and she falls to the ground. A hum of horror runs through the crowd; the patient, aftera shortinterval • rises, her eyes streaming with tears; and then broke from the crowd:—" La ilalmilla 'llahu Mahommed rasulu"llah"—" There is no God but tho Ood, and Mahommed is tlie Apostle of God."— Humphrey Sdndwith: a Memoir.

A large quantity of a new pattern star shell is being sent out. to Egypt. These, explodingoyer the enemy s position at hignt, will {i^t jt'up, and expose it in allots de- FLIES AMD BUGS, l»«tlM. l»«*t«. rfwliei, wiis, tsd

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

CRICKET FIXTURES.

CLUB HATCHES. January 17—Auckland v. Oteihuhu (continued In Domain). United v. West End (continued). Alpha v. We9t, iCnd 2nd, I. Z'litfari V. Alpha 2nd. United v. West End. Newton V. Avondalo. January 2i -United v. WestEml (continued)' Gordon v. United WarehonDcmon, Ouv Hoys v; Auckland, I. /Intfari v. Parnell, Alpha V. VVOSt ICnil Second. • January 31—West Knd v. Auckland, Alpha v. Newton, I. Zinftarl v. Gordon 2nd, Gordon v. Unitod, Nowton v. Alpha, Warehousemen v. Wosc Knd 2nd. Fobruary 7—Nowton v. Otahuhu, Ourßova v. Warehousemen. Aucklaud v. West Knd, Now ton v. Otahuhu (continued), United v. Gordon, I. SSingari v. National, Alpha v. Parnoll.

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES.

Shaw's English Elovon. January 10 to 22, v. Nurrnbri and the North. January, 23, 21, 20,27, v. New South Wales, at Sydney,

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

January 22—WellinRton Annual Regatta January 20—Auckland Annual Kepratvn. February 7—Hanl'in v. Clifford, £300 a-slde. Fobruary 28—Clifford v. Beach, £f>ooa-sldo March 28—Hanlnn v. Beach, £500 a-sidn and championship of the world, on tho Paramatta River. April 18—Clifford v. Hanlan (if tho former is victorious in l\is match with Beach). —Clifford v. Teenier, £500a-mdo. Fobruary 11—Auckland Kowing Association Regatta. Fonsonby Rowing Club is very well off for boats just now, tliero being scarcely room for them all in tho shed. Tho col lection includes throo racing whaleboats, tliroo string-test gigs, tin ordinary pleasure boat, etc., while another whuloboat has been ordered to be ready in timo for the next annual Regatta, on January 20. One who takes considerable interest in aquatics has drawn my attention to the composition of tho Auckland Regatta Com mitteo, which,he alleges, does not contain a solitary member who knows sufh'ciont of open boats to represent the interests of their owners, who consequently suffer in tho apportionment of prizes. The remedy lies in the hands of subscribers, who have the olection of the Committee in their power, and they should keep this com plaint in view at the next annual meeting.

The lack of interest in regattas held under the auspices of tho Rowing Associa tion is doubtless due greatly to the miserable prizes given, The trophies usually awarded aro procured at a trifling cost, and there is no getting over the fact that men, however liboral, will not go into training for .a race from which neither themselves nor their club 3 can derive any substantial benefits. A good sug gestion which has been made is that the Association should augment their funds by periodical canvasses for subscriptions, so that tho prizes might be made'worth rowing for. Then, and then only, need we expect to find interest in their regattas improvo.

On the evening of November 20 tho six days' go-as-you-ple:ise competiton at the Wostminster Aquarium was brought to a conclusion in tho presence of several thou sands of spectators. During the evening, encouraged by the performance of the band and tho appearance of the spectators, most of the competitors at times ran round tho track at considerable speed, and therby caused limmonso enthusiasm. When the competition came to an end, tho distances travelled by tho various competitors were as follows :—Littlewood, 405 miles 4 laps ; Mason, 384 miles 3 laps ; Cartwright, 357 milos 4 laps; McCarthy, 348 miles; O'Connor, 331 miles ; Franks, 305 miles 2 lap; Wren, 277 miles 7 laps ; Pottitt, 2GO miles G laps.

Tho Nprth Shore Rowing Club have not token kindly to the decision of the Rowing Association that the next regatta should bo postponed till Fobruary 14. It is said that Ponsonby and Waitemata were not prepared to compete, and, by declining to enter, caused the postponement which has proved so objectionable to their friends over the water. The othor eido of the question is given in the assertion that there was really not sufficient interest manifested in the regatta to give promise of success, and that it was considered things would improvo in this respect after tho annual Regatta has taken place. It is whispered that tho rowers of the marine suburb are chorishing thoughts of retaliation by ro fusing to enter on tho postponed date. This, howovor, would only bo making things very much worso, and would probably cud in the dissolution of the Association, which has not much animation at tho best of times.

When tho owners of open boats complain of small prizes being offered at regattas, thoy usually have the " honour and glory " phase of the matter forcibly represented by some porson or another. This " honour and glory," however, doesnoi;alwayseventuato, and when it is secured it is dearly onough paid for. - The prizes won seldom go further than payment of the crew (leaving the cost of preparing for regattas out of tho question); and, in tho ovent of losing the prize, the unfortunate owners^ave each to pay about £10 or £15 out of their own pockets without any appreciable return. At the Wairoa Regatta, held on New Year's Day, one boat from Auckland won £25 in prize-money, and every cent of that went towards clearing expenses. There of course, remained the " honour and glory " for her owner; but where did either honour, glory, or profits come in so far as less fortunate people were concerned ? Regatta committeee, in arranging their prize-lists, should give more attention to these matters, and groator satisfaction would result. '

The various training centres on the Parra tnatta, sayg tho " Sydney|Morning Herald," are now pretty fully occupied by the competitors in training for tho three big races to take place within the next few months. Kyde, Putney, and Gladsville haß each a distinguished representative of the aquatic world,and each place forms a centre of interests to the friends of the oarsman located there. At the Royal Hotel, at Ryde, Thomas Clifford has taken up his quarters in preparation for his match with Hanlan on the 7th of February. Ho has been stay ing there for a little over three weeks, and tho match takes place four weeks from next Saturday, giving about two months' train ing altogether. At the commencement of his training ho weighed 13st. Sib., and has como down to 13st. 21b. He has still to work a reduction of 61b., to reach the weight of 12st. 101b., at which he intends to row. Ho does a great deal of work in the day in exorcises on land and water. He walks and runs about 25 miles daily, and rows about 13 miles, in two trips forenoon and after noon, over the course and back. Clifford has a couple of boats at the shod for train ing purposes—one, an English boat, by Clusper, and the other by Donnelly and Sullivan. Ho uses both for exercise, but they are much too heavy for match rowing, and he will pull in some other craft. He is being trained by George Fern. He looks , bright and well, and feels in excellent condition. Clifford speaks M'ith approval of Rydo as a training station. Beach has returned to his old place at Gas coigne's, at Putney. There are two boats in this shed, one of them being a very light boat built by Dodd, and the other boat by Donnelly and Sullivan, in which Beach beat Hanlan. Beach is doing his training, however, in tho Thomas Kelly, a boat in which he w on the championship of Australia from Edward Trickett. Beach commenced training a few days ago. While he was at home he kepfchimself in condition to a de gree by pretty hard work, and he began to train at a little over 12st 121b, which is his present weight. In the interval since tho 16th August he at one time had pulled up as much as a stone and a half. He rowed at list 121b in the Hanlan match, but will sit in the boat on the 28th February at 12 stone. He takes his usual round of exercise in row ing and walking. Tommy Keliy is no longer in charge as trainer. Beach is train ing himself with simply a rubber, but next week he will be joined by Messenger, who will accompany him in his movements. Beach is in excellent health, and should aoon reach his old form. Han lan is staying at Gladesville,, at the hotel on the top sf the hill known as Small's', but now kept' by Mr W. Williams. His boats have also been removed from his old quarters at the Mercantile Club branch, and are placed in the shed belonging to the hotel, just above the Gladesville jetty. The Canadian has been in training for three weeks, in the company of Elias Laycock. He has been doing a deal of good work, and has got into fine Condition. The hot woather that has prevailed has given him a thorough tan ning. HiR weight is now about list. 41b., and ho .will take off, about 81b. more t;o reach hii rowing figure. Hanlan is' evK dently getting into splendid' form. He is' taking a deal of care of himself, and feels very confident. The race between Hanla^ and Clifford on the 7th February will cer ta.nly bring out a fine display,

SPORTS AND PASTIMES

(TOOW OUJ! T,f)NTIOV roItWSVONKKNT.)

Or Saturday last, a very interesting sculling match was decided between George Bubear, tho famous Putney scullor, and Gcorgo Perkins, of Kotherhithe, who is not by any moans a novico at rowing. As Bubear wan thought to bo tho better of the pair, it wus decided that ho should give his opponent 5 seconds' start, the race to be for £100 a side. The weather on tho clay of the race was rather foggy, and bitterly cold, but nevertheless a large crowd turned out to see the match. At a little after half-past twelve Perkins got the word to go, and started at tin hardest, so that he had got in four power ful strokes before his opponent com menced. Bubear started badly, and I erkins at once bogan to leave him behind, ana at the Creek was quite five lengths to tho good. From this point the race needs no description, is Perkins continued to forge ahead, and ultimately won with the greatest ease by 13secs. Towards the finish, Perkins eased up, but at Barnes's bridge he was its minutes in front of the Putney man. Bubear's friends assert that ho was in very bad condition, and I think this must hayo been the case, for on public form the pair were about equal. Perkins, however, was never in better condition, or more fit, and tlie form ho showed durintr the race fully justified his backers in laying 3 to 1 on him at the start.

On 18th November tho London Athletic Club held their annual assault-atarms at St. James's Hall. The affair turned out a grand success, and an immense crowd tilled tho hall to witness the assault. The most popular events of the evening were tho performances on the horizontal bar by members of the St. James's A.C., the bayonet exurciso by a squad of the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards, and the cut lass drill by the Koyal Naval Artillery Volunteers. Several well-known amateur boxers appeared, including H. T. Dearsley (heavy-weight amateur champion), and J. Waite, son of tho late Professor Waite, made his debut with tlie foils. The whole of tho programme was gone through with out a hitch, and the Committee of the London Athletic must be congratulated on the splendid show they gave their friends.

Billiard tournaments aro all the rage just now. A big handicap was held last week at the Westminster Aquarium, and JoEeph Bennett, the veteran cuist, turned out to be the winner, Bennett, who was scratch man, played seven games, of which he won six and lost one.

Roberts has just beaten Sala in a match of 10,000 up, the former giving his opponent 3,000. In this contest Roberts tried to make the best break on record ; but he could not succeed in beating Cook's break of 309. Roberts played remarkably well, and Sala never had a chance ; but although the winner made several fine breaks—in cluding one of 2G6—lie could not cut the record.

The prize-ring seems to Bhow signs of revival. On Saturday last two most stubbornly-contested fights took place, one near Plaistow, the other near Stratford-on- Avon. Neither fight was interrupted by the police, and the men battered each other to tneir hearts' content. In the Stratford on-Avon contest Frank Murphy and Jem Walker fought for two hours and five minutes, Murphy ultimately proving the better man. In the other " mill" half-an hour's heavy fighting waaenough for both men, and the match resulted in a draw.

On Monday evening an interesting wrest ling match took place between the two well-known professionals, J. Wannop and J. Smith. The contest was for the best of 11 falls. Wannop giving Smith two falls' start. After eight bouts had been decided, Smith had won three falls, and Wannop fivo. The ninth bout thus had to decide tho winner. After some very careful play both men got into holds, and tried all they know for six minutes without either gaining an advantage. It was then agreed that they should rest a few minutes. On resuming, more cautious play followed, but ultimately Wannop back-heeled Smith and won the fall and the match. Wannop is the 12at champion, and hails from Cumberland, while Smith,who is lighter than his late opponent is a Cornishman.

On Monday next the Six Days Inter national Pedestrian Tournament for Sir John Astley'e Champion Belt and several money prizes will commence at the West minster Aquarium.

Tho second round of the Association Foot ball Cup ties took place laßt Saturday. Several very good matches were played, but nothing startling took place. Un doubtedly the best match was between the Casuals and Upton Park(holdersof the oup), the latter winning by two goals to nil. The Old Etonians beat the Unity by 2 to 1, and I should not be surprised to see tho cup finally competed for by Upton Park and the Old Ktonians.

Several very interesting Rugby matchre have beea played lately. On the 12th November Londoa played a team af the Western Counties, for whom they proved too strong, ultimately winning by 2 goals and 1 try to nil.

On the following Wednesday the import ant fixture of London and Oxford and Cam bridge was decided at Blackheath. London were strong favourites, and proved easy winners by 2 goals and 3 tries to nil. The 'Varsities were unlucky, as they were sevorai times within an ace of scoring. Dryden, the London back, played a good sound game, and Stoddart alto showed very brilliant form. For Oxford and Cambridge, Rothingham and Asher pi jyod well at half back, but the three-quarters could do nothing against the Londoners.

On the same afternoon the annual match between the South London and Blackheath Harriers took place. A very pleasant game resulted in a draw, each Bide touching down once.

A WARD IN CHANCERY.

A Defiant Military Man.

Bkforb the Chancery Judge in London on November 18th a motion was brought for ward to commit an officer in her Majesty's army to prison for having, in detianoe of an order of court, communicated indirectly with a young lady under age, who had been made a ward of court by her father with a view to prevent tho respondent from marrying his daughter. It appeared that the gentleman had been seeing the young lady against the wish of her father, and the lovers had attempted to run away, but had been prevented by the vigilance of the lady's father. Steps were then taken to make the lady a ward of court, and an in junction was granted in June last restrain ing the suitor from communicating directly or indirectly with tho young lady. While the courtship was going oa letters had passed between the lovers by means of a maid-servant, who was summarily dismissed from her employment. Some time ago tho officer was dining with some mutual friends of himself and the young lady, and after dinner, in conversation with a daughter of the family, told her that the discharged servant was very unhappy because she had heard nothing of her young mistress, to whom she was very much attached, and had threatened to drown her self. He also wrote down on a sarap of paper the address of the servant and gave it to the lady, and she afterward gave it to the ward of court. The officer also said that he was going abroad, but would come back, even if he were at Timbuctoo, if the ward would wait a year for him. Mr Cookson, Q.C., and Mr Harry Greenwood moved to commit the officer. Mr Chubb opposed tho motion on an affidavit by the officer to the effect that he had done what he did without premeditation, and without any intention of disobeying the court. Mr Justice Pearson said that he very much re gretted having been obligod to listen to the arguments addressed to him on behalf, of the officer. If, instead of instructing counsel to argue, he had simply said that what he had done was done inadvertently, he should have accepted the explanation. The res pondent, an officer in the army, was as such in that position of life in which of all others he was better acquainted with discipline and all that discipline requires and must know better than anyone else that the orders of those in higher authority ought to be submitted to. He considered that the respondent had by his own showing been guilty, of a deliberate breach of injunction, and it was only the consideration of the very seriouq penalties that would result to The ffic that induced him not to commit him But he never gave the respondent notice through his counsel that if ther.e should bo 1 fur her attempt to communicate bo ahoukf w.thput hesitation, notyMstanpW it very Benous 09—e«ces would ensuo, gend him to prison. He now ordered him to pay the costs of thU motion as between eolicitov and client

THE GARDEN.

[By iloßTijg.]

Calendar oi Operations, JanuiJfK! [Hortus is willing to answer any n ni .»ij!iM§ respondents must give their tun SSSiMi addresses, though not for pubUc^gWißj TO CORRESPONDEN^aII HI Pears on WniTßTnoKsa Stook tt ftitilßi Boon both npplea mid poara workSSwH tliorn, but I would not ndvieo youSjSjiwH tuin Rood fruiting treea CoT"S£jj|]M^ been tried many times without maSPUBI true that they belong to tho stuns fcfcH^B the hawthorn tree Is of a much bIowSHB than either die apple or pear anrt w^^B fur more liable to the attacksofrtiiSll^B insects. The best stock for anffifwP Northern Spey apple. For neanTit'wßß seedling is tho beat. If you 3?*l9i dwarfs tho Portugal quince mafaiSi^P stock. Either budding or grafting iKpf^H will succeed. Bud next month ffisSßl Quide^ d gra£ti"B Me "Br4 ; <& Figs (M., Whau).—The second cnmdulfiap bL- forming. Tlie best way to otSr 4*™ crop of full-sized aEd well-ripened f&PBl nip oirtlu> extreme end of the ehonillMl has formed from four to six tie. • JSHB stop the irtea from lorniipi? mo™ (iSMMi causing all the sap to go toward dsgSlßff and ripening the i'ruit left on the twHWI rule, too much fruit is left oh tSswBK more than it is possible for ft taSaHM develop. How often in tfao-endsflH season do wo see at tho extrSiSw'BM the shoot a number of small unriHUH clearly teaching us that this lostHHil ought to have been used in better dtn&SHI a fewer number of the first formed SSH Draining and Tubncdinb (North gSilF' There is no better period of QujSaß carrying on thete needful operatiDiwilMl ground is froo from crop. It usedlffllHi practice at Homo to do this wott-if!BH winter monUn?,BO that the frost woii]di»i!H§E ise the soil. Here the conditions b(W®W are different; our winters are w&lsflH trench or drain while the soil is wet'inUß a Btatc of puddle which, especiallrffSEl soils, takes some time to recover. If ■&£«£ and trenched now, your soil will "get ffiffil veriscd by the rays of the sun, uMifflW over and n,unured lateron in theffiHi a pood winter crop ought to be fflflSW Drain three feet deep; trenchtwonflSSßt retain the present surface on top, iß^^B Eradicating Stomps op Trees (&bJIM will not K«t rid of the stmnm nr aaW boring holes in ihem and fllUngthemlSHK kerosene and turpentine. These mcfiSßi all very well for some ftiSf■§ talk about what he don'tunderstanSu^R will not do in practice. You ffiightmHl old dry stump with keroscue <Mid |£aß| would burn; but stumps thorougi!,*sffiHuS with water or a newly cut tree and «sS*Bsgi full of cap would not burn. If posaiMjtSß felling your trees, try and Btump uffinKl timo; the trunk will act as a. lover.'MiHl ffive half the labour us to take ontSffls afterwards. With the few you sowlfflHE a shot of powder in to as to split thenu jJH§$ they dry kindlo .a fire on them anjfciHl burn them out; or you must (Ug'tilSrtH throw into heaps, and bum, ■-,■ Mi^H Potting Soils. pi These few remarks are inteudeS^H guide to some of our amateurs wbfjiJH few pot plants, and who are at a lUB obtain good potting soil. The beat'SM get for potting purposes is to takefmpJß to three inches off the top of any goijjiHj land. The more fibre there JBin feja the better it will be. This should bejj«B| in a heap for twelve months befpnfljjH so that the grass may get killed^ if|H soil be thoroughly sweetened. A fetf !)««■■ of cow manure put in a heap, so, mSt may also get sweetened and rottedfjj^B consistency of soil. For loaf-mouldn^Hj can easily obtain a few bags fuQfjJß decayed vegetable rubbish from onciiiwß larga natural forests. There it,UMb obtained in any quantities. TakpH which is most rotten; it is then.'lwH use. Sand : A few bushels of :su<m|H can easily be obtained from any <2-|«§M merchants in town. Now, with trajjjHJj ingredients, any amateur can mal|^H mixture that will suit most plan^lH could also obtain a few bags °f Pilßj from any of the large swamps, and'lsH would have nearly every thing Ml wanted. These soils need only to heiJH in greater or lesser proportions tolfjH different plants grown. For cuttlmH compost in which cuttings ■r°ot£is^B is ono part soil, three parts I»|^B or decayed vegetable matte||J two parts Band. I may. here nauH that I have seen half-rotted' duet used for striking cuttingqgflMl herbaceous and hard-wooded pj^^^| marked success. As for colous fm9 begonias, etc., they stick on it liflH low cuttings. I have het»r<i£ajHj^M gardener say that he has stuck aamJaß azaUas, and other crotons witM» ease in it without a particle of eoil|p|h| striking cuttings, the pots Ehonld&a third filled with some good 'Jw^| materials, and then filled with the.'™^B for the cuttings. Place moatojmH tings round the rim of the'pots,f|Hj|^H be found that those round tno ffllgl strike better than those in the centrerifl| pot. With proper admixture of thatljß soils and drainage, amateurs should tSMt to grow fair specimen planfo''<ajM| addition of liquid manures while tilßWp are growing. Hw Grapes In the SlctoMl||| Almost every kind of fruit undeveij^ffi of vegetable has a certain quality.^ JHI porty that is peculiarly bonefieiali™^H ful, and each possesses pecuh'ar'mHß that persons in certain conditions of wH require, and if taken when needaiißJM •entially necessary the result to.'n^H ■ystem is Bometimes almost mir^B Grapes are a valuable "-Jd^B fever. Tim grapo con^nPJjH Biderable amount of hydrocwbo*H| matter, together with a-''j|H quantity of potassium saK'i:ijlji|M| ■ation which does not irritate, i>ai|*^|H contrary, soothes the stomach, and^HWj quently is used with advantage^™ dyspepsia. "While considering th^Jp! hydrates contained in the grape not neglect the organic. acids,. P^HB tartaric acid. If is indeed'uHH they aro changed to carbonic,"Mffl^ blood.and are excreted as carboalwlM urine. Possibly careful. rewwH show that under some circumraij||Bi organic acids are ohanged to..fatwMß is a belief that the organio acida^wMp ranked with the carbo-hydrates Mjg When fresh grapes are not k-aJßfej raisins or diluted wines may- Ig-J Even in health persons shotw^HH what vegetables and. fruite appear lnflß with their natures the best, tain and use such freely. For BQmLJTH are very essential. Study %-s|lM your system. jSm Plants as Pnrifiert,' Wjk Dr. James Evans, in a paper I®|fflHg thoSouth Carolina Medical Acsociat^WTO that the network of fine fibrous rotjßfJß^B and plants traversing the Eo'ySjMß& direction feed on the organic mttßftMßff' would otherwise undergo d«ffl>l|raHHf and pollute the soil, air, and BiinMfiMPjK The vegetation also absorbs moisture, and drains the soil. %JHS doubt true, but it is often vety:ttl^W^ so manage plant culture that 'I'SaM^* neitlier be too many nor too~^ils9|BfK dwellings. The exhalations °?.^^^^H emaller plants may aid greatly■'itg^Bß ing moisture, but it is also trae'&Mj^H arrests evaporation and keeps %I§9^B for a mnch longer time thsrii^WS Wm. exposed to light and the direct taytyMW, sun. Plants and trees are, no 4?IH| purifiers, but the jungles of l? 1 lflK swamps of Africa aro not healthy.l^M^b^ although vegetation in grot'M|Bfffijft abounds, and in the utmost pro^gß fff,

A Receipt For UNKNOWN.

The number of specifics lot gevity being without end. vfB^'HHK in adding another to the '$f||jfllE Whether infallible or not, it l"ffll HE events, the snoi-it of being gui: ""■' |Xi common run. To begin ffit^HHßF1 discover some town where abound. Having found next thing is to take up rwicto'jJUgff as possible to the largest con^affli^HP all;. you may then look forwai4|Ml^lEt i to attain the ycavs of the whoso centenary hns just beett *?2](HHt There is one proviso, however^) jaggs raroly, if ever, go beyond * K&I^Bbl atmosphere is affected by tbe'tjaaßKaf the works. We derive theso:^™PK for the guidance of would-ba from provincial comments onrfaWH», death of an old lady at Runcora. waßff' in her hundreth year, had eojoySS^BWj health up to tlie last, and montal faculties unimpaired. '^H^Kr doubted that, those ? esults'SsMß owing to her having lived 'or )?i*Jra^HK years "under the shadow\ ot <^€Hfe works' chimney " ? At 6 >? TTs||^Hßt the direct connection effect cannot be traced, it ».WBL b theory that chemical fumes S^S^Kc siitotton. When people ""ijBII; to, their influence die ai anWffjmKtNfc: assumed that the pollutionagJMKf phere cut short t°e'r.' lv?l|MHH principle of common faime<^W]|EHHbi be accepted aa evidenoo .|^W^H

THE AUCKLAND EVENING SIAK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1885.

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