RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.l

Some write, a neighbours namo to lash, Bnnio writo—vain thought!—for needful cash, Homo writo to please tho country clash, And raise a din. Per me. an aim I nover fash— ' 1 write for fun.

As if it were not sufficient infliction to havo tbe'Anglo-Israolite3 and other interpreters of prophecy telling us that " tho end of all things is at hand," horo wo havo had a Maori prophetess all to ourselves, predict | ing tho end of tho prcsont dispensation, the J eecond coming, and tho complete "topsy-j turvification " of all mundane arrangements. ! Maria Pungaro (I think that is what tho new Cassandra calls herself) is, I opine, about as much inspired as any other modern prophot ; but sho showed herself Badly lacking in wisdom in living tho date of " the last day " in tlio vnonth of March just expired. (I ignore tho patent tempta tion to joko about being "as mad as a J March hare," or about hor wishing to play , off a splendid first of April "sell" on hen followers.) Had tho gentle Maria had a attle moro of tho wisdom of tho sorpent* ehe would have mado tho date of tho advent more remote, or would havo said, in tho gloriously indefinite words of the poet :— "'There's a good time coming, boys, Though wo oannot fix the date; Bat sure enough it's coming on At telegraphic rate.", The glowing future which she depicted might well have sustained the faith of the "untutored Maoris for years to come. Not only waa t&_ Saviour of the World to descend in their midst, but tho Maoris were to be " resurrected " as masters of the world —the white mon being their slaves. No wo«der, with such a glorious and immediate prospect beforo them, that the Northern .Maoris sold their horses for half-a-orown ■fiach, thoir cows for sixpenco, thoir pigs for nothing, and their "spuds" for loss money, as Paddy would say, and laid the proceeds at the feet of the far-seeing Maria ! Had tho date of tho advent been fixed a fow years hence, the prophetess might have copied the example of Brigham Young, who used to get a fresh "revelation" whenever ft new device was needed to raise money ; «nd Maria would have done really good service had she given forth a divine com mand that the Maoris should till the soil instead of lounging about lazily, eating and drinking. The gentle savages, like Sydney Taiwhanga, would probably have received such a revelation as "a deliberate insult," and would have felt inclined to make a martyr of the prophetess. If the truth ■were known, the secret of Maria's large following is to be found in the fact that she appealed to the vanity, laziness, and superstition of the Maoris, more than to their religious or moral sentiment. It is comforting to know that "the last day" has passed over in quietness without any thing extraordinary occurring; and it may help to recall the brown-skinned dupes to a sense of the true position when they ____[ that their rash improvidence has m _____&& them dependent for bare subsistence upon those very pakqhas whom they iondly dreamed would b<j their Blaves,

Fancy the nomination of Captain Morris tSir George Grey's bitterest opponent) and Mr Swanson to the New Zealand House of Lords as the act of a Ministry three mem bers of which were in tho Grey Cabinet, and one (Mr Tole) Sir George's most devoted follower and protege! A Ministry, too, placed in office solely by Sir George Grey's influence. What about the rewards to candidates rejected of popular constituencies now ? And what about tho morality of using the power of nomination to a snug pension as the reward for political services that cannot be othorwise paid? Captain Morris is promoted as a recompense for his exclusion from the second Stout-Vogel Cabinet, after he had joined the forlorn hope represented by the first. No Wonder the unlucky proletariat who ia endowed with the franchise gets lost in the political mar.c, and votes the whole thing a humbug and burlesque. It takes a very level headed man to tell which is Codlin and which is Short in these days.

It will bo " a sight for sore eyes " to see Mr Shrimski (little Shrimski, as he is affectionately called) lolling back in one of those gorgeous crimson chairs, and gazing patronisingly upon his erstwhile colleagues as they file into the Chamber to hear the gubernatorial platitudes. Dr. Pollen will smile blandly across the benches as be greets the member who has manifested each malevolent designs upon his pension, and Colonel Whitmore, Johnny Martin, and Ready Money Robinson will, no doubt, shake their heads gloomily as they survey the intrusion of representatives of the " lower orders " into the charmed circle of severe respectability and refinement. Mr Shrimski is one of the lieutenants of the po pular tribune who fell down and worshipped before the golden calf. He is, I believe, the only Hebrew who has sat in the Legislative Council. It has long been a standing joke that the eyes of Shrimmy and Shepherd were turned upwards towards the legisla tive heavens. If the Government had only added Seddon to the nominations, how the Hansard staff would, in their rare intervals of prayer and thanksgiving, have blessed the name of Stout-Vogel !

Mr Fronde,,l hear, spent a most delight ful week in close intercourse with his old friend at the Kawau. The great historian was sent by the Imperial Government a few years ago on a mission to South Africa, and h. sympathises with Sir George Grey in the opinion that tho Boers possess many ad mirable qualities, and would, under wiser management, have proved a tractable people. Their alleged oppression of theabo riginees ho deems greatly exaggerated, if not wholly untrue, and he thinks the British policy in South Africa has been as foolish and unjust to the Boers as it could possibly be. He has, I believe, formed the idea that Sir George Grey ia the only man who could bring about harmony among the jarring elements in Cape Colony and the adjacent States, and means to tell the people at Home what he thinks. But will the Colonial Office listen to him? I guess not. The Kawau knight has trodden too roughly upon the corni of Sir Robert Herbort and the permanent officials to find much grace in thoir sight. And while we fume and hurl curses at Loral Derby, it is the Under- Secretaries who pull the strings.

Has any of my readers made the acquain tance of a certain ingenious blue ribbonite who manages to wear the "bit o' bine," indulge in copious draughts of beer, and yet satisfy the dictates of a most scrupulous conscience? His acquaintance would be well worth making, as he would, I doubt not, be able to give a good solution of the problem—how to make the best of both worlds. It appears that this conscientious abstainer was "converted" by tho eloquenco of Mr R. T. Booth, and on donning the blue ribbon, took a strong pledge that he would henceforth drink nothing stronger than ginger alo—a pledge which he has diligently kept. How, then, does he manage to got drunk on beer? Simply thus—he carries with him a small _ox of ground ginger, and whrn he goes into a bar and, in the language of the un regenernte, calls for a "long-sleever," he carefully opens said box and drops a pinch of Ringer in the glass, murmuring "Ginger ale of course." And he passes on his way rejoicing to the next pub. This is the stamp of men who " make broad their phy lacteries," who sport the blue on their coats to counterbalance the red on their noses, and who combine pleasant indul eenoe with a most tender conscientiousness and a doep solicitude to show a good example.

If an Act of Parliament cannot make men moral, it would seem that it may make woma_ immoral. It was in a recent issue of the Stab I read an item to the effect that one result of the passing of the Married Women's Property Act is that a wife may be prosecuted for stealing fromthe hus band. Now, it has been the invariable rule hitherto for women, and married women especially, to have very hazy notions of S and MM. They acted upon the Communistic principle, and held that all that was their husband's was theirs Many a time and oft have I, " Zamiel," deplored the disappearance of half-soys, half-crowns, and even threepenny bits from the recesses of my garments, where I had them snugly "planted-."and though I moro than sua oected where they had gone, it would have Eeen worse than useless to try to recover them either by process of law or moral ■aasion. But the " women's nghters have come to my relief, and now I shall know I

what to do when next Mrs Z. goes through my pockets after I have been dining out. That blessed Act of Parliament makes her a criminal, and to ovoid proceedings she will bo only too glad to relinquish her ill-gotten gains. Of course, tho law works both ways—and allgood lawashould—and no scoundrel of a husband can now rob his wifo with impunity, «a sho is entitled to a separate purse, and can havo her liege lord boforo tho " boak " if ho dares to take so much as a farthing from hor storo.

Tho emancipation of woman is thus ac complished, and sho is placed on a footing i of perfect equality with man. It was tho old theory of our English law that a wife was under tho control of her husband ; if sho slandered a noighbour, ho was liable in damages; and as a set-off ho had the power to chastise hor, provided ho usod a stick no thicker than his thumb. But after all, tho so called "subjoctiou of woman" was a pure logal fiction. As Mr Bumble said whon told that in tho oyo of the law a wife j was subjoct to hor husband :—" U tlio law supports that, tho law Is a hasa and a hidjit; if that's vie hi of tho law, the law's a bachelor ; and the worst) t wish tho lay; is that its hi may bo hopened by hexperionco." How many married mon are thero who could corroborate Mr Bumble's view, because they have found in practice that "the grey mare was tho hotter horse V But now all is to bo happily changed, let mo hope. The wife, no longer in nominal .bj&ction to the husband, will be forced to relinquish her real supromacys aria will havo no more pro tection in tho "hi o' the law" than tho vorieft h'ulo brute. She may not slander at he_ husband's expense, nor pick his pockets with hands unstained by crime; and not even tho Habeas Corpus Act will save her from bonds and imprisonment if she is found transgressing. As a Benedict I rejoice, and shall persuade Mrs _. to secure her separate estate from my clutches—that is, when she has anything to secure !

It is only the other day that I penned a paragraph anont a sweep-promoting to bacconist, who " wont where the woodbine twinoth," that is, through the Court, and did'nt pay all t_a "fortunate" boldors of tho winning horses ; and now, so soon after, my grey gooso quill is itching to cxpo-c another shady sweop transaction. A sport ing publican, residing in one of our must charming suburbs is in tho habit of getting up consultations on every species of sport, from a ratting match to a horse race. It was noticed that a friend of his, who was invariably present at tho drawings, usually managed to secure tho most valuable prizes. Suspicion being aroused in the minds of several persons who had acted as a com mittee at tho drawing of these sweeps, they decided to watch the publican's fidim aclmtes. One evening, a week or so ago, a consultation on the Henderson Gup was to be drawn, and to the suspected one was allotted the post of drawing the numbers from the barrel, three or four pairs of lynx eyes watching his every movement. Presently the name of the favourite was drawn, when the watchers wero dumbfounded to see the publican's friend quietly pull a ticket from his pocket and announce a number. In two seconds there wag a miniature Donnybrook fair, and during the row the swindler made himself scarce. Tho worst feature of this affair is that the number taken from the pocket represented a ticket jointly held by the publican and his friend. Boniface assev erates that he knew nothing of the swindle, declaring that tho person had sold half a book of tickets for him, and the half share was given to him as commission. Tho whole affair has a decidedly shady appear ance, and it is doubtful if any future con sultation organised under the same auspices will be so liberally patronised as their prede cessors. This expose is very funny, coming so soon after tho assertion by a local sport ing scribe that all tho Auckland sweeps were "straight."

I have recently received some curious items (one of which 1 give) from a friend in tho north of England in connection with the prevailing toperism, or in plainer terms, drunkenness. Bolton, as Englishmen know, is a radical, manufacturing town, and hun dreds of operatives are employed there. Several able men have represented this borough besides Sir John Bonrring. The localities and the Lancashire valleys which lie around have been sung by poets of the shire, and their storiestold by twoauthoresses of unquestioned ability; and yet in some of these northern towns, especially Bolton, drunkenness prevails to an alarming extent. My friend tells me that at Bolton so com mon ia wife-beating in connection with the undue use of malt liquors and gin that a number of collies, apparently fond of the masculine sport, have formed themselves into a club, to which they contribute regu larly, for the purpose of paying fines which may be imposed by the " beak " upon a brother member of the " Marrow-bone Club." Of course, this honourable society meets at a public-house, and I am told no night in the week is so much dreaded by the trembling wife and weans as the Mar row-bone contribution night, for on that special night the wives expect, and invari ably receive, a thrashing. XXX

There appears to be a considerable de mand just now for old bcoks and pamphlets relating to New Zealand, and, were I a man of means, I should feel inclined to increase the demand by going in for a collection. I had the pleasure of looking over a couple of score of such volumes the other day, most of them in their original bindings, though several boasted an unwonted smartness in half calf and marbled edges. In turning over the leaves of one entitled "The British Colonisation of New Zealand," published in London in 1837, for tho New Zealand Association, I found at the end a bibliographical list of 10 books on the colony which the reader was advised to con sult. The first on tho list was not un naturally "Cook's Voyages," and the second was " Some Account of New Zea land, by John Savage, Esq., Surgeon," pulished in 1807. Now, I wonder, if this book is still in existence, and if so, whether there is a copy in Auckland? Should any reader hereof possess the antique volume, he might possibly bo kind enough to let " Zamiel" feast his eyes on it, or at any rate, tell what the book is like, and what it contains. It may be mentioned in passing that an important New Zealand bibliography was given by Dr. Thompson in his " Story of New Zealand," published in 1859.

1 The most beneficent forces of Nature, 1 when diverted from their proper ends, are 1 ever the most dangerous enemies to man. • The fire that warms his domestic hearth is 1 the same that burns his house down. The I river that bears his freighted ships to the ' sea is the same that, overflowing its banks, spreads destruction through his settlement, and the passion of love that binds human Bociety together and blesses its increase, when viewed as a disturbing force, con stantly gives rise to bitterest tales of suffer ing and woe. The pretty bridge across the cemetery gully looked beautiful in tho moonlight on Saturday evening. The scene was delightful, and the wooded, ferny gully, or, I Bhould say, fairies' retreat, was like a dream of happiness, and a fitting Bceno for an illustration te ono of Sir Walter , Scott's novels. There were not many persons on the bridge at that hour—lo o'clock—but thore was one young person almost alone, who might fittingly have warbled that sweetly pensive ditty : I stood on the bridge at midnight. There was a negligence about the stylo of tho young girl as she leaned sighing I against the bridge, looking silently into the green depth below—her face turned towards the tombstones, white in the placid moonlight. The thought " suicide" crossed my mind ; she might leap over into death, thought I, as Mr Levy once did— only once—from the London monument. That poor girl, alone and silent, and it may be grief-laden, perhaps crossed in love—the disturbing force — I will watch her—nay, like Hamlet, I will speak to hor. Ah, listen to her slight murmuring : she suffers from palpitation of the heart. There is determination in her look. What does she say? "Anywhere, anywhere, out of the world." She meditates suicide! I must save her! She turned her palo face towards me, and I recognised Miss , of Grafton Road. The sweet girl who danced so nicely in the Symonds-street School-room, and whose lover was married to "another gal" just before the demoli tion of old St. Paul's. " Why so late out, Miss?" said I, "do not harm yourself." "Not T," she replied; "I'm waiting for ' Mother and Tom, who are gone to the cheap ; Karangahape store to buy flour and pota- j toes." I stood aghast, and thanked the . moon for hiding her face behind a dark , cloud.

A correspondent sends me the foliowing : —"Dear ' Zamiel,'—Have you ever been tho victim of a practical joke ? If so, you will understand my feelings at this mo ment. Yesterday I read amongst the ad vertisements that a gentleman required a

' kind, respectable person' to adopt an in- ' fant. Tho old i_an and I art) fond of child ren, so (having none of our own) I ventured | to apply. I went to S street, and on quired for Mr OS , and was shown into a little office. My errand told, ho stared at me as if I wero a feminino Philistine trying to beguile a lamb from his fold, and stammered out, ' I can assuro you, Madam, thero—thoro is no infant hero for adoption." It was a nasty predicament for both of us; h* was blushing like a school girl. I fe.aVo found out sinco that he is a bacbcl.r. Boforo I had recovered my nnnoyanco a few gontlo raps at tho door antiouncod two moro ' respectable per sons.' Tho interview ovor, 1 v ended my way down tlio street, and pausing at tho corner saw the two females returning looking rather crestfallen, and tho other victim walking in tlio opposite direction, with bis hat slouched over his brow,and a koy in his hand. I supposo that to ali admirers of infantine charms for tho future lie will bo 'not at homo.' Tho knowledge that lam not the only 'April fool' connected with this joko reconciles me to it; but if the per petrators ot these practical jests could only endure some of the mortitic.ition and trouble, there would bo less mischief done. —I am, yours sincerely, Incognita.

THE MAGISTRATE IN PERSIA.

Brutal Punishments Still In Voguo.

A WRITER in " St. James's Gazotte " gives tho following account of judicial punish ment in Persia:—

"When tho hereditary govornor of a great city tolls you that his grandfather was boiled to death, and that his own fate may not bo different, it strikes you that the grandsiro probably was, and that the grand son is, somehow connected with a sugar refinery ; but when the gehtloman proceeds to explain that his ancestor was judicially boiled to death, and that the only favour he could obtain was that tho water should bo hot, and not cold, whon he was plungod into it, a thrill of horror, tempered with incredulity, is apt to freezo tho listenor; but yet such things aro, and will bo again, in Por. ia. The hereditary governor ot the town of Shiraz, tlio capital of Par., tho richest and largest province of modern Persia, was tho gentleman who had lost his grandfathor in this way. "It will bo objectod, probably, that this punishment occurred some time ago, and that things havo changed. Things, in Persia, never change ; they only decay. In tho last Persian famine, not 15 years ago, tho bakers of tho town of Ispahan adulter ated tho bread ; for grain was at famino prices, and thoy were compelled to sell a certain amount of bread at the ordinary rate. Tho peoplo complained of tho adult eration, Tno governor sent for tho bakers, and thus addressed them: "If this goos on, my friends, I shall bake one of you in his own oven." And ho meant it. It has often been done in Persia. Did tho bread im prove . Not at all. There was simply no bread : for the bakers had run away. "Tho Persian criminal law in important matters is adminstorcd by the governors of provinces. T..eir rapacious avaiico is for tunately tempered by public opinion, tho openly expressed advice of the great reli gious lawyers, and the reprobation of tho holy men. Drunkards, adulterers, and heratics aro judged by tho chiefs of religion, and handed over for punishment to tho secular arm, when tho accused have no moro money to bribe with, Tho jurisdic tion over potty offenders is exercised in towns by tho darogas or police-masters, and in villages by the kot-khodos or head men. Tho ket-kliodas justico consists in talking over tho matter with tho grey beardsof tho village; andon restitution being made, and a fow silver coins handod to tho judge, the criminal is absolved. If, however, the accused—unless ho can ab solutely prove his innoconco—has no monoy, ho is thrashod, and thero is an end of the case. In sorious matters the prisoner is sent on to tho provincial govornor.

"The daroga, or police magistrate, is merciless and openly venal. Ho punishes confirmed drunkards nnd tho notoriously vicious. Ho has but one treatment for all suspects—the stocks and starvation. Whilo tho prisoner's money lasts ho is a guest; it is only when his means are exhausted that ho becomes a criminal. His money gone, his clothes taken as tho perquisite of his gaolers, his feet in the stocks in a dark and stifling room crowded with other poor wretches in a similar plight, the posi tion of tho ' suspect' in Persia is a very bad one. There is no trial in minor cases : when the daroga has taken all he can and thero is no booty to be recovered, tho criminal is generally allowed to go free; but when there is booty the daroga sees his way to better profits. First, ho makes up te the criminal, saying, " Give me half, and I will let you go." Of courso, if tho prisoner is weak enough to consent, the police-master takes all; but, if a comparatively honest man, he allows the prisoner to escape. If, however, the daroga is a bad-tempered man or greedy, and irritated at not getting as much as he expected out of the case, he hands over the criminal to tho provincial governor, who either beats, kills, or im prisons tho man, according to fancy. But if tho prisoner fails to deliver up what ho is accused of stealing, either beeauso it is too valuable or because he has not got it or , never had it, then the daroga resorts to torturo to extract a confession. This is the ordinary courso of Persian justice. Tho prisoner has matches burned between his fingers, wedges are thrust into tho already narrow apertures of the stocks, both feet are placed in them, heavy irons aro added, or a sharp log is placed under the prisoner's loins; moreover, tho wretched man is half starved. The natural result follows: If guilty heconfessos, and thopolicomastorgots the spoil; and, as boforo, tho prisanor is either allowed to oscapo or ho is handed over to tho higher powers. To all his cap tives in what we should call remand police cases, tho daroga frooly administers tho bastinado, with the doolarod intention of breaking the wicked spirit of his victims— in fact, pour encourager lis autre*. Natu rally the daroga ta_os bribes from com plainants too ; and often tho complainant will pay to let a prisoner go — his heart melting at the treatment tho man receives. The result of this system is that, unless there is property to bo recovered, it is rarely that anyone seeks justice from tho daroga. His victims are generally those caught flagrante de licto — burglars, gamblers, drunkards (who are very numerous), pilferers, and prostitutes These latter are, as a rule, tolerated, They are under the absolute jurisdiction either of the daroga or tho public executioner. At times—but very rarely—a wretched woman is mixed up in some crime, and then sho is generally punished in a terrible way. She may be cast living into a well, poisoned, or boaten to death. One instance occurred under my own observation. A young woman of the lowor ranks was in the.abit of fre quenting dances and entertainments of tho rich. She was pretty, and had a certain reputation. Some ono drew the Queen-mother's notice to her escapades. She was sent for, and unfortunately replied to the charges of the royal lady by a tv qnoque. The Queen mother handed tho girl ovor to hor guard, ordering that sho should be wrapped in a carpet and jumped on till life was extinct. The sentence was carried out, and it would not have excited much attention but tor tho youth, beauty, and notoriety of the victim. "The bastinado is universal in Persia, and it is not supposed that there is any disgrace in it. To ■ eat stick' is the idiom used for the suffering of this punishment. Tho schoolboy, the burglar, tho high way robber, the Prime Minister, the King's sons—these all may and do 'oat stick.' The feet are placed in a noose attached to tho middlo of a pole some eight feet long ; the culprit lies on the ground on his back, his bare feet being held about a yard higher. Big switches, some six feet long, are broken into fragments on the soles of the sufferer. This punishment may be trifling, or it may be carried to a fatal re sult. Every man of position has the polo in the corner of his courtyard, and the rods lyingin pickle in his tank.for they are always soaked to prevent their breaking too soon. Age is no protection, nor rank. The Muschir-ul-Molk, certainly over 75 years of age—the former Vice-Governor of Fare and collector of its revenue—received a severe bastinado at the hands of the King's uncle, the then Governor of Fars. His crime was that he was rich and a personal enemy of the man in power.

An interesting old instrument has re cently been discovered and purchased by Messrs Pohlmann and Son, pianoforte makers, London and Halifax. It is said to be tho oldest pianoforte in England, and was made by Johannes Pohlmann in 1768. This instrument was formerly in the pos session of the Duke of Buckingham and Ciiandos, and was sold among his furniture about the year 1840 to a gentleman, by whose family the piano has been used until quite recently.

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RAGING FIXTURES.

Now Zealand. Auckland R.C. Autumn April 4 and 0 Canterbury J.C. Autumn Meeting April 0, 7 Takapuna J.C. Autumn April 11 Cambridge J.C. Autumn April 15 and 111 Papakura Meeting April 23 Auckland I'olo Club Race -Meeting April 2.5 Wellington R.C. Autumn May land 2 Otahuhu Autumn Mooting May 2 Takapuna J.C. Winter May 21 Auckland K.C. Stcoplockaae Mooting... .Juno 11 Australia. A. J.C. Autumn April 8, S, 10,11 South Australian J.C.tnt Flomington).. May 2,7,!) Datca of Nominations, Entrios and Acceptances. Nominations Canterbury Jockey Club Derby and Champagne Stakes, IS.O April 8 Acceptances and Genoral Entries Takapuna Autumn Meeting April 9 Nominations v real Northern St. Logcr . .April 10 Numinatiuns 1 .piikura Cup, Hurdles, ami Hail way Handicap April 17 Nominations Great Northern Steopleohaeo and Hurd:o Race...... May 1

To Correspondents.

S. 11. Bland.—During hi. racing enroor in Now _e.ilund. Clarence won .C 3.&7 in stakes. The Agent has won £3.752, and Canard £1,193. Tii-se are the exact amounts. INOUIKEK.- Various stories have been told as to thi! origin of the names. One is that tho owner of the ho.su, whilst going through tho Stab:.- mentioned his intention to call tho _ .in i 'id colt Potatoes. A lad pro3ent burst out l.tu-s'limg at the idea of such v name, and Loru _.bingdon, iho owner, promised him a crown if ho could spell tho word. Tho lad wrote with chalk on the eorn-btn either "Pot.Qs" or "Poloooooooo"—the talo runs each way. In the (Irst volume of the "Stud- Hook" the hol-o is described as " Pot Sos" in the body of tho book, and as "Potoooooooo" (or " Pot Sos") in tho index.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The Canterbury Jockey Club Autumn Meeting commences on Monday noxt, when tho Great Autumn Handicap will bo decided. Tho final paymont, which foil duo on Saturday last, shows tho following lot still remain in :—

St. lb. Bt.lb. Sou-wester ..8 3 July 7 10 Trenton .. ..8 2 Taiaroa .. ..7 1 Lady Emma ..8 0 Wapiti .. ..6 13 Rubina .. ..8 0 Captain Wcbstor li 9 Nelson .. ..80 Lady Kvolyn _. U 0 Administrator .. 7 It Tho Sydnoy Gold Cup will bo run on Wednesday noxt. Pinal payment for the raco is duo to-day (Saturday), Tho Auckland Polo Club announco a raco mooting to bo held under thoir auspices on Saturday, 25th April. A very attractive littlo programme of sovon events has been drawn up, two of which—the Cigar and Umbrella and Calcutta Races— aro certain to produce groat fun. Tho con ditions are about as funny as thoy are possiblo to be. I hear that Major Goorgo intends bring ing Nelson and Wapiti back to Auckland after the Christchurch mooting. According to a Napier paper, Ugly Buck has passed into tho hands of Mr Donnott, the owner of Docoiver.

The two-year-old colt by Cap-a-pie—My Idea purchased at tho Now Zealand Stud Companj's salo in April last, has boon named Gordon. Ho is nominated for noxt year's Hawko's Bay Jockoy Club St. Leger by Mr P. Martin. At a meoting of tho Canterbury Jockoy Club on Monday last, it was resolved to re commend tho Conimitteo to consider tho ad visability of establishing a fund for tho benofit of disabled jockeys. It was decided to add a polo pony raco to tho programme for tho Autumn Meoting.

Tho Now Zealand Stud Company value their thoroughbred horses at £35,170, and tho Clydesdales at 1*7,810. Tho Otahuhu Racing Club have docidod to hold anothor mooting on tho 2nd of May. Old Matn won the Flying Handicap at tho Christchurch Plumpton Park Mooting last wook, boating a fiold of nino.

Napier papors to hand this week contain tho list of nominations for tho Ifawko's Bay Jockey Club St. Legors of 18SU and 1887. Thero aro 31 ontorcd for noxt year's event, whilo thero aro ten moro entries for ISS7. Tho Auckland ownors represented in tho lists aro Mr J. Marshall, Mr C. Howitt, Mr Stockton, Mr Balm.iin, Colonol Eraser, Mr W, Sommervillo, Mr W. Lyons, and Mr J. Enko, whilo tho Now Zealand Stud Com pany havo nominated tho chosnut yearling colt by Antoros —Sylvia now in Sydney.

Tho promising youngsters, Dunlop and Tho Teacher, tho property of Mr A. It. Kobortson, and recently trained by James Wilson, jun., havo been removod from tho lpttor's chargo, and aro now undor the care of Tothill, tho well-known Adelaide trainor.

Writes "Sir Launcelot" in last week's " Roiereo " :—Kay has returned to us. Ho didn't go further on his road to Sydnoy than Wellington, whore ho heard that Welcomo Juck had met with an injury to his shoulder which would incapacitate him from racing for some time ; so,as thoro was therefore Tittle probability of tho horso visiting Sydney, Kay thought he might just as well return. It is not yot docided whether Welcomo Jack and Clarence will bo brought back hore soon, but I under stand that it is moro than likely Mr Pil brow will bo among us again when the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting comes round. From lato Molbourno papers I learn that Welcome Jack is again in work.

Racing mon aro genorally superstitious, and thoso who beliovo in clairvoyance and are fond of " dipping into the future" may bo interested in knowing that Mrs Pro fessor Baldwin, the lady clairvoyant now showing in Dunedin, predicted the other night that either Trenton or July would prove tho winner of tho Christchurch Great Autumn Handicap, and that the winner of tho noxt Molbourno Cup would bo Com motion.

A Taranakt papor states that whilo try ing to ropo an Izaak Walton—Traducer mare two-yoar-old colt in tho Waitara pound the othor wook, nn astounding jump was matlo by the youngster. Ho cleared the pound fonco, a noat jump of six feet two inchos (measured), and this when he was so closo to tho fonco that ho could not rise without touching the bottom rails in the ascent. Tho jump was witnossod by four gentlemen, who can vouoh for its truth.

Waiuku Races.

Tho races camo off to-doy. Tho weather was beautiful, but the attendanco small. Tho racing was first-class, throe boing the smallest fiold, whilst six started in somo of tho races. Major Shepherd was judge, Mr T. J. Hickey Secretary, MrManning starter, and Mr May clerk of the course. The stewards worked well, and consequently everything passed off satisfactorily. The first race Was the

Maiden Plati;.—First horse, £8 ; second horso, £2. Woight-for-age. Distance, 1 mile. It resulted: Walker's Highland Mary, Bst lllbs, 1; A. Hull's Mira, 7st 131bs, 2; Manning's Eve, Bst lllbs, 3. Six started.

Handicap Hukdle Race.—First horse, £10 ; second horse, £3; third horse, £1. Potter's Falcon, lOst 71bs, 1; Walker's Rakau, 12st 71bs, 2 ; Rossiter's Totara, 9st 71bs, 3. Only threo started. Trooper M. Hickey rodo the winner.

WAitriu. Handicap.—First horso, £14 ; second horso, £3; third horse, £1. Dis tance, 2 miles. Muir's Dressmaker, lOst, 1 ; Walker's Highland Mary, 7st 121b, 2; Kavanagh's Bryan O'Lynn, lOst, 3. Five started, Winnie being scratched. It was a splendid race.

Stewards' ■ Plate.—First horso, £8 ; socond horso, £2. For three-year-olds and upwards. Weight-forage. Dressmaker (who won as she ploased), 1; Blue Gum, 2 ; Welcome Jane, 3. Five started.

Consolation Handicap,— First horse, £5 ; second, £1. Bryan O'Lynn, Catch'em, and Rakau started, and thoy came in as placed above.

This brought tho day to a close, and the people quickly dispersed.—(Own Corres pondent, March 28th.)

An instance of the petty red-tape system prevailing in the German Revenue Depart ment is told by a Heligoland skipper, who recently bought a couple of cheap photo graph frames, which he wanted to take home. On passing the Customs' boat on the Lower Elbe, the officials went on board as usual, and seeing the frames in question on the cabin table, thoy seized them and accused the unfortunate skipper, in spite of every remonstrance, of fraud, and threat ened to detain his boat. He was finally allowed to pursue his voyage on the deposit of 3 marks, when the actual duty would have been only 5 pfennige (1£ cents in United States currency). Since no duty is ever levied of an amount less than 4 pfen nige, the skipper had, if at all, committed a fraud to the extent of just 1 pfennige. In due courso the case was submitted to the District Customß Office at Altona, and it was decided that the skipper was liable to pay the duty (5 pfennige), the fine of four times the amount of the duty (20 pfennige); the estimated value of the seized objects (2 marks 70 pfennige)—total, 2 marks 95 pfen nige—which sum, deducted from the deposit, left a balance due the Heligolander of 5 pfennige, which he might call for or have remitted to him on application to that i effect, '

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS

(BY ACTION.)

CRICKET FIXTURES.

April 4.—West End v. United, Newton v. Auckland 2nd. Alpha v. Otahuhu, Our Boys v. United 2nd, Auckland v. Gordon.

April 11.—West End v. Alpha, Nowton v. Auckland 2nd, United v. Our Boys, Auokland v. Gordon.

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

April 6—Ponsonby Regatta.

Tim following is a copy of the challenge sent by Mr A. Austin, on behalf of J. Scott, to tho London "Sportsman:"—"To the Editor :—Sir,—On behalf of Joseph Scott, of this city, I am prepared to make a match for him to walk any man in tlio world, 12 and 24 hours, for tho sum of £250 aside each match ; or a single match ot 24 hours for .ioOd, on tho following terms—viz., £250 that Scott leads at tho end of 12 hours, and .C 2.0 he leads at tho 24 hours. Tho match to tako place at the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, on tho samo track that Hancock and Scott walked their match. Should Vaughan, Baby, Hibbard, or any of tho English or American champions fool inclined to acopt tho above offor, I will deposit tho whole amountof thostakos with thoSpc-rting Editor of the Dunedin'Evoning Star.' A reply through tho 'Sportsman,' with cop.^ for wardod to myself or to tho Sporting Editor of tho' Star,' will bo immediately attended to, and tho stakes on Scott's bohalf posted at once. lam also willing that tho whole amount of the gate money shall go to the winnor. I shall bo glad to receive an early reply. — Yours, &c.,— Al.kkd Austin.— N. 8.—£50 has been deposited with tho Sporting Editor of the 'Evoning Star,1 and the chollongo is open to any man in the colonios wishing to accopt. A similar de posit must be mado by anyone wishing to accopt tho challenge bofore any notico is taken of it.—Alfred Austin, Dunedin, Otago, N.Z., Fob. 27."

Winners of the University Race.

Oxford has now won 23 and Cambridge 18 races out of a total of 42, ono of which was a dead heat. Tho following is a sum mary of tho evonts sinco 1840 :—

'First raco rowed in outriggers. 'First raco In tho present stylo of boats with out keels. (Sliding Boats used for first timo. .Tho Oxford bow-man caught a crab and sprung his oar when loading.

Tho following nro tho names of tho crows solocted to row in tho 'Varsity Kacothis yoar :— Oxford—W. S. Unwin, Magdnlon (bow), lOst 101b; 11. Girdlostono, Magdalen, Tist 241b ; If. Macloan.Now College 12st 101b ; C. R. Carter, Corpus, 13st0.1b ;B, If. Wal rond, Exeter, 13st ljlb ; P. W.Taylor, Lin coln, l.'Sst tflb; F. O. Wothorod, Christ Church, 12st Sib ; 11. Balfour, Trinity (stroko). lOstSlb ; W. E. Muynard, Exetor (cox), 7st I3_lb. Cambridgo—N. P. Symonds, L.M.B C, (bow), list 21b ;C. H. Bicknol, Jesus, lOst 131b ;R.H. Coke, Trinity Hall, 12st 31b ; S. Swam), Trinity Hall, List 51b ;F. E. Churchill, Third Trinity, 13. _ 101b; J. C. Brown, L.M.8.C., 12st lib ; W. H. W. Por rott, First Trinity, 12at 31b ; F. I. Pitman, Third Trinity (stroko), 12st2Jlb; G. Wilson, First Trinity (cox.), 7st Gib.

EXTRAORDINARY DIVORCE CASE.

The hoaring of the divorce caso Mills versus Milk took place in Melbourne last week boforo tho full Court. Tho petitioner was tho husband, Howard Edward Mills, 2S, of Pitt-stroet, Sydnoy, merchant. Ho married Annio Maria Fawcott, 26, on February 13th, IS7B, in tho Now Church Temple, Eastern Hill, Molbourno. The petitioner, previously to tho marriago, was a, morcliant in partner ship with his brothors, Edwin Joseph Mills and Arthur William Mills, in Pitt-street, Sydnoy, under tho style of Mills Brothors, and in Birmingham, England, under tho stylo of E. J. Mills and Co., and was thon residing in Wynyard Squaro, Sydnoy. Tho respondent, previously to the marriage, was residing with hor parents in Fitzroy. Thoro nro two children by tho marriage. Immediately after tho marriago tho pur tios lived together, at various timos in Wynyard Squaro, North Shore, Bal main, and Paddington. In May, 1881, tho potitionor wont, with tho consont of tho respondent, to England for biißinoss purposes, and left his wifo and children in Sydnoy. Ho remained in England till November, 1882, when ho left for Victoria, and he arrived hero in tho following month. On his return he refused to livo with his wifo any longor. In Octobor, 1882, shortly boforo tho potitionor's departure from England on his return to Australia, tho potitionor received the following letter from tho respondent: —"Clarence Cottage, Elizabeth - Stroot, Croydon, 26th August, 1882. My own doar husband, —You will no doubt wonder at this quoer lotter, but surely you will bo liovo all your own darling wifo writes to you. Your beautiful villain of a brother, Ted, wont at last, throe or four days earlier than he said he would ; but before he went wo — that is all of us — had one of the worst rows that could pos sibly happen. He one night, when Bob was away in G lon Innes, committed an assault on me by main force, and it bas left me in rather a bad way. I gave him a certain timo in which to tell Arthur, which ho did not do; so I, of courso, told Maggie, so that sho could tell Arthur, and then I could tell him all about it. So whon Arthur asked Ted, he denied it, and swore on his oath he knew nothing about it. Ho wanted to put tho blame on Bob, when you know very well it is quite untrue P.S.—You will soo that I have opened it just to add a fow lines. Bob has come homo to pack up, and is almost broken-hearted. Arthur has promised to take him back in his old place as soon as he hears from you as regards his innocence, for as long as he does not ho cannot employ him, from tho moro fact of his living in the same house. Poor fellow, he is almost mad. lam going to telegraph for papa to como up. He will help mo. You must excuse all errors, for you can well imagine tho state of mind I am in, and no one te help me.—Your true wifo, Annie Mills. Writo answers back and relieve me."

The respondent gave birth to a female child in Brunswick, Victoria, in February, 1883, of which her husband was not the father. Tho petitioner investigated the charge made by the respondent against Edwin Joseph Mills, described as Ted, the petitioner's brother, and he denied it. The petitioner believed that such a charge was utterly untrue, and without foundation; but suspected that the person described as Bob, and whose name was Robert EJproul Ward, who was for some time in the employment of the firm of which the petitioner was a partner, was the person with whom the respondent had misbehaved herself. The respondent, Mrs Mills, denied thar she was provided with ample means for the support of herself and children. At the instance of a juryman, Mrs Mills was re called, and asked how she knew it was E. J. Mills who assaulted her, her room having been dark at the time. She replied that she recognised his voice. Mr Purves then ad dressed the jury on behalf of the re spondent. The judge having summed up, the jury found a verdict, after _2o minutes' deliberation, to tho following effect:—"That the respondent did not commit adultery ; that pho was violated by Edwin Joseph Mills ; and that the child to which she gave birth was the result of that violation." Mr .Justice Higinbotham said he would ask them to consider, in connection with other issues which had been placed be fore them, whether the respondent had 'proved merely violation. The jury again retired, and brought back a verdict for the respondent on all the issues.

THE GARDEN.

[Br Hortus.]

Calendar of Operations, April 1,

[Hobtus is willing to answer any quories. Cor respondents mußt glvo their full namea and addresses, though not for publication.!

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Garden (U.M.. Surrey Ullisi.— xou can apply any quantity of fresh stable manure as you break up your land; in fact, the more the bettor. Put it well into the bottom of tho trench as you dig over tho ground, it will do moro good than old rotten manure, 'Iho first season it will sweat underneath ilie soil and help to pulV-rUb the ground quicker. Ouly dig over roughly. Whon all has been broken, spread unslaked limo over the surface Lot this lie for a few weeks, then apply tho fork aud fork over tho soil, breaking it up. This should be done after rain. The whole garden will thon be ready for some winter crop. Next season use as much well-rotted manure as you like.

Liquid Manure (S.A.) —Take a few shovolfuls or any animal manure and put it into v tun or barrel of water, lot it stand for a day or so, then strum off the liquid, and use for your plants. Another good mixture : Take four ounces of Peruvian guano to v gallon of water, s;ir it into the water, and use. This mixture will be too atro.ig for wuillings; halt the quantity will do whon U3ing it for seedlings. Root Pruning Pears (Orchard!.—Yes, 1 would root-pruno at once, it wilt check the fresh growth which you say is breaking on. Keep from three to rour foot from tho bolo of the tree. 1 would also get well underneath the treo. Tako away tho old soil, dig the trench; and put in some good, new, well-pulveriaed Rfiil to tho roots. Old. rotted turf is the best, if you h.vo got it. You can also treat your plum, tho.amo now. Mkai.v Bun on Vines (Grapes).—You can hardly clear tho house of tho abovo at presont, only try to keep it under till tho wintor prun ing and cleaning of iho houan takes place. Make up a mixture of soft soap and toba co water—not vory strong—andsyringe. This will help to keep it under. Another method is to tako about a teacupful of paraffin and throe gallons of water, and hoat to about 90 degrees. When cold, syringe tho plant. You will have to wait till your fruit is all cut before using cither of tho abnve methods. Next winter, it reminded, I will give tho wintor mixture to apply to tho vinos whon they are pruned. I would liko to pay you a visit, but my timo is too fully occupied to tako advantago ot your kind Invitation. Caiiuare Fly (A.B.).—Dust tho cabbage with dry ashes or soot early in the morning, when the dew is on tho plants. I also bellovo that if tho sweepings of tho floor of the different tobacco manufactories was collectod and usod for dusting over tho plants ia the seed bods, it would bo an offcctual remedy—at loast it is worthy of a trial.

Vegetables, — All vegetables that are grown for thoir leaves or stems requiro an abundanco of nitrogenous manures, and it iB useless to attempt vegetable gardening without it. To this class belong cabbago, lettuce, spinach, etc, Tho other class, which is grown principally for its seeds or pods, as beans, peas, otc, does not require much manure of this character; in fact, the plants aro injured by it. It causes too groat a growth of stem and leaf, and the oarlinoss—a great aim in vegetable growing —is injuriously affected. Mineral manures, as wood ashes, bonedust, etc., are much bettor for thorn. For vegetables requiring rich stnblo manure it is best that they have it well rotted and decayed.

Top-Dressings.

Top ■ drossings aro very important factors in assisting to keep up tho general appearanco of tho plnco and tho condition of all grass plots, lawns, terraces, pleasure grounds, or orchards, where tho soil is oxhaustcd and the grass is beginning to show signs of dying out or getting patchy. It is not only oxpensivo and troublesome to re-dig and re-sow tho whole ground ; but sometimes, oven after ro-digging and re sowing, things aro no better than before. The best plan to adopt is top-dressing. It is sure and certain ; gives a good show of lirass a fow weoks after, and does not keep tho placo in unsightly confusion for months by having all tho surface brokon up afresh, and lotting it lie for two or thrco months in that state to sweeten. Whon lawns nro getting into a bad state, simply got some good soil carted and put in a heap. If thero is plenty of cluy—burnt clay and good soil mixed will do—keep them in a heap or heaps for about two months. Another good plan, if tho kitchen garden has boen in work for somo time, and has beon well manured, is to tako part of tho surfaco soil from it, and then ro-mako the kitclion garden with now soil from grass ground or old pasture, which will have the effect of improving the kitchen garden, and the soil at first taken tor the lawns will bo bettor for top-dressing. About the end of March or beginning of April havo all tho grass cut short and cloaned away ; thon if tho ground wants lime give it a liberal dressing of newly-slated lime, as woll as a good dressing of rough bones. If you want to intruduco now grasses, as it is not ofton that lawn grasses take woll in this colony, cut littlo squares of the turf of thoso grasses, and ineort thorn in the ground at given distances apart, levelling and in corporating tho pioces with the surrounding grass by boating them down well. Thou commonco wheeling tho soil from tho heaps or kitchen garden ovor tho surfaco, working and spreading it about ovonly. If tho ground is vory lovo! it will not take a largo quautity of soil to top-dross it: less than half-an inch ovor tho surfaco will suffice, but if the ground is what is called lumpy, it may take a large quantity. In fact, an estimate of tho quantity of soil required can easily bo arrived at by measuring the surfaco, and calculating how many yards of soil it will toko to cover tho given spaco half-an-inch deop. If the surfaco is rough, and has many hollows, a largo quantity will havo to bo al lowed. After spreading the soil over the surfaco rako it sevoral times, sow ryograss sood on it, and then rako it again. Lastly, put on the rollor, and roll sevoral times. In a wook or "so the old grass _ will como up through the now soil, and in a fow wooks the now gross will entirely cover tho wholo ground, Tho after manngomont will consist in keeping the gross cut short and administering frequont rollings. By the above system old and almost exhausted grass ground can be entirely renovated at loss cost, loss timo and trouble, and with a much better chanco of being a pormanont success than by tho system of breaking up afrosh and ro-sowing. In fact, a good per manent lawn can bo obtained by this means quicker- than by any other, with tho exception of turfing. Top dressing is ofton used for sow ing seeds upon in heavy clay soils. After working ovor the stiff clay, give a slight dressing of good soil, or what is better, ono part good soil, one part sand, and ono part well-rotted manure, and bow the seeds in it. This treatment will greatly promote thoir vegetation. Asparagus beds, etc., aro greatly helped by it. The rains soon send the substance to the roots. Vino borders should receive a top dressing of good turf coils, especially sweatonod for the purpose, every third season or so. Old trees in tho orchard aro also greatly bene fitted by the above treatment, as, in fact, will bo tho whole of tho plants in the garden. Sheds for Tobacco.—Tobacco grown for cigar purposes, such as Havana, Connecti cut, Sumatra, .&_., require more ventila tion than the other varieties of the tobacco plant. Without proper drying accommo dation in tho sheds, the curing of tobacco will bo found very difficult. The seed having been good will hasten the curing considerably. Sheds for cigar leaf should bo built low with dirt floors; for the heavier descriptions, tight board floors are re quired, and high enough to hang five or six tiors, running away up to a hot loft that would be ruinous to cigar tobacco. Farmers should understand that tho greatest injury may bo done to tobacco by hanging it in open sheds, for with such he is at the mercy of the elements. He certainly has ventilation, butj it lets in moist air one day and hot air the next, subjecting the crops to changes that kill it, and if cold weather comes the stems may be frozen before his indifferent curing is completed. The plan occasionally adopted of attempting to protect the ;crop by sheeting the shed should be abandoned, and but few of even the most careless should be found making such slovenly display. Many of our farmers who would like to grow tobacco are not able' to, and there is no necessity for building fine sheds, nor is there call for expensive remodelling of the old ones; but it is desirable, and will prove profitable for all concerned, to change the sheds, so that the curing of the crop may be perfectly controlled. The shed should be constructed of timbers strong enough to resist, storms, boarded up and down, about every fourth board hinged, to be closed or opened as desired in controlling ventilation. The frame for the rails and timber inside the shed, to sustain the great weight of the tobacco when hung green in' tiers, should be strongly constructed, so as to preclude the possibility of breaking. With a good tight shed, shingled roof, the curing pro cess will progress under full control of the farmor, no matter whether the season be favourable or not. Patch up tho old sheds, therefore, so that they may be closed against unfavourable soasons. A stripping and assorting room should bo provided where possible. — A. Walsh, Manager Auckland Tobacco Company.

Grapes at the late Show.

Dear " Hortus," — Knowing that you take a deep interest in everything con nected with horticulture, and having the , aim always in view, especially so as to improve matters, I vonturo to draw your attention to a slight oversight (I think 1 mi _t call it so) in connection with tho lato Horticultural Show, viz., tho entries lot grapes. I think a larger number would exhibit if thero was a distinction between artificial and natural heat, but the entry; is only under glass. Now, what I claim should be, is this-Ist, for grapes grown under glass, assisted with heat; and 2nd, grapes grown under glass without heat; or the short way of putting it would bo hot house ahd glass-house. My principal difficulty this last season was in preventing tho mildew. Now, wH.I6 tho weather remains muggy for many days together, mildew is a natural result, although I did all-1 could with ventilation I thereforo had to use sulpher at last. Now, if I had hot pipes, and when such weather came all I would havo to do is to put the tiro on for half a clay and dry the atmosphere in the house, and thereby kill the mildew, not re quiring to disfigure the grapes with sulphur. If I have mado myself plain to you, and you see it in tho same light, a few lines in your able column would no doubt rectify matters. I was an exhibitor of grapes tho othor day, and got a first prize for two bunches black, but know they would have looked better if no sulphur had been about them.—l am, yours very truly, W, Steven -ox. I fully agree with you that it would bo impossible for you to grow grapes to the same standard of excellence in a cold house as in ono supplied with artificial heat. Your grapes wero staged in the All-comers Class, and in this class tho Society are only following on tho same lines as all the horti cultural sociotios at Homo—viz , offering prizes for tho best specimens of grapes, no matter how produced. You must recollect that to produce first-class specimens in any branch of horticulture, a fow essentials are requisite—soil, situation, skill, aspect, money, and energy. Where all theße predominate, first - class pro ductions are tho result. No socioty could afford to offer prizes to meet tho soils, appliances, etc., of growers. Nearly ' at overy show wo hear it said, "Oh lif I had tho same convenience as So-and-so, I . could have beaten him." Now, I liko to hear this, as it tells mo that if tho eager ness to oxcel is in the man ho will do his ' utmost to obtain tho requisites, so that he may compete on the some level. 1 print your letter in full, as I consider that the ' Society might consider the question raised in it; and I also think you ought to bring it before the Committee which will bo elected at the next annual meoting of tho Society, so as to arrange for tho next sea ■ son's show.

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

-<*-*J (Br Eoteepe.)

Mr J. E. Kitts has severed his connection

with the Pollards, and, gono to Melbourne, whilo Mr Underwood (Dunning's agent), having also served up till the expiration of his principal's contract,has also left.

Miss Augusta Dargon is going to re appear upon Australian boards. Kemenyi opened a short season in Christ church last evening with a sacred concert. J. K. Emmot has had another Fritz written for him. It is called Prince Fritz. It is not generally known that the author of " Called Back " wrote the words of Wel-

lings's pretty ballad " Some Day." It is stated that Mr Willmott has written, and will shortly produce, a piece entitled, " Saved from Soudan." John L. Hall has got a company of lady minstrels on tour in Tasmania, and is said to meditate a descent upon New Zealand. "Ivo,"tho Froethought lecturer, makes his dobut at tho Opera House to-morrow night. Messrs Chapman and Hall are preparing for English readers a translation of Count Yon Moltko's "Poland." At Loipsic, a musical critic has been sontencod to five days' imprisonment for describing tho loader of an orchestra as a " violin scraper." Mr R Lovo has severed his connection with Webb's Royal Marionettes, and is now en route for the North, whore ho joins Woodyear's Electric Circus. M. Massonnct's opera of " Manon " was sung for tho first time in English recontly at Liverpool. It is said to be tho finest French opera since Gounod's " Faust." Mr Sheridan, tho Shakespearion trage dian, was recontly married in San Francisco te Mies Louise Davenport, who accompanied him in his Australian tour as leading lady. A National Association of Journalists, for the protection of tho interests of tho mem bers of the profession, is about to be estab lished in London. A grand edition of tho novols, poems, and plays of Victor Hugo is in preparation in France. It will cost over a million

francs. Laurence Barrett, tho American tragedian, is employed upon a play of his own, as sisted by Mr W. D. Howolls, the well iug known novelist. Thero aro ovor 1,000 ballot dancers at the Paris Opera, and their wages vary from £50 to £100 a year. The ballet in all costs the opera .170,000. At Mdme. Patti's farowell performance in Boston, tho ladies went into half mourn ing— all wearing dark skirts and looking extromoly sad. Mdmo. Sarah Bernhardt is trying to got a divorce from M. Damala, and a rash and romantic Englishman is desirous of marry ing her as soon as sho succeeds. Miss Mario do Grey opons the Opora House for a dramatio Beason on Monday week. The Christchurch papers praiso " tho splendid manner " in which her plays are mounted.

H. W. Emmett ia stated to bo trying his hand, in conjunction with Mr Rignold, on a drama which shall receive the name of

"Khartoum." Of courso, General Gordon and tho Madhi are in it.

Miss Eloise Juno, Miss Ella Carrington, and Mrs Charles Taylor have organised a dramatic company, and after playing in Queensland intend to pay New Zealand a visit.

Messrs Blackwood will publish before long " Glimpses in tbe Twilight," a collec tion of " authenticated " instances of the supernatural, which the Rev. G. S. Lee has for many years been engaged in making. Cowen'e delicious •' Scandinavian Sym phony," played some time ago in New York, has just been hoard in Dresden, and pro nounced there one ot the important works of the century. The advocates of woman's rights will be gratified by the appearance of " Women of tho Day," a biographical dictionary of notablo contemporaries, by Frances Hays (Chatto and Windus).

A bill for the protection of international copyright has been introduced into the United States Congress by tho Hon. W. English. It is sorely needod as regards dramatic works.

Miss Annis Montague and Mr Cbas. Turner, having disbanded their Opera Com pany, were through passengers from Sydney to San Francisco by the mail steamer "which left Auckland on Tuesday last.

The Melbourne people are having a surfeit of pantomime this year, as it was decided lately to run " Cinderella " until Good Friday. This will mean a ran of eighty-four nights.

Chaunccy Dopew, one of the most brilliant lawyers in tho United States, declares that Irving has done more than any Englishman in recent years to cement the good feeling between England and America. Mr John Radcliffe and Mdme Pauline Rita commenced their New Zealand tour at Christchurch on Monday last. Mr Radcliffe gives imitations of the pipes of all na tions ;—or as he phrases it, "Pan to Pina fore."

Mr Henry Herman, one of the joint authors of " The Silver King," is selling his "aluablo theatrical library—one of the fit^st; in England. In it are valuable auto graphs, rare playbills and documents, por traits, costume books, and early editions of plays.

The "Dramatic Review" is the title of a new weekly critical theatrical paper about to make its appearance. A novel feature will be that each performance of sufficient importance will be crificised by two writers, each of whom will append his name to his article.

Dr. P. Chr. Asbjornsen, the great and genial Norseman, and author of the well known " Norwegian Folk and Fairy 'Tales," died on Jan. 6, at his house in Christiana, after having been confined to his bed for a fow days with inflammation of the lungs. The article " Propaganda," in the forth coming volume of the " Encyclopaedia Britannica," has been written by Arch bishop Jacobini, of Rome. It may also be meutionod that the literary and scientific contributions to tho "Encyclop.-diaßritan nica" now number 9-10, and that volume XVIII. (Orn~Pht) was to be published about the middle of February,

Barry tfNetllha. joined the Federal Minstrels in Sydney. The subjects of Mr George Augustus Sala's lectures are :-" Wars, Evolutions and Tumults ;" •' Shows and Page.rrtsi; " Costume ! Culture ! and Cookery ! (a. illustrated in tho history of tho .London " Hunch ") ; " Two Princes of tho Pen Charles Dickens and William Makcpiece Thackeray) ; and " Famous People Whom I Have Seen and Known."

A great many companies in America now dike tho road upon tho commonwealth plan. Rules are made, a stage director and stage manager appointed, nnd oach person nssigned work to assist toward the common good. A committee of throe wiseheads Jetties difference, which may arise in tho company. Tho dange. cf this system is in bad choice of route and bad managerial judgment. A musical paper states that the Que. i has given hor private band instructions to use tho norma! diapason, and this gives hope that the question of uniformity cf pitch will soon bo settled. Nearly every Continental country now uses, o_ i. about to adopt, this French pitch, while in r-ost English concert rooms the high, or_ Phil harmonic, pitch is used, Tlio high pitch is also used in the army, but the cost of new military instruments would be co consider able that an immediate chungo is most unlikoly. At tne Melbourne Town Hall lately, a benefit concert was tendered to the veteran chori'ter, Mr Henry Benham, who has been placed liors de combat by illness, and who is unable to follow bis avocation. Mdmc. Fannio Simonsen, Sig nora Coy, Signora Venosta, Mrs Fox, Miss Minnie Smith, and Mdmo. Herman, Mr Amies Beaumont, Signor Leandro Coy. Signor Paladini, Mr Lamble, and Mr David Miranda gavo their service., as did also Signor Zelman, who officiated as conductor. j Signora Venosta and Mr E. A. Beaumont failed to appear, through severe cold, and consequent loss of voice. Mr H. N. Abbott has made arrangements with Mr YVybert Reeve, an actor of con siderable repute, and now in Australia, for a Now Zealand tour of his Specialty Comedy Company. Mr Beeve will come first to Auckland, and follow Miss Mario de Grey at tho Opera House in the second week of May. Ho has a well-picked Company, and a repertoire comprising such novelties as "Diplomacy," Simpson and Mcrivalc's "All For Her," Wilkie Collins. " No Name" and "The Woman in White," and "George Geith," founded on Mrs Reddell's novel of that name. Besides these he has "Engaged" and "Tho Great Temptation." His "Fosco" has elicited even the warm recognition of Wilkie Collins. Mr Reeve will play a season of four weeks and four nights here, and then proceed South. He will be suc ceeded at tho Onora House by McMahon and Veiteh's " Silver King " Company. While in a trance, Mrs Baldwin, down South, a few evenings ago, made the fol lowing predictions:—That the present difficulty with Russia would, result in a war between England and Russia, commencing in January, 1S8G; France, Germany, and Italy would bo drawn into it, but England's navy would be the means of her proving victorious. That an attempt would h _ made

to rob the Colonial Bank inDunedi

tember 26th next, and that tho Par..* -.■■.. ■■ Buildings in Wellington would be totally destroyed by earthquake in December, 18S7. Somo sensation was caused by Mrs Baldwin giving somo particulars as to the burning of the Dunedin Athenieum Borne years ago, and tho innocence of the librarian, Cummock, of the crime of arson of which he was accused. .Whim the writer of tho question in reply to which this answer was given wa3 inquired for, Mr W. P. Street, late Mayor of Dunedin, explained that ho had nevor committed the inquiry to writing, but had merely thought of it.

The Man who Took in Jay Gould

Do you remember Lord Gordon-Gordon, heirof the noblo house of Scotland, cousin of tho Campbells, and descendant of " bold Lochinvar ?" He was a low-bred knave. In Scotland he had bean often " wanted" by tho sheriff, but ho finally stole 8100,000 worth of diamonds in Edinburgh, and six months later, in ISGS, mado his appearance in St. Paul, Minn., as Lord Gordon-Gordon. He had §10,000 in tho local bunk. Ho pre sented forged letters of introduction to a few, and became tho lion of the town. He won tho entiro confidenco of John S. Loo mis, Land Commissioner of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and entered into contracts to buyseveralmillion acres of the Company's land. He would go and pick it out, he said.

Loomis organised a gorgeous excursion for Milud ; something Hke the excursion that Apollodorous planned for Cleopatri. During tho three months of summer the impostor travelled, feasted, and hunted through Minnesota and Dakota in the style of a king, at the expense of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Thirty or forty strong mon served him in his retinue. Nothing was too good for him. He had two palatini tents of nis own, and there, on silver and tho most lovely chirm, woro served to him such viands as would have enraptured Snm Ward or Epicurus. Fruits wero brought from Mexico for him, curacca from the Spice Island, Dry Monopolo from its fra grant homo. His table was like Monte zuma's. Loomis spent §45,000 on him that summer, and wrote to the directors : "He's the richest lord in Europe. He will invest five millions with us." Finally the splendid cavalcade wended its way back to St. Paul's. He must "run down to New York a few days," he said, and hither he came and installed himself at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.

Just how this Scotch Monte Cristo made Jay Gould's acquaintance I am not certain; but tho great financier called on him one bright morning. He was completely capti vated by his brilliant'address and his pic turesque conversational powers, and imme diately took stock in a "wonderful scheme " which ho unfolded-eomothing about a steamship company, I think. Incredible as it seems, Jay Gould went down to his oiiice and sent up to Lord Gordon-Gordon at the Fifth Avenuo Hotel three trunks full of greenbacks—no less than 6150,000 in ail— lent to tho noble stranger without security. Tho N.S. packed it off to Canada, and fol lowed it himself on the next train.

Jay Gould had been badly duped. He offered a reward of §25,000 for the capture of the nameless swindler within American jurisdiction, and three or four lively Min nesotans undertook to deliver him. They went to Manitoba in a waggon, kidnapped the impostor and fled with him tied hand and foot, but they were all captured on the frontier and held as prisoners. The adven ture, however, and the diplomatic row growing out of it, advertised Milud pretty extensively, and the Edinburgh authorities obtained an order for his delivery to them. The polished knave saw the officers coming, and shot himself through the head. I be lieve Jay Gould nevor got any of his money back. It is about the only time he was ever taken in.—" New York V.-rid."

Representative Institutions in Bulgaria.

A disgraceful scene took place in the Bulgarian Chamber on December 20th. A member of the Opposition, Sivaceff, charged Karavoloff, the Prime Minister, with play ing into the hands of the Russian contrac tors and sharing the profits of tho contract for the Zaribrod-Vakarel Railway. Kara veloff called on the President of the Cham ber te silence Sivaceff, but the President declined, whereupon about thirty Depu ties of the Government party rushed to the tribune and assaulted and nearly killed Sivaceff. His assailants tried to drag him from the tribune, which ultimately broke down under the great weight of tho combatants. Tho scene was ono of fright ful disorder, the members of tho Opposition trying to defend M. Sivaceff. The President and Vice President also endeavoured to pro tect him, and ultimately he was carried from the Chamber. The foreign representa tives who were present left the sitting in disgust. _ On the following morning the Conservatives convened a meeting to pro test against the outrage, but the Minis terialists attended in force, expelled the conveners of tho meeting, and voted their confidence in the Chamber. They then pro ceeded to tho palace of Prince Alexander, cheering the Prince, who received a deputa tion and accepted a copy of the resolutions. Besides the bill for tho construction of the railway between Zaribrod and Vakarci, an other bill was introduced on the 19th, lay ing down principles for the construction of railways in the principality. All the lines are to be owned and worked by the State, to the exclusion of private companies or .ingle persons. The construction of tho lines may bo allotted to contractors, but it is stated that the necessary workmen aro not available, and that a body of soldiers will be employed.

Sir Charles Wilson's Journey to Khartoum.

A special correspondent sends _*_____ '" particulars of Sir Charles WUiSfr.S& lourney to Khartoum :— •=*utnig " -Sir Charles Wilson stopped the at™,. ne.i* tr.c .....vein bank at . deserud^m W ao ! .utlS l ii l^-.iromi_h:U - tuum t a \ ciT% 6 there a mm shotted that Khartoum fallen ,n »V cdnt-sday, the2Sth. &__? sti.t-.-d ag_. at iluyligbs. AttM.^ tlio li-cr has sandy banks, ___l jP°.a »'»'- re aimed from both sides oJ?^ .teed Surgham our mon expects &££*» a battery, but none occurr_d. VWhS nearly opposite Omdurman at noon X heavy nneffio wu, opened byabJ_UM_ rebels on the bam.. ot tho river .ml „ .'VT Khartoum; their KruppX"^ iicrco lire, tour of them from Omdu™ * two from Khat'toum, two from t _•* end from the east bank. The attack__ force --as wearing the Mahdi'* ~_;< S and hud hundreds of fla. _. Xho c ""* was in great force, swarmmg all ove? _? low ground between the river and the £ to the south-west, and coming openly „S \ to engage Sir Charles Wi!»n _ foW T \ Ut I steKßOrs were now within a mile 0 f k»7 toum, and tliosc on board could sea thaft_. at Omdurman, close to the ferry whilk was held by th. enemy, and opposite™! General Oordon _ troop boats, nuiwatt »*_ other craft. On the Government jS there was a flagstaff, but no _JT ing. In tho streets there were scores of iL Mahdi's banners. A man came down in tho river during the firing waving awkiS flag, but the steamer declined reccX overtures, as the rebels maintained a _««»_ rifle and gun fire. The Bordein went wift in three hundred yarJs of the <.hore__ Khartoum during the night, and a nati» dressed in the Madia's uniform was gent ashore. So returned, conlirmed the tdlnt the city, and the death of General Goidon According to his acsount,'tho city w_.be! frayed on the night of the 20th Jannaj. by Farag, or Farash, Pasha, a SoHdaae«a and Ahmed Gelab, a native of AstowJuL One opened the gates, and the othei sent a steamer and boats to «« Madhi, whilst the Egyptian trowS wero massed in one end of the town The samo evoning a Soudanen D.rvish wfo had come to the river's edge at Khartoum with a white Hag, and had followed the steamer down the stream, came aboardwitl a. letter f rom the Mahdi. There was a Dn£ scrip saying that it was tho Mahdi's firsE last letter to the English unions wo sutojt. ted, and calling upon the Shaggiehto join his standard, and if the English refined to do so to kill all the Kaffir doga. TheDerrish, an intelligent-looking fellow,preß6edKba__!j El Mous and the Arab officer, Abdul basnid, to go over to the Mahdi, in whom he unhesitatingly believed as a ftuj prophet. The messenger told onr offieai that the Mahdi had been sent by- God to convert the world, and intended to march straight upon Stainboul. Gordoa «v _t Omdurman, and had adopted the lfiji'i uniform."

A Disastrous Voyage and Extra. ordinary Ocean Tow.

The splendid Clyde-built ship Rio Falloch, 1,600 tons register, built by Mem Russol and Co., of Port Glasgow, owiedW Messrs Denny and Co., of Glasgow, md commanded by Captain Davidson, ailed from Glasgow on November 13, oo te maiden voyage, bound for Sydney; wili i cargo of some 2,30. tons, consisting priad. paUy of largapipes and machinery.; Pr oceeding by the North Channel, all.weatiieU the ship proving herself a very fast sailer,u they had reached about midway between Ike, Azores and; Madeira on the eighth dajrofy and all appearannces were in favour ef'i very fast run to the Equator, whenß_e.ro overtaken by severe storms from the «a\k' west, accompaniod by terrific crose.wi, which caused her to labour fearfully,-end ing in hor rolling the main and miaen top mas _, with spars, sails, and gear.it tached, overboard, as wellasthemainjud,: smashing boats, bulwarks, and deck gear. As all this gear was hanging by the ride and under the ship's bottom, (mm endni' i goring the safety of the vessel iiwi! deemed advisable to cut it any, and with it the foremast,.and all gw attached. Of eight men who were abftat the time of the maintopmast's going,.ou was lost overboard, one fell on fte deek__ was killed, one had his arm brakes and otherwise injured, whilst the;others _ir_, culousiy escaped, considerably-raised. It": i vessel was thus left a comjfe. wreck, ani^ i lay at the morcy of triada-mm mtibi somo jury spars and sails .ere rigged , Endeavours were then msdeto reach the , island of Madeira, but fo.awhctomtmto: they were unable to do.co, __ugh_»/ . close, owing to adverse winds driving [ thorn first one way and .then, the other, . Two steamers were met with, wMck I offered to tow the ship to Madeira, but. - Captain Davidson considering their. *»■ \ mands excessive, declined,,. Ultimately't_j 1 managed to get within about 25 milao! 1 the west end of Madeira, when the steaMj i Flaxman, belonging to Messrs tape* i , and Holt, of Liverpool, ontward bomj ; came along and offered her «emcM,-*M: j were accepted, and in a few hours the (Up . was Bafcly anchored in Funchal-Koai^ - Madeira. On the news being telegrspW i to England, tho underwriters at W« • immediately despatched to the island,. i tho Union Company's mailsteamei:.*o. . an officer of their London Salvage ASM. ) tion, Captain Charles, Newmtm-*: • well known in connection vWlthjlM j Falls of Afton case-as also iWJgi , tun- Stormcock, from Liverpool UjW> Newman reached Madeira on the Ith j"» , ary, and after inspection of the FBMJ ■ decided that she could be towed, tinM . had-all arrangements made awaitugw, . arrival of the Stormcock. She armw* . Madeira on Sunday, 11th ultimo, Md« onco she set about getting the lamfW 'in order. Tho following day,atl^ i everything was ready, and the low*" , tow of 1,500 miles wa5001*3111600642 , vessels being connected with a new,lg Manillahaw6or,madeexpre3sly,l«BßK" ' long, paid out to its full length f^™; : tug, at theend of which w_»Whgg inch steel bawsor ; the_ewereagai«d*j» . on to the ship's bower cable, ,**J"y . veered out at first to 15 fathoms, W» , diately on rounding the ligtthow •*• ' east end of the island very ittWagj east winds and high seas WMgfiSg which increased on the »«#5: ; Notwithstanding this, they we"i «B capital progress, when the «*gg Shamrock reported thatiboth /*» i tops" had become blistered, wv&Wj -era. Dead sow was at once OW^g ■fires drawn, first from one «***U; other, until the boilers were fb*« examined inside. Finding W-H might be safely worked ,f«j pressure, steam was again w and the vessel was headed to.r» Lisbon if needed. Although AM* J north-east wind and sea oonUnm^ a little over half steam, they raMWg- FinUterre on the fifth dsyont. I»SE. had then become fine and 4M«Bg paratively smooth, and «*-"SSBg to make a dash for the Bally.gfj§ they passed at 10 p.m. on the VMU out; and although blowing-Mflfa south-east, as everything seemed. F^ holding out well, thay Vf^f^o Milford, which was passed.»*Pjg & following day. Passing "WHS and islands, they made for tto WJ in spite of dorse fogs ':Q?RgB to stop for nearly .**«-" S one time, they reached tog/Mb noon on 23rd ultimo, thus I*vbßP»S this extraordinary heavy oe*%Qffl great disadvantage, in the short •Vffiffi days and 16 hours. On.tow"*Jß Captain Newman, taking:«* "Sql the hazardous nature of the tow, <$mm it advisable to como on in ™9?"?l 4 |A__ vessel's capabilities bospe^w «"W terms. She left Liverpool •* JSSH Saturday, the 3rd "*im£*ffi£n» obliged by severe weathertj-gggg Tudwall. Koad for some 20 hours, .._ Endeira on Saturday evening,' iL|W_ She brought from Liverpool "ffSp to take hor out and home, and on*^ Greenock had sufficient left in iftHSH for five days' coammpW*J* £ V her qualifications, even sn »ff mishaps mentioned, her won MM g[ f. 140 miles, mid that even *Wjm loch was pitching bov*^£.» ever, not shipping a bucket ot w -^ River Falloch is now docked >° where she will discharge the mngPfr of her cargo so _to enable W ; Jjj, the graving dock Her «P«M executed by her bnM**Jgffij and Co., and we understand t^a, spars are already made, Jbo, m& % short timo it is anticipated ,m «y* again commence her »nteD„M.4 towards Sydney.-"**'"*

THE AaCKLAND EVENING STAJK. SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1866.

4



Yr. i

Place of Kowing.

Wnr. i

111.8.

Won by.

—"

I ,

1810 1811 1842 1815 18IC 1819 181. 1852 1(451 IS.. 1857 185S 1859 1800 1861 1802 1803 1S(H 1805 1800 I SOT 1 ._ lSli'J 1870 1871 1872 187:< 1871 1875 1870 1817 1878 1879 18.S0 1881 1882 1883 1881 188.5

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("lamb. : Camb. : Oxford . Camb. : Camb. : Camb. Oxford Oxford: Oxford Camb. Oxford Camb. Oxford Camb. Oxford Oxford Oxford Oxford Oxford Oxford Oxford Oxford Oxford Camb. Camb. Camb. Camb. Camb. Oxford Camb. d. heat Oxford Ciimb. Oxford Oxford Oxford Oxford Cnmb.! Oxfordl

._3o: 32 30! .10 45: .3 30: 21 _ .'2 i-: Foul 21 30 1 IS 29 M 50 22 50! il 23: 21 .0' >li 0' 2.1 27 2140: 23 5 21 40' 21 0 25 48 ■__« ,'i.i 20 56 20 4 22 0 23 5 21 14 19 35 22 3.'., 122 t\ 20 20 .24 8 I 22 13! 21 20, I 21 23 I 21 51 120 12 121 8^ 21 39

2 3rds longth I min 4 Bee 13 seo 31. seo Two lengths* Many lengths Foul • 27 seo II strokes Half length :_ f cct 22 soo Camb. sank Ono longth 48 eec 30soo 12 so.; 23BCO 13BOC 15 sec Half longth Four lengths Three lengths ; l J length , Ono longth Two lengths 131 lengthul i _J lengths rh0 lengthB i Kight lengths it t; 10 longths I.2J longths 13$ lengths ; Threo lengths ! 10 longthH til longths 121 lengths IB longtlis



FLIES AND BUGS, be-tle>..t-MC_. ro-chn, mti. __• tragi, r«U,t_ic«, gophan, chipmunk*. d__d out by " K_ug_ oa \_syi___..___ut__n_, riotMj * <_. Mali, j.u_u4 _



£100 Reward.-They euro all diseases of ths stomach, bowels, blood, liver, nerves and kidneys. and £1.0 will be paid for a case they will not euro or help, or for anything impure or injurious found in them-Hop Bitters. Test it,



The Tidy Housewira-- 1?^ wM housewife, when giving »S r« cleaning, should bear in m^ 1»«S$jg mates are more precious than lag" X tK tenia need cleansing by £fflS___»S l-ogulating the Btoiuach„^'?.^ a tW_!lS should know that there no^{"j|»«. Burely as Hop Bitters, the pn«fs»^^,^ medicines. Look for. .*_■'--•;■■.