RANDOM SHOTS

(By Zamiel.]

Some write, a neighbour's name to limn, Some writc-vain ihouKnt-for nro In i\isn Somo write to please t lie country clumm,^ yorm^ an aim 1 never Ji^'^;

Social reform is at any time a thankicse task to ongago in, for (.ho reform'", as a matter of course, finds society arrayed against him, and ho has not only to combat error, but prejudice, ignorance, and apathy Those excellent people who aro agitating for a higher standard of social purity need not, therefore, ba surprised though thoy find thorasolvea opposed and criticised, not only by spiritual wickedness in liifrh places, but by tho very ministers of liolint">3 themselves. 1 see. for instance, that Rev. Mr Long has been preaching at the Thames from the well-known prayer of the Phaasoo, from which text ho lectured tiio.se who »t; tho present timo set up for themselves a. hitfh standard of pmf'cclion and of holitiers, He pointed out that many of thorn full far Bhort of thoir professions, and como down from their holiness stilts in thoir daily life and actions. Tho press as woll as tho pul pit has indulged in ciiticiem, but it seems to me the "fourth estato" has orrod in want of true discrimination. For example, tho silly twaddle, pointless verbosity, maudlin sentimentality, &nd goody-goody nonsense with which ono Auckland paper has of late satiatod our palates on the social purity question are enough to sicken a scavenger, and the effusions on this head are a standing insult to tho intelligence and common senao ot tho community.

Tho spoctaclc of two lady lecturers at one time in Auckland affords a tliomo of thrilling import to a speculative mind : furthermore, tho graceful delicacy of femi nine pens in calmly discussing tho pro visions of the ('. D. Act presents such a Dicture of maidenly modesty na 'tis rarely tho lot of mortals to behold. Kvon tho angels behind their wings must hide their blushing countenances, and sigh for tho absence of that meek and quiot spirit which ia woman's best adornment. Lot degener ate man bring forth tho laurel crown to gird tho manly brows of these Amazonian viragos; let him write "Ichabod" on tho portals of liia ternplo, for his glory has departed; woman is fast assuming tho virile toga, and man—fallen man—will soon be breekless.

A wise physician, before proscribing modi cine, will first seek accurately to gauge the cause of the malady uodor his notice. A quack, with fulsome conceit, will blandly prescribe anything that comes first, in the darkness ef his ignorance. The main object of the one is the restoration of his patient; the principal aim of the othor is to line his pockets with goldon fees. And co it ia in the consideration of this social ro fonnquestion. We havehadbothdeductivo and inductive reasoning on tho point. The former roasonors havo manufactured tb.eir facts to suit their principles, whilst the latter have manfully reasoned up from facts to principles; faith has been the load stone of the one, reason and common-sense that of tho other. Tho " unco quid," join ing in a common hue and cry, havo raved in sanely against vice, and abused in choice diction and good round terms the short comings (or^let us Bay tho far goings) of that vile piece of " monstrosity" called "mm." Poor injured woman is falsely placed on a pedestal of angolic purity. London is flatteringly alluded to tv the modern Babylon, the resurrection of Nino veh, the hotbed of vice and luxury, etc., etc., as the imagination of tho writer is more or less heated on the subject; but when, I would ask, did abuse do good ?

In spite of the captious carpings of these cavilling critics who would mouth their loss Pharisaical brethren as n dog does t\ bone, I do not heaitato to say that tho world is improving morally, montally, and religiously. The fact is, that tho shams and shoddy, the paddiuy and pinchbeck of society are being stripped bare of their ex ternal trappings ; naturally there is a outcry, but we must not therefore argue that tho world ia growing worse. The fact is tbis: The conventionalities of modern life, making late marriages a necessity to many, are a fruitful cause of this modern ovil. Another source of evil I heard boldly attacked by the Rev. Mr Calder from an Episcopalian pulpit. He said : " Society with us ia too much divided into narrow cliques. If a stranger come amongst us, he is too often looked upon as a thief or a blackleg unless he is known to possess either great wealth or high doscent. Then, indeed, he may be either a blackleg or a thief, and we welcome him with open arms." This was a manly utterance. A plain fact of this nature was worth a dozen volumes ol metaphysics. Take this to heart, ye blatant Pharisees who lock up your religion with yout Sunday clothes, and spend six day 3 out of seven in proclaiming your own good ness and piously defrauding your neigh bours !

It is, I Buppose, a logical sequence of the City Council's action in introducing the CD. Act that they should lease their pro perty to tho nymphb in whoso interests the Act waa probably designed. But it only intensifies the evil and injustice of taxing the virtuous portion of the community for the benefit of tho vicious. I learn, for instance, that .a gentleman haa been a con siderable loser through the City Council's attitude in the matter, ia this wise : —He leased a portion of the city property, in tending to erect businesn promises thereon, but he found to his disgust that a houeo belonging to the Corporation, and imme diately adjoining his allotment, had been leased to a notorious procuress for the pur poses of her vile traffic. As it meant ruin to a respectable business to bo placod alongside of a den of infamy, the gentleman I refer to, after paying a good round sum in rent without being able to use the land, has been glad to givo a local speculator £50 to relieve him of his bargain. It seems a short-sighted policy for the Council thus to ruin the value of their endowments, ovt-n though "Madame" should givo them a handsome douceur from her ill gotten gains. Another consideration is—How can tho police be expected to enforce tho law against disorderly and disreputable houses when they find the city property let for thit pur pose! and city rates applied to protecting ths vile traffic ?

Tho now temperance publication, devotod to the spread of strict sobriety, chronicles week by week the number of unfortunate drunkarda who appear daily before tho sit ting magistrate to answer for such offenco aeainst good manners. The editor's object, I presume, in doing this is to warn others from falling into the eamo sad state of physical degradation. To the cursory reader, the numbers may seem large, but the fact should be remembered that the drunkards are comparatively few when the extent of the population is duly considered. Many of those unhappy persons who st aid in the dock and plead guilty are old hands, come of them appearing as many aa threo times in a week, and against such, in tho bookof Joseph, may be found sixty to ninety convictions. It was only tho other day that a poraon known as "Old Fully" pleadedhard to be let off, and although no less than ninety-seven convictions wero placed to her account, her pleading, coupled with her years, touched the hetirt of the Bench, and she was discharged with a caution. The old woman curtsied very low, and pro mined to go' at once and join the Blue Ribbon Army, but unfortunately, from force of habit, she troated resolution to just one glass of rum on hor way thither, thia one glass led to a second, and a third resolution lied, and within two hours of regaining her liborty, Polly was again in the watch-house under the caro of tho careful constable Mc 3., and the next morning she was consigned to her old quarters.

I am more and more convinced, however, that the great majority of tho people are not excessive in their drinking habits. Temperance, like thne.haa worked wonders, and while the grim-faced tippler is ex posed to the Police Court crowd, and sometimes gibbeted by the press, tho sober man in his honest poverty, it may bo, makes no perceptible ahow. I cannot help feeling, in spite of some defects of charac ter, that the workers possess commendable virtues. It is not the hard handed toiler who supports dons of infamy and social vice. The savings banks and benefit societies prove by convincing figuros that the majority of the peoplo practise both economy and laudable prudence. Looking at these figures, at the improved condition of homes—in the greater conveniences of which all expenditure is a kind of economy —at the better clothing, and incroasod book and paper buying, it is difficult to believo other thau that tho working classes, aa a body, have exercised us much thrift,

dusi-ito thi.il- frcquont oxp:).^uro to 1 lit; fluctuation!" of trade, as niuii) of the di-;c-< immediately übovu them, X X llio Diocesan Synod l-a1 aj.;,iiu brought into our midst a ploasant neous-iun ot tliu "knights of i.c whits chokor,'1 or, iw Brother Jonathan characteristically cali^ thorn, "devil doijgciv," mid aUlioujrh wo have not all boon C mc{i)eil by t'ui roar o! the Church Muoim-dw\ olJior oucle.-iasticai nrlil levy which liave thundered iutn our ours, yet wo have seun tho sublime spud ir.lo oi the church militant on cart li, and tin u\hi bition of a liltlo intollocluil sparririij on which it. has been truly refiushing ti .; .:-•(■ Tho Synod dorivod an accession of bt.rciijjlh from the presence of tho iwo go:ii;il mis sionera and thut di.stin;;ui.-h-.:d pn.-luto, thu f-crd Bishop of lirifbane, whoso surmons havobeon much admired. 1 cm iunlinod to think that tho worthy bwhop - in,- vh it startled Iw bost friends *l\v\ he s dd he would as Miion that a puije of " 'tobi.i-oii Crosoo" were iv. I in tho school" is liui Bible without romnwnt It is Uiouglit that this iitt'.'ra.iCc will grciily onr.:»tu:n UU fa mo, making him a second (.'hr>.-o;.i m, John of tho Uulfien Month. An indignaul. protest hath alrouly appourcd trniii rlic purlieus of I'auioH; the unco quid and tho pat'-ons. of Mother Urundy aro holding up thoir hands with holy horror and painlully chanting :— That comicnl Hiah-ni "f BHst>niio— i'ho Hililo and RobinsJii Crus.'O ; That beautiful Uishuii of Briniwnp. \Yv none of ua thoui;lit ho woulil do 30 ! Business generally is pretty dull, but in tho suburbs tho complaints lire loud nnd long. Tradesmen located in out-of-tho-way places, whoro no other shops aro handy, state that thoy are simply used as a kind of convenience. And tho cool impudence of some of their patrons is astounding. For instance, ono gentleman wus informed tha: a box of goods would bo left at his sho;: by tho 'bus from a Queen-streot trader in his own line, nnd tho lady, as she withdrew. quietly requested tho unfortunate urn to " please send it over as soon is it arrived." Of course lie growled, and did so, for busi ness men cannot afford to get tho name of being disobliging. A friend of mino tolls somo queer tales of the way ho is annoyed by inquirers and children when ho is taking his dinner. On ono occasion a throe-year ok! girl knocked him up to got chance of a penny. This was refused, as he did not wish to have two journeys for the upending of tho coins'. Tho littlo lady then racirecl, and just as my friend was settling himself to his meal she recalled him for tho parposo of getting a halfpenny "stickjaw," and thus socured the other cont. J!o again re turned tj his meal, when rap, rap, rap, and tho maid had como back to know if sho could not have n. thicker stick-jaw. Sho again met with a refusal, and retired in dis gust, but only to again knock tho unfortu nate tradesman up to spend the othor half penny. Individuals wishing to start in business in the suburbs wouldhavoobtaiued exceptionally easy terms from that man if they had called shortly after dinner on that day with a view to acquiring his busi ness.

This ia an age of sousatioual wondeivi, especially an regards tho ways and moans of carrying on bushier -an ago of small proiiN and quick returns, of iuunonso sacrifices and slaughtered stocks ; thing..; nowadayl ore not sold, but given away. Mammoth undertakings, leviathan projects, South Sea schemes, short financial cuts to fortune arc everywhere sproad as a tempting bill c.f faro to whet tho appetito of tho investor. Before a consideration ot those financial puzzles the solution of tho Sphynx pales into insignitionnce. Not the least consider able of these movements is the comparatively modern mania, tho " co-oparativo scheme." This ball has lately boon sot a rolling to somu tune in Anckland ; its volocity is OB tho in crease, and unless trado revive, who shall say where it will stop 'I Lot us look to tho cause of thcs-Oschemes, and see what is the principal factor in their constitution. 1 et X bo a boot, merchant in a large way of business, doing a roaring trurio which may or may not be profitable, und A, B, C, l\ E, &c, be large wholesale boot merchants, who supply the apparently prosperous \ with unlimited credit and goods. Then, if trade becomes bad. A, B, 0, L), E, &0., will restrict X's credit (if thoy (lave), or if this bo not the caso, X will cither (nil or form his business into a joint stock or co-opera tive undertaking, as it is too largo to manage single-handed, and A, B, C, i), li, cC-c, will become directors thereof. Verb, sap.

A minister in tho beautiful settlement of 0, a few tnilea fioin this city, recently preached a sarmon on " The Necosrfity of Giv ing Liberally to tho Church, "andstrongh tin pressed upon tho father? and mothers in hi* congregation thut the> should train up their children to do likewise. 110 would have parents encourage their youugliugu to such paramount tict^ of Christian duty in putting a coin, however small in value, hit) the warden's plate. Ha considered that by giving small donations tho habit would grow upon children, and perhaps become a " passion ;" at all oveutn, giving would create a porsonal interest in th" Church, and make the "little dears" more than nominal Christians. Tho tender fathor of a bright-eyed, curly headed, smart little boy wad improssod with tho practical and business-like charac ter of this natural sort of preaching, and thought ho would try its ell'oct upon his dear little Jemmy, and co, on Sunday lust, ho gavo his son a bright new ponny. Jemmy, in ecstacies, cried out, "Stick-jaw." "No, no, Jemmy, my sor.," ovid tho boy's father, "no lolliea on Sunday. You aro going to church with me to-day." ilo thuu gave Jemmy strict injunctions to drop tho penny into the gentleman's pretty plato at tho closo of the sermon. The little boy did as his father had directed, and chopped a Queou'a penny (date 1SS1) into tho serious-looking gentleman's plate. As coon, however, as ho had parted with the coin, the littie follow roared out, while tho congregation stared, " Dada, dada, tho naughty man hii3 gono away with my penny. 1 want some lollies." This juvenile speech caused quite a titter in the church. Even tho preacher smiled, for he could not help it.

"There is a crook in every lot," and 1 don't expect to be exempt. I therefore accept in all humility tho correction con voyed in the following opistle just to hand, and which I am glad to insert on behalf of inventive gotiius in the u?tutl predicament of lonrching for unemployed capital : —

In Random Shots, "Zimiel" makc3 mention of a " gontloni'in of. a mechanical turn of iniml. having haa a very ple.isant dre lii, fauuj iuK ho could fly iii:o a bird,"&e. 1 presume that "Ziimiel'refers to :uj s"lf, and to part of alu:..:r oCmine which nppoiri.fi i.'i Vn-: "U.-iMld " win i im.) ninc>. If luui vk'Vi in my supposition,lain oblii^d 'o "'A uniel" for hia roue ru in my wol-' fnri> or tlifl atiec-s? uf my invention, ami mi doubth wil ne gUd to know that lam still on term li.rma-that 111: vo iiol >ot. tluwn away, j.iincd ir,<- Mormon-, or gone up r. • (lie moo-.. Hut o prevent fti llivr misiupi'-'lifiiia on uuon thodubjeell would jnst say, o^, a (YaQk«o3 would say, lot ma tellyou tli-it "Ziunitr.s" ronmrltH, altnonKh good i-i tiicii.-i'lviid ;.ru uuiti; w. .c o' the mark, and thut I f/inc/ lm hi.■ipell' nr.'nt liave hocn dr.-'amin'j;. If ha <vi!l rbfnr to tho paper mnntiunc.'l, ho will iii:(l that. I saidlwai thoiQVontjr of n nact'uubtc balloon, which m me is a very diflVtront ton llyin;; machine A manhino such aa '• Zimicl ' sciems to have an Men of is simply n.ri hmiorHihility, hm. IE ho will find, mo some person or pivaou.-, who will join m« in pat:->itini< .-mil curryinfr out ray i;- icnlinn. I will prove that what I have siat'il is quit-., pnxaihlo, and Hiiail he don';. [ would rciiilnd "Z-Hnlol" thit bfcii'O one has f.iiled to so cinnoHsh accrtsiti tMng, ii i-f no anium'.n' tliut another w.'ll no a.iec. U.i CuUliik'^ nara'-hutu ivusnot a II ii n enroll inn, nt.d vlmtliu failel to accomplish through tuo faulty cc. i UMictlori d( liia luaohine, oi.iiera hiivd vcoomiiliahci! in perfect gn.fetj.-l am, eLo., John UttOOK, .1 joji- BOnby, Ootob.. r 27,1885. .

Why thoso frequent wails about larrikin ism at tho North Nhore? What is tho dis trict constablo about, and why in the name of common sense ha* ho not Ion;; before this made an exaniplo of some of tho hoodlum* that infect the marine suburb ? Why indeed V I am told that theeo roughs, who period i cally disturb public entortainmonts and annoy more peacefully dispoped parsons, aro youths about tho ago whon it is diffi cult to know whether they are men or boy.", and that they belong to vfliy respectable families. Moro shame to them, then, and equally cood roason why the representative of tho law should step in find let them know when they nro "going too far." This, I imagine, should occur very of ton, but it doesn't, and it is to be hoped that a timely caution will prevent its necessity in futuro.

A case which forcibly illustrates tho need that existed for the passing of tlio Married Women's Property Ae.t was lately brought under my notice. It iathat of a lady in one of the suburbs of Auckland, whoa number of years r.go was left a widow with a small fortune of about £1,0:0. As Fate would have it, she was wooed and won by a worth less scamp (strange, isn't it, how dharactor loss scoundrels get on with the fair sex?), who has since led her a life of torment, com pared with which the fiery death of tho Indian widow would lwvo been Iho blise of

|'~r.,.!i- Kit hy bi! Ihi ■Ifyrrnn) to humanity F.ri.-uiclcivl i:i Hi ink hi- wife's ..,!,, and th-i! >•■• («i.>U to <fi. =, .[_vi....r the Mis li-t L>\j'!ni( :i U: w.s.k* a;.'.', OiitiM-ilnl hi i::'ltiLin<jf i!m beds Hint ba iUo! ■, !c. \in;ri!io pour woman an i chili! humi:-.iiy h> wnurtn t have seldom henrd n mort iiH'u! Uk) tli.-'ii li.i- iv-p^vl ih!o lady U... t M■■'' : :■■; <! uvo:i now hlio !' Hcicenin;; band irom " wimin i! lihanf.' whi. h if ontuli lislml ;) -;• i: -1 him would le.-d to his hi foiv-.l n'dheron.-v to temperance principiui for a fow month". I Impo (>■»■'■ '"OM3 ,v!io kno.v I ho '■ ily l«> »•! i I ■■■■ 'i 1 will sym pathise vvitli liL-rin hvr troubles smd nw -I her to m;iU » livolihuud iur houli mid (;.-v Kitkkv:.) Mr ,1. !! X..." ;.' i .ii.- i.f ;■ Ml IniiiLT in Mr Jui-eim ii.". iii-i i.-i u.^iui-iiiL; a v .i.ci-rt For tliudlul mi.-.n ■■■;:ic'y uf Auckhin.!. Ii is to uu ;:iv' ii un I ho Mb pivximo, Mr l.)i m lioncioanli hu< ' x proved his in tention tn write mi Australian pluy nnd to roturu to Australia to produce it, Mr <ioo. (Jiuisam intamU lo \:h\ :i cho'uy pianoforte recital at UoHiuunu'a Music Warehouse shortly. Jldr.ie. Sir.ih Bernlmrdl is to nppcnr next yc.ir ;i.-'Gii.-.ir!oiio On1-.! iy in ii drama winch is now bein;; writtui by Sardou. •. Southorn piper uann-.- Mr Ceorgii Tallin Trimi'elln < a mfsmburof tho Majurom >.'iNon Opera HmitVo Company. This will doubtless be 'iov < to MrTrimnoll. Tho Majoroui-Wilxon Opera P.nullu_ Com pany opon at Wellington on JiuviMiiber 30 fin1 ihrne wookb, and at Chrisiohuruh on Boxin;! ui;;!i, foi lhr<;o vevU Tho Wybort lloeve Company leit Dunediu t.i any, 6rr. l';>, for Melbourne, uu their way to Adoluido, vvliore tiiey upon on the 17tliiw-l. "Impdnm" U&~ made n most wivoowful start in Brisbane, whoie tho lon^-o, only n tow weeks old, already numbers closo on 100 membors. Mr Wash Norton goo^ on from I'iji to Samoa, nud thonco to Honolulu. After n short season thoro ho leaves for San Fran cisoo, anrl intends to .-ettle i:i America, Tho Silver Kini; Coiiipany's saason at Dnncdin has been most prosperous. They arc now pluying tho " I'earl Divers " to bi({ houses. Messrs Oscar Ualfd nnd llonry Di^'o'- are now members of tho Compni.y. Misa Jmio and Company, includins Elln Garrinjjton, Taylor and Frank Forbes, arc now in Tasmania. They commonca thoir i Kow Zealand tour in Dunudin in Novem ber. Madamo l'atti is giving tho Marquis do Caux !?lOU,OOO, in return for which ho is to ronounco hi" claim to tho annuity which she has been paying him since tlioy separated. fioorgo Eliot's bountiful novel, "Adam Bodo," lii's been turned into v boaurifut piny, and staged at Her Majesty's Opera ilou<o Melbourne, by Mr Oeorgfl likrnoltl. Mr Itijrnold -.ppouvd in tho tit 1« role. Mr!'. ;'iivy, who travellod as advance ;..;:oat for llcinonyi, li.im stnrted from \\cl linptou tin Syiiucy in search of novcltiw. He will probably return to t\o\v Zeuland in a few months. Mr W. <! Wills h:t> written annthor piecoforMrirnny,entitled "KinjfArtlmy." Ho ha;- nii'o wrir,enu new play for MU NI irv iVndorsin. It will be called " Irenia," and its sconoj nro laid in the iirst pontury. Tho Taylor Jui;o Dram;<tic Company liavi mino to Tasmania. Mr ("nark- Svuivllu leaves Unhurt -for Now /iwbmtl. to mnki arrantjonionts to; ii tour through this" colony. A musicul Society, bearing; iho nnmo of the Christchurch .Xiiniic-ingoiK. In- boon formed, its object hf'i!i;;"liio piiiumii ii vi p.irfc singing anu.iij.'.««i KHiilnnuH only. Mi iiLmvc 'K. Klrmiiij; Irif !«• ■> 'i niipoint.Mi conductor.

In (ho cnvli ot po"ple l-o hoar Miulmnn Nil- ■-.>. Ihf r'l-'iws iinnn:i, al: SMrklio in. on Sepl-.mbor'JSitl, 17 pjivoin woiernisheil to death at.ti 1!) feriou-ly injured. Tin singer is go p:o<trnt.:d by the mliuv lh-.t i-hu ha-> abandciifd hor eir<:>^oiiniiti. Tho Ailclaiclu '.o*lvio of Mutiul limn (No. 5) on the 23rd "t last month pavo n fancy dross bull, which noi oulv proved » Micces* fitiiii\i.:i«Hy, but vi*> ono of tK. |.ilcas.intc<t nff'iiw of its kind ovor ho:d in the S uirli Auftrnliaii capital. The return trip down South of t h.• Silv. - King has bet n *hh prolit.ible as tho lir.-i vfcir. Tho trump cvirdha-s bc<n "Tho L'onrl Pivots,'1 in -vhicli (ill the pro.-1* Imv i spoken very highly ot My ! ptriormimou ot " I'iui Chudbrook." Hurry Kiekivrd* find his Company have been favoured «ith crowded lionet ovory wheiu They iivo now lini'hine their Mel bourne season a 1 liouigd'-i Hall, nnd will shortly make thuir w.iy to .'la nii in.!. Mr.l. L. Toolo has rcctfvoH a tolnnlinc oftbr from ;v well km»iu .i.ii iiu'.uuitia! Germ-in maimtjor for liinix.'ir, Cimipa'iy, and snonvvy to visit L'uri.*, Brilin, ami Brnasels, ffiomliiitr a wuok in oioh ciU and appc.-irinr; in tho ii'W li-ivcsty, " I'm: O'Uora." Tim I'i'ivalo Heni't-tary, roeoutly pi.yd in Aacklnnil niiflor tho tit-lo nf "The 1 ibrarian," lia? proved ono of tho mosi .-"ior:ce«fi! 1 comedio.* over prodncod in Syd ney uudl Melbourne. Alt Frank thurntun, anew nrrivnl from London, ii anid to bo immense as tho much-persseriilcd (lurnto. Dion Bouoioault, supported by hU sin and daujihter und tiia " Silver KiiiK Com pany, opened hi Dnnodin on tlio '.'Ut!i inst. At the dose of tliis seafon thoy p;ty n s'lovt visit to ench of tho principal cities. Tho opening piece will bo "Tho Shaufthraun." Tho Company will bo in Auckland about tho end of November.

Tho " Australasian " hcßivs that Mr Edward Farley h>in been doing very well in China with his small company. On -f u!y 15 ho was in Shanghai, about leaving for Hont; Kontx ; thence again to Shanghai, tor n winter 6ea*on of four month*. Alter that, ho goes to Japun, and thenco buck to Australia, Llio duto boing uncertain. Wherever ho has beon ho has won much favour.

Henvy Edwards, onco a feline /iivinier at tho Theatre Koyal. Melbourne j MiisKfttc Dcnin, who played Cnmillo aud other like eharactora at thu Bourkoatreot llaymarkot 17 years ago: Mrs Charlus I'oolo, who opoticd tho Theatre Koyal JiO yours ngo with Lftdy Teazle ; Mr Charles W.'ioutloigh, who wliun ho was with in iilnyed tho lead ing characters in tho Boucioault dramne, are all now variously in the United biuto;* playing old men andwoinon. Mr Darrell opens nl; tho Opora House, Sydney, on Orsfc. 3'lth, in '"The Sunny South," Mippouod l>y tiii; following Com puny :—(1. X, Ireland, ./ 11. Kainford, Oily Deering, J. <-l. Joyce, Geoigo Forbos, J l\ Wosfc, J. A. Patterann, Stilling Duff, Unco Lonton, H. Gore, W, Love, Annio Mayor, Eininu Fischer, Fanny Uogern, Chrinliu I'e.'iohey, Emily Raiuo, &o. "Tho Sunny South" will bo followed by "Tho Nakoil Truth," "The Squatter," mid "Tranxportuil for Life." tie intend* to open in Auckland at Christinas with tho above Company still further streiigl honed

I A notice of tho doat.li of tho onco famous BVonch baritone, Morly, appears in tho theatrical colmnnH of tho Parisian junnuils Merly, who possessed every qualification neoewary for »uacesa t voice of tho finest quality, a faultless mothoJ, and a com mundiug prmenca was received with orion anna ut tho Opera, whoro v onrcor of uncommon brilliancy roomed tv bo awaiting him. But Merly was a politician first and an arti-ifc after, and politics proved hia ruin. One evening shortly after ho entered on bit engagement at tho Opera tho Emperor and Em press enmo to n'itneod Hio perform ance. Tho pioco was "(luillamo Teli," and ovorytbinjr went well till Merly came to tho famous phraso, ''L'indapeudanco oil la mort !" Morly advanced :i j. nc.ir as he could got to the Imperial box. and with cyu^ flashing firo ho thundoied out tho ivorcta at ila occiipanta,'shaking hiafint in their direc tion at tha namo time. Iho houso was stupefied. Tho Emperor ropaid tho insult with a contcmp^■unus smilo ami a disdainful fhrug of the shoulders. Morly refu,"od to mike tho apology which tho director insisted on next day ; .and liis connection with tlio opora, and with it the prospect of lining to tho very summit of his profession, cams to an untimely end.

Tho Duko of Tick lias never b.:en a suc cess from She beginning. Tlio Prinoo of Wales and Ills not did not takes kindly to him. Teck is what i= called bud form. His manner lacks repose : in short, ho is ;i boor. Immediately after bin marriage ho is suid to have presumed upon his position With a curioue clumsiness. Ho was habitually Into for appointments, and when ho apologised for liia want of punctuality he did so in a manner which aggravated the original offenco. Ho generally rubbo'l tho most fastidious and sensitive portion of iCuj.dish society tlio wron^ way, -"Modern Society,'

UNKNOWN.

IJACIN'H MXTUIIi!1.:!. Auckland i;.<!. Spring Vovomuar 10. '■ ■nh-riuiry .1. ' Siii-iiiis....Norcinlii!r ll>, 12, IS. 'rai::t]iun.: .1 (!. Sjii-ltiij Novi-mhiirSS iiun.-.lm J C .sji.ni:,- Niivi-mlii-.r AS, •«.) XV. T. i.n»-.-i.) '■. .-•iifiuii. r Doc.-iii'ii-r ■>:. li!l. N'iliiL ii.,'. . <\iliirnur January S, 11. DATh.B OK I'lUNi'llM', AUSTRALIAN ANII NEW 7iKAIjA.NI) RACKS. V.X.C. DKKIiV. Or.■r,]|iM-;il, :I.l!>xiKH.'i:NK Hi' —N ircinlicr.t. I'cim-k ok \V.ii.i<:s TAi;i;s(A.lt.C).-->CovlO. A/, Ul'l'. V VllllllDl-KI. Cantbhiil'i'V Jliciihy.—N'>vpml)or 12. ■• I'CICI.A.VH (!lM>.-()ißi:nih rL'li. DA'l'li-; On' X;>,.ll\'A I lONS iNU AOUKI'T iVX-.'Ji . liM-i-r " iMil'i.-«i (.'.l.e. Muolinr. further pur ■n nl i Ni-v cj.in, 1) i-liy, IVcloame -l:ik v «.i ■! I'lLii'iThuvy iii" O.'inhorSl. four mm i,-:il i-v;'mi.s 'J'iiKiiDunn .I.C. ' "-i --ii! :'i (!■ :. ■'.■■ n.iilf lli .\n-;i|.:.-!':i: AiickU-ul Uu\> ;■■ il Siceplo i.'h to. D.Ofinli.i' I. i'o Coi'i'capoudenta. [■old1 'HiP-ii <,i-> :M ah.rtora for Iho la-.l A.J M ■ . fri. tr.i nr. who i nniiiincitoH for tlin nuv.l •il i ii.. vvsn urn b\ U.i .hvlhniiiUH from Ma^Ki.-Lauiioi-. W.I) At !•'i-ui. i.i.ii. liOi'MDs atirt nlmut 20 ■ nr.'ii lii-hiiiii >li ■ p;.-.'. I'.om which lioy aro timed, eons mnpnt.ly itlaii lljintc start. .1 ■■■. (C-w nn) initrf :lio "I JP lhonnin Onp« i lal Imvu l-coii cjiitcitml, It! linve been won lij I.mi f.-iv"-ir-iion, nio.-ir of whom have ncvot huuiiniunliouu : in llui liciiini;. L.'j.Jvl.-Hliiir tPdlwnn tlio Knuliah Derby tlio liret tini •hn nppi'arod in imbllo, audit was Martini-' fr-iry'-i li' -t in-i'iv.raniii on k r \rr rours.i wiii'.i huwi'ii t c V".J{.i;, ))i-rby at l<".oniintrl-m. Oshiiuxoa —1. Miirtini llonrys time, Dm'r. lOls.C'., i:i!ho fu ICKt, ou rucord for I He JI .1 l.oii ni- ("up :'. O'liumotinn's weight ia n't '■' lil'.m-ui'1 vi": ' "\roll ■i''k"iTi.:'(i ll"in3t.' --'I!)1 •-. ~ii lio w hi in a cam. rin IS.VJ. il., non in ih.. pr.r.ri ;. ye n- ivllh !»-t. 7ih Ufc.n hlshiwk. lie next liijjlK'.it w.-i-In. c ri-'ei to victor;, wit liy il i-i-ooe, who had'Jdt. lib., when to

THE MELBOURNE CUP.

[By Ilium]

Tiik twenty-fifth contost for tho groat racing ovent of the Antipodes, to wit, tho Mel bourne Cup,will be fought out on tho greon sward at Flomington next Tuosday. Never b'.'l'oich.i.-itheraoo produced such attractiona for Now Zealaiiders.and in Trenton, Oudeis, Liverpool, Nordonfe'dt, Thundorbolt, and Wiuchestoi1, wo have roprcsentativoa left in to battle on our behalf Unit wo cuu jioint to with tho very greatest pride. Our pros poets of winning tho much-covctod prizo.it ia admitted on all hands, novor previously bcro such v roseate hue, and that ono or perhaps throe from tho nbovo number will play a prominent part in tho finish of the equino fray, I think may safely bo reckoned on. Australian raco-gours havo in the days of Zoo, Zingara, Phct'bo, Wildrako, \Vaimoa, Strop, Calumny, Lurlinc, Lo Loup, anil Mata boon compullud to regard horses bred in Maoriland with respect, und much more recently Martini-b'e:iry, Sir Modred, nnd Nurdoufoldt have kept our name before thorn, and when the V.U.C. Meeting U a thing of the pa.' 1 will venture to say they will

lie. fuithor convinced tlint wo can pro duce tli« thurou^Ubroil muul to any thing turned out in the v.iilo world. The livul pajmvnr maJo for "Tlio Cup'l on Tuesday last fhowj that out of tho lli."i nii','in;illv nominated, tho licld lifts been l'ciliio-il to t~, and uut of thut number liro'oab'y n.'l more llum 30 will see the ;>,.> t. Tho ii.t.i\. .■; of i!n>.-o who limdo tilt; liual payment a.o 114 follow : - i; 1; T.-iU'Ol'h eh 111 lllmk Honnv. iwud .. A .' W I: ll)!' ■...;::■ !l i. UlU'.f. :l. .1 )TJ S I! a.:..' ■■:..' !..-' :>.-.' A'-'ii.-. ■•. i M-i. .. "s> s i \V Mll-Wii !i I.on! Wilton. Syra. .. S !■ .].' 'V ■' ■■-.'■■ .. ll I'-'rib! .'. ', ;;•;•.! '.'. 7 l: I! Ptliiip'V '■ '■■ K.I VrhliU-, (i rw ~ . 7K' .1 li l;< i I'srl; •• vi ~■■ IJ.rlm-r., liyrx. .. , i. '.i !.■... iiiii:'.! lu-li Si.i , \l.i-hw, .;;.ii .. ; li M l*r>.-.m':< lit- ii ru'v.Mirili ir;.'il .. . 7 : W. >."i 0". '•■ li n !tn i. '•■•.v. I yvs. .. .. 7 ! .' v. ■"'■•■' t. li \\i!r\vii-l< .". >r-.. . 7 ;■ ... ilniuno'ii-rf'Hbh .-.-. ■ iwruiiro ajr.t... 7 !■ i' . ilohi ro/s.-h i, l.iv, ■!■].,.(». i yrj. .. 7 1 W Pa ■-.i.i'.ilir "kiis.blr. lijT:< 7 S .1 \Vhi!.-'» ii f I'mill , ;{\is .. 7 ■ .\ ': V, •:>, iv ...- ii: . ::... l-.p. I! >Ttf. .. 7 li P. i!-.,,.'. It ii' l:iiimi-i', I > r.-. . .. 7 i .1. Wiri-i-chii's br ti I'lO-iie h,-in, i)->. 7 i ". Ki-i'in-i>■''■■• In-«- 'Initial rlml',:ij->s. .. 7.' .1. U hi■■M.rr N ■idi-i,M<lt. :i }TM. .. 7 . V. !!c: ty'rt ' Ii .St-.rii'i'.v i.v, I jr. 7 . M .Im 'ii''a I-,, h Hill: i;i II ■.!■.-■, . ..7 1 '. J. Mn.'.n"-> 1;-h V.!ori"i;iie. sy". ..7 1 f, II LII ivt'a !■:■ hHi J.'llli, syiM. . .. 7 : .1. U'h.f' .; !i |t-.4n.»..j yiH 7 2 \\". U fin ,\so: h l/-r.l lau-ut, ! yrsr. .. 7 I A!■' .^.Mir.'-iili in H.uwn "ml Un:n, I jrs, 7t; ii". I'liilUi'i'.-.'-jji I'jnnii M'iiiia:i.T,'-l}-T«. '.'. 7 " M. i muciiHn'.i hvr I'.i-i'ialu r. mod .. .. ti li >.■.' X: ■ .'< !'■■■■ l'ir-1 ii: lev.:; j v.-v. .. (! 1> W !'• :■ o:is '» c .\i« 'ii 11. Ilyri .. .. i"> ii ■. li. r:,,,1.;- cli c U'nim :i ir.« (i '•■ 'V. iM.i- ■' I'- bo U j.h:!ic t.v liar Mmi i.-S- r,'i). li yr.-i. .. .. .. Gi> II .1. I! i< ■'. '■',' '; in '.llnnrvii, 5 yrn. .. li !> >:. .1 ii 1. ■-, li li ,i,■ ■".!. I yr< li M ;•'. lli'iity'n ii c f.i'o;i,. li "'!■■'. .. .. (i - \. ■■'. liratl-.h!:«-'j ill :i Yt-Ilow llainnicr, ;i 51-.-. li I' ?.I. T!io:-.li on hi ii m Ccri?o iind Uluo, i. l>.-.i '»'j- in Li iMu.lijlii ii i 1 Ini'lml'iisiiciMltli's. With t!iu ik-t'uctum of all of tho Loavy i|iv;-itir), jilink Uotmy now usoupios tin [»st nl honour, und so far aa ivoight ia con ouriied, tho must certainly huvo n chiinco, bur a~; I am rirojiidicod u^aimt her hox for tiii-i ovent, I inu-f |jom her over. Tho it'ibinson .^t.iijlo ?uoin^ lit to pay up with O'.iilt'iH Ins accasioncd tomo little surprise, tor from nil JiccountK ha has not been him stilt, and Irtj nut b.x'ii doin<i work oi thu proper kiod for i\ ruco of this d<Mcripti'Jii This boforo mo, and tho fart thut hU ovvnoi> have not. .w.-irduil the rauch-talkod of son of Albany any support, in quite uuiliciont for mo to think he will bo an absentee wlionthu tlaj; drops. I can't say that Acolyto finds much favour in my eyes with S.*t 'Jib, and tiui'u aroeovtiral lowordown on tho list who should bu;U him on public form, notably Lord Exeter. Tho best performance Lord Wilton liua opposite to hia name is tho Ado- IniJo Oup, which ho won with 7st up. Now lio has 14lu more and throe furloiij; furthor to travel, ho that if ho ia in hia best, 1 qne.-tion whether ho e:'.n more than stni'.'irlo into ;'- place. To mo Tom Brown ic.uis iilco ono of the £ood tilings in thu r:ico, for he has iirovod on bovoral oceusions that ho h.i^ plonty of pace and can carrj wuijiht. In tho Oauiiioiti Cup, with 71b moro tbu.ii ho is now called on to carry, he was thought to have had a bij^ say, but unfurt.uniitoly hu wast among those who woru intovfored with by tho accident. At the time, it is said ho held ono of tho loading.' positions', so that under tho circumstance. ho is ontitlwl to lv placod under tho likely division. Tho brilliant Trenton is another candidate that must bo put in tho samt category, ami I don't think thore aro many hoivi.'s onjja^od in the evont that havo more a telling dui-'drt to rocommond thorn. From all accounts ho ia doing splendid work, ami as k'uotl roport says he ia a oottnin "epeoler," if. will be etrangu indued if ho does not iinieh in tho first lli}.'ht. Coriolanns i^ too uncertain for me to trust, and his getting third in tho Caulfield Cup was undoubtedly a fluke, but miuh (j°"d reports roach me of Kit; Nubbles that I am bound to look upon his chinco with tho greatest fnvuiir. in addition to his patty huving '■upportcd him hoavily, ho has one or two

good poifoiiuanucS to hia credit, tho best bcini; fit tho last ''.U.O. Spring Meoting, a'Hoii he defeated t!io speedy Frying Pan, Khijjwbod, tuul .-ovoral others in tho Veteran Stakes, getting over the mile and a-lialf in ■2 minutes -I's seconds. Shoot Anchor." cluuioo is highly thought of ay those bo hind him, but in tho last Australian Cup, with Olb loss than ho is now oallod on l<, carry, ho could got no nearer than second, while ho out up very indiU'orontly in tho Hurdle Kaco at tho V.K.O. <!rand National Mooting, ilu has tlio recommendation, however, of boing ono of St. Alban's progeny, and occupies a box in tho clover Dow'iing Forest stable Aftor a rolegation to stud dutios, tho aged Bosworth baa no charms for mo, nor do 1 euro for Grace Darling; but if Honoy clow has tho eonfidoncc of Mr W. A.'Long'fletable, ho shonld play a prominent part in tho fray. Warwick was picked out aw the " throw-in "of tho handi cap when tho weights first mado their ap pearancc, but so far there arc no signs in tho betting quotations that ho ia wanted. As a two year-old, ho was at tho top of tho trco, but since thon thoro has always licim a lot of mystery overhanging him. 'Vcight will not .stop St. Lawronco from winning if he can get to the end of tho two mile.?, but he has tho credit, of not being partial to a long distance. The market at tho timo o! writing indicates that tho hopes of the Robinson stable will rest on Liverpool, and that alone is quito sufficient for mo to enter taiii tho greatest amount of respect for his ch-inco, but neither Plausible or Uralla i? to my liking, and on the scoro of weight, Uralla is the worst-treated animal engaged. Dunlop has proved hia ability to gallop, bat a lino as to hip real merits will have to ba obtained in tho Derby. At 7st 61b each,

Impulse a.'d Prometheus havo imposts thoy Hhutild be thoroughly masters of,and of the two I prefer thu latter, who claims vory high parentage, being a son of Tubal Cain and Lurline. Rheumatism ha? prevented him from showing his true form, but he has tho reputation'of having por formed noveral great gallops at Flomington, when ft throe-year-old, and last season ho won tho Free Handicap at tho V.X.C. Autumn Mooting in " brilliant stylo. Musket'H two sons, Noidenfoldfc and Thunderbolt, I shall certainly hnve on mj Hido, but until tho Derby ha? boon decided it is usolesa to speculate on thoir chances, linaymiy, huwovor, lain of opinion that if the Hon. J. White's colours .110 to bo caniod to Iho front, in tlii-> race, it will ho by tho aid ol Nordo ifoldt. Stowaway liub v weight that should not i.top him, and besides, ho has the credit of having Hocurod a placo in Iho Auslruliuu ' Cuj), while thoro is no iihiro likely moiubur in the fico to turn up than VoliioipoUi-. Hill Top and Despot 1110 not to my lilting, despite tho position Iho Inttur occupies in thu market, but if ilioru in anything ongagod in tho nice ] liavu it re.-pec.t for, it is St. John, mid pro viikil till ;.">e- well with him, ho may be rockontU on tv run a great race. Ho belongs to an Adolaido division wlio arc reputed for thoir whrowdnoss, and ha has 0110 great dood to recommend him. This was winning tho South Australian Jockey (Hub Handicap with Tat 51b from Britisher, 7st Gib, St. Lawronce, 7ut 121b, and 17 olliors, including Lord Wilton, Anchorite, Coriolunua, and Ringwood. The mile and n-quartor was run in 2min. S.fsoe , which if tho fastest on record in Australia, By his running in Iho Groat Metropolitan Stakes, Lord Exeter can fully lay claim to having a big chanco of winning, and Brown and Uoko is also entitled to sumo respect. Wing proved at tho A.J ('. Meeting that he is gifted with groat pnoo, and is loniontly handicapped, hut Britisher ia a roputnd non-stayer, and Prime Minister finds little favour in my eyes. First O.e jtcr,_ \Vin cheslor, and Roinus belong to tlio divibion win.m wo have to obtain a lino in the Derby as to thoir Cup chance, and Arsenal I look upon as a likely outsider. Tho lightly - weighted thrco ■ year - old colt Cyclops, by' St. Albans--Jowt.es hiis the credit nf having performed a splendid gallop on Iho Flomiugton track during the week, so that ho may be entitled to a deal of consideration, and of tho others Cerise and Hhio and Lesbia posaoss tho l>o-<t chances. To sum up, I think the winner will bo found among tho following half a dozen, viz. :—KitNujibuu, St. John, Liverpool, the Dkkby YVisnku, Honkyukw, and Tbb.n'Tok, and to pick four from tho number I should select: — Thk Derby Wixnkk St. John LIVKRI'OOL, and Kit NniißtKs,

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Tun Victoria Racing Club Spring .Mooting eommoncos this afternoon, and will bo con tinued on Tuesday noxt(MolbournoCup Day) and tho following Thursday and Saturday In addition to the Derby, the Melbourne Stakes is .uot down for decision to-day, and tho results ol both events will bo anxiously awaitedthisovonintf.asboth invariably throw lightontho Cup winner. Should Nordetifolt or Thunderbolt prove victorious in tho

!Uuo Kiband, thero will be no end of re joieint;, but Mi-'eess i-f the latter will bo mott palatable t'j Aueklandors, he having been bucked for very largo sums in Aus ■iMli;i by loeid tuilites Mr J. 0. Kvott issued the weights for the iwo principal events of tho Auckland itai'inj! Club Spring Meeting in tho tarly parl of tho week, and among pouio there lias been a good deal of gruinbliug at hi. ivorl!. IWonally, 1 don't think that taken dtouuther, tho handicap ia a bud ono, ch uooially tho Hurdle Kiioo, and 1 shnll bu ,'juilu prupared to see it produce a good .j.nr.ist. Thu throu best in appour tv me to Ik. Al'irio, Ns'it-i, and Kuvvngo, while in tho I'riuoo of Willis Handicap, Ciu le'.i-lUi, Victory, and tjii Bcdivcni Imvi ;i..'hini; to cumplain of. IVlisiirams from Chiistchurch this week infi-rm u j that Tunpioi.-o and .V'ckluco are 'dtun,' lhrou»h their work in a satisfaetin > nvimiiT at Kieiiarton. and tho p iir havo beun tioalcd to sovcial htrutif; pidlops. In the ...,i',v p-irl of Ihfi w. ek thero was something liky'a sciiro amouglhu backirsof Tuiquoise, in Rtni'i'tliicnro of it boiii|i Ftatfd that lie ,;.•:,! b-,.,1 Piiddonly pulled up ono morn inc. 1 am lilnd to bo ;>ble to etHto, however, that thero is no truth in the statement, md thoro .-eeins oviry prospoct of Auck ;■ ► t,, 1 li,ing rifjlit worthily rojirofontod at 'ho C..1.C. gathering by both tho fon ot Tnhul Cain nnd NecklaCO. Tho jrood finn of i v-Y27!> "'as pissed rhrmigh tho totalizator at tho Onchuuga Uu-ing Club Muoting on Saturday. 1 understand that at tho Summer Meeting ot iho Club, which is proposed to bo held ilumt tho Kith .lantiary, tho Cup will bo in .•roased to 'JOOsove. Sylvia dropped a splendid lilly foal to Mu.-keton Tnwday morning. 1 understand it i- proposed to put tho grand old [laughter nf Kisherman to Ingomnr this toanon, ■ihieh sire served Onyx this week. Vivan diero, a d;iughlerof Musket and Ceorgia, has produced v colt to Antoros Tho programme for tho Taknpuna .lockev C ub Spring Mooting on tho 28th November appears in our advertising columns to day. Thoro ore pevon events, tho best boing tho Spring Handicap of 40a0v., Hurdlo Jiaco of .'iO-'Ov., St. Andrew's Handicap of SUaov., and Steopcha?o of SOaov. Nominations for these ovonts clow with Mr K. Wynyurd, the tceretary, Dovonpirt, at!) p m., on tho Oth Novoinbor. Mr W. \V. Robinson will apportion tho woights. It is said that IMnck Uoso, who arrived at Christchnrch last week with tho rest of Mr 11. Redwood's team, \e thoroughly sound. Ho also looks as if ho had dono plonty of work, and is as hard as nails. Without doubt tho Onohungi* Racing Club Meeting on Saturday last was from ovory point of view tho most successful tho Club have yet hold. Every thing passed oil'as pleasantly ns tho proverbial nvirriago boll, and all of tho ollicials performed their duties clliciontly and well. Tho way Cinderella won tho Spring nnd Subur ban Handicaps stamps hor as a most promising maro, and I shall bo greatly mie taken if sho dooa not. cam frosh inurelß at

omo of our meetings. From tho way her ilnble companion Mystery shapod, it was fully provod that public opinion was not at fault when sho was voted a moral for botli ovonts, for in each sho could have galloped nvorhcropponentß at anypartofthojournoy. Tlic llur.ilo llaco provided a grout finish, ShotoVer and Alaric being lockod together in tho run homo, and it was only a fow itrides from tho winning po.^t that tho former managed to gain tho nock verdict of tho judge. Opinions wcro somewhat divided as to whether tho result would havo boon rovewod had Goldsmith not mistaken tho timo for finishing, but one thing may bo sail) that.l. lino de?orve.» groat credit for the patient manner in which ho rodo Shotovor. Tho Now Zealand Stud Company's ntiillion Loolinna claimed a winner on ■ focond day of tho Island Bay Meeting, 11. Hod wood's Capsized (a full brother lv Kad.iraes) placing ttic Kilburuio Handicap to his credit. Antorofi nUo had » winning representative his fonr-ycaroM dauglitcr Fay proving triumphant in tho Melroeo Stiikos, with Clogs, a daughter of Loolinue, as her immediate attendant.

I havo to acknowledge tho roceipt of a copy of tho programme for (ho Thames Jockey Club Summer Mooting. As in timated by mo last weok, tho datos solectod aro tho 28th and 29th January, and tho amount to bo given in stukus tots up to t'iiOO, divided among olevon events. Tho plums of tho programmo arc tho Thames V ato Handicap of SOaova., U miles : Gokl lields Handicap of SOsovs., 1£ miles; and Steeplechase of SOsovs., about, 2A miles. Vlr A. Butler will allot tho weights,

Tho first of Nonsonso's progeny in tlie shape of a colt to Cadogan mado its ap poaranco at Christchuroh a fow days back, but it diod shortly aftor birth. Nonsense's old stablo companion, Siesta, I notice, ha° alxo produced a colt to Cadogan, and visits him again. Mo.-srs Lynns and Blaikie becoming so diegustod at the ingloiious figure Enlield cut in the Mniden Plato at Onehunga, have thrown him out of work, and ho will b.T relegated to hack duty. J. Dawson, who has boen in Sydney recently and at ono timo was employed in Chuafo'B stablo, desires mo to stato that ho ia opon to engagement as trainer. Mr W. Waltera's Pishgirl, tho five-year old daughter of Yattendon and Fanny Fisher, has been served by Ingomar. Second payments for tho Now Zealand Cup and Dorby are duo to-night (Saturday). The Northern Jockey Club (Whangaroi) Summer Meeting is fixed for tho Bth and 9th January. Tho principal events of the pro fjrauamo are tho Groat Northern Cup Handi cap of 15050 v., Hmile.andKensingtonPark Handicap of Sasov., 1J mile. Nominations for all handicaps aro duo on tho lGth . Peceinbor,

Sir Bcdivero'H win in the Flyine Stakes at Onohunga on Saturday last is tho iirst he has placod to his credit sinco a two-year-old, when ho started on two occasions. _ As a thrco-year old ho started livo times without scoring a win, and laat season ho faced tho Hag fourteen times, arid failed to (vstch tt>o judsre'a oyo The deceiving con ot Albany umfTres" I'euco has occupied n box at T. Williamson's stable for sumo time, Mid it was this trainer who prepared him f<ir Saturday's event?, That "silouueia golden " does not seem to come within the ken of some of the younger end of English jockeys. Iho fol lowing from the pen of " Kapior," in the •' Sporting and Dramatic Nows " is a ciwo in point:° "No trilling part of a jockoy'.-s education ia knowledge of how to hold his tongue. Ono young man has recently had a warning, but it isimo too Ulto. Had ho potuowod this most desirable accomplish ■nont, I should liavobcen richer myself and some of my friends would havo bonofitod by several thousand pound;". Thus it Imp ponod. Archor was tho other day riding a colt that appears to ho invincible. Uc can lorod to tho post, and was joined thereby a lad, a m eo.wful jockey in his way, who promptly rtniok up conversation by ob serving, Tin going to bo it you to-day!' 'Aro you?' Archer carolossly ropticd. 1 Yes, I am !' the otlior replied, ' You think I'm not. All right. You'll soo!' The lad in truth was 'as noar as a toucher' doing what ho said ho should do, and wo, who wore in that dosirablo thing which they call 'tho know,' thought for a few comfortablo seconds that our mono/ was in our pockote. But Archor won. ' Hod have dono mo to a certainty if ho hadn't talked about his mare !' Archor said afterwards, ' I should havo laughed at tho idea of his being dingorous if ho hadn't .said what ho did, and should havo taken no notice of his getting ahoad—felt Hiiro ho would coino back or I could catch him when I started ; but after what he said I thought 1 had bettor keep an oyo on him. Ho astonished me, I can 101 l you, and ho would have won tho ruco if ho hadn't given me warning ' Those who baeknd tho second ut from 12 t . I to '20 to 1 aro naturally delighted with tho jockoy. They propsone indeed, to present him with a testimonial, A inuxzio is the most favoured suggetion.."

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

<BY ACTION.)

AUCKLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION'S I>itUI)RAMMK IfOlt TIIK OUKRKNT SEASON.

Senior Cup

Ot;T 17 nnd 24.—Newton v. West lind, Auck lunii V. Our Uo/b. Cordon v. United. OCT. 31 and NOV. 7. -Newton v. Auckland, West iCml v. United, Hor.iou v. Our B">J8. NOV Unii'lSl.-Nort-ton v United, WealKnd v Our I!.>vh. Oardon v. Auckland. NOV. 2$ and 1)1:0. s.—Nowton v. Oordou, VVußt Knd V. Auckliind, UmK'il v. Our Hoyß. I)KC. 12and ill.— Newton v.. Our Roys, W.st ICnd v. Hordon, United V. Auckland. DXC M.—('hria raw ltoHdnya. .Kv-.2.-N'w Scar Holiday a. JaN. B Mid 10.—Newton v Weat Knd, Auck -1 md v. Oar Hoys, Unrdon v Unitort JAN. '.'l.— Mieklant Amateur Atlilolio Cub lAn 30uud VHh. 0.-Nowton v. ~nd, Wotlvid v. rnit.Ki, Corloi" v. Onrßovß. i'V.n. lHand2J.-NV---toii v. I.nlted, West Lnd v. (Ju ■ Ho> ». Go.-dun V. Aue'lunri. VRH.iI ll d MAKCilli.—^iowion v. ronion, Wrst, n:nd v. AiK-kland, I'nivd v. <Jur Hojs VTAK.n t 111 nnd 21 -N.-Avton v. Our Hoys, \ rut nnd v. Uordon, Uniteil v Auckland. M AKCII'iJ tv A^i-il 17.-Club liej cr poHtponod "'a'pi'uL 21 Aiukliina Amateur Alhl-jtic Club Muttin;.'. Junior Cup. OCT. 17 «nd 21.—Vucklaiul 2r.il v.Kru-k'" n X.iloul Ist v. West Kirn 2.; d, G rdon 2 il v Hollands, l'.um-ll v. OiiehurKa Ist. IYA garl Ist. v. United 2nd. OUT \U mill Nov. 7.— ncklanil 2nd v. Wori Kal2ud,Miiuoi)m Ist v. On hunt;. I .t, Gordo '.'nil v. United 2m!. P.irnd V 1 Zinn^rl Ist, iM-.inkivn v. llullinds, NOV II nnd2l.--.viuiklvd2irl v. Hailacds, KtiliotialHt v fiincU.liorcion-'ud v. Fniuklyn. I Ziiiß'iri 1.-t v. Onuhuuga It, V.'eat Und 2nd v. N V *;s mill Koc. .">. -Auck'nnd 'nd v. Ore hUKKn la;. *'atio- a\ lt.l v. I ZiiK..ri Ist, ii. do-i •>r,i v i», Knd L'nit, furuell v. Ilolhuds, ViMiiklyn v. United inn. UEiMinn-i 18. -.Mick n-d Vnlv. United 2 .d. S'ntiuni.llHtr Gordon 2nd, l'urnfll V WistKud ■ji.ii, ! Zniiiaii Ut v. H'r-nklvu, Hi.llaudH v. One- I>KC Jil ami Jim. °- Clirlitmas mid Now Y.-iivV Ilolid'iy.". J VN !) *ml Hi -Anclilim ' )m\ v. N-tllona Iki, Uunloii 2n.l v l'ar.iull. I Z.nKHi Ist v. W-M Km! 2nd Kn.nKiyii v. OnJuniKn let, lloilundrt v. 1 nil. c!-ml. JAN. :i -Amt'OUf AlhlctloCliibMontlnir, .1 VN. 30an* Krti. 3.—Auo Inml 2nd v. (JorJon ?; il Nut oiml 1 I v IM'ed 2nd, I nrnoM v 1.-.- :l V. 1-1, ~, I ZlnsMri Ist, v. Uol'atuW, Woat Knd 2nd v. OnnliunKi tat, ■;>..; 1.1 n'.tl jT—AucfcUnd )tnl v. I'arnoll, Niivonal In v i'ra'klyii, Ojrdon 2nd r. 155! - Kiiri In', '■'■ fit iiiid 2nd v, II:-1.i-.thI-, nflnmpa It v. Unit"d 2nd. I'iC ■,'>• and Mar.^h 6.-Anokl»nd 2nd v. I Zin i;:iri Lit. \'. -ion ills t. UolliuuLs (iardou 2nd v OiioliunKJ.li1, I'li-iioU v. Uiiltal2ntl, Frank lyn \. W-k Knd '.'riri. M.MiCil I" to \pril 17.-Club tics, oto Al'KlLi'Jl.—Alintour AthUtio Olul) .Meotiiiß. Second Junior Cup. UCI', 17 nnlSl. -Alplii v. Gr.i-nniir rich:ol. HiitfCo. v. UnihiiHiivi. N'fwton 3vl v. Xatl'.nal Smt. I /.!n)>nrl '-'rvi v. Oni'linnna'in'l, Carlo > V W■ sr Kud ;!rd. J <!e i v. iloseiierrr. Auckund out. OCT. :il nnd NOV 7.-Ga.s ro. v. N'owlon 2nd. I. Ktngfiri -ud v. uckliind C-i lion v. Roue lurrv. Kil?n v. Nut'-vinliiul, Oramnmr Peh ol v. VVcut Kn< 3rd. Hiohinoi d v. OneliunKa 2nd. 1. 2.- Mphn v. N'i'wtii 2nd. I 7,in carl 2nd v. Wont Krd :ird. ('arluv.i v. "don. Urammar Pcho 1 v. Klnbninnd, Natin-nl 2nd v. Auckland Uvd.Onohunß.i2nd v. lio.oberry. Oaa Co. out. NOV. S nnd I)Kl\ 0.-Alp^a V, Ons Co. I ZlnKarl 2nd v. Nfttloiftl 2nd, ('. irlton v Rich nieml K'lon v, tl' huni;\2nd, Ornmmnr dehonl v. Itoaßhorry. VVost Km :i-d y Auetlaad 3rd Newt'in nut. IIKC 12 nnd V.).—t lpl>a v. r n vl'pn. '-'ll« Co v. Kdoii. Nnwtn 2nd v. Auckland 3rd. Grammar rfehoil v. N'otiounl 2nd, ltio'uno id v. ltoscberry Onc.bunga ond V, Weit *nd 3rd. [. KiDgari out. HKO. 2(l.—Chri'ttniis llolidnyf. .1 AN. '.'. — vow Ye.ir H )lidiyi>. J i) and Id. — -Vlphi v I Zincail 2iul. Gas 'o. v. Curllon. Newton 2nd v. West Krd 3rd, Edon v. I'iolraiord. Na'ional 2<d r. OnoluuiKa J)id, Hunhorry v. Auokliml 3rd. GramniAr School out. JAN 2.!.—Avieklaud Amateur Athlelie Club Mooting. J >N. 3> nnil VKU. o.—Alphi V. Kdon G is 00. v. I Zinp'rl 2nd. Nflo'Mn 2nd v. On<*liun«a 2nd, Griimma- Sc.h'irjl v. Auuk'and 3rd. Biohmond v. Wept Knd 3rd. NatiO'iol 2nd V. Kodeberr.v. Cnrltun nut FSB 13an'2.1.-A'pha v. Ulelimon'l GniCo. v Ori'iiniiar Sclio 1 Nowton 2nd v. Rosnberry. I VA Rari 2ivl V. Curlton. National 2nd V Wist Eiwl 3rd, Uuehunita 2ad v. Auck nnd 3rd. FK3 27 and IT\UOH fi.-A'phft v. Xational 2nl. Ga3 Co. v. Onohuns?<v 2nd, Nowton 2n>! v. Onrllon, I /.inpruri 2nd v. Uweberry, Kdon v. Orflmmar School, Uiohmond v. Auckland 3rd, \V- Bt Knd ont. SIAKCH 13 "nd 20 —Alphu v. Onohunga 2nd. Oils Cn v. NnilonilS .d, N«W'on2adv. Kdcn. IffliiKu i v-. Uramma' School. Carl'on v. Aue.lii.d :ki. West ICnd 3rd v. Koscberry. Kiclimond out. XIAIiCH 27 mid .'. I'ltlli 3.—Aloha v. Wcet Knd 3r<l, Hus C>. v. Kosobony, I Z'nttiirl 2nd v. Richmond, Carllon v Onohunn* 2nd, Eden v. Auckland 3rd. Ornmmnr School v. NcwtonJnd. Nationa' out. „",.'« APIUIi lOand 17.—AU)h:i V. "OFoberry. One Co. v. AucklAiid-Srd, Newton 2od v. I Zlumirl ■'nd t'arlton v. Grammar Sclmn1. Kilen v. Wnst. Bnfl 3rd, ltlchtnona v. National 2nd. (.nehUDga APRIL 2(.—Auoklaud AmatOQi' Athlotio ClMA.vTtiina'R.-Alphii v. AuokUrd 3rd, Bus Co v Wost "nd 3rd. NnwSon 2nd v. Richmond, 1 ZlnKitri '2nd v. Kden, Curlton v. •■ atinnftl 2nd. Grammar Sohool v. Onehunga 2ad. Kosuberry out. ' _^__________ — __

A HORRIBLE WIFE MURDER.

I Livekmoke (Cal.), Septeinbor 11.—A hor riblo murder occurred here this morning about 5 o'clock, when Huey Ceal Cull awoke, grabbed his wifo by the throat and choked her to death. Carrie, a little daughtor 7 years old, who slept in the eaino room in a separate bod, stated this morning, boforo tho Coroner's jury, that: " A little before daylight I heard father and mother fighting. Mamma pushed papa out of bed and ihe'n ran to my bed. Papa then jumped right on top of her and bogan to choke her. I put my liar.rl on papa's arm and told him ho was hurting mamma. Ho "aid, ' That's all right,'and kopt on choking hor. Pretty soon mamma wont to sleep, and papa carried hor back to hor bed. Papa thon tied a ropoaround hia neck andfastened it to the bed-pott, nnd lay down and pulled back. 1 told him to stop, or ho would hurt himself. He then got up, and after putting on his clothes, gave mo some money, a chain and a rule, and told me to give tho money to mamma when she awoke. He went out, and soon drovo away very fast I was afraid to get up, and whon it got broad daylight I vent and spoke to my momma, but sho could not answer me, papa had choked her so. I then ran into Sammy's room, and told him mamma was dead." Cull was found at 7 o'clock this morning, about two miles from town, asleep in his buggy, his horse feeding along the road. The causo of the trouble seems to bo that Cull has thought for a long time that his wife was untrue to him. About throe months ago hia wifo left him and went to her folks in Kentucky, and his brothers took him to Oakland to havo him examined by a Commission of Lunacy, but after keeping him in tho Country Goal for a week William Cull of Hay wards, a brother, took him to tho home of the former and kept him sovoral weeks, during which time he seemed quite rational.

THE GARDEN.

[P,v Hohtus.]

Calendar of Operations. October 3.

IS"* Sv^«talr Wrsll US? n «l °ni liddi-cuos. lhouj.l. not for i.ublicaliou.l

■TO CORRESPONDENTS. Ma.mu'K (Ain. l twiT».-An inairorp ni««* beiV dip'fl LOJiliqn t! fo-LM !>«><>™ pliinti call ol> i'"n,'iiy iit'u'lii !';»." I'- It' >'ou''il.'l!, s',, B',^ tnreU'th^Rr'o-'mioMlmViiin.whpni.on.Mr.itiiiK th •a.uli ll.< K.-oun-I.a.H.olvcs tlio inam;r«. and nil o 1 nnrlions ami s.-ud imp to the p!*nt«. miiln iii n ili'V iiiaSK, it woui'i no boot mud! value to Ibp plantc. Iti to only wh.-n in a moist btul i Ui.ii'liulilmta derive , v ~'■ fH from il. Thnt. is thn reason hat i,;,.;,! i Z'n-.'.vc is ord uiirn rapid Krowlhis wimto.i. us tin- • olion is immediaio. V, ISBV, in "c 'v™' v' ..e^wrifin VlowUr" Tho watw wonll wa-.li th;; polM. oil'.».n they wuul'l ivl 'ii't well. All ii'/irr;ni!,-muHt <.LH.9C tin tii.y '^^^"^ii^'nl1!",,!;^^^• io whciv tli'o 1.11-c.u of lli.vjrais itrowitu?. iii o. 10 ro? uoSf;u r a oo otSu° pftoiur; vtino oinKbaßl>B (AG.).--ou can pTOpnaaio thß abovo fro n b.iclcJ™. Cut olf llic iluwor Btoniß immedialoly alter they are douo rtoworinK, li'acft in n cool place, and wa»or nnd syriiwo twioo a-rtiiy dnnnK hot woo t her. Thiß will promote tlm f -rmuuon or BU.rk.'rs, which nan lm]'ott<:d oil': and so make tliis moro Biiro. the llowora should bo cut oil immediately they be B in to fade, not allowine tlnm to begin to form Beed. ns that would übsorb a Urge portion of tho stcoDsth of the Onion's'(' Onion," Newton).-You can trans plant them with ea->o whenovw they are about four or 11 vo Inches long Put them out in rowa about fifteen inches apa't and abom, ci. lit inches fr .m plani, to plant, in row. I ]iiv.< often tried the transplanting of onions, ;inrl invarUbly KOt as iliu' a crop an from till) mod provided tluy a-.-u uv.nsplantcd early in •thasoain:-. Wr.cn working over.he grpuml u-h'M uloniy of iii.irnir.'. and tread it down lirnily ai a'>« lirforo ijliintin.L- out th- voun K iilnuta uiidldhii wo-iUer is dry take a lnt'e cow niauiuo; niiiUu a \h<c< n.iblo; pluco the roo'B on ihN bnfo n rtivi'mp; out. It will frcatly I'MBii.t them ! ill tln-y set established The above will nloo apply to ihu planting cut of cabbage, canllfl'jwvr, eta., ludry weullior.

Kitchen Garden.

Thk season is now advancing. See that all tho main crops of vegetables aro sown or planted now as soon aspossiblo.if notalready doiio. Still plant out cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes, etc. ; plant and covet over as already described in n. former issue. Potatoes ; Finish planting out late crops . early crops earth up as they grow. Point slightly between the rows a few duya before doing 50... Continue tho thinning and plant ing out of onion* ; frequently run tho hoo between tho rows so as to stir the surface soil and kill weeds Peas : Still mako fort nightly sowings ; eartliuptheearlier. Sow crops when they attain sufficient height. Mako fortnightly eowingaof mustard, cress, and radishes lor small salads. Tie up a few move lettuces for blanching ; prick out a few more ; saw another Kmall patch of seed. Mako Hiiwllauccesfionalplantingsof cabbage and cauliQowor, oartli uptho growing crops ; clear away tho debris of old crops as they are cut, astlipyuirordshelter,feeding,and breed ing placosforslugH. Rhubarb: Uivefroquonl; wateringH with soap suds or other liquid manure, so as to give heavior weight of stalk and prolong its period of growth by keeping tho soil moistabont its roots. Thin out uil advancing crops whonover they be como largo enough, giving plenty of room tor oacti plant to fully develop itself. As the season advanecs frequent attention must bo given to hoeing and stirring tho surface soil so ;ih to keep weeds under. 11l some situationa slugu will now bo getting very troublesome and to keep them undor, frequent dustings of lime must be given at night, as they ure then out feeding and tbo liino will destroy thorn. Liino put on during the day will only have the effect of keeping tho slugs in their hiding places till the efloob has passed over, when they will cotnu out and bo more rampant than ever. Flowor Garden Thoro is a gond deal of active growth in tho different plants in tho flower borders now. Attention must be given to the stak ing and 1 icing up of tho tull-growing ones. Continue sowing the annuals out in the holder, thin out those Unit aro up, only leaving two or three plants in each spot ; those will give moro and hotter (lowers than a larger number. Harden off tho tender annuals sown under cover, as they will need to ba put out us coon nn pne»ible " Finish plpnt.ing out all nodding plants, so thut th"y nm> got established nnd make somo considerable growth before the dry weather aots in When planting out now it would bo better to snttle tho coil about the rootti with water. Continue planting out summer flowering bulbs ; stake and tie thoeo thnt arc begin ning to tfhow signs of llowering. Mulch ro.-es with cow manure nnd water occasion ally, or where rr.aniirecannot bogotiu quan tity use liquid nifiuuiej Whore <ha blight is showing strong, syringe with saap-eucU or tobaccn water. Tie and regulate climbers as tluy advance in growth ; thin out super lluous sh.iots. The weeds now aro grow incr very fa«t, .md every endeavour should bo inMile 'o keep them under by frequent hooiiv' and >tiiring of surface soil. Lawns should he mown frequently, and on overy favourable occasion roll with a heavy roller. Where paces aro badly infested with slugs, put traps for them in tho shape of small pieces of board or pieces of old cloth. Every morning tho slugs will get under them so ns to got shade from tbo sun : turn thesfl over and kill such sl'igs ns havo taken harbour. By tho above means you can get rid of largo numbers. Whoro seedlings aro coming throng1! the ground dust frequently with lime. Hoe and rako tho walks frequently. Groonhouso. Growth will now be very active. Ke pot all pmnli growing plants whenever they re quiro a larger pot. Coleus cuttings, etc., which are struck, pot info small-sized pots, using a good compost. liuocts in some houses might bo very troublesome. Syringa such plants as may bo arlbctod with tobacco water or Gishurat's compound. Givo plenty of air during the day. Water in the after noons. Syringe when closing up tho house in tho afternoon. Cut Off the Dead Brandies. It is only recently that it has been clearly demonstrated that a dead branch of a tree makes almost as great a strain on tbo main plant for moisture as does a living 0110. It is one of tho important discoveries of modern botanical science to the practical horticulturist, as by this knowledge he can suvo many a valuable treo. When one has been transplanted the roots get injured and the supply of moisture in tho best cases is moro or less deficient. Any dead branch or any wosk onea should therefore be at once cut away. Fence Posts. It is often necessary to take up fence posts boforo thoy are rotted ofV. Those who have had experience in this work know how laborious it is. I once found it necessary (says a correspondent of the " llural Now Yorker ") to take up a large number of posts from a heavy clay soil, that was baked hard by drought, and the ex treme difficulties of tho case compelled mo to discover n secret that I think is well worth knowing. 1 found fiat by pouring a pail of water around the post it may bo very readily loosened by the hand. Then by hooking a chain about it loosely, flipping the nooso down as far us possible below the surfaco of the ground, and hooking the other end of the chain around a piece of light scantlintr, noar the ccntro, fo act as a lever, the post may bo lifted out of its bed very oasily. Profit in Growing Boots. Tho experiment of making beet sugar in England is being tried, with every promise of succors During trio past, year an area of about GtO acrps in the vicinity of the sugar factory was plan.ted, this acroago being distributed among somo sixty farmer". Notwithstanding an exceedingly unpropi tious season, by which it was calculated that the crop was only about, half of what it should have been, the product averaged over ten tons to tho acre, in somo cases running as high as twenty tone, and in other to five tons or less. The percentage of sugar was about 13, or a product of a ton and a half of fugar to tho acre. The price paid the farmer was 20 shillings per ton for tho beets, delivered at the factory. This, at tho rate of ton to twenty tons to the acre, would seem to bo a very fair return. To secure the best results tho most careful cultivation and care are required at stages of growth, but with a favourable season and a full harvest it would seem hard to find a bettor paying crop. When such resultH are reached in such a climate as that of England, there seems no good reason why New Zealand should not lead tho world in the production of Bugar from beets. Tho Source of Carbon la Plants. A correspondent of the " Country Gentle man " doubte the truth of a very widely accepted theory that plants obtain their

carbon from the air, and lie certainly ha" vory good roasons for his doubts, especially from a practical point of view, ivy aii contains only about one part of carbon in four thousand, while water will absorb nearly or quite its own bulk of carbonic acid, and in this medium it readily reaches the root" of ylanis. where it i-* absorbed and currieil upward from cell to cell, Our forests are coinp.ised principally of carbon, as we can sco by charred wood ; and if this was obtained from Uio air in the form of carbonic aniil, and through tho loaves, there would bo little use for the grout maf'S of narbonacaius matter that covers the earth in thfl form of leaves, grilles, weeds, and decaying wood ; but we find thai these also proraotoths vigorous t,'io*th of tree* and furni-h the j^reat bulb of material out of which they ftru composed.

SCENES ON "THE DIGGINGS."

Sunday in a Goldfioltl Township.

(\Vkitti;n kob thi; "Stak.")

In reading of the rumours of gold diacovorie.-

at Tnhua, one U inclined to woudor if the scene? attendant on tho opening of a new goldh'eld will bo the samo in tho future a 9 in the past; if the difficulties of transit of provisions, of preservation of tho peace, and all others attendant on isolation and die tanco from centres of civilised popula tion, will bo repeated. Looking at the great advancement made by tin colony, it U certain that to tho same extent these troubles will not bo heard of, but still thero aro place? whore gold is stated to exist which ore not very accessible, and whero a certain rudeness of living will bo inevitable for a period should the gold field bo dovoloped. I have thought, it might interest your readers to jot down a four recollection? of a scone, moro or lfiK vidid still, in mv memory, of one Sunday on tho West Coast; not the very earlj part oi the Wet Coast digging, because many of us had long boon working on tho Held with indifferent success, but of the particular rush which caused the great influx of population. It was called tie Six-mile, being six miles from Ternmakau, from whence in the very early day distances wore calculated, It was subsequently well known as tho Waiunea, a district which held the Scandinavian load and numerous gullies inland, and tho far-famed Auck land lead on tho beach. At the time of which 1 writo the diggers all wen' twelve miles up this creek^ before they attempted to work, and thero was the six mile township at the junction of the right and loft hand branches Over the range from those were Callighan s and Maori gullies, and creek? number one and number two Tho workings were all shallow and very prolific, and tho gold easily oh tainod. Tho miners worked on six days, and rested on the seventh by carrying tucker to their claims from one to nine miles Sunday in the township vraa tho busiest day, and one particular Sabbath i? even now vivid in my memory I had risen early, as all miners do, ami was enjoy ing tho lovely morning away from my tent in the yet dusky shade ef dawn. Presently the ruddy glow of tho rising sun gavo a new beauty to tho scene, a beauty hitherto dor mant, but now mide almost gorgeous bj tho appearance of the lifo-impiurting lumi nary. Of flats or plains iu.thcir true sense, thero were nono, only 'less pronounced slopes ; but of terracos there were many, ascending one abovo another in agloriou staircuM of verdant loveliness, of every imaginable shade of green, varied hero and there with a sombre pa!ch ol neutral tint where tho papa rock appeared or enlivened, where a slip had occurred, b\ the appearance of some mac.i of rod 01 yellow clay, and crowning the whole, n moro piocip'.touj hill fringed with tho re splendent blufli of tho crimson rata, seer whore not hidden by fleecy mountain misti against an azure eky And one of tin. valley was similar to the othur, and betwoon the two, whore once nought but n limpid stream was to be found, was ;■ furrow of mud, thick aud glutinous from the tread of many feet, and adhesive as the K*amp through which Christian struggled Skirting on cither eido this miry high'.vav were the white canvas built stores nnn business places of tho inhabitants. Thi whole of this inn !dy track was one miss o! struggling humanity, all around a hum ming industry, tho entire district. * golden harvest field in its literal sense Fill a sliovol with gravel from an\ bank, wash, it in the stream, anc many grains of gold would be the resul' Tho hidden store of wealth in tho banks an' terraces must wait for the exhaustion of th* stream at present boing worked, when tbi water will bo available for them and th< channel reciivetho debris.

Moanwbila, a? day advanced, the sturdy workers from tho outlying gullies stii• farther incroasod tho crowd and added to tho clamour for stores. Nugget booted or short with heavy water-tight?, red or bli.o fhirted, and moleskin breeched Ftfllwart all, not, an old man, nnd onh ono woman in the district, no weak ktite or eoro foot amongst them, none luron except perhaps somo luckless pioneer, hu'.t f.ir up the gully, who is borne by his staunch but weary tnatcs over tho rugged country to somo store or pub, where ho may receive attention. It is nil they can do. for in the whole longth of coast from Nelson to Inver cargill thero is no hospital, nnrt no doctor in praciice. Tho fact of a woman's presence in tho placo is mi alleviation, for whero is there a woman who is not a ministering angel tD tho sick? Ench sturdy digger had slings across his chest, made generally of straps nnd woollen comforters, whero with to pack his wee Vs "tucker" on hi* back. The calico bank ot New Zealand i.< their first, aim, or possibly the store of geni.!' George Walsh, popular Cass dy, or somo crthor favourite storekeeper. Their firsi object is to sell their week's gold, and then with the proceeds, procure their stoiv of flour and bacon, tea and sugar Of beof thero is none, but one bsasr had at present been killed on tho rush an old working bullock, which fotcheri half-acrown a pound for a treat. Each storekeeper kept a fow bottles of grog on tho counter, nnd each customer was welcome to a glass. Tho liower had run short, and there were no potatoes to fall back upon. A small supply of the latter had boen brought up the week bofore, and sold at ono shilling tho pound, whilst a few onions were all quitted at half-a-crown. Pre sently a string of weary pack hor?e> arrived, and were incontinently rushed by notes in hand, and in v twinkling all the 501b bags of flour wen distributed at the usual prica—three pounds five each. As each digger procure I his supply of stores ho bound his sling* around the wholo in a compact, swag, and salliod out in search of old mates to gossip over the news concerning now- rushes ami tel of recent success. The tents devoted to the sale of liquors were soon rilled, and a busy trade dono at Is the glass—help your self. One publican had actually got fome bottled porter, but it did not last an hour at 5s a bottle. Aa many as could crowd Into tho 8O"e eating booth quickly did 1 0, and had a feed for Th. There was one baker, who sometimes could got flour to bake, when he sold it at ">s the loaf, but a batch did not last long, as tho loaves at that prioi: were in demand for feeding tho pack-horee« in the absence of oatn and grass.

■As the sun rose high tho muddy track became densely packed from one end to tho other, and two men started a fight; well-known boxors —Mat, the Maori, and 11 Europe.'vn. Knee-deep in i-lu?h, they bi.i tertd themselves about, whilst all struggled togesiis-ight. Thostorekeeporleft hipgood*, tho banker his calico tent, and amongst the diggers, olbowcd their way for a place. The fight was a good ono, and tho interi sfc exciting in the extreme, when in an instant, at a cry, it boaamo of no importance, fl man in the crowd had culiod out " A thief ' a thief !' and tho culprit waa caught rod banded, with his hand in his neighbour* pocket. Ho was seized and dragged about with no pronouncod intention in the part of any oxcept that to catch hold of him appeared tho wish of all,' each appearing to think himself tho proper guardian of the culprit. There was only the one thief, and what was ho among so many? At last some ono cried out, " String him up." This appeared to meet the views of all, and many voices added their assent to tho verdict. 'J here was a very convenient branch of a tree hanging over tho track towards what became subsequently the Terrace town ship. To this the thief was dragged, a rope quickly procured, and a nooso being made, was placed around his neck, tho other end being in tho hands of all who could get hold of it. There appeared to bo no consideration, not even the ruthless do liberation of Judge Lynch. There was one constab'o in tho place, the one-policeman power representative of the Ministry of the day, and he had doi.o his duty by disuppear ing, and hi* discretion has f-itice liseu him to the rank of Inspector.

Meanwhile the pickpocket was protesting hia innocenco, spite of the evidence, with oaths, promising amendment, and as ho

asked for mercy ho presented/^SB Ptiful epectaclo. The S B \S^ lub cheok«, rendered nallM t olle(1 dZ a« th«e found their\ P a fttr^ winch covered his facS «2?* «»^ buble that ha waetheo"^ aßd il<« (5 tho summit of a stump, ho Lt, eadli «S effect: "B»W W C&| first time we have had i thi»f ""« tk amlhodWnotr,,bS tSV' 10H llivo him a chance. 'Phera i Want to crotch alon.thetekS i\J£*X stand on each eide and letths-_. hat »« wo all have a imKk t. • tttl> »hil« uioes." Ju.t tho old emz T M k ganntlot, iwdlt met -vith th ft "" «» of nil. Tl.o.c.ultcanbelm"^?I'^ inddrty track is thouKhtof Wj*»«l. over, no wont, and sometimes hdll''""'• timw down ho was biiffett,]? 1011 '1 whole difitanco, and whu., at u^ "g th« tho termination of hi, jour™ "I?* 11 and ncok were all one 1B ,y o f fs« clotted gore." He dUauL, J" h Bt^ bush at the end of the to Mm / tks vute, andlha.n-.ver been «J* by any I have tpqken to („ d&* others had been employed fw f busy throng, and the S „'><!» liad all been extracted Thl ° ba »t placed it in a valise which w > r.bad under tho pillow of his bed ut tkT!* his tent. The tent had been J ■£* o! tho value extracted. The atte'T?^ a day or two after, and a yea o^ T d quontly, when things hud Pett «? J fflb* tVe creek worked ou\;,Statr stream became the .=cene ofdiMnA "* lioni., a largo patch of gold was fo U » .surface where it wb supposed the?S" hadbeon opened by fr©^

it was getting towards evening J. Rov.B-athor of the Catholic Cb 1^ ing on o box outside C.ußidv'i dresaed the usseinb v T*- e atLi; ''d ,-hieh bo wa, listened to by he °tt admirable, and vyortby of Llate tho greatest Civile the world aa " seen, nor was the pecuniary result hi« Bo*. Father lo» ? jo be J^*1 J when he descended from his box it i, decided case-five hundred and elhi pounds were Mibsoiibed in notes mid S uuggets. '6»'uiua Many diggers who had far to Bo U already departed; many remained till iC day ; others lived in the immediate viciX' and would go home late with a Ballami lantern. Some who lived at a modj, distance were just departing, andaitW wended their wav npthoseveral gnlliea J ■ •rocks the noise grew less and the "lon 1 the hiUs greater, for the Bun had .yuiiZ oompletejy around in the glorious tsM. summer day as to shine at evening Btiaieht up the valley, aud thus threw a halo ova •ill, imparted a nimbus to tho moat frivilou fern and lowest lichen, and then as its gL roee higher on the terraced confines o!tb vulo it lastly gilded the ruddy glory of tl« rats*.1 and with a sheen and ahimmer fa parted,

Characteristics of Criminals.

Rkcijntly* in France considerableattentia has been paid to an examination gf tin crimiuul class with reference to its physical and associated characteristics. M. Lieu aagiie has drawn attetition to the frequency oftatooingainongftcriminals,audtheviol(tt nature of the sconea depicted by them in this voluntary mutilation. Jhesamewrite has pointed out that criminals, as acte, are tall; thus hi SOQ subject.6 examined bj hini,G23 were taller by 6 centimttm than tot average, and some exceed the normal bight by ten and twenty centimetres. These ob servations were corroborated by M. Ferti,ii Italy.

In 1882 Dr. Mnnouvrier [ remarked that among criminals, notoriously with murderi, the jaw is more developed; than is bbml; and that while the cranio-mandibularimfc normally varies between \2'i aud 13, among the convict? it attains tha retnatkipli number of 147. MM, flager and We magnc, in a comparative etudy of theskallj of ««-:issins and ordinary ptrtous, hsit confirmed the statement that til forward projection of tbo ekoll ii greater among tho former They ban also shown that criminals have a largs facial index and smaller vertical indeito the peaceable ciiizens, but nodifferemji observed in the cephalic index, M, Htfl/ has atlirmed the larger capacity dm criminal skull over that of the usual tjpt, the rolatis-e proportions being as l,s3Siito 1,490. This, however, has been coiih dieted by a number oi observers who dan tha reverse, but ib is suggestedthatitwj be explained by supposing thut the forma examined tho crania of murderer* otly, wbilo in tho latter studies thosa of sO '■laeses were included, ainaug which til incendiaries are said to have small ball M. Flcefih has said that affections of tli heart exi^t amongst crimiuaU to tleestei of -20 per cant, ; tho persistence oi Bott: orifice, 10 per cent.; contraction of 1' vascular system, 5 5 per cent. Bat Is researches upon cerebral lesions ire me more importai.t. . . • • Ho has demonstrated a certain ataman the cerobral convolutions, already intata by Bonedikt. as, for instance, the tnedmm lobe of the braiu being shaped as anoiiflt tho mammals, the separation of the smlesnu fissuro from iho occipital, theopeniDgotw lissuro of Sylvius, and the formation erf an operculmn of tho occipital lobe.- MWJ has also detected certain anomalies in la brains of tho*e criminals whose autOMjW been made Tims dpika b** faad.tMg mentation of tha n'icluum of thej* seventh, and Huh pairs m « [ m™mi brain ; also Uolai and March, bavedeWri the pigmentation of tho nerv-ouscellamto brain Sf a convict. The school of crmri anthropology in Italy has also madeiiopo tant contributions to this list of facte. 3VL Mano has examined the ton** criminals, and he has dwww* *X individuals convicted for. murder, m those «uilty of inflicting wounfc ag preponderance of largo r.nd ehoiths* while with thieves tho frequency > and narrow hands is lessconeideraW^ to the question of tattooing, h» ta*» the larger naraber of tattooed pwf" 1 among the assassins and assailantt. M. Lombraso, together with f "J has studied criminal ty among ,gj They examined 9SO infants, and M»»J IGO from the houses of refuge. » that the criminal .typ| ooj °gg at that age, associated vitn in the proportion of t'i PcrcS = 44* of a moral sense was rewgnwd " \*T cent, and a veritable Fopen^y 10 per cent. Out of 29 lllf^lflie ortoiial observed the Uisappoaranoe^^sl«* tendencies partly * partly under the be.iehcial _*»» their surroundings, ami j*r'U ' their criminal passions Misting certai. period disappe.jMnmat^, Tho typical ennnnnP^J, j, baen recognised among '- « fi ner cent- Germany, in the WHS?***-* among thieve,, insolvents, nnd m If* ™, iM bigamy to Hw«lentd«PPr. r %,«.! female, this type was f^ "' e f & M With ordinary men nnd *°»f affloDg SlJ was only found fourteen t.m*» Jg individual,, right of whom «£ Tomuin. Bono, Bn.l or e« tho great capacity of the jr.TJo'J socket* aud prevalent D-UtOTMJ rf also in.4sts.upon 4 « s" S tbe among ™m^:*±g%& * ''^ mean, "of the dynamom^ Mano and Lorabraeo "b^a cent, of tho criminals ««g?S?S more power in the »f..&,*««• aumher of ordinary subject , peculiarity was only p** addition, in f^-^Sft far£ their number among .hec' " W oecded that •»«S«f2 o i««*ft X showint! to this ell.ct amon men. It wa« aho.found among that tha right lobes oftMk Thile * more dovoloW th»u the * & woiL-ht of the bran, »■* »" In general w«i«^ b« tons, but with X';X rtlmo<^ bomneM, being grate* JD ,i s * smallest among tl>i«*. teW j .•■ aro flattened. Th^ s nV>* ■ selected from many ?'nf r;' sefu l con* interesting and poseib > X^rtß}*' tbU Btudy of criminal •»»"»

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1-115 AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1835 1