RANDOM SHOTS.

,w-j, \#? Zamux.l

write .oploascMjijOomitry^h. rormn. M «i.nlncvcrf^- r(imi

Ii was not exactly "for fun" that ••Zamiel" on Monday night wended his way to the Theatre Royal, and, on the Strength of Mrs Z.s company, socured a front seat in the dress-circle ; but candour compels tho admission that ho manogod to extract not a little fun from the proceed ings. Just fia an onlooker experiences a keen delimit at seeing the feint and parry of two experienced swordsmen, to the dis passionate observer in tho realm of politics enjoys a ploasurable sensation in wit nessing tho same progressing, especially when the chief plnyors pose boforo the public, tarn bound to say that our (-..0.M. was on Monday night "g.0.m.-or ' than eter he was bofore, and in .1 very dull atato of tho political market managed to moke no inconsiderable capital out ol his opponent.-. His persuasive eloquence has lust not one iota of itfl power to charm an Auckland audience, and his methods continue to combine tho old delight fully perploxing admixture of lotty sentiment, adroit logic, and most oxquwito "blarney." Perhaps tho most characteristic utterance of tho whole speech was that which closed his comment on the remissnoss of Now Zealand in not making an offer of money or men to tho Imponal Government. Ho had been shut out from the world, and did not know—not ho !— whether or not tho Government of this colony had done their plain duty in the matter ; but he knew vory woll wliat they ought to havo done, etc., etc. "Ah! said M« Z. in a whisper, "what a pity Sir George was buried alivo at tho kawau. If ha had known in time. Now Zealand would have got a share of the praise and glory that has all cone to those New South \\ ales convicts!" 'Whoroat I, " Zamiel, smole a emile not altogether sleeveless, and main tained a discreet silence which might easily have been mistaken for sympathy.

Very skilfully, too, did the speaker turn thetables on Mr Stout, whose recent address in the same building had temporarily turned the heads of tho Liberals of Auck land The electors [perhaps some of those whom he now addressed) had, " very.natur ally," he said, cheered some tine senhmenta uttered by the Premier; and "Zamiel JriEEd as he observed how tho.B very Kople just as "naturally" hooted and leered the selfsame sentiment when it was held up to ridicule by Sir George. "vV ith. consummateclevernesstheKnightofKawau proceeded to demolish Mr Balance's scheme of ten-acre starvation lots, harping beauti- Ml? on the string of "twopence a head ocr day " as the Government pittance for the distressed working man and family. 11 resie, the »peoch was not marked by striking originality. By a series of dramatic Dicturet arranged like a syllogism, Sir Seorge proved to his hearers that they were slave!! or serfs at the very least, and that they were steadily getting worse. He then left them cheering themselves hoarse at the pleasant prospect before them, and resumed hia seat

a virtuous aotlon." Yes- and Harry Farnall was right (though it wS'rather rough on the Premier) when ho slid that Auckland people had found their Political Ideal, and W therefore no need of an Agnostic Prophet to point it out to ?u»™ Sir Georeef " with all thy faults we , fi, on ,tiir°and we lovethee best when, SSJStoLTSS rolling, thou callest us "whipped hounds," orbiddestus crouch beneath the whip of the cruel slave-drivers of New Zealand !

tnrlea in view of an admiring crowd, but who tWnk ng discretion the better part of valour, end by adjourning to the corner other people's proper*. JJJU,,-^.t C w Xtdro°psof British blood in his veins, and does not just auite approve of this pot-house fraternising verses "bout the "Sweet Star of Peace," butlrom the Jingo camp to*™*™

'• x » *

There baa of late been a great outcry f?r in one d'^ l e on a - rrive d at between the &° teW Sritanic strictness on the one aoynaofatocjru on Mond hand which woo» n * s d } and the for killing .a ]n Sd license on the other. Charybdiaoiunbndleaiic Ithasbeentiio fashion^ b toba gandsv vef ° h r o ß c ° h £ ie f o&ndera, and they and ale.as the emm of th(j ha ve hrtherto born tn fc Sabbatarian *be sauce f or the that, afce a."•;', while the big ones °nly T mfJ " areprobably nof.waro JM'ie no Skibuiil tting for «ome em that it w "? Ul bant i Dg establishments in ?M B- °Jvtoto* good deal of Sunday Pity ' e l but if the bank clerk can make °bT Saturday* cricketing or b^ychng ttl. ff LnS»P hU book-keeping on i^L^why should not the struggling the tobbatt, o wny comp6nS ate for

X X * laUo, pollaneod on hearing fchw 1 I™vn docSK«erio«Blyßtated, but be- C°^ by a'oorta n sect, who, unlike the principle bra«ro he mon f foul BaP*f v t8 f ;f°y sacred purpose. Those «* "??°tlr« who ITo to attend church who i^ c tMa Bethol) "T"I Oa tU «c oLip,6d t? fiery brim- SiOge.

X * * moan anybody know if Plummer;issafe.? t A this .question because Plummer has irJLiMS. habit of slipping p.utof

safe keeping and inflicting a scries of dofcats in dotail upon his hereditary onomy —Society. But thoro I go off, and all the lime one-half of my readers perhaps don't know Pluinmcr. I fancy, however, that moat will remember the daring and adroit burglar and robber whoso last oxploits date back fully two years, but who in earlier times made himself famous in Auck-

land by his dashing feats of thieving, hifl clover oscapo from gaol, and his desperate attempts to oludo rocapturo. Woll, it seems to me that Pluinmer has somehow "got out" a^ain, and has recommenced business without, so much as putting a line in the papers to acquaint his old friends of his intention. How othorwiso is it possiblo to account for the many bold and undetected robberies which have taken place in Auckland during tho past few weeks ? The imbocility (or some thing worse) of the police in this condition of lawlessness and insecurity is tfho marvel of all beholdors. Some excuaa might be allowed for the impunity enjoyed by tho burglar on tho occasion of his depredations in Ponsonby or Newton ; but now wo havo the most conspicuous shop in Quoon-atroot, within a stone-throw of tho l'olico Oilice, burglariously entered, and £500 worth of goods abstracted without any inomber of tho " fosreo " seeing or suspecting anything wrong, and without getting oven tho timo honoui'ed "clue t» the porpotrutors" which stands them in good stead in many a, crisis. Tho only explanation of this defeat of con stabulary sagacity that at all Uieote tho case is the supposition that on tho Sunday OveningH, when all these burglaries have occurred, our blue coated defenders are oui.;at;ed,lil.o the moral barmaiitsol'Dimediii,

in reading the tiiblo and conducting family worship! Lot mo leave thi.*s subject by again asking — Does anyone* know it Plummor is still safo in gaol! Or (horrible

lought!) can it bo possiblo that a greater lan Hummer is here '!

Controversy as to tho morality of tho pluya of Toronce is raging in the. colonial press, and dozons of scribes who Itnow no more of Terence than I do mysolf are giving forth their views on tho subject. (I hasten to say that I did know a gentloaian of tho naruo of Terence, but ho was of Hibernian extinction, and in no way related to tho

Roman poet now under roviow, whoso sur name was netMurpby.) Tho l:idy student? at tho University of INew Zealand started tho discussion by objecting to two plays of Torenco .which were set for them to road in the course of their classical studies. Now, if thoso ladies found out that the plays were filthy, they must have, road and understood thorn already, and their only object was to hinder other Indies from reading them. I need not poll., out that thore are other forms of naughtiness in, which people liko to indulge and yet would.1 wish to debar othors from on joying. Awarding to one enragod writer, the;«. or '•*< 'iojnable plays aro "more coarse and iiiitttvuti .nan the worst parts of Gul-

liver's travels or the lewdest works of Beau mont and Fietchor." Now, while I disclaim all persona', acquaintance with Toronco or bis works, M. Lempriere, who wrote the well-known classical dictionary, may be presumed, to know something of him, and this is what ho saye : — " T'jrence was in the iioth year of his ago when, his first play appeared on tho Roman stage, about B.C. 184. All his compositions were received with great applauso, but when the words Homo mini, huinani nil a ■me alienum pu/o wore repeated, tho plaudits wevo reiterated, and the audienco, though composed of foreigners, conquered nations, aliies and citizens of Rome, wero unanimous in applauding the poet who spoke with such elegance and simplicity the language of nature, and supported the native inde pondonco of man. Terence is admired for the purity of his language, tho artless elegance and simplicity of his diction, and for a continual delicacy of sentiment. Quintilian declares that Terence was tho most elegant and refined of all the comedians whoso writings appeared on the stage."

Now, if tho artless elegance p.nd delicacy of sentimont of Torenco aro lowdnesa and indecency to this enlightened generation, tho problem arises—"flow aro young ladies to study tho classics at all?" My humble opinion is that the world will bo none tlio poorer for the loss of several prudish blue stockings, so I advise the super-sensitivo young ladies to drop their Latin and tako up the darning-needle ; and into that higher sphere of domestic usefulness lot them carry the quotation " Homo sum," &C, put into the feminine gender, and strive to act up to the standard of truo woman hood. .

The racocourso is to tho majority ono of Now Zealand's chief attractions, and racing bids fair to become—next to tho House of Representatives —its principal institution. Horse-racing, like oilier sports, has its bright and shady sidos, associated with speculative evils which, if not watchfully guarded against, will produce ruinous habits, such as extravagant betting, dis honesty, etc. lam not going to pen a wholesalo tirade against the social habit, but simply to give an idoa of a system of betting practised in Brail, culled from a work by Mr Burke, entitled "Business and' Pleasure," which may have its advantages forthesimplificatisn of betting on the raco cource, and the protection of those who deposit their cash. Sweeps and betting have become so popular with tho general public that even a mild protost from any one against what may ere long be deemed a virtuo might bring down upon tho head of tho effeminate writer the pcr/iapi merited epithet of fool. The Brazilian system, how ever, might not work well in a highly civilised colonial community. It would be difficult to lock up professional bettors in a large lunatic ■ asylum ■ looking building, as they do in Brazil, with gratud windows, through which professionals bet with tho outside public, giving tickets to record tho transaction and attest, the receipt of the money. When tho race is over tho winners repair to another window, and on presenting their tickets they receive the amount of their winnings. When all is over the betters are liboratod. With such a happy state of affairs the " welshor " must be as extinct as the dodo. Could this sys tem be tried here and elsewhere, the " lock ing-up " process would quickly prove who were willing to abide by the chances of tho betting ring, and the inevitable weeding out would soon be productive of salutary results in the elevation of racing to a position it can never enjoy so long as it ia largely leavened by the degrading presence of tho professional swindler.

The old soreness betweon the City Schools Committee and tho Board of Education has broken out in a new place, and the formor aro evidently determined to carry matters to extremes. The troublo on this occasion arose through the Committee granting a half-holiday, which Mr Worthington, Head master of Wollesley-atreet School, duly ob served, ' and was then censured for so 'doing by the Board. The Committee con sider that their authority has been set at defiance, and they have forwarded a very strong protest to the Board. They claim various rights under the Act affecting tho appointment and removal of teachers, granting of holidays, &c, which the Board do not appear inclinod to allow, and the next meetings of both bodies will probably bring about very interesting discussions.

An elderly and portly gentleman was astoum'ed the other day upon receiving a note from the conductor of tho Choral Society requesting him to send in the name of his solo for the approaching con cort at once. Ho pored over the singular missive in blank amazement, and being unable to make anything of it, resolved to consult his friends. Steaming off to the Club, he exhibited the document to a select circle, exclaiming: "Look here—a pretty piece of confounded nonsense—the Choral Socwty want me to give a solo at ono of their conceits. Why, I haven't sung a note for years !" " Well," responded one, whose recollection covered a twenty years' acquaintance, "If you'll only promise to give them that song you used to sing, I'll guarantee to fill the house." A guffaw followed this sally, and requests for the famous song became clamorous. At this ombarrasing moment some ono who had been examining the note discovered tligt it was addressed to another "J. H.," who £s 5?/qnt to warble at the Society's re unions, ami t-he victim of misdirection, visibly roliev.ai, «sljed for pen and ink to re-despatch tlie dfefcuifefa? document to its intended destination.' '

There were certain circumstances In connection with the late MrT. Maeffjrianoa death which have created the belief that he had a presentiment of his approaching end. On the day prior to the fatal acci dent, he went to the gentleman who held his will and begged him to bring it to hiua, that he might go carefully over it again, ffifce friend was co impreEßad by his earnestness it) the matter that, notwith standing, the'inclemency of the weather, he

took tlio document over to Mr MaefTarlnne s house that night, and they read it together. He L'ood-wuturodly quizzed tho deceased about his unxioty over tho will at a time when ho appeared in such eplondid bcallh, and ho expressed the hope that no accident would befal him in his expeditions about tho ! country. On the following morning, whon Mrs Macfl'arlanowasassUtitighimon with his groateoat, Mr Mocllarlane Bpoko o{ his in- BUiwico policy, ami said ho mnat go and see about it that, week-a subject ho bad ucaroolv over lnontinnud Muro. Unfn precantiona njfiiir.st doiUh, ullhough »|.' patently two1, distinct evidences of mental disquiot, roally depend on each other, tho 'suggestion about tho insuranco policy having doubtless arisen out of tho revision of tho will on tho previous night. Never theless, tho coincidence of tho request for the will and the accident which strn.-U the unfortunate gentleman down in the midst of health was a vory singular mio. ami people who put faith in prwontimentu arid dreams will unhesitatingly accept this us a startling evidence in favour ot their uoliots.

It in extraordinary how largo v por-cont- AL'O of tho population, ovon in these nuittor of-fact days, do give credoncS to onions. Thoro are very few persona indeed who can not, either from their own expenouco or that of their friond',itdduco iustauws which seem to thorn to warrant tho conviction t batmen are often.moi-oor lons consciously in communication with supernatural agencies, nncl thai their aUViinf are visibly shaped by a f'Ue which they oan ;-co and foel.but cannot control. Some ofthoHoeninrideniv.-c.ro un doublcilly vory remarkable, but we ahouiu „„( forget ihaL it would bo still inoro ox traordinary, connidoring 11") multitude of experiences llmmgh which ovury man passes in « lifetime, if coineidoiKW mo utrikiiw «« to impress Ins miad did not occur.' Take, for example, one of the most common forms in which wo hear o t.uv-o assumed supernatural revelations - [no pro monition of danger to flu absent child im pressed upon the mind of a mother. It wo como to consider it, how many millions of mothers are there whoso minds tu'o con tinually harassed with forebodings of mis fortune to clearly loved children who are actually known to bo exposed to soino n.-'k ; Granted that nine hundred Mid ninety mno out of every thousand of thuso foars prove I'l-oundless, and still a Inrgo number of eo inci fences which may be quoted as proson timenta will remain to establish procodonts and proofs of presentiment, 1" common with moat peonlo, 1 have had experiences of this sort which deeply startled mo at tho time; but upon dispassionate examina tion 1 havo usually been üble to find some moi-o natural key to each occurrence than spiritual interposition.

Tho mero fact of strong bolief in presenti ments, omens, and lucky or unlucky condi tions, on tho part of tho individuals to whom they havo occurred, cannot bo ac cepted as ovidenco of tlieir reality. No class of people are moro superstitious than habitual gamblers. Ono would expect that men who devote their entire attention to tho avorage of chances would become tho mostscopticalof allpooploon such matters as definito laws govorning "runs of luck. Vet you will find that a majority of them tirmly follow out some thoory which thoy aro convincod will tamo tho ungovornablo steed Chanceandharnesshimfortheirservice. Theso theories, which canbo mathemati cally demonstrated to be fnleo and childish are usually supported by so many wonder ful coincidences that thoy exoito caution in accepting other evidenced of the same sort. Still, in view of the m:is« of testimony 1.1 favour cf presentiments, it would bo rash folly to say they dent come to men from beyond tho mystic border. It is a very mysterious subject, upon which only fools would attempt to dogmatise.

It was my fato to bo eye-witness to ft torriblo tragedy which was enacted at Newton last Saturday night. A piratical rodent of [ormidiiblo proportions was ob served cruising about the window of n con fectionery shop, sampling all the toothsome dolicacios therein exhibited. Tlio fair at tendant was seated benind the counter, within eighteen inches of tho ferocious animal, in blissful unconsciousness of tho awful noril which menaced hur. At last one of a group of interested spectators in formed her that " a rat was in the window. Tho terror with which tho Rentier rex re gard tho roving mouse and tho bloodthirsty, predatory rat is provorbial, so also ih the emphasis with which they invariably iloiiy "tho soft impeachment." "A rat in the window!" Heroyes dilated with allnght, hor chook paled, "upon horcrcstHat Horror plumed," and when tho young man i-alm.y proceeded to doacribe how tho monster could bo despatched, she looked at urn with a helpless, piteous, and appoiUnj: gaze, at last gasping out, " Could you kill ft yourself?" The call was responded to with gallant alacrity and heroic valour. He did not stop to discllHß tho abstnic question, is war wrong ? " Every instinct of humanity," as tho Rev. W. febbn would say, urfod him to tho conflict. Armotl witii two sticks, one of which was surmounted by a nail tho intiopid combatant entorod up on the bloody fray. Tho rat was ensconced bohind a biscuit tin, little dream in<r that his last hour had como. The yo'ungman oyod tho intruder, then "nailed tho robbor's eye, deftly introducing his weapon to hia sinister optic. With tho othor stick, therodontino abdominal regions wore vigorously assailed, and tho dull thud of descending blows was accompanied by tho heart-rending squoals indicative of mortal agony. Kindly death soon super vened, and tho rat departed to that bourne from which no rorlont returns His mutilated corpse was Hung upon the road, whore it could bo soon yestor day, an awful warning to rats of a similarly dishonest nature Tho young lady swootly thankod her heroic defender lor rescuing hor from such imminent poril, and mado tho usual declaration that"sho »••>« not at all frightened, but rats wore horrid things, and sho could never bear tho sight of them." Tho young man bowed hi* ac knowledgments, and accopted tho dorlani tion—for what it was worth.

English Lyrics.-Kegan, Paul. Trench and Co.

This ia ono of the tasteful volumes of the Parchment .Library, whoso quaint get-up cannot fail to take the fancy of book-lovers. It contains ono hundred and eighty-five lyrica, selected from tho compositions of tlio English poet* botweon Sir Thomas Wyntt and Thomas L. Bcddooa. Of songs by living writers thore are no examples, and tho editor (whoso namo is not Riven) has gone no further back than tho Reformation period. In the prefaco a lyric is dolinod as "a short poem dealing with ono thought, essentially melediou.H In rhythm and struc ture." This seems a fair enough definition, and by it the editor has boen guided as uniformly as waa possible. Tho grounds of his selections are not always clear. Burns has no representative poems here, and surely he was a lyrist, if thoro was ovor one. And it cannot be objected that he was not " English," for Sir Walter Scott supplies a fair proportion of pioenn. Moore, too, is left out, whilo Campboll is admitted. Neither Pope nor Dr. Johnson could lay claim to lyrical nonius, and their three contributions to the present volume might very well havo made room for further examples of tho work of singers who handled tho lyro more skilfully. Old Her rick is hero in force, and ono salutos with pleasure favourites such as-"Gather yo roso-buds while ye may," and, "Fair daffo dils, wo weop to see you haste aw.iy ho soon." Ben Jonson, " inventor of har monics," is to the fore with specimens thrice three in number, for if ho was n heavy dramatist and overweighted with loarning, ho knew how to tune his harp and sing melodiously. His song to Colia, " Drink to mo only with thine oyea, And I will plaigo with mine, Or leave a kiss bin in tho cut).

And I'll not look for wine," is set to the tune known as " Prospoct" in the Sacred Tune-books, which is now wedded to "There is a Land of Puro Delight." Tho genius who filched this melody from one of "rare Ben's" drinking songs, and allieditvvithahymnby Dr. Watts, was surely of John Wesley's opinion that it was aslume tho devil should have all (he best tunes. In tho volume before us several less known names nro representrd, (■;/„ T. L. Peacock and T. L. Beddoos. "Loveand Ago,"by the former, if not ex actly alyric, igwortiivolbeinfrbetterknown. To conclude, fcho publishers, Messrs Kegan, Paul, and Company, are producing a library of very pretty books, which comprise some of the most brilliant gems of English litera ture,

"Teeth on the Hiro System" is_ the last horrible development of commercial enter prise. Fancy ihe position of the hirer, who is, after two years' punctual payment, say, unable to keep up the instalments due. No wonder the comic artist has pounced on so suggestive a subject for his pencil.

SPORTING.

riUNCH'AL HACIINQ WXTUBWH

Now Zealand.

Mercury Hay Ttnera May 23 and So Duiuxlin .I.U. Winter llciitimf Mal' -M. -■' Taknpuna J.O. Birthday .Vlcolinit May * WnnKamii .l.d. Stooiilcclmso May 2.) N '/,. Unind Niitloual Stiinplcoluiaoß Muy li t Aucklnml X.C Stoi'iilecliaai) i\leolini; ...lunoti HawknVt Hay .1.0. StooiilecliaßUß "me -•• DatO3 of Nominations, Entrlot) ami Acceptances.

Nemi ii.it Uii.li I Tuwl. c'.i S liiy iiti oploeliauo.,May 1U \vr -i\h-itii-'--« lircut Nin'thorn Htouuluclume ami Ifimllud, and General ontriea Tunol

To Correspondents.

Jl M. tPiin-iOiiliyL-XKiilalsasonol way utuvn nmlNlrn. A.J.K.—Huzntrd carried Oat: fflb when lie ran si'cond lo Kinj: (^iKiil lor lite WaiiKiinul Cup. Tho lattnr hail Siiilfllb. VV'AUitu (Kreomuu'u Uuyl.-'l'lieHoc. \V*. llubln snn't: .\l:inrlifvil(>rr(ni:-:iHlfliiiicii3iiHii yiMvlink' -11,. was hred liy the Christchureh Miilrtlo l'lirkHLiul (.lon;puny. V, n. -Tho Kiife'll' h mart) Blink Bonny won hoth the Dnrby and Oaks, tlio only other mare wlioi>vor wont.hu hlno rlbiind having been ICli-anor. No niarcevorwon tho Derby, OnUi', ami Li'gor,

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Tbk cable informs uh that Iku Adelaide Cup, which whs doeidcil tit Hemington on Siit,imliiy last, Fell to Lord Wilton, Anchorite mid Sunlius being llio othor-

iluoc-f'Clleiv. The winner in a lour-yonr

olil .-on of (ho ilooouHcil Countryman uml In

• top, and about, iho bowl purlurimuifr hu lmn (ip|io.«itu hi.< iminu wiia ({otUnjj Hucond In l'.linl; Jtonny in llio hint CauUiold I 'up. For several day* previous to the nice. Lord Wil" ton occupied a prominent position in tlio betting quotations, so his victory would not bo altogether pnlatublo to thomoinbors of tlio ring. Kotli Lord Wilton und Sar dius arc Adelaide-bred 'uiis, having tirst " nosod thoiv mothers' uddors " at Mr W. Blacklor'B Fullmni Park Stud, while Anchorito hnils from Tasmania, and is a son of St. AluatiH. RuUtor lias failod to stato whether Wolcomo ,)ack was among the seventeen wlio started, but I think it ib quilo probablo ho faced the lla^. The iiuestion oftlin nowi;ramtstand for tho Auckland Kaciug Club still lemaiun in abey ance, flio Committee mot on Wednesday last, and tho local design of Mr T. H. White, which was awarded the £50 pro miuin, and that of Menars (irain^er and D'Ebro, of Melbourno, wcro fully gone into. It was the opinion of. tho majority that both designs were unsuitable and too co. jtly, and tho Committee docidod to send to Sydney by next week's steamer f"i' par ticulars with regard to the erection of stands there Now that this cour.«o has been decided on, thoro in little possibility of tho Rtructuro being complotod boforo tho time comes round for our next Summer Mooting.

Tilts Now Zealand Stud Company uro having wonderfully good luck with their foals thin season. Not a single mishap bun occurred to any of thorn so far, ami when it is mentioned tluit thoio arc no less than thirty-tivo youngsters disporting them solves at Sylvia Park, it means a groat deal. I,et us hope the fortuno that ha.s attondod them will continue through tho " dull and dreary wintor." I remind Auckland ownors who may desire to have a out in for tlio Hawko's Buy Steeplechase that nominations closo on Tuesday next at i) o'clock.

"Robin Hood," tho woll-known swoop promoter at Christehureli, has sent mo a mosttastohillygot-upcabinet card, on which is mounted a portrait, of thn two members of tho firm. Each i-< nurroundod with lithographed slcotoheH of various books, circular.", etc., connected with their busi ness, and tho wholo has a unique appear ance. Ah a moans of keeping " Uobin Hood" before tho public, it run hardly be surpassed, and in a noto which accompanios tho card the promoter tolls mo thoir Great Novelty Company of t'.'t.OOO on t'lo Grand National Steeplechases, is filling very rapidly. It closes on Friday next, tho C'2nd. Our* old friend Speculation (bettor known as Hippodamia) lias not turned out a bad speculation for Mr Frank Hill. Tho maro was again in a winning vein at tho Wel lington Kaeing Club Autumn Mooting, for besides appropriating tho lleretaunga Handicap -one of the " plums " of tho pro gramme -shoalso succeeded in winning the Flying Stakes. I notice Tim Whilller also did I. llntliT a turn by carrying his colours liratpasttho post, in thu Consolation,

while ho uay only a length away fro

Ascot, the Australian-bred son of Kelpie, in tho Prewident'H Handicap. After all the had luck Mr l'.utlor bus had with Tim

Whilller, it must have been gratifying ■ji'o him get homo oven in un ovout won fiOaovs.

limiting is not particularly brisk over tlio Now ZeaTaud Cup (.-ays last wook's " Now Zealand Uofurou"), but .Inly li;if bcun backid in the right iliroction I"'1 nil tho iivnil.iblu lumioy nt 100 to 10, n price which would be still further cloned with. Trenton is next in demand at 10tlto8,aml tho prices about tho rest ratlgfl from 100 t<i (i to 1(10 to 1, occasional wagers being booked about Lonhlol, lko, Johnny Faulkner, Captain Wobstor, Kuliozuhl, SVaplti, and Nelson. Thoao, mixed with Stonyhurst, Ilnnlnn, Hermitage.and Evorton Lnd, for tho Dorby, form tho basis of double- betting at prices ranging from 100 to 1 to 100 to 1. Mrti. G. Ste:id lias mmlonnolhoraddition to his string, having purchasod tho yourliug colt Momonto from tho Hon. VV. Keovbs. Tlio youngster is a son of Apremout and Forgot-Mo-Nofc. Is has boon docidod to inuko tho vnluo of tho next Cnulfield Cup tlio sumo ue last year, 2,ooosovs. An alteration, howover, will bo made in tho division ofthomonoy, inasmuch as tho fir«i hor.-o will rocoivo I,COO nova., tho Bocond HOOsovs., and tho third 200SOVS.

From " Beacon's" notes 1 loam that X

E. Pritohanl, a Dunodin "sport," is the owner of that smart two year-old lilly Astrua, who, in Mr J. Monaglian's nomina tion, won tho All-aged Stakos at tho recent Sydney Meeting, and subsoquoutly carried oil'tho Two-year-old Handicap at Roflohill. Astrn'n !h Ly King Fergus out of a muro hy Tmmp Curd, and sho was bought by Mr I'ritcliard for -00 guineas aftor running in a Soiling Raco. At tho Now Brighton l'onch .lockoy Club

Meeting (Christchurch) lust week, Mr J. T. Armstrong's Corrio Vick, n four-yoar old daughter of Lcolinun and Hollo of tho Isles (Tomploton's dam), socured tho principal handicap of tho afternoon, beating five others. Antoros also claimed a winnor in tho shapo of Sodimcnt, who won the Ladies' Bracolot.

In roforring to tho (loath of Mr J. Lon nard's old 'chaser Chandlor, "Mazoppa" has the following:—Chandler, who waa full brother to Gang Awa', first appoared, so far as my records show, at tho Wanganui Spring Meoting of 1880, whon ho carried tho colours of Mr O. S. Brodio and ran socond to Messenger in tho Maiden Plato. Ho won his first raco at tho Wanganui Autumn Meoting the samo season, carrying 9st 101b, and boin£ landed by Jones an easy winnor from Ada (lOat 21b), Lady Mary (lint 121b), and sovon others, Ho wua at that mooting nominatod by Mr G. McLood, During his career Chandler started in 74 races, of which ho won 2f>, of tho total valuo of £1,361, bo sides two silver cups valued at £25 oach. Tho above writer also fays that Taiaroa has boon on tho eick list during tho past week or two. ono of his foro-legs having shown symptoms of swelling. Rest and tho timely application of a lotion have, however, had tho desired ofl'ect, and tho big horse, though still hardly himself, is in work again. Dining tho past year thero were rvin in Grout Britain 785 races under six furlongs, '248 at six furlongs and undor a mile; 833 at a mile ; 1!)1 at move th»n a milo and under two ; 66 at two miles and under throo : eight at throe miles and undor four ; and four at fourmiles.makinga total of 1,015 as against a total of 1,093 in 1881!, 1,042 in 1882, and 1,017 in ISSI. With so fow long distance races, how can wo wonder that thero aro so few stayers to bo found on tho English turf ? Where tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club makes tho monoy to give such valuable stakes (says a Nspier paper) may bo scon from tho balanco sheet. Tho totalisator, outof a total incomo of slightly under £ 7,000, was responsible for upwards of £2,000. Tho stakes were increased last year by one thousand pounds, of which £SOO was con tributed by the machine, its revenue show ing that increaso over the previous year. In the " Sporting Times " Mr Corlott has pointed out a peculiar circumstance which U not often remarked on by sporting writers —viz., tho frequency with which horses run well over long courses when their training has been only for sprint races. This fact was brought out by tho mention of St. Albans, who, in his St. Leger preparation, was only trained over six fui longs, whilo history repeated itself when a few years later Hawthornden, who had been taken to Doncaster with ;i view of winning the Port land Plate, was s arted tor tho St. Leger, end managed to defeat thn Derby winnor Kinsscralt Tho poinf.to which Mr Corlett's arguments tend, however, is that nob only aro some horses successful when so prepared, tut if trained over a long and tiling course

they will bo found by no means bo good. Tliit was the raso with Hawthorndon, who, on account of his St. Logor victory, was put into long work for tho Coßnrewitcb, in which ho finished lasfcinHtoad of iirali. Iho sumo wan the caso with Stockholm at Clood wood last ycur ; she had boon trained for inilo races, and was started on tho oIT-chnnco for tlic Goodwo;d Stakes, which who won in a cantor. It was then said 11 good propara ion ov'cr tho Oesarowitoh courao would uaku hur ii alone butlor: it wna triod.with a roault which showed bur tdhavedul.ni.ior.it i:d rutlioc than improved. Thoro >»in bo no ' ,loubt that mnny liurncsi, ii contvnually trained ovor a distance of ground, in tn»o Loco thoir paco to tho extent that they have not auttioient dash to finish even a race liko the Cesarewitch. They are naturally .fair stayora, and having a fair turn of «peea are aljle. tj win their raoea, provided t.hoy are not couUnually ran over long thing coureoe. Rofoi-t to the latter method, and thoy lose all thoir paco, and become worthless tor racing purpoaos. This fact is becoming gradually moro and more rocognisod by tho loading trainers of tho day, and in many iiiHtance.s wo soo a horso doing Hharp, short work in hixpreparation fora longraco which ■JO or ISO years ago would havo buun troatod to a very dilloront sort of preparation. A notablo instance of tho bubcosb of Uns now stylo of training is allbrdiid in tho caHO of lector, who won tho Ortarowitch in IS/U. lie had undergone n Btoady coumo of long gallopn for both Olioator Cup and Ancot Stakes, in both (if nlili-h ho wan boaton lor ac'y, alt bough both races wore on a courso ver two uiiloH. Tho principal ilcniH in hia OHarowitch propnration won; .sharp six irlong Bpina, t ho result boing that, nlthoiiK" ill very litllu hotter Imiulioupped. !»■ ran wiiv wiMi thoriiou.

THE GARDEN.

[BY HoKTU.S.]

Calendar of Operations, May lti.

[HORTcm is wllluiK to anawor any queries. Cor respondents numt klvo Ulfllr full names and ttddroaeua, tliou«h not for publlcatlon.l

TO COKItKSPONDKNTS. Ai-iT.KH (Planter).-In writing on the orchard mid advising early planting, 1 ought to have oxecptod the apple. It does not do us a rulo to lift, apples before tho middle of June. Poinutluics it ia near tho ond of Juim before they aro In a proner Btate, or ratlinr properly rlponod oil". If apples aro lifted boforo tho wood iaproperly ripened oir. tho bark will shrivel up. consequently do- Ing ihem v grout doal of Injury. When tho wood la properly rinoncd, all or nearly all the li-avcH will fall oir the troos. I would not ad vlao you to lift your trees till thon. Your pear and plum trees could be lifted now. NKiunnouna' Trkkh OvRnnANOH?" Fbscrs (• Moro Light").—l cannot vivo you auy in formation on tho abovo subject, will do bettor to consult v solicitor boforo taking any action. I give you a short oxtraot which doos not fully answer the question:—ln tho realm of King JameH I. of Kngland it was docidod that " It a troo grow in a hodgo and tho fruit fall in another man's land, tno owner may f»teh it (rom anoUiur man's hind.' In tho cane of l,j-iimn v. Hale, decided in 1830, In Connecti cut, America, whoro the wholo BUbjoct wan ably argued, it waa dooided that when the trunk of a tree etundH on the land of A, and sonda its branchon over and ito roots into tho land of B, Buoh overhanging brunches and tho fruit aro tho solo property of A, aud if I! wither such fruit ho ia liable to tri'spus-i on It. The man who allowa the branches of his tree to overhung v neighbour's farm undoubtedly commits a wrong, bnt he does not thereby lose his titloto thoao branches any more than he would tho tillo to hlB cattle by their Ihmuj found trespassing through hiu ueKliguucu upon hia nciKhbour. FtOWKB Uki> (Amateur).-H la no uao doing us you propone. l'uttlng a few inches of good soil on tho top of good soil will just cause yonr plants to push out a number uf roots during the moist woathor In tho flprlug. 'I'huy will not bo able to penetrate Into tho day. V\ lu-u the dry weather of the summer orerl4il:iv them, they will Boon got shrivelled and hurne 1 up, causing you disappointment and dihgust. Halher take out nine or ten inches of clay trenoh up tho bottom to a depth of nine Inchi a more, and coo that the wuter has a proper on" let from the bottom' of the bed. Htlll cmy* niuai ba well drainod. Aftorwards, nil tip tho bed with about nino or ten Inch, r of kood soil and plenty of manure. A bud Bach ub tho above will lust for v number of yo»r». if you only give it a fe-< burrow londa uf mnnnro every season. Ai » good black volcanic Boil will suil you. It might cost joußsorTs p(^rload. \on nhou it proceed wiui the work At once, ub we mny e^ pent heavy wet weather In a week or do. Moss on Kiit'i'i'Titicivs (A.RI-Ybs. 1 bellev. that moB9 l» vrry iniiirlous to fruit troi-B. 11. heat way to got it oil' ia to paint the limta nii-i b 'unohes with lime and water. U ait till th. loavea are nil oir the t:oos-or liuraertlat«l> after tho wintor, prunluK Is the best tune. ! licliiivo theeiiuuoof so much moss and lii>hori! on our fruit trueH i« the moist ntnnvmti.T Wliorovcr moisture prfvnl>. ninsnes lUiuvi- ii I could hardly mlviie you what to do «i ! your trees without H^Oinsr tin in, us notV.ln; "vim have said ilmut them In y»nr letter do-i not glvu mouny nine t» whul is ihn mntf r (IrtßOino guntener to nutne end -<;« th.'in.a- , prilnn them for you. Ghasr RKRIi (W. li. Hotrnr.-) —It it not t.n Ia i tosotv grusa eeed, I havi sown it tnynclf v Juno, but. your gras-t seed would have ilc.i mnch lKitter had it beon sown f:trly iiApr.1 Grnaa aoed »wn In April uorniln«ti'H »n grows Htronu bi'fnrn tho cold wmithcr until in anil iimlum much bettor pisluMßO for t i rnsulnfc Hcocon. whereas trod sown Uto i. Mny or June <loos not succeed Co well.

Preservation of Sood.

Tuts is of tho utmost importance to all ; for upon tho manner of keeping seods do. pondu tho fact whothor they will prove of moro or loss vitality, ovon for a few months, especially such as havo less power of resid ing tho cfiocts of ago, or of kooping or storing. It is hardly nocossary to remind tho rcador that it id tho decomposing olo monts in tho surrounding air that destroy tho vitality of sood, and, consequently, tho-o which contain less oily matter, and have a porous Bholl or skin to the kernol, aro tho Kinds that porish soonost. Somo seedsmen cannot roconcilo thomsolvos to what niny appear or bo to them n moro inconvenient mothod of kcoplng their stock of seeds thun tho usual wooaon drawors. Thoso aro of all things tho worst, unless lined with iin porviouß material, for in duo timo these seed drawors boconio tho haunts of in suetu which drill thorn full of pin houn. Whilo, howover, it is out of tho question for Huedsmon who do a largo business to provido means for tho perfoct oxoluaion of tho atmosphoro, it is not with thoso I hat 1 ho seed bocoinos deteriorated, for two reasons : Hirst, they keop stock in largo and com pressed quantities, disposo of thorn within n fow months, and gonorally cloar ont year by year : but it is with tho small snodsmon that tho foods grow old. Thoso soeds should bo kept in impervious canisters, bags, or bottlos, and then what stocks nro left over ivtouosea3on would bo good for another season. Tin canistors, such as those used by grocorn for coffoo and tea, aro oxcellent for tho storing of soods, moro convenient than bags or bottlos, and quito as handy as drawors. Thoso canistors should bo made of tho vory bost tin, and havo tightly closing lids. With n ring of vulcanised indiarubbor addod, tho lids would keop tho air almost ontirely oxcludod.—S. Wood.

Arab Ablutions.—Grease Versus Water.

Immediately tho good pooplo bocamo uwaro that travellers wero coming, overyono turned out to wolcomo or staro at us. Thoy might havo boon in thoir bods but a fow momonts boforo, but tho toilet of an Ethio pian Arab is vory easily porformod. For tho most part, they sloop in tho only ono garment (which ofton roprosonts an ap parently -loamloss shoot) that they possess This is worn by day and by night, ai.d occasionally (very occasionally) washed »t any stream thero may happen to bo in tho neighbourhood, and when dry again re sumed In the hot weather, to which wo aro now fast hastening, when all tho streams are dry and water is vory scarce, ono does not vonture to think of how long a poriod may elapso without ovon this primi tive method being adopted. Personal ablutions are, I beliovo, almost wholly un known to these people, and indeed, they aro not desired by them. Instead of water they prefer oil, or rather fat, with which, as a protection from the sun, they anoint themselves, rubbing it in freoly whenever thoy got the chance ; and tho most osteomed gift one can make them is tho fat, or such part of it as can be spared, whenever a sheep is killed. It is a fact that a well-greased skin will not burn or peel off as an un greased, well-washed skin will do; the Arabs, by experience, know this, and uso the fat as a preventativo rather than a cure. Even Aaron'of old was probably well awaro of the fact when he rejoiced in tho oil which "ran down from his beard, evon to the skirts of his garments."—"My Wanderings in the Soudan."—By Mrs Spoedy.

The principle, " Once a MaßOn always a Mason," has been rudely shaken by the expulsion of M. Audrieux from tho "Parfait Silence" Lodge, at Lyons. M. Audrieux could not hold his tongue, and clearly was outof placs in the " Parfait Silence " Lodge. He is now at liberty to say what he pleaee.-, and will probably, as others have done be fore him, keep up the game of "revelations ■as long aB he finds it to pay.—" Globe."

"ROUGH ON RATS."-ciem <mtt.u,mic,«»*«■, lie .nta, tad-bop, beetl™, luseotn, «)tuiilu,|Mk-r»lil)iU, eoplien. it ArumLU. KtmfOmin _ rromr k 0,,, ju^u. AuckHod.

-CMI

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By Euteiu'B.)

Miss BkahdON'm forthcoming novol is en titled " Wyllard'K Weird."

Miss .lonny Nyo is in Brisbane, where ahe IS been stirring tho ardour of tho in ibitnntH by ■-ingi»l! war song.-!.

M c M urtin Simoiiaun ia ai ranging " aenos of promenade couccrta in tho Melbourno Exhibition.

Tho Dunning Oporu Company aro still In Brisbane, and are only doing moderate busi ness.

Miss Genevicve Ward haa completely ,i,p.'u.rart Adelaide with " Forget-Me nt ' and gets whole renms of praise.

"The Silver King" Company opened in Volliiigton on Monday week to an excellent ,ouse.

Mr Harry ltickardß loft London on April ISfch under ongugouiont lor Australia nnd Now Zooland.

Miss Lydia Thompson (Mrs Alexander Henderson) has arranged to start upon an American burlosqno tour next October.

" luuius Junior, or tho Household Gods Removed," is tho first burlesque on the now Plineufw'B drama. It IB to be playod at tho (Vvenuo Theatre.

MißsJoH'reys-Lowifl has once more joined iiccHwith Mcbki-h Allison and Uignolil, and /ill play a Sydney season shortly under their nanagement, She opens i" " Odette.

Mr G. A. Sala Imn beun lecturing in the iitorian iuland towns with vftryiny dogroes ,f sucuofH, but does not; appear to have •reated any I'uron: Ho is now in Sydney. John L. Hull haa been playing "Bast Amno" in Hobart. The Stanliold and )can Company are somewhere about Laun •Uhtun.

Tho Faust Family, assisted by Mr Chan. Waud, havo been giving ontortammonta with modomte euccoas at the Theatre Koyal, ChriHtchurch.

Mr Morris Croenwall, who jnloted tho Mondelsaohn Quintetto party through this ::ity, died at San Francisco on the 13th of last month.

Irvine tologrftphed aoroKß from America to Lord To'inyson, a«kiri{< him to allow " Bookot " to bo produced on tho Lycoum Btago.

A i'aria corrospoudont of the Milan "Secolo" asserts that Vordi has projuißod to produce his now opera, "Jago," in tho French capital noxt wintor.

. Mr Alfred Collier, who lias come into pro minenco cs theconductorof Sir Arthur Sulli van'a operas, ban hiuiswlf comnosod avow comic opera, which will bo produced ihst in Manchester.

Theatrical maua>;eraont w becoming quite an aristocratic amuwmont. A now actor manager in tho person of Sir Atwoll King- Lake, Bart., U now touring the English pro vincoa with several originftl plays and a Htroug coinpnny.

Tho London Daymarkot is to bo takon by a gyndiratc, ttnd will upon in August with a piny culled " Xajusda " by Mr Barry uioti.-. This work, which has been played successfully in Amoricu, is doneribcd aa a drama of thrilling interest.

A renl funeral service ha« boon performed on tho boards of Ford's Opora Uouho, Balti more, when tuo remains of tho luto stago manager of the Boston Ideal Company wo:O placod upon tho ala^e, and tho sorvico ruud over thorn.

The " Rod Stocking " Minstrolsnro keop ing up their avernßO at St. Ooorgo's, Hail, Melbourne, bnt Woston'a MiiistroU must draw ftw»y « r;oo<1 <loul °^ tlu)ir bu»'nC3S- By tho wayi Woston in his udvortisomonts, gravely announces that " A gcntlotnanly constable is always in altondnnco."

Mrlieortfo Lingard, foriuor.y cooncctod with "Zenlandiu," but vow in England urrunging fir novelties, leaves per Tonga riro with Hie Royal Diorama of Scotland. Ho was also making arrangomenta, when the mail left, with the Tichboruo (Jlaimaut to tnako a tour of tho colouios.

A pictorial representation of thoWarin the Soudan, together with tho Nile oxpodition, is being "ivon to the Chrietchurch folk. The diorama is principally compound of illus tration-depicting scenes »nd iuaidents in connection with the KgjptWu CHmpaign, to gether " with a moehanieal bombardment and explosion ot fort*" 'if Alexandria,

Tho widi «■ of I'om Thumb i« eofitemp liitinc *■ "c'':;nd union. Tho Imppy man i« Mr Magri, a museum.midget, who rejoices in (he profevinnul name of " Connt Rose bud,' nnd said to be one of the two diminu tive "rount.i " Attached to Colo's Croat Cir cus when it niado it* round of th» Colonies some four or tivo year* ngo.

Tho Actors' Benevolent Fund profited largtly this yoarby tho "Actors'&iturday." .VJcss.-s llonrylrving,Wilson Barrott, I'oole, Uancroft, llaro, Kcndal, and Thorno, und MraSarn I.nncfonlClOOo.ich. Smaller sums worn received from Mrs Lmgtry (iso), Mian Eastlako{C'iO), MrCorney Grain (£2l), Mies Mary Anderson (£2O), and Mr E. Torry (£2O).

On the ocwion at tho funer.il of Mdme Saiiiton Dolby in Highgato Cemotery the mourners woroj oincd by a vory largo number of musician-. As the collin, bearing tho pirn pie inscription "Charlotte HelonSninton- Dolby, died IS February, 18b5, aged 07," was lowered inio thegravo.itwas completely hidden from view by tho flowers showered upon it.

A n American girl, a daughter of the late Mark Smith (Untarlna Marco her norn d'arlMc), ia tho prima donna at tho opora in Venezuela. Tho vonture, by tho way, rocoives from the Govornment 40,000d015., subsidy for three months, with froo use of tho liouso('2,sooßOats) and stagooquipmont', and only I wo performances a wock are.re quired At .Sydney "Tho Professor" holds tho Royal boards : and "Pink Dominoes " has drawn, liko all nanghty plays do, at the Oporn House. Chiarini's Circus is also in Sydney, and Sala in now loctuting. Billy Kmeraon'H Minstrels aro at tho Gaioty Thoatre, and tho Federal Minstrels aro at tho Academy of Music, Miss Augusta. Dnrgon li/is boon unablo to got an efficient company, and has postponed nor opening. A German papor says that a proposal has boon made to found a " Richard Wagner Mtosiksehulo" in Bayreuth, whore tho musi cal oducation is to bo conducted in accord ance with tho principles of tho master, and pupils aro to dovuto thomsolvos to an ox haustivo study of tho works of the composer, It is furthor stated that tho spoeial endow ment for tho Wagnor Buhnenfostspiol in Bayrcuth ia likely to rocoivo solid help, a 8 King Liuhvig of Bavaria has given tho total receipts from tho " people's representation" of "Trislan und Isolde" in tho'Munich Court Theatro, on tho annivorsary of Wag ner's death, to this fund. Tho general comraitteo of the Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival, meeting on March Oth, approved a scheme of perform, anco for the gathering is August next. Tho programme contains oight new works, including Gounod's " Mors otVita," Horr Dvorak's cantata, "The Spectre's Brido," V Stanford's oratorio, -'The Three Holy Children," F. Cowon's cantata, '"ThoSleop ing Boauty,"MrT. AndertonVYuleTido," a now symphony by Ebenezor Prout, l)r. Bridge's setting of Mr Gladstone's Latin version of " Rock of Ages," and Mr Mac kenzie's violin concorto, in which, it is hopeu, Heir Joachim will bo able to attend to take a part. For tho performances to begin this month in London of tho groat" B-minor Mass," in celebration of the bi-contonary of Bach, a pair of ohol da enccia havo been made. They wore tested recently in a performance of tho Pastoral Symphony from the "Christ mas Oratorio." The "Times," in comment ing on the fact, said :—"The tone of tho in strument is exceedingly pleasing in the lower register, but is somewhat untunoful in tho higher. There is little that is lost in the tone of tho instrument that cannot bo ropresontatod by others more available in the orchestra. Still tho revival of a disused tono is an interesting event, and will prob ably bo better appreciated when tho pur formers havo mastered the mechanism by which it is produced, so as to do the instru ments and their own ability justice."

The Saturday Evening Popular Concerts at Dnnediu aro proving successful, and g."in speeiul intorert jußt nowowing to local effort^ in tho vur-song line. Mr Pyko's soiij]:, "Tha^Md Flag," to Mr West's music, oompe*O4 with Mr Bracken's song, "The Islands of the Freo." with music by Horr Benno" Scherek. HerO is a specimen of Bracken's: - Aa uionn^r-i of all the years, V,'a Ifar'i th.i i.mions yn ; A-rt this mir cmisb-" KnliKhten'd laws! 'IVi- rtignltv of men !" For thia wo'll il;;lil with manly might: \\ ■ 11 makainvart' ra flco. Sh'ntlfl they app oacb. or ilare encroach On Islands of tlft tree. Then comes the refrain— The ush far away, we'ro llnkod to-rfay With kinsmen o'or tho sob ; We're ono in lioart, t.houorli far apart, I The Islands of the Free.!

Gilbert and Sullivan's Japanese Opera..

The Mikado or the Town of Titipu."

b'jioM oun London Coiuusswmhiism!.)

LoNT)ON, March 26. To a suggestion of " Tho Sorcerer," add characters from " lolanthe," " Patience,"

and" J'iuafore," v\nw with one or two now conceits, t'rosa ay the clmracterfl In Japanese costumee, and you'll have a very fair notion of what Mr Gilbert's portion of " The Mikado, or Tho Town of Titipu," is HUe. I scarcely care to speak equally frankly re Sullivan's score. The critics aver Bir Arthur has never before attainod .such a high level of excellence. This probably means tho opera contains fewer catchy melodies and more " music of tho future" than its predecessors. Well, I must confess I don't understand this music of the. future. To my uneducated ear it sounds sombre and tuneless. Others, too, appear to share tho prejudice. Cer tainly, tho numbers of "Tho Mikado that were mot uproariously ap plauded wero distinctly frivolous. The first act of " The Mikado" shows us tho court-yurd of Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner** pulaco at Titipu, a porfect realisation of life in .Japan, with Japanese nobles standing or Kitting in the still kates no often depicted on fans and lacquer. Too mucli praino cannot bo be stowed on tho pniiiH that liuvo obviously been taken over drillim; and costuming the choristers tuul wipers, ami perfecUng every little detail for this WPG"<!. -Ihe lnountiiiK in indeed «<imleriiil through out—so wonderful a» to be. worth seeing of itnolf. H"W much of the success of tho piece is due to the fmit nisembb remains to be proved by-and-byo. In the province* and tin* colonies it will certainly havo to stund on its own bottom. Only a manager with the purso of Fortu natus or tho certainty of an eighteen months' run could atlbrd to reproduce the Savoy effects. The plot of "The Mikado" is rather foggy. As far as I could make out, it runs thus :— Nankil'ooh, son of the Mikado of Japan, runa away from Court to avoid the amorouß persecutions of an elderly Princess called

kotisha (in whom, noodles* to say, we re cognise our old friend tho Lady Jane of "Patienco"), and, disguising himself as a musician, joins tho Town Band of Titipu. Oue day, whilst taking tho hat round for contributions, he meets and forthwith "loves Vum-Yum, tho ward of Ko-Ko, a cheap tailor, and engaged to bo married to her guardian. At the commencement of the pieco Nanki-Pooh is rejoicing because Ko- Ko has been condemned' to death for flirting, in compliance with a law of the Mikados, which decreed

" In words aucclnc*. That all who flirted, loorod, or winked (Unlwu connubially linked) Should forthwith bo beheaded." Nanki-Pooh's joy is, however, short-lived, for i'iuh-Tueh, a uoblo lord present, explains that Ko-Ko has not only been reprieved but ruisod to the oxaltod position of Lord High Executionor. It seems that the MiTc»do's ducroe relative to ftirting caused groat diamay in Titipu. "This fltern decroo," sings Pish-Tush.

And so wo straight lot out on bail A couvict trom tho couuty Kaol, Whose hoad was next On some pretext Condemned to bo mown off, And mudo htm Headsman, for wo said 11 Who'e next lo bo decapited Cannot cut oil'unothor'B head Until lie's out Ills own olf."

You'll understand, , , Ctiuaed groat dismay throughout tho land; For young and old And Bhy and bold Wnre equally ull'eoted. Tho youth who winktd a roving eye, Or broathod n non-connubial Bigh. Was thereupon comlitrnned to aio— Ho usually objocted.

Pooh Bah, a very solemn and illus trious nobleman, now enters, and explains to Nanki-Pooh, that "our logical Mikado, seoing no mornl dill'erenco botwoon the dig nitieu judgu, who condomna a oriminul to die, and thu industrious moolianic who curries out tho sentence, has rollod the two oificcH into one, and overy judge is now his ownoxocutioner."

Ntmk : But how pood of you(for I eto thut you are a nobleman of tho highest rank) to condescend to tell all this to me, o mere strolling miustrol ! Pooh : Don't mention it. I am, in point of fact, a particularly haughty and ex clunivo pornon, of pro-Adamite ancestral dcßCOiit, You will understand this when I tell you that I can traco my ancestry back to a protoplafiinfd atomic globulo. Con flcquonilv, niy family prido is something in conrcivablo. I can't holp it. I was born pnooring. Hut X i«tnigglo hard to ovorcomc this defect; I mortify my prido continually. When all tho great ollicors of State resigned in a body, brcaus-o tliey wero too proud to sorvo undor an ex-tailor, did I not un hositalingly accopt all their posts at once J Pish : And tho oulario*attached to them? You did.

i'ooh : It is certainly my degrading duty to sorvo this upstart as Firet lord ol tlio Treasury. Lord Chief Justice, Comnmn dor-in-Chief, Lord High Admiral, Master of tho Uuckhounds, liroom of the Back-stairs, Archbishop of Titipu, and Lord Mayor, both acting und oloot, all rolled into one. And at a sulary I A I'ooh-Buli paid for hie sorvicos ! I a Balaried minion I But I do it! It revolts mo, but Ido it. Nank : And it does you credit. Pooh : But I don't stop at that. Igo and dino with middle-class people on rea sonable terras. I danco at cheap suburban parties for a modoratu fee. I accept refresh ments at aDy hands, however lowly. I also rotail Stato secrots at a very low fi<jun. For instance, nny further information about Yum-Yum would como under the head of a Stato secret. (Nanki-Pooh takes tlio hint, and givos him money.) (*»ido. j Another inpiill, and I think n light ono'! F'rrreded by a procession of scrvnntp, and followed by his three wards, Yum-Yum, Peep Ho, and Pitti-Sing, with thoirmaidei.H, tho great Ko-Ko himself presently onteis Of courso a song—-indeed, Bovoral songs—aro sung, but nono of them amount to much, save a giggling trio for tho thrco school ■ girl wards, which was tho supreme triumph of the ovening, and literally brought down the house, eliciting a troble oncoro. Tho words aro nothing special, but the business was capital. I give you just a single verse. The tuno slightly rosomblea a portion of " Ten Littlo Niggers ":— „ Tiik Three. Throe littlo maids from school aro we. Pert as a school-girl well can bo, Filled to the brim with girli-.h glee. Threelittlemaidsfromsohool! Yum-Yum Everything is a sourco of fun. (Chuckle). Peep-80. Nobody's Bafo, for we care for none! (Chucklo.) Pitti-Sino. Lifo is a joke that's just begun ! (Chuckle.) The Three. Three littlo maida from school. All (dancing) Three little maids who, all unwary, Como from ladies' seminary, Freed from Its gouius tutelary— The Three (suddenly demure). Three little maids from echool! Nanki-Pooh urges Ko-Ko to accept him as Yuui-Yuin's husband. Ko-Ko positively refuses. A ballad for Yum-Yum, a duot betweon tho lovers, and a quartette and chorus, not to mention much dull dialogue, follow. Presently a letter arrives from the Mikado. He is struck by the fact of there having boon no executions at Titipu for a year, und decrees that (someone must be executed in a month's time. Ko-Ko hereupon points out that a great many people might give thomselvos up to be executed, as thoy cer tainly would not bo missed. SONG-Ko-Kq. As it seems to bo essential that a victim should bo found, I'vo gi.ta littlo list—l've trot a little list Of social offender* who might well bo under ground, And wh> never would bo missed-who never would bo miSßed! There's tho pestilential nuisances who write for autographs- All people who have flabby hands and irritating MUffhs— All cMlilron who are up in dates and floor you with 'em flit— All pnrsons who in shaking hands, shako hands with you like that- Ar.fl >-l' t .ira pcrsocs who or. spoiling tete-a-tetea imust— Thoj'd none of 'om be missed—they'd noac of 'em bo mlSBod!

There's the nlßgor eeronader, and the others of Mb ra<"o. And ihy piano-organist-I've got him on the And the people who oat peppermint and puff it in your face. They never would bo missed-they never would be m>Bßed! Then ihe idiot who praises, with eutlvualastio tone, All conturieß^but this, and every country but And the lady from the provlnoos, who drosses like v Kuy. And " who doesn't think ahe waltzes, but would ratherHkn to try;" Aiirt that oiiißular anomaly, the lady novelist— 1 don t think shod be misßed—l'm sure she'd not be missed! Whilst Ko-Ko ia wondonng where he fan find a victim, Nanki-Pooh outers with a rope round hia neok, and announces that as life is worthless to him without Yum-Yum, he means to commit suicide, This suggest 3

an idea to Ko-Ko. Ko ofwre to grre hiR consent to Nanci-Pooh'a lmmeniatr marriage with Yum-Ynin if lie will act victim, and be executed at, tho end of tho month. Nanki-l'oou gladly accci-U the proposal, and the act end.-) with wedding reioicings, which are, however, partially interrupted by the advent of the> irate Katisha, who thrcatons to reveal Nanki- I JPooh'a real rank as heir-apparent. 1 lie

music of tho finale is poor. In tho second act (supposed to take place a mouth later) Ko-U'o'.i resolvo tv exoeuto Niuiki-i'ooh in shaken by the discovory that there is n decree which necessitates buryine alive the widow of any man whose head has been cut off. The Public ExccuHoiieor recoils at the idea of burying his beloved Yum-Yum alive. He bribes Pooh Bah to swear the execution of Nanki- Pooh has taken place, and lets tho newly married pair escape. The M ikado himself now arrives on the ocene, and Ko-Ko forthwith describes in a melodramatic aria how- the criminal died. Ihis number went well, but next to the airline trio the greatest success of the opera was the Mikado's song, describing how he makes every criminal a source of innocent merriment by (ittiner his punißh mont to his crime. Thus—

AH prosy dull society sinners. Who chatter and bleat und bore, Are Bent to hear sermons From mystical Gorman* Who preach from ten to four. The amateur tenor, whoso vocal villanlea All desire to shirk, Shall, during ofl-houra, Kshihit hia power:' To Madame Tnssaud'a waxwork. My object all sublime, ».c

The lady vtho iHfia a chemical yellosv Or siiiinfl her Kn'y hiir pnoe, Or uliirhns her llffKer. Jh blacked like a nigger With permanent walnut juice. Tho idiot who. in railway carriages, .Snrlbblcs on window panca, We only sutler To ride on a buffer In Parliamentary train".

Tho advertising quack who wearies With tales of countless euros, His teeth I've enacted, Shall nil be extracted By ti'.rrifled amateurs. The music hall singer atteucU a series Of masses and fugues and ops Hr Bach, interwoven With ripohr and Bee'lioveD, At classical Monday Pops.

Tlie billiard slmrp whom any one catchefl, Hi* doom's extremely hard- He's made to dwell- In a dungeon cnl'— Ova spot, that's always barred. And them ho plays extravagant matches Jn tltlcss fioger-atalls On a clots untrue With a twisted cue, And elliptical billiard balls!

Ko-Ko thinks he has now arranged every thing admirably, but unfortunately it goon transpires that the deceased criminal was heir-apparent and the Mikado's son. The wav this discovery is treated J8 eminently Gilbertian. Katisha of course actH Nemesis and tolls. Mik. (looking at paper): Dear, dear, dear j this is very tiresome. (To Ko-Ko.) My poor fellow, in your anxiety to carry out my wishes, you have beheaded the heir to the throno of Japan ! Ko : But I assure you wo had no idea— Together. Pooh : But, indeed, wo didn't know — Pitti: Wo really hadn't the least notion—

Mik : Of courso you hadn't. How could you ? Come, come, my good fellow, don't distress yourself—it was no fault of yours. If a man of exalted rank chooses to dis guise himself as a second trombone, he must take tho consequences. It really din-' tresses me to see you take on so. I've no doubt he thoroughly deserved all he got. (Thoy rise.) Ko: We are infinitely obliged to your Majesty— Mik : Obliged ? not a bit. Don't mention it. How rould you toll ? Pooh : No. of course we couldn't know that he was the heir-appaient. Pitti: It wasn't written on hia forehead. You know. Ko : It might have been on his pocket handkerchief, but Japauose don't use pocket handkerchiefs ! Ha ! ha ! ha ! Mik :Ha!ha !ha I (ToKat). I forget the punishment for compassing the doath of of tho heir apparent.

Ko. 1 Pooh, y Punishment! (They drop on Pitti. J their knees again.) Mik: Yes. Somethiug lingering, with boiling oil in it, I fancy. Something of that sort. I think boiling oil occurs in it, but I'm not sure. I know its something humorous, but lingering, with either boil ing oil or molted lead. Come, come, don't fret—l'm not a bit angry. Of courseNanki-Pooh and hisbrideturn up a littlo lai or, and are forgiven, and the opera onds with a merry chorus. The above is but a bare outline of a plot which is greaily involved with side issues. The author gets much fun, for instance, out of the loves of the eldorly Katleha. Pooh Bah expresses sur priso that Nanki-Pooh should have fled from one so lovely. " That is not true," replies Katisha bluntly ;" my facois plain,but it is not in tho face alone beauty may be sought. I have a left shoulder-blado that is a miracle of loveliness. People came miles to see it. My right olbow has a fascination few can resist; it is on view Tuesdays and Fridays on presentation ofvL-itingcard. Asformvcir culation, it is the largest in the world. Later on Katisha upbraidß Ko-Ko with murdering her beloved Nanki-Pooh. Ko : K.atisha -behold a suppliant at your feet! Katitba -mercy !

Kat: Mercy ? Had you mercy on him ? Sco here, you ! You have slain my love. He did not love me, but he would have loved me in time. I was educating hie palate when he left me. Ko Ko makes love to Katisha, and there is a funny songof the "Silver Churn" sort, which beginsthus :— On a tree y a river a little torn-tit S'lu- 'Willow, ritwiilow, titwillow 1" Ay.d I fald to htm, " Dicky-bird, why do you Bit Sinßiiitf -Willow, titwillow, titwillow '? ■ la it wonkni'ss of intellect., birdie/" I erlud, ■'Or rather a touch worm in your littlo inside V With a Bhnke of )ii» poor littlu h- ml he rcplieil, "Oh willow, titwillow, titvriilpw!" Taken per ne, " The Mikado "must be pro noii need a groat success, but compared with " Patience," " Pinafore " or ■' Princess Ida," 1 look upou it as :i semi-failure. The truth is, Gilbert's peculiar humour begins to show signs of going out. He repeats him self both as regards characters and jokes. Moreover, much of the dialogue of "'The Mikado " appears positively dull.

FEATURES OF LONDON.

Hawkers,

The average city man who, loaves his bo'nie every morning and. does not return from business until bis. or seven in the evening has very little chance of taking in the full troubles his wife has to undergo throughout (he day from the kind attention of hawkers. Ifc is estimated that every house in the suburbs of the metropolis rece.iy.eA thirteen visits from these individuals pee day.

Tho young wife ia the

Hawker's Chief Victim

and she has to bo a strong-minded woman not to fall into his suaro. He knows her weak point—a bargain For respectability of appearance and fa?ci-' nating n anuers, the commission agent takes the palm. He generally, so ho says, repre sents some largo house in the city having a bankrupt stack ou hand, which ho wants to dispose oj at ruinous priies, even to a bank rupt. You aro allowed to inspect his carpet-bag containing the samples. Kut they are got up for the purpose, and for the most part are as i»reat a bargain as the china !ea service a lad paid ten shillings for llu-oujrh Iho post, and which on arrival turned out to bo broken into pieces. Another plausible vil'ain is Tho Coalman, a stranger to your neighbourhood who g 09 about callincr'out coals at a ridiculously low price. Attracted by the hope of a good bar gain, a woman will beckon to him, and soon thoy are in conversation. The bargaiu soema to be an unu.-nal one, and too good to lose ; but yet tho good lady has misgivings as to whether she i-< doing right in buying a quantity without her husband's permission. But leave tho coalman alone to get round her. He has a h autlful story about the hard times, his niiswus ia lying very ill at home, andheisoleutingf out his stock for the express purpose of getting her some nourish ment. A very likely story, and the average woman succumbs. She is suro her husband cannot grumble at her buying coals at fi\'o or six shil'ings per ton below the invoiced, value (the coalman is always careful to capry an invoice with him), so the transaction is effected, and the coalman departs with & light heart and a cempteof pounds in his poc ket, while the haygaiamaker is merry until her husband comas home and makes the dis covery that the coal is the cheapest alack, and not worth ten shillings. This coal gentleman has also a favourite story, which he generally finds successful, to the effect that he has brought a load of coalg and cannot find the people wlv}

oHered them, and ritvl. J" ~^i!^*9 Country Snmnki« vi a smock frock and widens , a quantity o f horn^ hut ti tho same quality atft^^Pig} my grocer, well alld K ood «h *WC eighteen pence to two B MiC B 0 WJifcJ her regular tradesman, butt? 88 * man l 8 going to Mil hVr Sl^wS lilteon pence, and sheisZZ P°UDd«« he cannot deceive her, so Z "3 <*fc£ to be tempted into uSftS^Q teat rtsquajity. Yes, it tiSL^iS"* £ and accordingly Bhe \ a beSd?^^ the three pounds. But-h£fe°Sß been deceived | AVhen.shL'' lyll8!V, dalntiy made pound ■&5* to'w!w and the appearance of the £• 5 e <*«« denotes that she has bought t£ pl 4 »«*est Buttenae. it is doubtful whether she doeL * her bargain into the a«hnif ' T ll>H)» very fever of apprehen£S a u *,!»'»• will ask has she made any,!' M>*»d It is i_ible to aCptT,!, ftwi turn of the practices to which tho ,des^ resort. But, to mention a few t bawk«« Covent Garden merchants on'th-1" 8* excursion round the suburbs o g ">1 seodsof the choicest qnalitv !f ?^er prices ; but the nowers lotSSL*"** a transformation during th« ny "Sio mination, and finally de^ 006810'^ healthy blade, of K r"L tft after tf.e firat washing esetU Vl>^ and bear the complexion of new "**» tho tea and cofl'ee servicesT !no'tt« superb Lyons ailk turns out ti h PetreiJe; mainly of cotton ; and oil Z f-^M 30s fade into oleographs ™i& v«£ Butjtmu a t n oU PeX"hft^ street hawker* are of tl,i 8 g c , a ,? a' <&% number of them * gr»t

Are Honest Enong], and they do a thriving trade' v .< is this latter the case on a Ln^H coatermonger fa the dividual. He confines himself fi, * district, and generally Wai!?"* orders given him to execute I°*" The coster obtains hV.ia'Lu,, Covent Garden Market earlvift bleß »1 ing, at prices varying n «iJj- 8ao * season of the year^Cfty, and he sells them again at nS? i the shopkeeper, because, 'mK!!11^ ticular pains to impreaa upon mv W customer, he has ™7 r j«f

No Rent to Pay,: A costermongor recently bait,. opinion that a man who knew 7-1" '» would leave the wealthiest ris.*'.l!*** to the last, so as to rivififcr """"I chance of being rain?: «??^ • he, " you see, if it rains, peml'K"l* to go out if they can helpT™?B a chance of sticking on a-littL B8 how it ia advfa Jtato JftS^'*l becaußoitdoc.n'tpayS&^ft for he sake of sixpenceor tfSfi?»J* don t grumble on a wetday,* iXtt LlUes to Start ™ You may think if I got oJ^j „ go a bigger round and nee-more 1? But it ain't worth it. MdstSK the money until theaftet^fe husbands come home. What Kttla twT have goes for bread and jnMft corner shops." ;. ,^ "' Another claps of hawkew»r»thW; Vendors of Peja^jo^ so conspicuous in .the city. ''Uiaie m and Cheapside appear to beI.the tauto stands of these men. Ludgate Bill ami ally is infested with.them,atfdH™ quite a line from one end to tethn 7 deed, such a nuisance have they fcecJ i and so seriously have they ioW^ trade of the shopkeeper^ that the life have had to appeal to the 'bolfco t7«, what can be done ' to dbbobtiniu Z annoyance. But so long a# tie hawkn keep moving about and<do;iot M the traffic by causing a .«ro«aio mth» round, they are complying iritb tie nolia regulations, and. unless & spefial |£ j, i brought into force they cannot be into. fered with. Therefore it ":$ doobtfi! whether the cry of "boot,licea two i penny," "two hundred aridjfifty m matches for a penny," "nickelslierpocfat comb and case always 'andy andhiwty1 etc,, will not continue ft haunt the m of the shopkeepers for some tims to come. These hawkers purchase norths" from a large novelty tenii Houndsdifajh. We are informed flatttfl pay on an average sixpence a dozen ii their wares, and they ccli something !Q» three doaen a day, bo thnt thay nay k reckoned to make one-nnil-sixpenceaaij, Every hawker before he ■cm go onto streets must have a lieense,£anj for tiki) has to pay Five Shillings a Year. and has to carry it} about with him, to tlsl to any policeman when riebossary, ifcli ho use a horse or other be,ist.oibnrdti,b has to pay lour pounds in addition, One of the most amneing speeiueiE i the London hawker is he vho, hating tat the round of the auburbe ttrouehthe ds; with a small cart ladea witi. an kinds dE cheap goods, returns to the L city in flu evening, and takes, up a.position it Un corner of some narrow'tfreet when toil not likely to be disturbed by p^enngtrafGc, ! but which nevertheless ions 1 thoroughfare, frequented tyj^uiribend pedestrians. ' . a- °' Standing in his cart, iritMß oil-tell lighted, ho lies in wait fcr i^oofdiiid are leaving the city for their mbos. •'Now, here's a pretty little, thing,"« will say, "an elegant silver-plated cnslj stand—pepper, mustard I] B?lt > yiiegar,iu, all complote. I assure you tty,TO» "•• andtwenty shillings; 111/taie bi«J. eiglitpqnca for it, andl wouldn't do $ only this lawyor-pentleman is^ng'^ uka it, and I know ho'll haws tit?jd4sb pence handy. What, eir.yonf $&$. Well, I atn fluvprlsei AV^doii't knot what a good thing you W.iosing, fe when your landlord ow^ 'wi'niiirWV and seea this on thft^ble ho'll {4WJ without wanting aay - m t 4 Anjbwy t"f it for six sbUl«o', 8( , five^and-jßiit-Here going for-Bv© sliP'jiQgj j •! « "I've Red fK,,ne bvely bootl"^^ which I'm gr' t0 a ell for;twpaKe «* It only W jk tv7o of those to moor w«* Easteru to the wharf aonieyeara«Bl)> tT belle 1: e-why, hang it, yes identical two, Goingatapeimywl-* 11" at a halfpenny. T'&Wt>« tltf " Ho, ha ! here we aw)-- P>»^ A dozen silver spoons, 1 declare, »ww a real bargain. These Bpooos, I^J» gentlemen, are solid eilverjoa till W^ There'B no plating about the genuine article. They are?veiy «* to Deopte who wants tobeewnoniio,wr with these spoons you can eww«i w without sugar." '; y', t,,jjt Thus doisour livefy fr'°ndf eJK keep his crowd around ton. $f «S which is adopted by •n.H^gP. keeping an audience in good «£ w The.l are many other vanete d**| :in London besides &™jWJ°m briefly mentioned Thetnck^« that are brought into use aoongftt»i«" ing thousands of ,< The Great Batylo*^ are innumerable andinexomg*-^ everything that is eaten is : M#»» . in some way or other m or aW motropoliß. , !* London has always bees .^TW its peculiar cries, v«J»f «>l^, d the year and the state of f»£%4 though, amongst the T^ IC"w cb«* hawtorfthere are no doubt g tera who have taken to tins cHUW m prevents them from entenWJg^ still upon the whole it may » "^*i to their credit, that the. ha^, ofiot . energetic and industrious tt»m. ~ don

A Gambling Exploit.

recently furnished the ma tterorj oneparagraphtothoW^g: He once played a **£-Jfc g^e* Khalil Bey, ?not^ rjK%^!^ the stake bem^£2.o(W eac^^tM ( it was agreed bet*c »**»&» rf £ ths Prince had won £6,W" with so l««K»f? ugg%r&«*S 2S3s?ggß*

fHK AUCKLAND ETONIHG STAK, SATCKHAV, MAY 10, IW6.

4