RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.l

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The air is thick with rumours of wars, and hundreds of our colonial youths aro "till thirsting to "seek the bubblo reputation at the cannon's mouth." Rev. Mr Reid is neither a dean nor a canon, but out of his mouth came utterancoe to which our ambitious warriors would do well to give hoed. Ho used language which, had it boon used by mo in this column, ho would probably have denounced as profano, whon ho said that going to nvongo Gordon's death in tho Soudan was the worst investment that a man could mako of hia lifo and energy and influence " this sido of ho 1. 'Twas well ho did not spoculato on tho othor aideof that objoctionnblo locality, though his languugo loaves tho inforonco that thoro is anothor sido to it, and tho noxt \\ esloyan Conforonco must look sharply into tho worthy gentleman's orthodoxy. I suppose thoro are a low hotter places than the Soudan this sido of the warm placo afore said, so I cannot holp regarding tho rev. gentleman's remark as being gratuitously grofane, as well as inelegant and hoterodox. ;ut lot that pass; a parson is not allowed to swear outside the pulpit, and I don. t crudee him his little indulgence in it. It would also bo ungenerous to criticise too closely when I so thoroughly ngreo with the substance of what Mr Reid said on Sunday morning, and I am glad to think that the pulpit and press aro.at ono in their estima tion of this filibustering talk about soldier ing in the Soudan.

Public opinion has so far boon influenced that less is now heard from those aspiring heroes anxious to "have a go at the Mahdi." People, instead, are beginning to ask into our preparedness to fight even a defensive battle for our own hearths and homes, and there is a disposition to adopt the sentiment of the celebrated "Jingo refrain:—

"We don't want to fluht. But, by Jlngo.'.if we do, We've got the ships, we've got the mon, Wove got the money too. But have wo got the ships, the men, or the money? I am afraid the question must ba answered with a triple negative, and henco the ridioulous nature of the recont bellicose fever is apparent. How would the New Zealand—and for that matter of it, the Australian—war-song read in these cir cumstances ? Something like this, eh ?— WoaUwanttoflght. But we cannot well begin, For we've got no ships, wove got no mon, And wove got no blooming tin!

Such ia, in sober fact, a very close ap proximation to the truth as regards the position of all these colonies for offensive or dofonsive operations. Auckland has not a aingle defence work, she has not a torpedo boat yet, and her six big guns have only ammunition to fire 300 balls and shells, sup posing they were mounted and rendered effective. Then there are only about 1,000 rifles in store with which to arm our man hood to repel a hostile invader, and pro bably the stock of cartridges would be found woefully deficient in the event of a crisw sud denly arising. We have, I believe, about a dozen old officers of Engineers in tho city, and no lock of experienced military men to direct operations; but our force of even pirtlally-drilled Volunteers is very small, and quite inadequate to defend tho city azainst any foe likely to attack it. I am glad, therefore, to see that attention is being turned to tho question of defence, a* I believe with Mr Ballanco that these cilonies can render the best practical aid to England by being in a position to under tike their own defence.

It is, of course, rather warm in the Sou dan. Just for the benefit of our enthusiastic you'tha—yes, and the enthusiastic old men, too—who are so vory eagor to bo off t3 the war, I might remark that' oooplo go very light on ordinary clothing •' over there." Lord Wolseloy looks vory well after his men, according to the " Army •and Navy Oazotto." Thia journal also remarks : " One of tho last telegrams from Korti to Cairo was for 2,000 white umbrellas to be personally conducted up the Nile, with all despatch, by a specially solected officer! An the troops are already armed with veils and goggles, the Cairo Commis airies are now cruising about the Moski in anticipation of a further requisition of a couple of thousand fans to complete the field equipment for the final advance on Khartoum,"

Poor " Polly Plum " haß Kone tno Wiiy of all flesh—and she had more than her share of flesh, aa well as of impulsive good nature. Like many another philosopher, she nreached better than she could practise, and her wit was more useful in satirising, in a thoroughly non-malicious _ way, the foibles of zithers than in preserving herself from being fooled. One of her weaknesses was a belief that she had a mission to save her fallen sisterhood, and on one occasion «he took into her own house and coddled up fcwoof the choicest specimens of the incor rigible class. Perceiving that with all her wisdom "Polly" was very gullible, they Hhiffedher with Munchauaen stones about the names and characters of their patrons. Of course, they ended in soiling her and then turned round un iSou ly'and laughed at her gullibility A glimpse into the private lives of some of our literary heroes has shattered many an iHnl • " Polly Plum " waß not a llterary aenius, but she waa a clover, pleasant Inter »nd had a local fame. Personal irnnmledee of her, however, enhanced rather tnan detracted from the pleasure w««Ll by her literary work. She was ™Inch a true woman, with all a woman's Sneart^ sjmpathies, and a full share £! thosefoibl* which accompany an impul- Give, passiomua nature. X * X

What a funny exhibition of the levelling doctrine, of Democracy was that objection «f KtarfU landowners to the turning of ?he fi«t sod of the railway by Wahanui. In the olden dajra a chief of Wahanui's im .f«npa would fcave made short work of of Mb authority; but times «™ changed, and the once guileless savage £ ow quote* Henry George with approval, a beards the great chief in his whare. JJS. ™Tfo a eharmlng freshness about the TOTo^^^wSnufto^ SnK»^that did bo* belong to him. wfth the native mistiness about what con- With tne na^ , h proba j,i y f eare d SfftMsaWtton of m.aa might the w£fflS3» Ohief an interest in the, 00 816 to WahaS land it to then time for ? ZZmilin bis spade," is an epigrammatic m ofVtatlng that every may Bhould Sd to bU own concern,, wWb m.ght iSp^tetoapro:e x X X ** The Dawn* the other day made the extra -7s that the Govern otdu? iL? advertised unsuccessfully for m ent bad »s*jT The Public Works surely havo supplied department -n^g, sudden out *hem ? »wd excursion!, looks, however, influent had been at •work,

-~ Turd of the Isles weat away last ThO Lor? fflga In his oar. Tho writer S F Un,tC^nt article in the Stab who oE % tha meanness and selfishness of his exposed tha^a a B t ar ving tenantry * leaßl rL^evicted from his Skye estates, wo£. b?ta mention that after a series of omitted to maom n Courtgj costly Utwswtsw en g hahed their WB" d par k cleared, Instead of »°fj" 3 g d "probablyloped, "the therefore, as he hs^Fop y mo^dißCOn . MMmm of his difficulties.

The outrageous injustice of the system of W tenure « perhaps better exhibited in ihe case of the American citizen who, arina owmtad eßtates H? Soofcla°d> .now b^"y «»ea?° devioting.the tenantry Mm the soil which their ancestors had for centuries. In reality there is *^ter wrong about the action of this ™f SSfflStSr the feudary lord who bad S^rSe righta of his clan ; but the ap- See ostiver, and the subject of a &*.' , otota turning men, women, and ■*$& %iS oßff their native soil,

displays tho rottenness of tho systom in a moro flagrant light. Strictly spoaking, tho American has moro of right on hia sido, becauso ho paid in cash tho market valuo of theso lands, and in turning thorn into trrouao resorvos ho moroly puts them to tho best pecuniary uso. Tho Macdonalds and othor chiefs, on tho othor hand, aro merely the fifth, sixth, sevonth, or eighth successors to a bad titlo—tho ultimate receivers of stolon property which has passed through the hands of a number of " fences."

Cußtom-houso business appears usually to bo associated with " rod tapo," and this is probably tho reason why so many things connected with it are skimped ovor as moro matters of form. Looking ovor tho papors of ono of tho largo stoamers at tho shipping ffico tho othor day, I was rathor struck by the wholesalo way in which cortain "particulars" wero supplied. Whoro it was roquirod that tho "occupations or callings " of tho passengers should follow after thoir names, the rathor dillieult undertaking was easily ovorcomo by writing off all tho saloon passongers us " ladies and gontlemon," and all tho steerage passongors as "labourers, WIVOB, and domestics." Thin system, I fear, would provo objoctionablo if it camo before those placed under tho latter head ing. Again, it is required that informa tion shall bo furnished as to whothor tho passcngors aro English, Irish, or Scotch, and I observo that they aro all classod as "British." This is no doubt convoniont, but it certainly does not como up to ox poctations. XXX Some poople have a vory hazy idea of words which thoy frequently use in spoak ing. A vessel was wrecked not very far from horo a few weeks ago, and the sailors picked up what thoy could in tho way of clothing, otc., on tho beach, so that oa tho following day ono of them confessed to being better off than ho had ever boon in his life before. A mess mate claimed a coat which this lucky in dividual woro, whereupon tho lattor became highly indignant. "Your coat," said ho; " well, I'm blowed ! Why, its salvage, man; salvago !" Tho othor follow looked dumbfounded. "Salvage?" ho queried; "what d'yo call salvago? 1 know that's my coat, anyhow." But tho pos sessor of tho coat was not to be floored becauso of ignorance, so ho condescended to give his views on salvage. "Salvage, you sco, mate," said he, " is this : whon a ship gets wrecked, and breaks up, and her gear floats up on tho beach, yor goes along and picks up what yo can, and sticks to it, that's salvage, and so is this coat, which I intends to stick to." And tho other man,

struck by the apparont learning of his shipmate, thought ho must be right, and so h& reluctantly consented to regard his coat as "salvage." Whilo lam on this paragraph, I may as well explain that " salvage means (in commerce) a re ward or recompense allowed by law for the saving of a ship or goods from loss at soa, either by shipwreck or othor means.

My friends the Anglo-Israolitea and other eccentric interpreters of prophecy will doubtless bo preparing to utter the usual " I told you so," in view of the probability of a great war taking place botweon Russia and England. They nave for many years maintained that such a war was near at hand, involving many othor nations—a thing, by the way, which any person of ordinary sagacity could havo foretold with out the aid of John's seven vials or Daniel's "time, times, and a half time." A firm believer in the " vial" theory has drawn my attention to a pamphlet issued more than six years ago by Robert Roberts, of Bir mingham, under the comprehensive title of: —" Prophecy and tho Eastern Question, being an exhibition of tho light shed by tho Scriptures of Truth on the matters involved in the crisis that has arrived in Eastern Affairs, showing the approaching fall of the Ottoman Empire, war between Eng land and Russia, tho Settlement of the Jews in Syria under British protectorate, the Appearing of Christ, the infliction of Divine Vengoanco on mankind, and the setting up of the Kingdom of God." |X X X

This work deals with great ovonts, and the writer is bold enough to carry forward theso to dofinito issues of a decidedly start ling kind. Somo of his interpretations are tinged with tho ludicrous. Thus his synopsis of chapter 4 roads—"The frog Bection of tho sixth vial: The effects of French diplomacy." Rather a nasty knock at Jean Crapaud's fondness for a frog diet. According to Mr Roberta, the " war of the great day of God Almighty " is at band, tho object of which is the punishment and purification of the world. Such being the case, there is after all some fitness in our send ing our loafers, larrikins, and serai criminal and useless classes to be purified and punished in the Soudan ! Mr Roborts says that Russia is destined to overthrow Turkey—the fall of the latter Power being essential to the rise of the Jews and their re-entry into Palestine; and " the situa tion ia preparing before our eyes." So far, he might be supposed to bo an Anglo • Israelite, but that idea is dispelled by the statement further on that " modern Britain is ancient Tarshish," the laboured proof of this identity being necessitated by a prophetic utterance which declares that the Jews are to be protected by Tarshish.

To give a succinct idea of the author's views, I cannot do better than quote the headings to the concludirg chapters of the work. These are as follows :— Chapter Vlll.—Dismemberment of the Turkish Empire, peaceful interval, Hussian attack upon Syria in British occupation, defeat of the British forces and Russian seizure of North Palestine and Egypt, Christ's arriving on the scene, violent overthrow of the invader and des truction of the British fleet, the object of these mighty events and their sequel. Ckaptbb IX. — Jewish fortunes tho peculiar feature of tho latter days, popular repugnance to the fact, Gentile views and God's purpose in opposition, Jewish bearing of the Armageddon oatastropho and the Jewish nation as a divine instrument after it s who the Jews are—their present posi tion and coming restoration, first as a colony, then as a nation ; consternation of the kings at Christ, tho war they wage against Him, His victory, the subsequent raising of the fallen tabernacle of David, reign of Christ as the imperial and absolute Lord of mankind, the saints' reign with Him, Palestine turned into a Paradise."

Being a sort of journalistic attache, " Zamiel " strongly objects to this kind of literature, as calculated to take all tho spice out of the news of the day. And I scarcely think the public will like it either. Half of the pleasure of life lies in the unex pected issues of events, the unf jreeean de velopments of obscure movements, and that ploaauro is largely discounted by having everything proclaimed in sensational head ings ten years before the thing comes off. That is, supposing the thing does come off as prophesied, of which perhaps there is not much danger ! Again, you and I, dear reader, can refuse to believe the prophets of thes,e latter days, and so if the events foretold come fxt pass, they will be a genuine surprise to us. The defeat of the British in Syria by the Russians—the over throw of Russia and the destruction of the British fleet by Christ—followed byfurther wars, with the final.con version by theirmeans of Palestine into Paradise, will be surprising events, let them happen when they may, and let them be foretold ever so clearly.

The world-famed journalist, George Augustus Sala, has paid his first visit to Auckland, and by-and-by he wijl do the Aucklanders in a series of lively social sketches. I knew something of Gus when he was a very small man in public estima tion, and under the shelter of his best friend, the authpr of the immortal " Pick wick." I hear that George Augustus was delighted with this city and its surround ings, so that citizens may anticipate a lenient, sunny sketch from the facile pen of the prince of journalists on his return to this Corinth of the Pacific. No living man possibly has seen go much of the under currents of London life as tho lively Sala, nor is there a living man who knows more of the business habits and peculiarities of the late Charles Dickens, who discovered at once the aptitude of Sala for the peculiar Hteruy style of "Household Words." Sala couli give a life-like lecture on his friendly master, with the novelist's irrita bility, little gusts c»" Jemper, flashes of fenius, and sparkles of generosity. When ola was in low water it wss the kindly hand «f Dickens that brought him ashore, and sent him "due north" from the by office in Wel&ngton-street, >nd greatly through the same influence that he became the eminent journalist through the spicy and readable' columns of the " Daily Tele graph." No writer who had not experienced the darker shadow of metropolitan life could have written "Twice Bound the Clock" and "Under tha Gaslight."1 George Augustus, however, has risen in

tho world, and will bo frted in tho colonies as ono of our distinguished visitors, and will take homo with him to old England many ploasant momories of a sunny uid truly pacific nature Ono ovont which has escaped tho notico of tho Auckland press may bo told to his credit. On Satur day last, the famous journalist gavo a dis cursive lecturo on board tho mail steamer on his Russian experiences, jntorsporsod with racy sketchos of tho habits and cus toms of the pooplo, which ho told with Sala-liko gusto, causing much monimont on board. A gontloman nidod Iho ontcrtaitimont with a coiiplo of recita tions from Macaiilay's "Lays of Anciont Homo." At tho closo of tho treat tho hat wont round, and .Cti 18s was collected for tho Shipwrockod Mariners' Socioty of Now South Wales, which will bo rocoivod with grand merci and chrtpcan ban to George Augustus. XXX Sovoro and consorious remarks woro recently mado in tho Polico Court upon tho singular conduct of tho Chairman of a road board across tho water. Tho said gentle man, it appears, instead of going regularly to church liko Sir Roger Do ('overly and Lord Eldon, takos his walks among tho hilln anddalos,ocea«ioimlly rnralising on tho pebbly shore, to listen, it may bo, to the sad music of tho waves, and somothimr Biro—to tho noighing of hungry horsos, if ill bo truo that's told. In ono of his sunny peregrinations this voritablo and trusty Chairman discovered four wandering

horses, and as tho owners wo.ro not among tho Chairman's pliablo supporters, ho caused thorn soparatoly to bo sum moned under tho Police Offoncos Act Tho four settlors obeyod tho summonsos, and at their own oxponse woro dragged to Court, but their accuser did not appear against them. Tho defendants put in a ploa of not guilty, and murmured at tho unexplained absence o£ tho informant, statirg that his objoct was not tho public good, but personal annoyanco, and that thero was no real ground of complaint. Tho principal witness doposed that ho was called after poople had gono into church, and sovoral animals woro pointed out to him by the informant, who exclaimed, " See those'ossos !" Tho mon woro summoned as intimated, but the strangest part of the story is this: Mr was leaping fences on Sunday, and on Monday was oft" to To Ar"ha Baths groan ing with rheumatism, Tom avowed, how ever, that his friend waß not troubled with rheumatism, but with a sprained anklo. I hopo tho baths will effect a spoedy and com ploto cure.

The Roy. Thomas Spurgoon has sent the following lotter to tho licensoo of tho Queen's Hotel, Symondsßtreet, in acknow ing tho receipt of a donation of £1 towards the funds of the Tabernacle (vide last week's "Random Shots"). The lotter speaks for itself, so Zamiel" insorts it with out preliminary comment: —"Auckland, March 0, 18S5.—Dear sir,—l muit confoss to being somewhat surprised at tho contents of your lotter received yestorday, but I am more than gratified and very thankful. Allow me to thank you most heartily ; the circumstances attending the gift making it tho more acceptable and interesting. You will, I am suro, pardon me for saying that I sincerely wish you wero engaged in some othor business. If you had hoard mo at the Blue Ribbon meeting you would not havo thought my words ambiguous. I fail tj see how any spiritsollor can always koep his house respectable Why, that very night, as I was returning from tho Temperance moeting, I was saddened to see four or five thirsty souls—oho of whom was almost incapable of walking, drop into your establishment at 10.30. I remarked at tho time that this was a strange comment on what I had eaid, and sincerely regrotted that tho shuttors wero not up on both sidos of tho road. I cannot rejoice in the existence of any bars, yet it is cheering to know that some aro kopt by men who, though they do not see as we do and think as strongly on the subject, aro anxious to avoid the abuses which aro, alas ! ro common, and (as in your case) aro willing to contribute towards tho Lord's work. Tho tabernacle which you havo helped to rear will, wo hopo, bo comploted in six woeks' time. May wo hopo to havo you with us frequently ? Again thanking you for your donation (XI), —I remain gratofully yours, Thomas Si'iumikon."

In presenting this interesting lottor to his readers, "Zamiol" vpnturos to oxpross the hope that both partioa are now satisfied— tho preacher at having so unexpectedly got a donation for his tabernacle from an un expected source, and tho publican at having received a cheap benediction from a too total parson. If tho publican is as smart a man as " Zamiel" thinks ho is, ho will amend his signboard thus:—

"QUEEN'S HOTE L." Good Beds. Best Brand of Liquors, Recommended by the Rev. Thomoa Spurgeon, XXX

An amuslngincidontrespectingthe mannor in which one of our residents was "hoist by his own petard " was related to mo the other day. The individual in question was grieved because his landlord would not pay the nightsoil contractor for his nocturnal soi'vicos, tho consequence of such refusal being that tho contractor terminated his visits. A nuisance waa tho result, but neither tenant nor landlord would pay tho necessary sum to havo it abated. This was the position of affairs, when it occurred to the tenant that he might gain his ends at the expense of hie landlord. He therefore sent for tho Inspector of Nuisances, who came, and saw, and summoned—not tho landlord, as was expected, but tho tenant, who was mulcted in fino and coats. My friend the occupier will be caroful for tho future that ho does not run his hoad into t similar noose.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.

A Parallel to Gordon's Fata.

The mannor of tho capturo of Khartoum, with the death of General Gordon as ono of the attendant circumstances, is a curious HIJ lustration of history repeating itself. Khar toum waa taken in the samo way that Gordon took Soochow, twenty-ono years ago. that city was one of the strongholds of tho Tai ping rebels, and in the closing weeks of tho year 1863 Gordon, withn force of 13,000 or 14,000 men, assisted by a larger army of Im perialists under another command, had laid Biege to Soochow, and made a desperate night attack, in which he was repulsed with heavy loss. But some of the besieged had become discouraged and wanted to surren der. The leaders of this party were a num ber of Wangs, or kings^a title which the original leader of the rebellion gave to his principal followers. After protracted secret negotiations, during which they advised (Jordan tc assault the city, promising they would not defend it, Gordon proposed as a better plan that they should surrender one gate of the city to him, which was done, and by that means the whole place captured. This was very much like the manoeuvre by which the treacherous PashßS delivered Khar toum into the hands of tho Mahdi. They marched all their troops to one side of the city, while he attacked a gate on the other side. The surrender of Soochow was fol lowed by an atrocity as revolting as the out rages practised (?y the Aratya, though the fault was in no way Gordon's. His treaty with the rebel Wangs was based on the un derstandingthat their lives shouldbospored, but no sooner had they surrendered than they were all beheaded by Li Lung Chang, the Chinese commander. Gordon was en raged at such an act of treachery, and taking a pistol went in search of Li Hung Chang to kill him, but the latter was warned and kept our of the way till the Englishman's wrath had subsided. It is possible the Mahdi would have spared Gordon's life, as the latter would havespared tho Chinese Wangs, but tbe brutal mob who follow tho Arab leader know no mercy in warfare.

A Religious Crank.

New York, Feb. 14.—A special from Youngstown, Ohio, says: George Gassar, who belongs to a church in Girard called "the Followers of Christ," claims that on Wednesday he had a vision and communi cation from Christ, in which the latter directed him to offer his fourteen-year-old son as a sacrifice. The next morning he choked the boy, and, but for interference, would have killed him. Yesterday he bought a hatchet, and last night dug a grave in his back yard. When the lad reached horn? his father jumped at him with the hatchet raised, and inflicted a horrible gash on his head. 'A fearful struggle followed, and the boy finally escaped. Seven gashes were cut in His body, and it is doubtful if he can recover. Gassar barred his door, and walked his room all night, shout ing poetry and verses from the Bible. This morning he was taken out of the house by force and lodged in gaol.

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand,

I toncl ergon's Mill Turf Club Oamani J.C. Autumn

March 17 March 17 and 18

ltawke's Hay J.C. Autumn ....March 17 and 18 Northern Jockey Club Autumn March 21 Kaukapukapa Racing Club, March 25 Taranakl Anniversary Mooting March 27,28 OnohniiKa H.U. Autumn March 28 Auckland R.C. Autumn April 4 and 6 Canterbury J.C. Autumn Meeting April 0,7 Takapuna J. U. Autumn April 11 Cambridge J.C. Autumn April 15 and ll> rapukura Meeting April '2.'! Wellington it.C. Autumn May 1 and 2 Talaiiiuua J.C. Winter May 21 Auckland K.C. Steeplechase Mooting ....June ti Australia. Hawk-esbury It.C Autumn March 215, 28 A.J.C. Autumn April 0, 8,10,11 Dutof) of Nominations, Entries and Aocoptanoos. Acceptances Great Autumn Handicap.. March 11 General entries and acceptances Onohunga Autumn Mooting March 20 First forfeit Auckland Kastor Handicap and Steoplecliasu March 27

To Correspondents.

Sl'OHTSMAN.—Oatoli'oni haa uevor won an A.U.O. or 'I'likaimna Steeplechase. Jim.—Lonlo, 3yrs, won tho Napier Handicap I" IHS'2, and ran tho 1J miles in Iliniius. !I]huch. Hlii> carried Oat 81b. IJUAtt.—ltovolvor wan scratched for tho l)ar- Kaville Cup about tliroo quartura of an hour previous to tho start. T.l'.—Speculation beat Sir Modroil at woiKht foratfo in tho Kail way Plaio at tho W'ungauui Autumn Mooting of 1882, G.C.O.—Cadoßan was sold an a yearling for 1,000 Kiiincas, and as a two-year-old for S.OiiO Kuinuas. Ho is owned by Mr 11. Jtorsford, of Christchurch.

AN Old Sydnbyitk.— Tho dead licat botweon Dagworth and Keprlcvo in tho A.J.C. Club Plato, threo niilos, occurred at tho Autumn Mooting of 1873. Dugworth won tho run oil' by a hoadi

A Subsoriheh (Whangarol).—Tho stallion St. Alhana ia a chestnut tiorgo, brorl in Kngland in 1870, l>y Blair Athol (boh of Stookwolll from Pandora, by Cothorstono — Polydora, by Priam. Ho was imported to Vletorlaby Mr Jno. Moll'att in 1871, and sold at that gontloman's nalo of importod stock, Mr Joseph Thompson, being tho purchaser for 510 guineas. Ho novnr racod. After bocomlngMr Coldham's property, ho was luasod to Mr J. Flold, of Tasmania, and was subsequently purchased by Mr James Wilson for 900 guineas ut tho sale of tho (Irassdalo i-tud In March, 1883.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Thk ovor-populnr annual raco-meoting of tho Honderson'.s Mill Turf Club takoa placo on Tuesday noxt (St. Patrick's Day), and

it bids fair to surpass all provioua gatlior ings. Good entries and accoi,tancos havo bocn rocoivod for all of the ovents, and tho management boing in eompotont hands, goad sport and a pleasant day's outing mny with certainty bo looked forward to. Sim 0 last year, a largo number of improvements have boon mado to tho ground, the principal boing tho alteration to the run ning track. Tho courso is now noarly ono mile round, and tho dangerous turn has also boon dono away with. Far tho Cup I havo most leaning towards Nannie, and although the Hurdles boar a very open aspect, King Bhould provo troublesome to tho best ongaged. A special train will leave tho Railway Station at 11.45 a.m. and is announced to return at 5.45 p.m.

Next Tuosday and the following Thursday tho Huwko's Bay Jockoy Club Autumn Mooting comos up for decision. The fol lowing are tho namos of thoso engaged in tho two loading ovonts :—

Nai'ikk Handicap, 13 Milk. st lb nt lb Leonora .. ..8 7 Poarl .. .. 7 0 Tlgrudiii .. .. 712 Pasha .. ..0 12 Fusilier" .. .. 711 Tho Laird .. 012 Ugly Huck „ ..7 5 Clogs .. .. « 5 Kororunnor .. ..7 5 Miuiyiiohuuu .. (i 0 Llbcllor .. ..7 4 * lncludiuK Sib penalty. Railway Stakes, H-Mii.b. at lb Ht lb Ascot _ ..8 3 Tnlobmiror .. 7 1 Tigrodia .. .. « -' Slavo .. .. 7 4 Fusilier .. .. 7 !) Christina .. 7 1! Ugly Huck .. ..7 8 Pasha .. ..7 0 Forerunner.. ..7 7 Wacwaetlka .. 0 4 Poarl .. .. -70 b'or tho Nnpior Handicap — the big nice of tho mooting—Tigrcdia has boon rockonod a good thing ovor sinco tho weights ap pcarod, and should she como to tho post lit and well, must bo hard to boat. I hoar, howovor, that tho Auckland Dorby winnor lia9 not boon horsolf for several days past, so tho stablo may roly on Leonora. Thoro i» no question that nhe also is woll in, and I decline to beliovo that tlio maro showed hor true form in tho Wanganui Cup. Fusilier's 51b ponnlty must put him out of it, but excellent accounts roach mo of Vanguard's half-brothor Forerunnor, and if all is true concerning him, ho must provo one of tho hardest nuts in tho raco to crack. LiboHor mustalso run well forward, for he has provod that ovor v ljmilo ho is fully master of 7st 4lb, and I think that whatover beats him or Fororunnor will bo roturnod tho winner, preferring tho last named for choico.

If any proof wero wanting of tho moderate lot of throo-voar-olds in Australia this season, it was affordod by tbo inglorious way in which David and Silvor King figurod bohind Commotion in tho Champion Stakes on Saturday last. Tho account of tho raco to hand iniorms us that tho gallant son of Panic won easily by ton lengths in tho fast timo of smin. 2Glsoc, which is half-a-socond slower than ho took whon victorious in 1883. Considering tho way he rompod homo on Saturday, tins is a groat performance, and of all tho doughty equino kings whoso names are omblazonod on tho scroll of tho winnors of tho "Champion," I think tho prido of place must bo givon to Commotion. Ho hag certainly provod himeolf ono of tho greatest porformors over soon in Australia, and dospito all tho work he has had, it is said his logs aro as sound now as tho day ho was foalod. Truly tho Hon. \V. Poarson has a champion ho may woll feol proud of. Tronton has boon installod favourite in Christchurch for tho Groat Autumn Handi cap at 100 to 15, and July liob mot with gupport at 100 to 12, while 100'a to 10 are taken about Nelson. Lady Emma has boon backed in Dunodin to win noarly £2,000 at prices ranging from 100 to 8 to 100 to 12, and it is hard now to got 100 to 15. I notice tho Aucklandbrod Matchlock lock, by Mußket—Yattorina, mado his debut in the Hopeful Stakes, run on tho first day of tho V.R.C. Autumn Mooting. He was thought such a good thing that ho wont to tho post with the odds of 5 to 4 on him, but he was never dangorous, and tho winner turnod up in Juanna, by Gang Forward *rom Haideo, owned by the Adelaide sportsman Mr H. B. Hutchens, Sho cut out tho fivo furlongs in tho fast timo of lmin. 4Jsec3.

Mr W. Bobbett tells mo Libeller was landed at Napior without a scratch. Tho little fellow is to havo the services of E. Vaile in the Napier Handicap.

Mr Dodson, tho starter for tho Dunodin Jockey Club, lias adopted the Victorian systom of having a lino chalked out on the turf a short distance behind the starting post, and if o jockoy wilfully allows his horse to cross that lino ho is fined every time he so offends. The fines imposed during the recent meeting amounted to £37. When the steamer loft Sydney on Thurs day last, Coronet was reckoned in Mel bourne such a moral for the Australian Cup that his party accepted 5 to 4 about him, and the betting was completely paralysed. This waa on account of a great gallop the son of St. Albans did at Flemington two days before the race with Off Colour. It is stated to be the best two-mile spin done there since Grand Flaneur was being prepared for the Champion. The result of the Nursery Stakes, run at the Hawke's Bay Meeting on Tuesday, will be invested with some interest to local turfites, owing to the fact that Mr J. Mar shall's Derringer will take part in tho contest. Tho colt was shipped in chargo of Alick Sutherland on Thursday, who of course will also rido him.

Mr W. Proffitt has purchased Scrutineer, the winner of the Hurdle Race on the first day of the Wanganui Meeting. The price paid was £200. In the description of tho running for the Newmarket Handicap, not one of half-a -dozen reports I have looked over mentions the name of Welcome Jack. This form is too good to bo true. I notice that Mr Pil brow has entered him for tho Adelaide Cup and Goodwood Handicap.

"Robin Hood," the Christchurch sweep promoter, has forwarded the names and addresses of the principal winners in his last programme on tho Dunedin Cup. As already intimated, the programme closed with 7,125 shares, and the first prize amounted to £1,088 not, Representatives of the "Referee " and " Lyttelton Times " were present at the drawing. A case of a somewhat similar nature to that of Nigger at North Shore occurred on the last day of the Dunedin Meeting. In the Forbury Handicap, the race-book showed Sou-westers weight to be Bst 71b, but his owner claimed that the handicap was Bst 51b, and a reference to town by telegraph showed the latter weight to be correct. The affair caused considerable delay at the start.

From ttio Wangauui papors I loam that it took Speculation 4min. 17450e. to com pass tho Cup distanco. This is the slowest timo roeordod for tho past soven years. Uayard broko down very badly in tho race, and it is stated it will bo some time boforo lie is soon on tho racecourse again. Tho Hon. .T. White's filly Uralla won the Ascot Yale Stakes at the V.R.C. Autumn Mooting, her stable companion Monte Chriato being second, and Dunlop third. Despite the fact that Monte Christo was on tho big sido and had to put up a 91b penalty, ho was rogardod as such a moral that backers rushod in to lay 6 to 4 on his ohmico. Uralla, who was in eplondid con dition, waa next in public estimation, and when it came to racing only the pair wore in it, but contrary to gonoral oxpoctation tho filly oasily dofoatod tho colt by a couple lof longths. On tho horaes roturning to weigh in, Ilaloti (who rodo Monto Christo) was received in anything but a compli mentary manner, but it did not appear to )e tho jockoy's fault, as the mare was certainly tho bottor of Mr Whito's pair on tho day, anil this fact appoarcd to bo so widely recognised that a counter demon stration was made in Halos's favour. It is said iJiattho Hon. J. White's friends and stablo wore just as worely disappointed as the gonoral public, tho bulk of their money being on Monto Cliristo. Tho salo of Mr 8. Gardinor's yearlings wasi not succosssul, only two out of tho 22 otl'orod mooting with buyovs, Tho two sold woro a lilly by Tho Hook—Phu-bo, Mr A. F. Brown gotting hor at 35 guinoas, and a tilly by Tubal Cain—Argosy, purchasod by Mr J. Morrison for 00 guinoas. Tho Ulonormiston colts and fillies wore all sold, but at low prices, tho sires represented being Bolton Green, Wellington, Free Cituen, and King Cole. The highest figures woro paid for a brown colt by Bolton Croon—Frou Frou, and a bay colt by Wellington—Tho Gom, each roalising 105 guineas. Mr F. F. Dakin socurod the latter. Tho highest-priced amongst the filltos was a brown (illy by Wellington— Drollery, which wont to the bid of Mr Jamos Monaghan, of Sydnoy. Tho re mainder roalisod from IHO guineas to 25 guinoas oach. Mr Louis Barnard, tho auctionoor, has Borvod tho committoo of tho Victorian Club

with a writ for £5,000 damagos for oxpelling him from tho Club. Ho claims that the

committoo actod illegally, and that ho is still ontitlod to tho privilogos of a member. It will bo remombored that Barnard was tinod £. r>o for trying to square the prosecutor in tho Hurricano caso, and on his refusing to pay, the committoo expelled him. Tho cliargo of conspiracy proforrod against Messrs Rogors and Lamerse, in connection with tho suspicious running of Tichborno at tho lato Tasmanian races, has fallen through, and ondod in tho uccused being difchargod, no evidence being offered against thorn. It is stated that Rogors is nbout to procood to Moxieo. Notwith standing tho discharge of tho men, the stewards of tho Tasmanian Racing Club stato that thoy soo no reason to alter the decision arrived at by them. Thoy had nothing to do with tho Police Court in quiry. Lady Emma's defeat in the Cup (says " Muzoppa ") was a bitter disappointment to hundreds of backers throughout Otago ; and hor inability to got near tho front at any part of tho raco, complotoly sur prisou all in tho crowd who were not in nofsossion of tho stable sacrots. Tho simplo explanation is Unit tho maro was affected by a troublo to which tho sex aro ovor liable. This was very hard luck for hor ownor, and for hor trainor, too ; for Koan had boon oxtra ordinarily careful in omitting no precau tion likoly to assist in bringing tho maro to tho post fit and woll, and until a short time boforo tho raco ho was conlidont that Aw would run a groat raco. Hor " coming on" upset his and ovorybody pise's calcu lations. For my part, knowing what I now know, I am of opinion that sho could novor liavo boaton Vanguard, ovon undor tho moat favourablo circum stancos ; but at her bost she must ossurodly have gainod it place. It is, I beliovo, a fact that tho maro was at ono poriod of tho raco intorforod with, at any ruto ehe waa ob- Horvod to partly stumblo, bringing hor jockoy almost on to hor nock ; but this circumstanco nnn scareoly bo rockoncd as having all'octed tho result of tho raco. .IT>O,OOO i.=, in round numbers, tho total netted by tho Mown Robertson and their onorgotic commieMonor, Mr Sam Rains bury, as a romilt of Coronet's Nowmarkot victory (says tho Molbourno "Sportsmnn "), and when to tliat sum wo add tho nraoant won by outsidors, tho grand total disbursed by tho ring on Monday could not havo boon a penny loss than £80,000. That the victory of tho Kingston stablo was es sentially a popular ono goos without say ing ; not tho slightost socrot having, from tho momont tho tirst commission was oxo cutod, boon mado as rogards tho horse's ability to win, Mr J. D. Robertson having gono to considorablo troublo to toll all his frionds not moroly that ho thought he could win, but that " unloas tho horso foil down ho couldn't lose." Apart, thoroforo, from tho satisfaction of having won a princely stako, all connected with Coronot havo tho ploasing consciousness of know ing that tho public has won almost as big a sum as tho gtablo, and that tho fact is' mainly duo to tho publicity which the Mossrs Robortson and Rainbury accordod tho horse's condition and capabilities. Al though, amongst the public, thoro aro very fo«- roally big winnprs, tho buokera, who havo won sums ranging from .CIOO to £500, can bo countod by tho scoro, while sovoral mombors of tho ring havo won con siderably ovor a thousand n-pioco. Al togothor, tho ring has rocoivod ono of tho hoaviost blows it has oncountorod sinco Chostor's yoar, and tho Kingston division liavo got back treblo tho amount thoy lost ovor tho last Spring Mooting. How portinuciously ill luck sticks to Mr D. S. Wallace (writes "Augur.") Lobb than a month ago his champion colt Lo Grand was rogardod with favour for tho groat ovonts of tho autumn, and ho was supported with confidonco, but tho hopeß of his ownor and trainor havo boon dashed to tho ground. For somo time ho had bo trayed symptoms of lamonoss, but Hieken botham still did not despair, as tho votorin ary surgeon in attendance said it was no thing sorious. On Tuosday morning, how over, ho boeamo so lamo while exorcising that O'Brien was compollod to dismount, and tho poor horse could hardly hobblo homo. At firat it was boliovod that tho colt was suffering from acute rhoumatism, but it soon boeamo ovidont that ho was in n most dangorous state, spinal inflammation having sot in, and notwithstanding the offorts of tho veterinary surgeons, ho died on Thursday aftornoon. Messrs Kondall and Mitchell, assisted by Dr. Webb, who is an onthueiast in all things appertaining to tho thoroughbred horse.mado a post-mortem examination, and discovered that tho spine was fractured. Great sympathy has boon expressed for Mr Wallace, who by the death of Lo Grand has lost ono of tho best horses that ever trod turf.

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Bargo is again in work. The V.R.C. Dorby winner Rufus has gone amiss. It is said that St. Albans fee will be 100 guineas next soason. Tlio Plunger was scratched for all of his V.R.C. engagements on the 2nd March. Weights for tho Auckland Easter Handi cap and Stcoplechaso are due on Friday next. "Sir Launcolot" picks Lady Emma, Sou'-woster, and Administrator, to win tho Groat Autumn Handicap. Adamant pulled up lame after running in tho Dunodin Cup. but after a spell and a swim ho waß all right again. Tho correct number of nominations for the next Now Zealand Cup is Cl. Salvage's name is missing from tho list. Peter Dallen, who rodo Panic when he won tho Launceston Champion Race, died in Tasmania a short time ago. The South Australian Jockoy Club havo recoiled 61 nominations for the Adelaide Cup and G8 for the Goodwood Handicap. Coriolanus has been purchased by Mr J. D. Robertson, and was withdrawn from the Australian Cup on tho morning of tho race. Acceptances for the Groat Autumn Handicap are due tonight, and for the Taranaki Autumn Meeting on Monday next.

Silver King started in the V.11.C. St. Leger with the odds of 5 to 4 on him. David, Mozart, and Tremando were the only other starters. Last season the Hon. G. McLean headed the list of winning owners at the Dunedin meeting with £1,327. _ This season he did not earn a single shilling. Mr J. J. Miller's sale of trotting stock was only fairly succeseful. Honesty and Contractor were taken back to their box without a bid having been made. The complaint laid against the jockey Weazel by Mr F. F. Dakin for interfering with Plausible and Fryingpan, at the V.R.C. Summer Meeting, has been withdrawn. Of all the horses engaged in the New market Handicap nothing ran up to form as consistently as Middlemarch (says " Vigilant"), who although badly blocked, finished a good second.

" Sanox " says tho rocont Dunedin Meet ing moat completely knocked into a cocked hat every otlier such gathering he had previously attended in New Zealand. It is stated that A/Am, who was recently purchasod by Mr W, Weston, has again changed hands, he having been disposed ot to a Christchurch sportsman. Another good horse haa gone wrong. Malua pulled up ve'-y lame after the race for the Essendon Stakes, and it will be some time (if over) boforo he is himself Boiiny Blink, tho winner of the Wnn eanui Nursery Handicap, was purchased for 120 guineas at the N.Z. Stud Company sale in April last. She was got by Cudogan from Titania (imp). Mr 1\ Tancrod's Consul, it in said, has beon turned out in consequence of indisposi tion brought on by his trials with Adminis trator when the roiii was working up for tho Wellington raoetings. The clovor division at Flemington are puzzling themselves as to what tho South Australian mara Holone is being kept for. They are unanimous that "slio can't lose whatever she does go for." Mr Homy lied wood will sond his stud to tho hnmmor on the lnt of May, after which ho will toko a trip to England, whoro ho in tends purchasing a lew thoroughbreds, which he will bring back with him. JJarebin's halt-brother Proraothous, who was backed to win the Nowmarkot Handi cap for a ton of monoy, and groatly fancied by his etablo and tho public, was never dangerous at any part of the raca. Tho Maribyrnong Plate winner, Now stoad, is at present enjoying his otium in the Morphettvillo (Adelaide) clover pastur ago, and is said to be looking well. Ho is allowed to run there all day, and is housed at night. Matthew Dawson will In future only train for tho Duke of Portland, Lord Hastings, and any other of their especial friends, and with their consent. A special reservation has beon mado, however, in tho case of Lord Falmouth, should that nobio man once moro really patroniso the sport. Mr W. S. Cox, the well-known Aus tralian racing man, and owner of Moonee Valloy racecaurso, was savagely assaulted by a Gorman, lately in his employ, who stabbed him with a pockot-knite in the neck and body. Mr Cox's son, who came to lub fathor's assistance, also received a Btab in the thigh. At the sale of Mr Morris Jacob s race horses, Metal was sold to Mr E. Weoks for 175 guinoas ; Bend Or, to the same buyer, for 180 guineas ; Ned of the Hills, to Mr A. Davis, for 500 guineas ; Dutchman, to Mr Chifney, for 150 guinoas ; Lady Claudine, to Mr E. Wooks, for 300 guineas; and Harbington, to Mr Chifney, for 75 guineas. Tho rost woro passod in.

A Terrible Experience.

Suffering on the 100 In the Northumber land Straits.

Boston, February I.—A despatch from Halifax gives an account of tho Bufferings and portts of tbo passengers and crews of iceboats which loft Princo Edward's Island last Wednesday for the mainland in Now Brunswick, while crossing tho straits of Northumberland. Tho only moa»s of com munication betwoen the island and main land for about soven months in the year iB by peculiarly constructed boats, which aro alternately draggod across tho ico and floated in tho open water, tho passongors and crow aliko working their passage. The ico waß unusually rough and in places badly broken, and, to add to tho difficulties of tho dangorous journey, an intensely cold wind blow in tho faces of tho travellers. Thoir progross was oxtromoly slow, and whon night fell the men wore fully two milos from tho mainland. Nearly all wore by that tim« much exhausted ,and tho crows ot tho boats rofused to proceed farther, de claring that thoy would bo unable to roach tho shoro in darkness. It was decided to mako a halt for tho night, and, ono of tho boats being broken up to sorvo as fuol, a tiro was built und preparations wore mado to spond tho lonely hours till morning as comfortably as possible Tho hoat emitted by tho singlo iiro was of no sorvico at all, and without a particle of food and with tho biting uorthorly winds, tho raon found tho nieht almost intorminublo. Whon dawn cumo thoy wore in a deplorable condition. Tho limbs and faces of sovoral mon woro f rozon, and tho sufl'orings of tho othors woro almost as bad. Tho day was ovon moro terribly bittor, tho tomporaturo boing about 20 dogrees bobw zoro, and, to add to tho fooling of dospair that was falling ovor tho group, thoy found thomselvos to havo drifted many miles bolo;v their destination into the middle of tho straits. Ono Bturdy soul among thorn, Cuptain Muncy Irving, commandor of ono of the iceboats, managed to stir up his com panions to mako somo exertions for thoir livos, and, after as short a dnlay as possible, thoy started off on a tramp back toward the island. Many times during tho succeeding hours of agony, during which thoy folt liko givin" up in despair, some one or other woulc? drop on tho snow-covered ico in ox haustion, tolling tho othors to loavo him to dio and Bavo themselves. Captain Irving, howovor, each time spurrod them on to ro nowod offorts, and thoso in o bettor Btato assisted tho helpless as far as possible. At last, after a journoy which soemod tho longth of yoars, tho spiro of Do Sablo Church, on tho Argylo shoro, was espied, and a final horoic ondeavour was mads to roach tho land. Whon thoy approached a Httlo noaror thoy woro observed by people on shore, who hurried to tho roscuo, and holpod them to tho land. Amongst thoso who had endured tho hardships of tho two days and night, and had a most miraculous escapo from a horriblo dooth, was Dr. Mclntyre, a mom bor of tho Canadian Houso of Commons for Kings County, Princo Edward's Island, who had just started on his way to Ottawa, to attond tho sossion which just oponod. Ho was ono of thoso who suffered most. Nono of tho pooplo aro oxpoctod to dio, but a number of them will loso tho use of somo ono or tho otlior of their limbs for a long timo, and in sovoral casoa it may bo found nocessary to rosort to amputation.

The Cheapest Dinner in Existence.

"The cheapest, most nutritious, and, what v more, most palatable dinner in exist ence," cays a correspondent of the London "Times," "is the following :—Egyptian lentils coat 20a for 104 pounds (wholesale price). This works out at Jd a pound weight; one pound yields nearly two quarts of thick, strong pea soup, far superior, to English pea-soup in flavour. The lentil is the most nutritious food known for the woight. On it the Chilian miner, the strongest man in the world, lives for Is per week, but the Egyptian lentil is nearly half the price paid in Chile. If to this soup be added about an equal weight in the fresh refuse beef bones which are carrlod away by the ton from all our London butchers' shops (to be boiled into fat and to be ground into manure), then from one pound of lentils, costing under Jd, can be made two and a quarter or even two and a half quarts of the very best pea soup, and on this exclusively I have frequently made my own dinner, my family also preferring it to any other. Two quarts are more than a strong man can well get through in a day, and it will keep him in perfect health and strength. Stale bread and crusts, pota toes, meal or rice can, if necessary, or if available, be added, as the flavour of the soup mokes the dryest crust most palatable oven to a sick child.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION.)

CRICKET FIXTURES.

CLUB MATCHES,

March U-Wcst End v. Otahuhu, Newton v. Gordon, United v. Auckland, Alpha v. Auck "chSl-West End v. United. Newton v. West End 2nd, Alpha v. Our Boys, Auckland v. Va K abondß, Gordon v. Otahuhu (at Otahuhu). Sfaroli2B-Wost Endv. United Nowton r. Wost End 2nd, Alpha v. Parnoll. Auckland v. Vagabonds, Gordon v. Otahuhu (at OLahuhu). Anril 1.-Went End v. United, Nowton v. Auckland 2nd. Alpha v. Otahuhu, Our Boys v. United 2nd, Auckland v. Gordon. April U.-Wost End v. Alpha, Newton v. Auckland 2nd, United V. Our Boys, Auckland v. Gordon.

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

March 1 l-Judge's Bay Regatta. March 28-Hanlan v. Beach. £500 a-slde and jhaniplonship of the world, on the Paramatta 1 l^Cllfford v. Teemcr, £500 a-sido.

This afternoon there wero to have been rowed trial-fives by tho Ponsonby Howing Club, and tiial-iouiH by tho North Shore Howing Club. Up to the time of writing, another matcii between tho open boats Dream and Maicotte had not been arrungod, altogether ownora of both boats are apparently willing, even anxious, that it should como

oil. , ~ The Waitemata crow, which won the Whaleboat ltace at the Auckland Annual Regatta, have boon photographed along with Mr C. Bailoy, builder of the boat, and Mr E. O'Haro, trainor. The photos, have boon neatly arranged on a shield, which is exhibited in Mr Koesing's shop window, Victoria-street. . A 10 miles race took place in the Friendly Sacioty's Gardeis, Melbourne, on Saturday, botween O'Connor, of Now Zealand, and Powor, of Molbourno. Power led for the srst five miles, and then O'Connor took the load, which ho kopt to the end, and ho won by a fow yards. Time, 58min. 34sec. Jay Gould's new steam launch.3sft, long, 7ft. sin. beam, and weighing, without coal and water, 5,7991b, is stated to have, with two persons on board and a pressure of 1681b of steam, with a vacuum of 25in. attainod the remarkable speed of 14.4 milos an hour. Her engine is compound-condens ing, having cylinders of 4^ and 7x7 inches, Bupplied with Horreshoff coil of new form. 'rho scullers' match, for 250d015. a side, betwoen David Godwin (born Nov. 19,1847, stands sft. 7in. high, and weighs 1511b), and Chas. Brightwell (born Jan. 10, 18(53,stands sft. 9in. iand weighs 1541b), was decided Dec. 3 on tho Thames, England, from Alexander's boathouso, Putney, to the ship Mortlako, a course shorter than the usual distance, Tho race was a hollow aitair, Godwin winning with case by three lengths in 25min. 48sec. Professor W. Miller, having rocovered

from the uccidont ho met with whon wrestl ing Donald Dinnie, says he is prepared to meet Sullivan four months from tho time of signing articles of agreement. " Tho match to tako place in some building to bo mutually agreed upon in San Francisco. Sullivan to allow me 500dols. for expenses ; this amount to be deposited with the 'Clipper,' and to be handed me after tho termination of match. Tho winner to toko 75 per cent, and the loser 25 per cent of the receipts, after expenses are paid. The match to bo ono to win, and if interfered with, to be contested out privately within 72 hours." Alfred Bhaw, a member of the English team (says the " Sydney Morning Herald " of February 28), is a passenger to Englund by the R. M. S. Liguria, under engage ment to the Earl of Sheflield to coach tho Sussex county team. He says that the present team is far and away tho best that ovor visited Australia. The team have been rather disappointed with tho treat ment they received at the hands of the Australian Eleven ; but arrangements ore now made for two matches, ono to be played at Sydney, and tho other at Molbourne, tho terms being that the Australians will bo paid their oxponses. The tour, so far, has not boon a financial succoes; but, with fine weather, they hopo to make a littlo profit nut •* it. Tho six-days " go-ns-you-ploaso match botweon Uaynor, Swan, Fosbo, and Crofts was comploted at half-past 11 on Fob. 2S, and rosultod in a victory for Rayner, who walkoi a littlo ovor 365J miles. Swan was second man, with a rocord of about 302J mileß. At tho conclusion of tho match, Raynor, in thanking thoso who had pat ronisod tho exhibition, intimated that lie was prepared to walk Scott, if the latter desired it, in a 24 or 48 hours' match for £50. Ho statod further that if anyone was willing to go in with him to make tho stake £100, in tho ovont of a match being arranged and his losing it he would guarantee that his backor should have the gate-monoy. Mr Joseph Baxter subsequently offered to back Rayner againet Scott for £50. Rayner, by advortieoinent, accepts Scott's challongo, which ho says was issued to him in tho Garrison Hall on tho night of tho 14th ult., to walk 48 houre for £100 a-sido. Tho boat raco botween Beach and Clifford, for a money prize of £400 (says the " Syd noy Morning Herald ") took placo over the championship course of tho Parrainatta River, on Saturday afternoon, and re sulted, according to expectation, in a win for Beach. There was not a groat deal of oxcitoment oithor before, during, or after the raco, and the attendance on tho river and along tho banks wno miserably small, while sovoral of tho steamers whicli took up positions at various points to see tho race wore very poorly patronisod. Here and thero, however, ono was to be seen carrying a fair number of passengers. Only one stoamor—tho Inflexible—was allowod to follow tho race, and aho carried the umpire (Mr J, Myers), tho membors of the press. Messrs Doebio and J. D. Young, the re spectivo backers of Beach and Clifford, and about 200 passongors at £1 per head. Thoro was only ono largo bet booked on tho ovont. Mr Young taking £300 to £100 about Clifford winning, being of opinion that if ho took matters quietly Clifford might just manago to secure a win. Beach woighed 12at lib, and rowed in the boat in which he boat Hanlan, while Clifford scaled 12st 81b, and ÜBod a boat built by Ruddock, of Boston. Tho weather was exceedingly rough and ohoppy, owing to the strong gusty wind which prevailed; but Beach, who had won the tosß and ehoson the southern sido, managed to get through it fairly woll. Clifford, however, seemed to splash about a great deal, and his steering now and again was, to apeak mildly, erratic. The word "procession" sumH the race up from be ginning to end. Beach dashed ahead at tho start, established a clear lead by tho timo he had reached Uhr's Point, and was never caught. He was called upon to row onco or twice, but he had always plenty of reserve power to bring up, and he won an unexciting race by_ about two lengths. Clifford's stylo of rowing showed a radical defect, his boat appearing to stop at the commencement of every stroke, and until he overcomes this, it is doubtful if any amount of training will enable him to hold his own against either Beach or Hanlan.

The Use of Stimulants.

Stimulants may simply provoke an ex penditure of strength without creating or eliciting a new supply. In this way, and when they so act, they are injurious. When, however, they stir the recuperative faculty to an activity which replaces the energy they consumo, they are not injurious, but on the contrary, useful, inasmuch as it in better that the organism as a whole, and every part of it, should act, than that it should bo inactive All living matter feeds in proportion as it works, and only as it feeds and works can it be healthy. Now let me endeavour to set down a few maxims which will, on consideration, be found to grow out of what wo have thus briefly reviewed. 1. Never take stimulants in moments of extreme exhaustion. That is precisely the timo and state when there is especial peril of discharging tho last remains of energy, and leaving the nervous centres too ex hausted and powerless to recuperate.

2. I(evcr take more of a stimulant than will suffice to stir the energies gently. If you want to incite a horso to action, you must not whip him more than will suffice to rouae him. If more than this be dono, strength will be exhausted by irritation.

3. Never forget that stimulants are excitants, and only when they excite to recuperation— i.e., to the formation of new reserves of strength—as well as to the con sumption of the strength in hand, can they be useful or even safe.1

4. Never persist in the use of stimulants for the alleviation of feeling of mental or muscular weakness or weariness, if the relief abtained is followed by "depression of spirits," "coldness of the feet," or "pro stration," either of mind or body ; because when these consequence ensue after a temporary revival of tone and power, it is manifest that the recuperative faculty in either not properly stimulated or is itself exhausted, and harm instead of good is being done by the stimulation. — J. Mortimer Granville, in " Good Words " for January,

THE GARDEN.

[By Hortus.]

Calendar of Operations, March 11.

[Hortus is willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must Kive their full names and addresses, though not for publication.l

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Apples (A.M., AnoklamD.-To preserve apples fresh they should bo kept in a cool, dark place and surrounded by a moderately humid atwoß phoro. and f roo from atmospheric currents and bad smells. The cool temperature, exclusion of liifht. humid nlniosphoru, and freedom from curronts of air, provonts them throwing oil much o£ their moisture, while the absence or bad smells, such as may ariso from the Di-osonce of potatoes, cabbages, turnips, and other vegotableshavingßtrong pungent odours, tho soap tub, kraut barrel or coal-oil can, prevents that unpalatable, unwholesome flavour which is often met with in eating stored appleu. Height ok Trees (Bushman).—To ascertain the height of a standing tree make two linea on the ground exactly 3 foet apart. On one of tho lines drive a stake in the ground so that the top of the stake will be exactly 3 feet Irani the ground; then when tho shadow of the stake will lmve reached tho other line the shadow cast by the tree will bo precisely tho length of the height of the tree, and by measuring the length of the shudow at that moment of oourao you will Obtain tho oxuot height of the treo. roiiAC-co Cur/runE (I Country Subscriber). - 1 have had no experience myself in the growing or cinlng of tobacco for market, but 1 thoroughly believe that when our country Bottlers got a thorough knowledge of how to cure the leaf it will pay handsome profits to the growers. Tobacco likes a deep, rich, well - cultivated soil, the richer the better will tho crop be. But I know that howevor fine tho crop t>e, it is oaslly spoiled in tho curing. The different tobacco companies In Auckland have expe rienced cultivators in their employ to go round amonKst growers and give them instructions not only in growing but in curing as well. If our correspondent would communicate with these companies, I have not tho slightest doubt thoy will bo happy to supply all tho informa tion in thoir power. Pkab Treks (T.G.) - The leaves ot your pear trees have been stripped off by a small leech. ar»d from that eaußa the Bap ia forcing out the flowor buds. There is only one -way to stop this—by root pruning the trees at once, so as to check tho upward flow olsap. If your pear trooa aro allowed to flower now, it is im possible to expect a good crop of fruit next Beason. Dig a tronch all round tho tree, keep ing about threo to four feet from the tree. Try also to undermine the tree, putting back the soil orfreßh soil if possible into tho trench; give a good watering. Tho effect of this will be to bWp all upward action of the flap, rather causing a downward flow, thereby makintc your troe ripen on" its wood quicker this season, thus giving a better chance of a good crop of fruit for next season. Pear Trees (Subscriber).-Yes. you are quite right; they can be lifted and removed now, but it must be done with great care. Lift with a largo ball of earth, and transplant to the now position, taking care not to break or in jure the ball in transit. When the tree is put into ita new position, put only new, food son round. Rotted turf soil is the best. After planting, thoroughly saturate all round the Saw planted tree with water. The tree is sure to lose its leaves early in tho autumn. I would only recommend the transplanting ot pears and plums at thia season, where they are situated in a position so that they have to civo place to other improvements. Iheena of April is a, better time. Apples it would not bo safe to touch till the end of May or begin ning of June. Laying out a New Garden (Amateur).-Tbis is a question that I conld not answer to you In a letter. Ido not know tho situation of the ground to be laid out, neither do I know your soils and requirements, and without knowing something of the abovo. anything I could say could only be the merest guessworK. I would advise you to obtain Bomo gardener with a knowledge of how to lay out new ground. Consult with him as to what you would like to grow, and some of the gonoral requirements you would wish, and I have not the slightest doubt but ho will be able to give you a. plan that would be saticfactory. I would like to como and see your place myself, as you pro poso, but that would be impossible, as my time la too fully occupied.

Horticultural Society.

The Auckland Gardeners' Horticultural Society hold their annual show on Friday and Saturday of next weok. The Com mittee and gardeners have been straining every norvo to make this the most sue] ccssful show that has ever been held under their auspices. The season up till now has boon good for bringing to perfection most of tho varieties of fruit. Apples, poars, &c, will bo well represented by the difToront orclmrdists. Grapos will also be in splendid condition, and somo first-class collections are exported from tho numerous noted growers around Auckland. The lato moist woather is expected to bring together a bottor soloction of autumn fiowors than is usual. Vegotables, it is said, will also bo woll represented, especially pumpkins, marrows, gourds, etc., not for getting tho splendid collection or collec tions of potatoes which are going to com pete for "Brett's Colonist's Guide." It is hinted that tho big collection at Romuera will not como to the soratch, giving a bettor chance for the smaller collections. Our bee friends are also coming out strong, as far as boos in hive and the different boe appliances are concerned ; their equal will never have been exhibited before in Auckland, if,_ as hinted, ono bee-keeper alone is going to exhibit two tons of heney. Up to the present every indication is given that the Horticultural Show next week, both in fine specimens and beekeepers' skill, will be the finest that has over been held in Auckland. The Committee will place everything on the tables in first-class order, there is not the slightest doubt, but it is not that alone which makes an exhibition of this class a success ; it is the public by their presence in numbers, Bhowing that they appreciate horticultural work. This appreciation will cause the Committee to put forth further energies so as to get up a better exhibition for next season.

A New Potato.

The Earl of Cathcart and Arthur W, Sutton, of Reading, England, have been en gaged during the past season in attempt ing, by cross fertilisation with distinct and hitherto uncultivated species of solanum, to infuse fresh blood into the solanum tuberosum, the species to which all varieties at present in cultivation belong. Lord Cathcart produced the now species, and Mr Sutton conducted the experiments. The species obtained were the solanum maglia, discovered by Darwin in the Chonos archipelago, and the eolanum Jem oeii. Tubers of these new varieties have been produced in "England.and seed obtained by artificial fertilisation with the blossoms of the common potato, which will be planted next season. Hope is entertained that a new hybrid potato will be obtained that will not be subject to the infectious rot that has in this country, in some districts, made such terrible ravages, and which in Ireland in some seasons has destroyed almost the entire crop. It is also hoped that the in fusion of new blood into the potato will make it more hardy and productive in most parts of the world, and that it will effec tually arrest that gradual degeneration of the tuberosum which has been going on for the last century.

There nay be some foundation for the latter hope, for, owing to the native home of the common potato (now in use) being high hill sides, where the air and soil are light and dry, it is highly probable that the principal cause of this degeneration in it ib due to inefficiency of acclimatisation, and that the infusion into the solanum tube rosum of the blood of the species solatium maglia, a native of low marshy soil, will cause the common potato to be better if not perfectly adopted to the lowlands of the valleys

Orchard. Those who contemplate the planting out of new or extending old.orchards should now bo thinking about getting the ground ready for the young treos. If the ground is wet, it should be drained at once three foot deep. Ordinary fruit will never succeed in giving good fcrops in wet or sour land; therefore the first consideration attached to the planting of an orchard should bo the thorough draining of wet soils, or soils with a hard bottom, which will not let water pass easily through them. Some soils, such aB light sandy or volcanic soil, do not require drainage at ally After the drainage is completed the thorough working of the f round should take place. It phould now c sub-ploughed. This consists in one plough following in tho bottom of the fur row produced by the plough that preceded it. It is imperative that both ploughs should be made to turn or loosen the soil as deep as possible. Therefore it would bo advisable to put three horses in each plough so as to obtain as great a depth as possible. I know that some people object to working soils at this period of the year, and these ob jections are simply that thegroundistoohard and the labour; too severe, and that the soil only turns up like large boulders. Such I am aware is the fact, but the extra labour is returned fourfold. By thus turning up the soil in a rough state to the action of the sun and air, a mucli larger surface is exposed to those atmospheric influences | which are the life of all soils in hot climates. The bouldetrs or hard lumps of soils when thus exposed for some time to these in- Suences will break down into an almost ne powder, especially after they get heavy rain. Therefore, if the ground is laboured now, it will not be wanted fcr planting till June, thus giving about two months to atmospheric action. Then about the beginning of May it should receive another surface ploughing and a, harrowing, thus turning up another surface

to tho action of the sun. A »«vT^ TT} Pjou§hine> the holes fo r ??*«>!. diameter of from three to four W «! inches deep, leaving the soil t.w' **« 18 tho holein a heap. This Touj&t * a few^eeks to sweeten b^*fot planting. If all thisis. ■ H% done, it will produce a soil ! n <-upr?Pe rty pulverised ana sweetened state i»' trees in. Every year now in Nb» 7 there are a number of ttea «i *N rough, broken ground, in whicH I?. 00 possibe to plough or dig the eroL itn tho only way ib to dig holes In, *' ** If these holes for the treTwe' %**.' and the soil stacked, it would u g nWr better for the trees. Holes in 80c l *«* tions should never be less than k t ?* diameter, and at the lowest sioV n i ♦!*{ k a small trench should be 1"? *>> ' each so as to take all Jr? h water away from the bottom T. ■*** hole. These little trenchw \ "v** filled up. when planting thSee > onco being taken out and filled in ■ will never consolidate sufficiently to ,S> too much water. Between the wrtT thero will always bo au outlet for tt tu* Huous water which may get into th ß h£" In concluding this short paper IT remind orchardists that if a mote ft *°* system of drainage and pulverising 0 ,? soil was undertaken before nlan« n ■' fruit trees, as well as the afteS g success in tho cultivation of fmitwoSl! much more marked than it is at present

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

(Bt Eotebje.)

It ia now stated that it is Martina, w Leonora, Simonsen, who is dead.

Miss Ellen Terry, the great Hota' actress, uses all her spare momenta in X lemons to reduce her flesh. ;!?•;

Mrs Polk recently, at Troy. Ujlu States, slipped on the ice and broklW arm. V;

Russian books are said to have beenW fashionable this year in Paris among bn2 of Christmas literature. Tranßlatoratn! been kept very busy. [■ ~' It is said that Mr Lowe, corresponckM the "Times" at Berlin, tsenga^ writing a biography of Prince hwL£ which will appear in the spring. I|| Tho Villon Society's literal edftonii "The Arabian Nights," the 600 coWl which were sold a year or two agoforZgf $47 each, cannot be had now for taffi §125 a copy. y.J3, Mr Fred Marshall, the clever conW whose inimitable performances irSl. comedy still live in popular rememtriS has again relapsed into a condition olmU which renders his complete reMvemlnut out of the question. i. :

A new patriotic song, " Australiantit Front," composed by Mr Charlei Huma. bein to words by Mr Leopold Jordm. {• being sung nightly in Sydney \rithmtt success by Mr Charles Harding. Beit is said to be martial and taking. Mr Ktlrfj Aston also sings it nightly at the dmSjj. aHces of Dunning'a Opera Company, William Barry, a young Irishman. »M went to London to make his fortune tlivtt twenty yearß ago, is said to be the hen«( Mr Black's story, " Shandon Bells," it solitary book was a volume of sketches» titled " Moorland and Stream," in whiohtht young author gave brilliant promise, wlidi was blighted by his early death, pp In Melbourne " Confusion " has run b successful course of three month at % Bijou, and the Company have goMli Sydney. At the Royal the pantonaneil, "Cinderella" continues to delight tan' audiences, and at the Opera Home it George Rignold is appearing with mm in " My Partner." Mr Gladstone has recommended apub of £70 per annum out of the Civil Hit b Miss Emma Brown, Bister of the late it Rnwdon Brown, the editor of the " Vemttu Calendar of State Papers" and otherli torical works; also a pension of £80 [ran the same source to Miss Charlotte MM' Caroline Rnoburn, grand-daughters o! tJa portrait painter, Sir Henry Raaburn,Ri The last performance of (he paotomum nttho Theatre Royal, Sydney, wnghia on February Gth. On the following maing " Nita's First," a three-act farcical Kpjy, which has had a prosperous run in ImJon; and which is now being succossfo^rpSi/ed in the English provinces and. Atias^ i»: produoed, tho leading chaicftrt'Mjf'" taken by Miss Annie Taylor^Bii Jew Watt-Tanner, and Messrs 6. S.lWjfc ; H, Flemming and H. H. Vincent Mr Dolby in his book declares taKki ens cleared out of his reading tie .cogi table fortune of §225,000. Of tbeeffedtof' those readings upon Dickens's mind ul body, his old agent soys:—"Theaifitirf state of Mr Dickens' pulse iras 71 "'D»m Copperfield' brought it up to 96; 'Dri MisV gold,' 99 ; the first night of the'Mm^ (during the last reading) it was 118, wdttt' second 118; ' Nicholas N iekleby' tagtt it up to 112, and ' Dombey' to IU,; oi# occasion it rose to 124." The Auckland Choral Society, in pointd musical strength of performing mealwv. would appear to be quite equal .toW Sydney Musical Union. The Ilfef WJ has just given a concert in colebraUcms the 200 th anniversary of HandelVkiv 2,000 persons were present, andflMJTOJji selected for the occasion was the "Mewft-; The leading vocalists were Mi« Moon* P Marie St. Clair, Mr William Smith, vAV Hallewell. The chorus numbewdsf sopranos, 26 altos, 20 tenors, and 40 Wj, Herr Josef Kretschman was the Mndjffl* An idea of starting a .daily iHiutiJW; paper in Paris is now being mootedby W» influential leading literary lighten W capital. Twenty-five thousand pom* » required to start the paper, but »Wg ; started every annual subscriber *"lt W gratis once a week a paper which pinp* to keep abreast of passing ewntsbyißWj of pictures drawn expressly for it by'•»■: of great talent and experience f thitW-RB pages of a new novel, also Ulustrateo, M coloured fashon-platea are to be gi«»W and then. Except Sunday, this wondatf combination will appear everyday. y#« Mr St. Lawrence, the weU-knora-Jl*,; premier, who was most recently here w MrsG. B. W.Lewis's Company, hM» struck oil in a far more prosaic rawl has opened up a kind of literary *na»» Queen-street, whither the public fo*j hundreds, attracted partly by the ■» discoursed upon a piano by a UWB perched upon a lofty diiiß, ondJF^jS the show of books and papers. ™WW; prising proprietDr has also Pa' cll*?K 1 advertising purposes, the btak W'J'k": of the Waverley Hotel. Hesayethatbiv^ acquired a little money after 16 yeW «": study as an actor, he feels the m»1<" rest. I wish him the good luck M*f 86 Anna Katherine Green, fojjt novelist, was recently married to WJ^j Rohlfs, at Brooklyn, the ceie^m?**"* ing a large concourse of lite»»y Wieoro* Miss Green is best knowaas tiieOTW "The Leavenworth Case," other works, "The Sword pfDaßWft " A Strange Disappearance, »*SE. a large sale, and won universal «BU»^ Her ta,lent is of a peculiar and '"""Ej kind. Marvellous in the constructoon«* plots, she has gained a reputationwj; ing Wilkie Collins'a in that, departW^ fiction. She was educated a^M College, atPoultney, Vermount, *eoem|. her graduation i* 1866, the The Vienna correspondent of tne_^ News" says that the Vie»MSkatfogV» ; has just had a great s^Bß* ™|f^ t 3' ball held on the 3oe by the li^«*H electric arc lamps, and before a».»TC; numbering o*er a thousand ™™r£ enclosure and several thous»«B WE iTho ice was thronged with nUV*™^ of all kinds, some of themF»~ of rank and distinction. AbouM, hundred first-class skaters P 9"!^ a pantomime, tho scenes tor were formed by grottoes or w r> i plants embellished with colossaljfTg frozen spray. A score of lady"^; personified nymphs and godd/^jp" gorgeous procession, about aaa* .^ ilenfth, of cars, like those <*?*£&• carnivals, representing the other subjects, concluded w*fTj«jipi Theatrical entertainments of »"%*» tions are seemingly at low-watery now in America. M* H. E. w3j»! actor well knownon thoAustralian^^. recent letter referring to his aPPJr.Tjjf; pearanpa a* the Grand Opera flou™ ( j v, York, in "His Last Legs, WLW last look forward to success, *«"Aft, \ reason that success seems to^hare^ p. : part of the world." Mr WaltonJ^ ' " nearly 100 of the regular M*f l?L,* collapsed." Even in New Yprfc, *#; wrote, there were only «**,!«* theatres in full operation, »D"^*: struggling under difficulties. "Si tf# was in the country with a Ml^m. aho had previously tried ™* Stf^ results in Slew York. Hew Bjjjjjf - his pupil, Miss Beaudet, .**»*& Shakespeare in the 10 cents. n ">£UV known aa "Dime Museums. **ior been playing to empty no««»' B" to one-third of hu usual receipt*.

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAK. SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1885

4



CAUTION. Some unscrupulous firms are trying to force on the Nkw Zealand people a Nostrum, under the cloak that it is made in tho United States, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. Under this protenoe they are trying to deceive the Publlo and Incautious Purchasers Into the belief that they are the Genuine AMERICAN HOP BITTERS. Wo wish to warn all honest and unsuspecting people against this Deception, and to call the attention once more to the facts that the Genuine Amorloan Co.'a HOP BITTERS Are put up in Square, Panelled, Amber-coloured Bottles, with White Label on one side, printed in Black Letters, and Greon Hop Cluster; and, on tho othor side, Yellow Label, with Directions in Red Letters, in English and German, and the name of "Dr. Soule" blown in every Bottle. This is the only form in which GENUINE AMERICAN HOP BITTERS are put up. FLIES AND BUGS, lwllwlnMOt;. rOKh« i ,git.,W buß». ™t«,|mlco. Bophora. chlptnunlu, cU»/»d out by Bough on E*"-" k Kemplhonn, Prosier*'*- *—**-An<*toi