RANDOM SHOTS.

{By Zami__.l

gome write, a neighbours n.-rno to Irish. Sumo write-vain ci-.uu.mt I tor neralful cash, Some write to pl«a3e the country clash, And raise a iliu. Kor trw, an aim I never fash— J write, for tun,

If tho reports circulating in town aro at all - near tho mark, the grand Volunteer on campmont will not shed lustre upon Now , Zealand's citizen soldiery. The discipline, ( It is said, was of tho loosost description. The boozing in camp was flagrant enough, but not satisfied with tho liberal facilities for getting mollow furnished by tho cam]) canteen, a squad canto down on Sunday for a royal eproo in Otahuhu, and tho ovoning was wound up with a grand guzzling match in " honour " of the gentleman who had granted the use of his ground. Those fair-woathor soldiers who engaged city cooks and waitresses from a favourite restaurant to soften tho torriblo hardships of threo days under canvas, and who rigged thorn solves out in hoavy marching costume in ordor to bo comfortably carried by train tho thirteen miles which lio between the city and tho camping ground, sometimes complain that Yolunteora are not treated with tho respect they aro entitled to They need hardly be surprised, howover, if amateur soldiering bocomes contemptible when it burlesques so flagrantly tho stern realities of a soldier's duty and tho hard ships of a campaign.

Good Father Walter Macdonald (moy his shadow nover grow leas) found himself in what, for a clergyman of ascetic habits, must have been an unenviable position on Sunday evening. Be it known that his "riverince" had gone to tho Volunteer camp at Papatoitoi for tho purpose of ministering to tho spiritual welfare of thoso members of his flock whose martial instincts had taken them "off to tho wars," and ho had beon invited to the officers' mess in the evening. Matters procoeded vory soberly for some timo, and from the excellence of the good father's digestion it was apparent that he had no qualms of conscience about attending a banquet on Eastor Sunday. Presently, however, tho wine _ began to circulate, and, when with "the kind per mission of tho Chairman," a toast was honoured with a hearty three times three. Father Walter looked just a trifle shocked, but when the company proceeded a little later on to sing " He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in about fourteen different keys —which, by the way, was taken up by tho men in the canteen opposite—ho looked tho picture of abject misery.

Professor Rico is here, and Professor Baldwin ib coming, so that, not to speak of Mr Gerald Massey at all, there i 3 sufficient excuso for a cursory scribbler like " Zamiel" penning a fow thoughts on tho subject of thought-reading and allied sciences, arts, or inventions. With all my strong bias to a common-senso viow of things, I must con fess myself rather in a quandary on this <1 lestion, having a strong inclination to b-lieve in tho gonuinenessof the phenomena, yet being conscious that a confession of tilth in that direction may prove fatal to my reputation for level-headedDOSs. Aftor tho confession of Mr Stuart Cumberland, ono of tho cleverest of thought-readers, that his fonts wero accomplished solely by means of " muscle-reading," and aftor Mr Labouchciro's frequent challenges in the columns of "Truth," one might well feel suspicious of the wholo crowd of pro fessors of tho occult art and sceptical as to their powers. Still, it must bo remembered that the exposure of a thousand counterfeits by no means proves the non existence of the genuine articlo; the pro sumption, on the contrary, is that there ia really something to bo counterfeited. So I incline to the belief that there is a true power or gift of mind-reading, which can readily be imitated by jugglers. This "leaning" of mine has been greatly strengthened Bince seeing Professor Rice's experiments, and, curiously enough, his failures constitute the strongest evidence of the genuineness of his powers. A conjuror never fails to carry out his trickery and complete tho bewilderment of onlookers, and if this thought-reading were merely a clever conjuring trick, failures would never occur. But if it be a genuine exhibition of thought-reading, then the factors are two human minds with their varying powers, moods, and conditions, and occasional failure would not only be explicable, but would be the very thing which one would expect to happen.

When a man is able to name the article of which you are thinking, but confesses him self unablo to find where you have hidden it no theory of "muscle-reading" can explain how he does one thing and fails to do the other. Mr Stuart Cumberland could net tell tho articlo thought of, but could only lead the subject to it, and thereforo muscular indications were doubtless all that he relied on ; but Professor Rice's power is of a totally different stamp, and goes far to prove the existence of a power of thought transference. I am sorry to find that my brother scribbler, "Civis," takes a very stunted view of this subject. _ Apropos of Professor Baldwin's exhibition he says —"The thought-reador is blindfolded, and grasps the other by the hand. Thus finked together the pair go in search of the hidden article, which ia perhaps a D in The query naturally suggested to a sceptic is this: Is the 'thought reader,' (ruided by the mental photograph (?) or by physical indications afforded unconsciously by his too probably nervous and excited companion ? Is the case one of brain waves or of muscle waves? The answer is obvious. But thia trick is so clever and bo eood compared with the very lame machinery by which other aßtonißhing clair vdvant (?) feats are performed that it seems a pity we are not allowed to judge it upon its own merits, stripped of the misleading iareon that at present surrounds it._ There ia such a thing as straightforward trickery." Yes "Civis;" and there are also Buch things as straightforward ignorance and too hasty judgment on insufficient data. When you meet with a true possessor of the gift, who tells you what coins you have in your pocket, and the date upon them, you will be in a position, perhaps, to givo an opinion whether it is done by gueßS-work,_ by "hanky-panky," or by the more rational though much-scouted process of irnnd reading."

Clairvoyance ia quite another and much more mysterious affair, regarding which I am profoundly sceptical. It trenches closely on the domain of Spiritualism, for a creat many " mediums "are professed clair voyants. It has been tried by tho monoy test, and found wanting, for no clairvoyant has been able to earn a £500 noto offered on the sole condition that its number should be read correctly while the note was securely locked in a casket. Whatever well-attested cases of so-called clairvoyance are met with, I make bold to affirm it would bo found on examination that they wore caseaof thought-reading-tho matters described beine known to one or moro of the persons present. However, on the deep things of gpiritualiam I hope to have more light after Mr Gerald Massey has -Waited this city.

A "striking instance illustrative of the old saving that " possession is nine-points of the law" came under my notice very recently. A person, whom I wish to be recognised as Brown, was once upon o^timo so hard up in Auckland that ho could not pay his board and lodging, and he required £1 to mako up passage money to take him up country to his wife and family. In his distress he called upon a friend of mine, Shorn I am sorry to call Smith (because he misht not like such a common name), and the result was that the " needful" was soon obtainable, and Brown departed from the fair oity. He went away expressing deep eratitude lor my friend's kindness, but yet to allowed nine months to pass without the slightest attempt to discharge his indebted ness It *ras thus that affairs stood between Mi.sars Brown and Smith when Smith eßpi'd Brown in a Queen-afreet auction room amongst a crowd of buyers. Brown had iuat paid for a watch and chain and locket irom a large roll of bank notes when Smith came up to him. Smith knew his man better this time, and like little Buttercup in "Pinafore," he was much inclined to diasemble, and he acted accord taelv Putting on Ms best Sunday smile, he greeted **Bw>wn in a friendly manner, and

asked to aeo hia purchases. Tho latter never suspected any trickory, and handod the articles over, whon Smith, in his coolest possiblo manner, popped tho lot into his pocket, remarking, " Well, old man, you can havo theso back whon you pay mo tho money you borrowed nino months ago." Brown threatened to tako thorn back, but on boing politely invited to "try it on " bo evidently thought discretion the bettor part of valour and declined. By this timo tho business of tho auctioneer had beon interrupted for the prospect of a light, and tho affair looked rather interesting when Brown, finding ho had fow sym pathisers, mado off without his jewellery, with tho avowed intention of informing tho police that ho had been robbed. But so far us my lriond is con cor nod, tho fellow has givon no further trouble and Smith retains the jewellery in lieu of his monoy.

A chargo of attempted murder is not a pleasant thing to havo hanging ovor ono's hoad, and tlio man Holland, who was at first supposed to havo tried to murder Mrs ■ ilson in Nolson-stroot, must, fool relieved at being exonerated of ovon the intention to kill. Holland, as his name would soom to imply, is a believer in "Dutch courage," and as ho had got an extra cargo of that commodity on board whon arrested, advantage was takon of that fact, to sond him up for threo months for drunkenness. Ho may thank his stars that ho has got oil' so lightly, for had Mis Olson died after hor first deposition, ho would now havo boon on his trial for murder, with tho strongest circumstantial evidence against him. I will not pauso to extract the various moral lessons which might be drawn from tho incident, but will point out a fow humorous verbal coincidences. Theso all bingo round a word of three letters —JUG—and from this an offoctivo teetotal diseoursomightbopreached. Observofirstly that both Holland and tho woman wero rather fond of tho ale jug ; secondly, notice that whilo undor tho inlluonco of that jug, Mrs Olson fell on a broken jug which nearly severed hor jugular vein (the speaker could here launch out in quite a jocular vein) ; thirdly, remark that Holland lias, in consequence, got lodged in the " stono jug " for throo months ; and then by a little /«</ ---clory in tho " application " theorater could work in a reference to " the monarch Jug urtha the splendid," and to the hideous des troying car of </»;/-gornaut. (Tho latter ia oasy. Say tho toper is determined to have his jug or naught, liko tho Hindoo fanatics, and is equally certain to be crushed benoath its whoels. It is not quire so clear where the wheels of the jug como in, unless the "Black Maria" could somehow bo inter wovon : but a stump orator is not expected to bo absolutely correct in his metaphors). Theso hints I commend to thoso exponents of temporance who, judging (no I didn't say y'i((/ging) from thoir speeches, aro sadly in want of a fresh test.

" Thoy were fools to believe mo !" says tho Maori prophetess, Maria Pungaro, re ferring to tho poor deluded people who have beon showering their wealth upon her in tho beliof that tho end of tho world was at hand. This is another testimony to the truth of Carlylo's remark that mankind are " mostly fools." Thoro is no need to marvel at the guilelessness of tho Maoris in taking tho ravings of a crazy young woman as in spired utterances, for ovon in modern days the pakeha cannot boast of boing proof against similardelusions. Passing ovorthoso benighted whito folks who saw "Jesus up a gum-tree" in Albortland quito recontly, look at the thousands who acknowledge tho direct inspiration of Joseph Smith, tho Mormon " prophet." It was only last century that crowds of sober English pooplc believed tho pretensions ot Johanna Southcoto, a religious fanatic who professed to havo re ceived a revelation that sho should bo the favoured mother of the Saviour at His second coming. The date was announced with exactness, but though the infatuated woman continued to bolster up tho faith of her followers by bolstering up hor own per son, tho fraud was exposed, and Johanna retired into obscurity. Yot (will it be believed ?) at the last census taken in Eng land there were several persons who re turned themselves undor the headitig of religious beliof as "followers of Johanna Southcote !" We may yet live to see Maria Pungare canonised as a saint.

The valourous personage who conceived the project of forming a local Garrison Artillery Corps, and who took the troublo to issue printed circulars in furtherance of it, has manifested a spirit of ridiculous snob bory which will go far to defeat his sehemo, besides {earning for him tho superlative distinction of a cad. Thoso who wero favoured with v

communication from him were assured that the proposed corps would consist of gentle men only, and considerable mystification prevaih in consequence. The term "gentleman" is of such elastic properties in the colonies that thero is no knowing to what limit it may be stretched or to what application it may bo strained. Gentility and manliness are more often found apart than associated together, and very few common-sense people would hesitate to say which quality is the better test for admission to a quasi-military lorce. But it is in the covert use of the phrase '•for gentlemen only" in the sense that this corps tfelite is to stand upon a higher social plane than our other volun teer companies that this objectionable snobbery finds its most forcible expres sion. If the young bloods of tho placo require euch a convenient vehicle for posing before the country in warlike array, let thorn by all means determine at once what aro the qualifications for recognition as a gentleman, and then apply the test to tho initiator of the scheme. His pretensions to the title are, to say the least, "vory sus picious."

Sea-bathing indulged in occasionally, and with becoming modesty, is not only com mendable, but delightful and refreshing. It has become quite a favourite exercise with persons of both sexes. The recent Shelly Beach disclosures, however, are re volting to decency, and show that it is timo the police stepped in and stopped shameless dabbling in water by boys and girls, to tho annoyanco of decent people. The habits of people are wonderfully changed in somo respects from those of past ages, and especially with regard to bathing, although the old people were equally as bravo, and perhaps more so, than Aucklanders of to day. In olden times an immersion in tho salt waters of the sea was viewed with dread, and was generally compulsory. A horror of the sea was, in modia;val times, well-nigh universal; ablutions of a public character were dispensed with, and the compulsory dip was a sentenco on light offenders, received with more dread than threo months imprisonment at Mount Eden by persons of loose morals in this shining city. It was a French poet of the 16th century, Pierre lo Rousard, who first sang the praises of tho ocean and its hoaling and health-giving waters, without dream ing that bathing would bocome a popular exorcise, tho attraction of the many, and tho sea tho foromost sanitary agont in tho world. Still it is necessary in all instances to listen to the poetic axiom, and loam from Roscommon that

" Immodest scenes admit of no defenoe, For want otdooency is want of sense."

A sore struggle between duty and in clination was witnessed at the City Coun cil meeting last week, and for the honour and glory of the civic fathers be it recorded that duty completely triumphed. The moral conflict arose after thia wise: Some time ago a petition was received from v cousidorable number of "mothers of families," resident in Freeman's Bay, call ing attention to the need of a better sys tem of drainage in that odoriferous region. It was at once proposed to refer the matter to the weighty consideration of the Streets Committee. Cr. Burns, a punctilious stickler for observance of rule, form, und etiquette, waa at onco confronted with tho objection that, aa "mothers of families " woro hardly likely to bo ratepayers, tho petition could not legally be received. With native gallantry, however, he forbore to raise thepointandthereferenee was made. At the meeting in question the Committee reported upon the petition, and then, feel ing conscious that he could no longer allow his regard for the ladies to paralyse his sense of right, he painfully tottered to his feet, and with ashen cheek and in trembling accents stated the knotty problem to his brethren of the Council. The Councillors ! were dumbfounded, but the Mayor rose equal to the occasion. He said that as a man and hia wife were one, the tern* "ratepayer" would apply to both.

, however, went further, and

as<f the Council's rignt to receive peti *.s from anyone. After this eclair c.r.'c 'U Cr. Burns became reassured, and

.*.t aethers of families" have the satis faction of knowing that approaching the

Council on tho subject of drainago thoy acted qttito within thoir rights, although thoir prayor has not beon acceded to.

Quito a romantic story of a clandestine marriage reaches mo from the Thames. Tho bridegroom is far advanced in tho sore and yollow loaf stage of his existence, and it was probably this reason which induced the bride's parents to oppose tho match. But hor lovo was proof against tho parental precautions. Sho, it should be explained, is a teacher in one of tho schools of Quartz opolis, and taking advantago of the dinner recess several days ago, sho quietly wultzcu oil' with her elderly lover, and was united to him in tho holy bonds of matrimony. Returning to school as soon as tho cere mony was completed, sho wrote on tho blackboard for tho information of tho pupils. "I am no longer Miss C k: lam Mrs C— y now." Thoro is something quite romantic in all this, and 1 would recommend the idea to my unmarried young lady friends, who are accustomed to devote their tiir.o to tho delightful task of " teaching the young idea how to .-hoot." If their parents object to their love matches, thoy have an oxcolkm' example before them of how the business can be settled.

BRITAIN'S WARSHIPS.

A List of Old England's Floating Peace makers.

Look now at " •••'- tonstors—tho admitted effectives. Of i,**- l-horo nro .iow the In flexible —boliovcd to be a match for any thing afloat—of ll.SHil tons displacement, having twenty-four inches of iron armour, on a solid backing of twenty-four inches of teak, of 8,010 horse-power, and with four SO-ton guns in hor two turrets; a vessel whose ability to battor down fortifications Alexandria's ruined battorios bear witness ; tho Droadnaught, which haa just rolioveil hor in tho Mediterranean, with four 38-ton guns in hor two turrets, and with lighter armour of only fourteen inches ; tho Thun derer, Neptuno, Colossus, Edinburgh, Agamemnon, Ajax, and Monarch, all two turret ship? of varying typos, tho Thunderer having two 38-ton and two 35 ton guns : the othors varying from four 43-ton broech loadors and two 6-inch guvs to 3S-ton and 12-ton guns : whilo tho Monarch, known to Portland. Me., folks, as having brought, over tho body of George Penbody to that harbour, has four 25-ton guns in hor two turrets, two 12-ton guns and ono BJ-ton —all muzzle-loaders, ami thereforo not con sidered of tho boat kind, but also powerful at Alexandria.

Named after tlio famous British Admirals are tho now barbotto ships, tho Anson, Ben bow, Camperdown, Howe, Rodney,and Col lingwood, of about ten thousand tons each. Tho first four aro yet on tho stocks. The Benbow will carry two 110-ton breech loaders, pretty littlo barkors, with a playful projectile of 2,500 pounds weight or more, calculated to knock out ovon John L. Sulli van himself —if within a raugoof nine miles. Tho othor Admirals havo four 63-ton guns and smaller pets of six inches boro ; whilo the Tomerairo, Itnporieuso, and Wnrspitc — smaller vessols of the samo class—aro con tont with 25 and IS-ton cannon. Five tur ret rams, ono of which is tho Now Hero, yet on tho stocks, are also included in tho list.

Thon tho central battery fleet— fino ves sels, all of which havo boon successful — must bo rockonod. Thero aro elovon of theso ships, from the Alexandra of '.1,100 tons, with two 25 and ton IS-ton cannon, and with twelve inchos of armour as her maximum,to the Orion of 4,870,'t0us displace ment, which, like the Bolloislo, its sister Bhip, yet contrives to carry twolvc inches of iron armour and four'2s-ton guns. Of this class of ships the Swiftsuro, Triumph, Auda cious, Invincible and Iron Duko arc almost alike, about G,OOO tons.drawing twenty feot of wator, with eight inches of iron armour, and carrying each ten 12-toi muzzlo loaders. Threo armoured cruisers, tho Nolson, on tho Australian station, tho Northampton, flag ship in tho North Amorican fleet, recently at Newport, and the Shannon, havo 12 and 18-ton guns. For coast dofonce thoro nro five good tur ret ships. Tho Glatton. a ram, has nineteen inches of armourdofendingher turret, which has a 25-ton gun, and) the Cyclops, Gorgon, Hecate and Hydra of two turrets each, eight and ten inchos of iron armour, anil wilh lb'-ton guns. Tho turroted ships Magdala and Abysinnia aro in Bombay harbour, and tho Cerberus, already mentioned, at Mel bourne. Then thoro aro eighteen unar mourod vessols.soven of which arc fast cruis ers, building in tho royal dock-yards, and four first-ciaas ironclads are, by a recent voto, to bo added to the list. Theso will carry 110-ton guns, and will bo designed to tako tho first rank.—"-Boston Globe."

He Tried the Wrong Man.

A tall, red-haired young man with an in nocent faco and a black nocktio sat alone in a car-seat on ono of tho swift-flying trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad bound for Washington. Ho had just begun to road a copy of tho " Christian Advocate " whon a bonovolont-lookingroiddlo-ogod m.m onterod and sat down bosido him. For on hour tho young man road his papor and tho old man watched the telegraph poles go by. Becom ing tired of this amusomont, tho stranger fished a half-dozon little pill-boxos out of a doop pockot in his ovorcoat and placed thorn in his lap. Tho young man put away his paper and oyed his neigbour, who, pullintr out a roll of bills from his vest pocket, se lected a noto and placed it in ono of tho pill-boxes. " Do you suppose you could soloct tho box containing the bill?" ho askod of tho young man with a smilo, and a look that seamed to say, " L.t us bo sociable" " Don't think I could," laconically ropliod the latter, pulling his moustache Tho stranger himself picked out tho box, took out tho bill, and put a 10 dollar noto in its place. This timo, however, a cornor of the bill was loft sticking out after tho cover had been put on tho box. " Now do you think you could pick it out ?" he said, showing his teoth.

" Of course I could, man.

" replied tho young

" Well, if you will givo me a dollar I will let you try." " Oh, no, I wouldn't do that. You aro not sharp at all. You've left a corner of that bill sticking out of tho box so any fool could pick it out." " Why, of course," said tho sharper, ap parently confused by the discovory. "How could I mako such a blunder?" Thoroupon ho took out tho 10 dollar bill and put in its place a bright new 20 dollar noto. The cornor of tho bill* stuck out as boforo, but tho man pretended not In notieo it. "Now will you try it?" bo continued, aftor wiping hiß forehead with a rod hand kerchief " Givo me a dollar and tako your pick, You've got n ohanco lo mako 19 dollars in clean money."

Tho young man's faco did not show the loast animation at tho declaration. If there was the beginning of a smilo hiddon under his moustache, it did not reveal itself when he answered :

1' You are a strangor to me. I don't want to take 19 dollars out of you ; it wouldn t bo gentlemanly in mo to do so. If we wero old friends the caso would bo different. But I aeo plainly you are not used to the wicked waya of the world. You are not sharp. You have left tho cornor of that 2D dollar note sticking out of the cover just as you did the other. You ought to go and work on a farm awhile, you ought." The perspiration poured from the sharp er's forehead. He had caught a Tartar, and had had a hard time of it, too. The red headed young man took the bokes out of his neighbour's hands, and, after returning tho 20 dollar note, said :

" Perhapayou would like to try your hand at picking out the lucky box ? I'll put this 50 dollar bill in this one and a 10 dollar note in thia box. Givo mo 5 dollarß and you shall try your luck."

The man reluctantly paid over tho money, and, after the young man had shaken up tho boxes in his hat, took up one from which the green corner of a note appeared. When he had pulled off the cover he found it con tained only a piece of a revenue stamp. His face fell at the discovery.

" Try it again," said his tormentor. He tried again, but with no better luck. "Takethelot," laughed the young man, pouring them out into his neighbour's lap The swindler opened every box, but nol, a sign of a bill appeared. "Hereare tbe bills, safe in my pocket," said the bright young fellow, producing tho notes from his vest pocket and shaking then* in his neighbour's face.

"Tho next time you want to tryyouv gamo on a stranger don't pick out a man who is in tho same business as yourself. Ta! ta!"

The red-haired youth was an expert confi dence taan from 'Frisco.—"New York Mail and Express,'

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURIS

New Zealand,

t'anihridi.'c J.C. Autumn April 1.1 anil Id Pup ikura Jlcetinur April 23 Auckland Polo ('lull Race Molding April 2*) Wellington K.C. Autumn May land 2 01 ihuhu AuUuim Meeting May 2 Tiiknpunn .!.('. Winter May 21 Auckland R.C. Steeplechase Meeting ...Junoli Australia. A..1.C. Allium:; April fi. S, 10, 11 youth Australian J.O.tat. inomington).. May 2,7, i) Datas of Nominations, Entries and Acceptances. Kntrics Auckland Polo Club Mooting ..April IU NuinimitiuiiM l'apakura Cup, Hurdles, and Railway Handicap April 17 Nominal ions Great, Northern Steeplechase ami Hurdle Uaco May 1

To Correspondents.

X.Y.Z.-Knndwic-k is by Harbanan — Gipsy

' Girl, ami lvalo by Yuttondon-Glpsy Girl. Kinsroi..—li'or.lbain was born in ISIiS, Cannon in 1810, C, Wood in IS.W, ami F. Archer in

Disimi'lk. Grind Duchess won tho l'apakura dip in ISSI, I'aramonn boing ssoond, and King Quail third.

A It. —An American three-ye.ir-old. named Thoru. run three miles in fiinln. 'AVjsec. at Js«r.itoga. on the 27th August, ISSI.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Tiik Auckland Racing Club Autumn

Mootiun must, be pronounced ono of

tho most successful gatherings tho Club have yot. held. Considering tho glorious weather on tlio first day, tho attendance was certainly not what it should havo boen, but this must bo attributed to tho surfeit of racing that has taken placo of late in and about Auckland. On Monday, however, tho assemblage of spectators was quite up to any previous year, and tho sport through out of a far moro interesting and exciting character than tho first, day. Tho mooting will always bo momorablo for two things, and that is tho groat success of Mr J. Marshall's stable and tho enormous dividond of £251 I'ls reaped by tho investors on Kalo in tho Short's Handicap. Whon Mr Mar shall purchased Turquoise, he mado a lucky bargain, for out of tho four times ho has started sinco boing his property, thrice has ho been successful. Tho boh of Tubal Cain; it must, bo admitted, has not, met high-class fields.but tho easy way ho'romped homo under heavy woights in both tho Easter and Autumn Handicaps fully jus tifies tho good things that havo boon said of him. Chaafo deserves tho greatest praise lorthoconditionhohasgot tho horse in sinco being under his charge, but his victories must indeed bo galling to his late owner, Mr Valliinco. Ho never swerved in his allegiance to tho horso, and I think it goes to prove that had ho started for the last Auckland Cup, he must havo simply galloped ovor tho miserable crowd that took part in it. Tho way Nocklaco won her four races also stanrps hor as a first class mare, and 1 think had sho only got away with her field in tho Shorts, sho must have won, despito tho Sst 101b tho handi cappors justly called on her to carry. ■Judging from tho way Thunderbolt shaped it i-i hard to say what tho colt is capable of, and the only unfortunate part of tho pro ceedings was ho had not something worthy to oppose him.

Of tho sires represented at the mooting, Musket, of course, was tho most, successful, Necklace, Thunderbolt, and Revolver placing six out of tho twelve events that wo-o decided to the credit of tho son ol Toxopholite. Tubal Cain had a good repre sentative in Turquoise, who secured two wins for Mr S. Gardiner's dofunct stallion, and Yattondon.Ciladiateur, L'apapa.and Tho Mute claimed ono winner each.

In tho matter of jookoyship, Alick Sutherland mado a great record. Out of tho eight mounts he hid, ho scored seven wins, and although certainly having the best " cattle " under him, be proved by tho judgment ho displayed in riding the various races, that for a good all-round horseman bo requires a lot of rubbiiKj out. Wat.io, Byers, Kidd, Edwards, and thinner scored ono winning mount cc.cb, but strange to say, neither George Williams nor Clifford Kticceeded in getting home on a winner, although both did a lot of rilling at tho mooting. Tbo following amounts passed through the totalisator during the two days :— First, day .-5.577 Second day .1,35!) Total CIU3K

Quito tho talk of the town during tho weok has boon the great dividend of C'Jol Ms tho totalisator paid on Kalo. Mr J. Simu, part-owner of too horso, was ono of thoso who happened to be on the good thing, but unfortunately ho only bad b*ilf a-sharo in conjunction with Mr Harrington, jun. Tho second investor is Mr P. M. Grant, a land a^ent in Quoen-fltroet, and the joint holders of I lie othor tiokot woro Captain McArthur, of tho s.s. Gairloch, tho chief onginoor,and tho mate. Tho dividend is tho largest yet paid in a totalisator on a Now Zoaland racecourse, but it does not como up to tho one paid in Adolnido a couplo of years back, which, if my memory servos mo right, amounted to over I\SOO. Tho Cambridgo Jockoy Club Autumn Mooting takes placo on Wednesday and Thursday noxt. First-class ontrios have boon received for tho different ovonts, and our country frionds should witnoss two days oxcollont flport. A special train loaves Auckland at sovon o'clock on Wednesday morning, and it will roach Cambridgo in time to enablo visitors to witnoss tho firHt raco.

Rubinn's victory in tho Great Autumn Handicap stamps nor as n downright f;ood maro. Sho got ovor tho mile and a-half in tho splondiil timo of "mm. DSJsoe., which is tho fastest rocorded for tho distance in Now Zealand. On tho second day, how ever, in tho Easter Handicap, the Ans tralian-brod daughter of Kitigsborough and Etiquette sufforod dofoat at tho hands of Wapiti, his stablo companion Nolson occupying third placo. Tho Onohunga Racing Club sottling took placo on Tuesday night, tho stakos for tho Racing Club Handicap boing paid ovor te the ownor of Mitraillouso. Tho potition sont to, tho stewards with regard to tho matter has boon entirely ignored, nnd I understand tho bookmakers havo vory pro perly resolved not to pay the official of tho Club who backed tho double—Mignonette and Mitraillouso—unless tho wholo circum stances are put boforo the Auckland Racing Club.

Tho stewards of tho Auckland Racing Club havo allowed tho protest against Director for taking the doublo jump in front of tho grand stand without his ridor. Chandler who ran fourth, thorofore takes the third money.

On Wednosday night, tho Committee of Tattorsall's Club had thoir attention occu pied with tho ro-hearing of the disputed wager of i'2oo botwoen tho local ponriller, Mr J. Gallagher, and Mr F. Dialer. A largo numbor of witnesses woro examined on both sides, but tho Cotiimitloo docitlcil to adhere to their formor ruling, and gavo tho caso against Mr Gallagher.

Normanby, who got homo first in tho Sydnoy Gold Cup on Wednosday, was greatly fancied for tho ovont, and his party ovidontly did not desert him at tho finish, for he left tho paddock at 7 to 1. This is really the first raco that Normanby has placed to his credit. Whon a three-year old, ho ran a doad heat with Ascot for the Dubbo Handicap, and was served up very warm for tho Hawkesbury Autumn Handicap, but as will bo seen from tho details of tho running published elsewhere, he could get no nearer than third. Normanby is the property of Mr W. Kite, and was got by Gemma-di-Vergy from Kitty, by Barbarian from Gipsy Girl (tho dam of Nolo and Randwick).

I hear from several who happened to be at the starting post that a deliberate case of crossing and ovidont attempt to injure Thunderbolt occurred in tho Mares' Pro duce Stakes on Saturday last. Mr Mar shall's crack had the inside running, but before they had gone many yards A. Millar, who was riding Capolla, shot, across him, and despite tho shouts of Sutherland to pull out, ho took no hood. Fearing that Thunderbolt would bo soriously hurt, tho latter, himself, was compelled to givo way. It is indeed a pity that Miller waa not brought before tho stewards, and mado to suffer for his conduct. If lam not mis taken, this is the same young gentloman who '"ide Otara in such a " finished" mo" ' f, the Takapuna Spring Meeting.

M • • ' '->k came out in his true form at the A.J.t; Meeting on Monday last. . The .-■'•. Mit to hand states that he won the •: ' Hakes by a length from a field of ~d got over the 1J mile in the fair •'■■'., of 2min. 21sec. Matchlock is full brother to Mr P. Butler's Fusilier, and claims Papakura as his birthplace, having beon bred there by Mr W. Walters. He was purchased by Mr J. Bennott last year., who in turn disposed of him to the Hon. J. Whito, and it was in tho latter gentleman's " bluo and white banner" that he gained the victory. On Wednosday, Mr VV. A. Long's filly Discord, by Musket—Hannah, ran third in the Sapling Stakes.

Tronton kopt up his reputation aa a lirst clasa colt by placing tho rich Challongo Stakes, run at the Christchurch Meeting on Monday, to tlio credit of Mr D. O'Brien. He al^o .started in tho Croat Autumn Handicap, but his owner having another string to his bow in Rubina, ho preferred winning with her in preference to tho son of Muskot.

Tho committoo of tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club have drawn up tho programme for their Steoploohaso Meeting in Juno. Tho stake for the big event is fixed at -lOOsovs., tho samo aa last year, and tho Ladies' Bracelet haa boon incrcasod to SOsovs., with SOsova. for the second horso. Tlio gentleman who races under tho nnm de course ol Mr Balmuin has christened his

yearling colt by Musket from Bosotto, M usk Roso.

Tho Robinson stable lot. Wolcotno .lack's half-brothor Manchester slip for tho Christ church Champagne Stakes on Monday, but lio suffered a short hoad defeat at the hands of Stoneyhurst, who has proved himself during tho soason to boa rattling good colt. Stonoyhurst in a son of King of Clubs, and

is bred very similarly to Darobin. Tho nominations "for tho Auckland Polo (.'tub lino.- Mooting close on Monday next. The mare Mario Stuart, who has been such a consistent performer at meetings on tho West Coast for tho past two seasons, met with a sorious accident recently, which necessitated hor destruction. Sho was having n i_nllop on the llokitika course ono morning, whon she fell and broke her log, and afterwards went about a mile with the fractured limb hanging, before a friendly bullet put an ond to hor existence. Marie Stuart was got. by Totnra from Fidget, and last season placed no less than fourteen winning brackets against hor namo out of twonty-two starts. Master Agnes, who won tho two llurdlo Races at the Chriatohuroh Autumn Mooting, is a cast-oil' from the 'Robinson stablo. As a two-yoar-old ho provod his ability to gallop in sovoral races that ho started for, but tho following sonson ho ahowed such temper that tho confodorncy woro glad to get rid of him. Maßtor Agtioa is made tho propor way to carry weight, and I shall not bo surprised to hoar of his success at tho " big stick" business boforo the soason ia ovor.

Tbo reason why Lady Evelyn did not ac company tho Hon. G. McLean's other horses to Christchurch was that aftor a trial gallop it was discovered thut sho was amiss. But for this misfortune, it is stated Lady Evelyn would havo been tho stable representative lor the Grout Autumn Handi cap. Writes " Sir Launcolot " :—lt is pleasant fo bo ablo to congratulate such an old Canterbury sportsman and prominent member of tho C.J.C, as Mr Launcolot

Walker on his elovution to the Legislative Council, to which ho was called a day or two back. With such "sports'' as tho lions. W. Robinson, W. Rooxes, G. Mc- Lean, and L. Walker in tho Uppor Houso, and Colonel Frasor, Captain Russell, and Mr .1. I>. Lance in tho Lower Houso of our Legislature, one has strong reason to hopo that many of tho provisions of that absurd enactment, tho Gaming and Lotteries Hill, will bo erased from tho Statute Book,

though, whilo tho gentleman namod hold seats in the Legislature, thero need bo littlo fear of tho totalisator being "squelched" Blue Bull is tho coming hurdle champion on this Coast (says a Waiganui umbo), and will be hard to beat, when properly brought out anddoeently ridden. Hndfiold did not shine on her at the Taranaki meetinu*, and her owuor showed how truo a jumper sho was immediately after tho race. Tho Hon. .1. White's filly Uralla won tho Claret Stakes at tho Hawkesbury Autumn Mooting, boating First Chester, Allnndalo and threo others. Mario Louise, by Hang Forward—Josephine, got homo first in tho Rowloy Milo, boating a liold of fifteen. Tho llawko's Bay Jockoy Club notted about I'.'tOO over their autumn mooting. After winning tho Hawkesbury Autumn Handicap, Moonsheo was sold by Mr 8. Knight to the Robertson Brothers for £900, and a furthor £200 whon ho wins his next raco. Tho Hon. W. Robinson's colt, Eskatos, by Koran—Mermaid, has beon added to tbo list. At tho sale of Messrs Cox Bros, 'celebrated Pcrnliill stud, tho bidding was brisk, ami some good prices were realised, particularly whon marcs with good running strains of blood wore ollored. Tho wholo lot sub mitted realised 11,12(ig5., or an nvorago of 2-llgs. each. Appended is a list of the highest, priced lots disposed of : — STALLIONS. Vespasian (Imp.), by Nowminster Vesta, Mr I tonkin •• t» Ulink Hoy (Imp.), by Blinkhoolio-I.nura. MrHcllinirlon.. .. .. .. HO Darebin. by Tho I'ecr-Lurlme, Mr \\ . A. Gordon.. •■ •• •• _~W BItOOO MARKS. Soohtctina (imp.), hy Brown Broad—Lady Sophia. Mr A. Town VM Lady Chostor (imp.), by Stockwell — Austrey, Hon. J. Whito ..*) Kirs! Lady (Inip.l. hy St.. Albans—Lady Patroness. Hon. J. Whito .. .. 300 Lady llooton (Imp.), by Stockwoll--Touch and-go, Mr F. Hoynolds .. .. 110 Stockdove (imp.), by Macaroni—Anony ma, Mr J. IS. Donkin W) Athollno (imp.), by Blair Athol—llnbona, Mr Andrew Town .. .. 710 Peril (imp.), by Atlvonturor—N'arinn, Mr A. Town ■■ ~ -~ •■ 700 Unhunii, by Yattondon—Atlioline, Mr F. Hoynolds •• '-» Margaret, by Ynttendon—GOßßamor, Mr .b.s. Wilson 360 Nurinii. by Yattondon—Atho me, Mr .1. 1!. Donkin .. .. •■ IS 1,0011 10, by Yattondon— Thyro, J. 13. Don kin -SO YKAULINGK. (All foaled in 18S.1) Chestnut colt by Vespasian (imp.) from Athollno, Mr I). Cooper .. , •• ioo Chestnut colt,, by Grand Honour from Lmlv Chostor, Mr D. Cooper .. .. CiO (Irev rolt, by V.wpimlnn (Imp.) from Groy Ksporanoo, Mr Jamos Monnghan .. 100 Bay llllv. by Vespasian (imp.) from Miss Pltßford, Mr Cruickshank .. 110 Bay lllly, by Vo'ipasian (imp.) from First Lady (imp.) Mr .las. Monachal) .. 250 Bay lllly, by MiirlbyrnonK from Q.K.D. (Imp) Mr Barnes.. •• -■ ~W Chester's feo noxt soason will bo 100 guineas. "Augur" says, that whon Mr John Fiold was in Victoria ho expressed a wish to send a moro to Choetor, a siro for whom ho has groat rospoct. The Hon. Jamos White had mado up his mind not to tako any mares, but ho consented to allow Mr Fiold to sond ouo to tho grand old non of Yattondon, and it will bo either Pandora, full sister to Molua, or Claudino, full sister to Sheet Anchor.

Hawkesbury Autumn Handicap.

Tho following aro tho details of tho run ning for tho

HAWKKsnuRY Autumn Handicap, a handicap sweepstakes ot lOsovs. each, half forfeit if not scratched by 4 p.m. on tho day preceding tho raco. with SOOsovb. added, Tho winuer to ro <Hv " per cent, acoond horso 15 por cent, ii li iliird borso 10 por eont. of tho gross Mr S. . \'night's b or br o Moonsheo, by (lui.'i.i! di Vorgy—Maria, 3 years, list, l-d'.-i. 11 .Ins) -.' -. 1 Mr .1. <'..i.iion s bl k Merlin, by Wild K,i;'i.,i i.ii.'ifer mam, ti years Sat. uib. (Giill--,;linl .. .. , •• •• 2 Mr VV. «"•'.. br h Normanby, by Gommii di Vc.gy—Kitty. 5 years, 7flt. (Nichoi snn' •-. . " ..." ," • i '•-, 3 'lr .1. Mayos eh c I'inico Imperial, .1 yours, 7st. (Uough) .. .- -, 0 Mr W. Cooper's eh o Jiuckingham, Ii years. 7st. (Lannigan) . ■• • • 0 Mr B. Chippendale's eh h Loohinvar, 6 years, list. illb. (Doolan) ■• - 0 Mr H. C. Dnngor's blk t Vcnotia, H years, list. 101b. (Ellis* 0 Mr. \V. J. Forrester's b h Soldier Boy, 5 yoars, Bst. oil). (Phippsl .. ■ ■ • ■ 0 Mr W. A. Thong's eh g Favo, 6 years, Bst. 21b. (Collev) .. ..- .. •• 0 Mr ,T. I). Robortson's b li Anchorito, I years, Rst. (Itobortson) • ■ • ■ 0 Mr S. 0. Cook's b h Anglosoy,s yoars, 7st. 91b. (3t. Albans) .. .. _ •- 0

Betting : 4 to I v. Normanby, 6 to 1 each v. Venetia and Princo Imperial, 7 to 1 v. Moonshee, S to 1 v. Soldier Boy, 10 to 1 each v.Favo, Lochinvar, Merlin, Anchorite, and Anglesey; l, r> to 25 to Iv. any other. Merlin was the smartest on his legs from a good start, with Soldier Boy, Lochinvar, and Favo in closo attendance. Lochinvar, Venetia, Favo, and Soldier Boy flashed past the stand on terms, closely followed by Prince Imperial, Buckingham. Merlin, and Anchorite. Forcing the pace, Lochinvar led round the turn, paßt tho mile-post, and on lo tho back of tho courso, whore ho had an advantage of a clear length of Bucking ham ; and two lengtha from tho latter came Favo, Prince Imperial, and Venetia, with half-a-length between them,? tho others clustered, and Auchorite last, but going well. As they approached the far corner Buckingham got to the front and led Lochinvar half-a length till half way round the turn, when the pace began to tell on both, and Merlin, Favo, Moonshee, Soldier Boy, Anglesey, and Normanby closed on thorn. They swept into the straight in a cluster with fh« ™llant old Merlin at their head, attend ' 'y Angleaey, Soldier Boy, and Moonshee. ...ho waa creeping up against the rails. Moat of the whips were brought into play before the distance was reached, where Moonshee challenged Merlin, and after a very brief struggle cut him down and beat him by a clear length. Normanby, who came with a great run fcoin tho homo turn, was third, three lengths away, and then on good terms came Soldier Boy, Anglesoy, Prince Im perial, Anchorite, Buckingham, Favo. and Venetia. Time: 2 minutes 3Sse.onds,

Nominations for Wanganui Derby, 1887.

[l)V TBtEGBAVU.] Tho tollowing nominations havo beon received for tho Wanganui Dorby of 1887 :— Mr P. Taticred'sch c by Puriri—Gossip Col. Eraser's br c Tuapori, by Cadogan or M iißl;ot—Flon noo McCarthy Mr .1. Knku's eh c by Cadogan—Lure Mr .1. Luhbridgo's b ! Wnve.by Hippocampus —Foam Mr .1. Lothbridgo's Affootion,hy Hippocampus —Curiosity Mr U. Ciill'ord'fl bo Mont d'Or.by Apromont— Auriferu Captain Russell's b C Fardingale, by Cadogan —Crinoline Mrl'. I.tuf.lor's bo by Musket—Ouida .Mr K. Lyon's bo by Albany—Fallacy Mr 11. Goodman's bo by Antoros-Atubinta Mr 1). Soott'u oil f by llylonK—Policy Mr Maurico O'Rrion's b c by Cadogan—Miss Laura Mr.l Rowon's dark b g by Hippocampus— Hnme.Ue Mr \V. Corn's b c by Cap-a-uie—Marigold Mr 0. Moilsu's br r Security, by Cap-a-pio— Pidra Mr W. Hatoley'*! Cantiniorc, by Musket - (.In en Boss ilr W. vvil.son'H 1) f Caller Horrin, by Hippo campus—Sissic (imp.) Mr.l. Wilson's <:li ( by l.nolinus—Constance J\lr J. Wilson's be by Hippocampus— Banshee , , , Mr .). <'. Vallanco's b t Honeysuckle, by Puriri— Ueanioß Dr. Kurle's br g Theorem, by Hippocampus— K(|iiitation Mr IV Mnßon'sb c Tongariro, by Cast CH- Dr."iCarlo'H b f by Cap-a-pio—Maid of tiie Mill Mr a. I'owell'j b I by Hippocainpua- Modesty Mr W. Ifp.ndlev'u b f Kapoio, by Cap-apio ■'c'l'cwaka

Mr vv ItcAvnio s bk by Cap-a-pio—Capper M,-1: It. Houloii's b c by Morpheus—Figaro .'.li ,1. \V. Jackson's b g by Totara—Beeswing It is possible that thoro nroothor nomina tions in tho Secretary's ollico received by post, but owing to tho holidays thoy cannot be ascertained.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACT-KON.)

CRICKET FIXTURES,

April U.—West End v. Aloha, Nnwton v. Auckland 2nd, United v. Our Boys, Auckland v. Gordon

AQUATIC FIXTURES.

SitArKKi.i'onij'n timo in tho Five Miles Handicap at tho recent bicycle sports of the Mclhourno Sports Depot was 15min. Msec.

Malono, the crack sprint runner, has challenged any man in the world to run him from 100 to 200 yards for any mini up to £1,000 v side.

James Finnoy defeated Miller by tivo yards in the annual swimming race for tho 220 yards championship of Scotland, decided at Dundee Doc, 17. Time—3min, 2sec.

On January I, at tho annual athletic sports at Middlcton, Ireland, slinging 501b weight, without follow, W. M. Barry won with 26ft, which is tho best amateur record in Great Britain.

Professor Miller, the well-known athlete, has arrived in Sydnoy. It is the intention of a number of his admirers to give him n grand complimentary benefit, at which L. Foley will assist.

Negotiations are proceeding with a viow to a sculling match biT-jg arranged botween Ileum, of Wellington. Jd-d Braithwaito, of Whanganui. The proposal is to row a threo-iuilo race, tho champion conceding half a minute.

John Tecmor's cxporionco during the season of 1884 does not appear to havo in creased his lovo for professional rowing, as ho says that ufter this your ho will retire from racing. One American paper Mays Teenier makes this statement for tho pur pose of keeping his iiamo prominontly bo lore tho public. The Ponsonby Regatta Committee made a slight error in sanding oil tho sailing races two at a time, which caused some contusion. Tbo idea was probably to got I hem away early, and it wus praiseworthy, but nn interval of a fow minutes at least should havo been allowed between tho starting of each event. The glove contest botwoon T. Tcngtio, of Christchurch, and J. I'ettongell, of Wel lington, announced as for £50 a-sido, camo nil' on Tuesday 'ovoning, March .31, at Christchurch, in the presence of somo 700 or 800 spectators, including anumboi of tho female sex. Tho encounter lasted for about 25 minutes, and resulted iv a docidod vic tory for I'ettongell. Tbe arrival of the Thames crow in tiino to take pail- in the Ponsonby l-iegatta whalobo.it races somewhat upsot anticipa tions of ti struggle botwoon the local clubs Both tho maiden and senior races wero looked upon ns* sottled directly it was known they had entered, and tho result justified tho conclusion. Tho champion crow from tho Waitemata Club did not row, it, boing impossible, or olso tho inducement was not sufficient to got tho mon together when required. A wrestling match for the championship of New South Wales and £100 aside took place at the Guioty Theatro. Sydney, on March 7, between J. Keating and .1. Peadon. G. M, Robinson, tho wtjll-known American athlete, who.it will bo remem bered was beaten in a glovo contest by J. L. Sullivan, acted as time-keeper. It, was agreed that tbo match should bo decided by throe styles of wrestling—Cumberland, col lar and elbow, and catch -ns - catch - can, above the waist only, tho best two out of three falls to decide each event. Peadon won tho first evont, and Koating tho two last.

Ponsonby Rowing Club won three races at the Eastor Monday Regatta. The .suc cessful crows wore: Four-oared gigs— Seniors —Smith, Miller, M. McLean, and ti. McKay. Four-oared gifts—Juniors— ,1. McKay, Dixon, Graham, and Stitchbury, Whaloboal <t—Juniors—Webster, J. McKay, Dixon, Graham, and Howson. I believe this will bo the last race tho latter crew can pull as juniors. They havo had a vory successful career in rowing for somo considerable timo past, and so far as I can recollect,, have won every race for which thoy started.

Unities and Sapphires in Favour.

Thk exhibition at tho Hotel Drouot of a portion of tho jowols bolonging to the mer chant, Al. L. M. Rothschild, of London, has attracted no littlo attention. The public view drew the general crowd that somehow or othor finds its way any day and evory day into thoso enormous auction-rooms. That special consideration was givon to this exhibit on account of the namo is* quite probable. Many supposed,until undeceived, that it was a member of tho great Roths child family, who, from caprice, sold a fow of many treasures. It is o well-known fact that tho most wonderful pearls in the world and tho most marvellous rubies belong to members of this family. It is not difficult nowadays, with money anil with patience, to obtain such gems as in good old times belonged only to imperial or kingly crowns. Evory ono horo will toll ynu in longing ac conts of tho two pendants, threo centimeters high, that are known to belong to " those Americans." French nobles have still some rare old lace, but they can afford no extra surplus to purchase rare stones. Actresses now possoss tho most extravagant displays of fancy jewellery. Whon Leonido Leblanc appeared in Balsamo at the Odeon, in tho rolo of the notorious " Dubarry," the wealth of royalty adornod her bewitching costume arms, neck and diadem. Mario Magnier, who is now playing in The Danicheffs at the Porto St. Martin, could everyday select her jewels to suit her costume. The French wittily say that " pretty women have long arms." They certainly have grasping fin gers. Diamonds are now put to the blush, in a fashionable sense, by the ruby and the sapphire. The first is the greatest desider atum. Marie Antoinette always woro thorn. After those two stones pearls enjoy univer sal favour. To judgo by the number and size of thoso that ono can sco at any hour of the afternoon in tho oars of the pedestrien nes in the chic quarters, one might almost beliovo theso Oriontal luxuries could be picked up in tho street. Unfortunately for the vanity of tho wearers, they aro usually too sizeable and too perfect to carry con viction. At the sale of M. Rothschild's collection tho prices are likely to run high enough to impress ono weightily with their value and genuine oyster birth. — Paris Letter in " .New York Times."

" I think I will have autumn leaves on my new hat," said she. "I am glad of it," re turned he, " for autumn leaves are falling.' "What do wo owe to woman?'1 rhapsodises an unmarried essayist. Many of ua owe her for last week'a washing. A noise in the street. A man yelling. "What's that man yelling at?" "Why, at the top of his voice." "ROUGH ON CORNS. "-to* for WolUVßougl-. on j Oorus." Quick relief, comptuto, pcnuauent cure. Coma, w*irU. __iQO_ I !y_ ,_. K«m»thonii, ttoM«t*Ot.__iiit_Aucl!l»__ |

THE GARDEN.

[By Hon.ns.]

Calendar of Operations, April 11

[Hoktub is willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must givo their full namoa and addresses, though not for publication.!

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Spent Hops (Kitohen Garden).~These make a capital manure. Some authorities Bay that ono cart-load is equal to two cart-loads ol stable, manure. You need not bo afraid to use thorn in any quantities. They.keep iho soil ll«ht and open, and supply the plants with plenty of nutriment, they would ulh.o make a good mulch tor all kinds of plants during dry weather es pecially bedding plants,; also if well-rotted, would inooroorato well in loaf-mould for mix ing with potting soil, How to Outain 1 EM.' Mould (Pot Plant)-— Take all tho leaves in your garden as they fall, or us you oan collect them. Place in a heap. Over the top put a layer of good rich loam from any good grass land. When tlio heap is completed give a thorough soaking with water. This will hasten decomposition Whon properly rotted, tho debris and soil cm bo mixed tngothor, and as wanted itcaooj further mixed with sand and well-rotted manure in proportions to suit the ditlereut pot plants you may want to grow. Bonks (Manure).—The best use you can make of the household bones in to collect and placo under any trees you may have planted or may plant. It would be a tedious operation to break them up by band labour, although if you don't mind the trouble tho smashed bones will In all probability be much.ric.her in fer tilising matter ihan thoso you purchase. 1 never did believe much in using bones for pot plantii; good composts are belter, and when pot plants require more stimulation, Bupply it wiih liquid manure, which is more active than the bone in tho pot would be. Soapsuds (G. ..(.-Soapsuds make a splendid liquid manure, especially for the kitcnon garden, if you have got celery planted, put tho suds in the trenches. Cabbage and eaull ilower like it immensely. Do not throw the waste wator of the lioubo away i it can always bo made of some use in the kitohen garden all tho year round. Vinks (F.8.H.) • I could not tell you the nftino of tho vino from the specimen-sent. The specimen is ad covorcd with mildew. Ihe euro is, frequent applications of sulphur when over tho mildew makes ita anpearanee. Ido not think, however, that you will bo able to Krow the vino with any suet-ess in your situa tion in the open air. Your other vines must havo the mildew as well as tho specimen forwarded.

Pumpkin*. -Amateur writes: I havo several pumrkin plants, vinej I suppose you would call ihem. which havo hart a great mans younit pumpkins on thorn, but whon they Bet to the size ot« oooanut they shrivel up and die. Uofore planting ih» »cod, I used a L-ood bit of nijhtsoil in I ho ground : do you Hunk this ia the cause oi tho above < 1 have often Been this lnippeu with pumnkins. and have always attributed it to insufficient fertilisation of the (lowor. Perhaps eomo of my reader* who havo Paid more attontion to the subject than 1 have can afford some more definite information, which I shall gladly publish.

Organised Work Against Insects.

I com si km) the following extract from a Colifornian paper to the attention of fruit growers :—" The Orange Bug Association met on Saturday last. A petition to tho Board of Supervisors was read and adopted. It is as follows : ' To tho Honourable Board of Supervisors of Los Angolos County.Cal. : We, tho undersigned citizens of Los Aiigelos County, Cal., do petition your honourable body to pass an ordinance in accordance with the law made and pro vided for the extermination of insect pests injurious to fruit trees and other insect life. We ask for a division of the county into suitable districts, and tho appointment of inspectors therein, whose compensation shall bo provided for by the county, and whoso duty shall bo to thoroughly inspect all orchards, nurseries, hedges, and vineyards in thoir respective districts monthly, during the following months, to wit, comuioncing in June and continuing through July, August, Septem ber, October, and November, for all the varieties of scale insect, the codlin moth and woolly aphis, and wherever found report the samo to the owner or occupant thereof, and prescribe a course of treatment for tho abatement and ultimate destruction of such pests ; and upon the second in .petition of any orchard, nursery, hedge, or vineyard, wherein tho said inspector shall find that such prescribed course has not been fully complied with, or some other course pursued, which, in the inspector's opinion, has been fully as efficacious in destroying said insect pests, the owner or occupant thereof shall bo liablo and subject to a fino of 810, and upon o\'ery subsequent neglect to comply with such proscription of said inspector, or fail ure to effectually destroy said insect pests in somo other manner, to a fino of £20 We also usk that it shall bo tho duty of said in spectors to immediately prosocuto any and all porsons who fail to comply with tho re quirements of this ordinance, and colloct said tines by duo course of tho law, and pay tho samo to tho County Treasurer ; and wo ask that tho District Attorney bo instructed to assist in and conduct such prosecutions. And wo furthermore ask that- tho prescrip tions and insecticides of said inspectors shall bo in accordonoo with tho advice of the State Horticultural Inspector." A committee of threo was appointed to circulate it for eignora. Persons interested in fruit-growing in Now Zealand should form a somewhat similar association, so that they muy adviso tho Governmont upon the best stops to tako for tho extirpation of those pests. With hotter knowledge wo should never havo witnossed tho farce of throwing fruit into the intake to deßtroy tho codlin moth. Any person who knows anything of the habits of tho codlin moth would know that if tho wholo of such fruit had boon Bcarchod not a single insect would have beon found in it. Theso cocoons might havo boen discovered in tho cases the fruit had beon pickod in j or if tho fruit in America had beon piled up underneath tho trees for a week or so boforo being Kickod for hero evory insect would have ft tho fruit to sock some less perishable material to build the cocoon anil rest tor tbo winter. If fruit is to pay the Ameri cans by importing it here they must be taught that '*only sound fruit can find a market. Infected fruit at ono timo used to bo exported from America to Britain. That ceased, as they found that in was almost worthless in the markets. Hero our fruit dealers should refuse the infected ship ments, and American shippers would soon have all the unsound fruit picked out before shipping here. At somo other time I will deal with this subject at moro length. English Horticultural Catalogues.

Many people in the colonies, in speaking of plants, refer to magnificent specimens shown in catalogues. The following extract from a letter written to the editor of the " Garden," London, shows how some of theso spocimons are got up:—"lt is said that even the humble worm will turn again if trodden upon too often. There cannot be a more humble and inoffensive indi vidual than the horticultural artist. I, alas I am' one. I have no pretentions to independence of thought or hand. lam a mere nurseryman's drudge. lam not benefitted when I portray a dingy dwarf as a gorgeous giant; I morely do what my kind employer tells me. He pays me my humble pittanco, rubs my name off my work, and publishes my picture. Sir, lam so well acquainted with nurserymen's require ments that I have in constant use a nursery man's proportionable compass (devised by myself). There is a moveable screw in tho middle, so that one end may be made to open twice, thrice, four, or even five or six timeß more than the other. If I have a plant from Mr Swagga, I move the screw to Air Swaggs's mark, and I measure with tho small end and draw with the big one. If Air Pelter sends me a plant, I move the screw to Mr Pelter's mark, and I always give satisfaction. I call my compass a horticultural floremeter. When young I did not like those exaggerations, and I trembled for my reputation and honesty, but my chief nurseryman told me it was all right, as he always rubbed the artist's name off. I was also not long in learning that nurserymen not only hold the poor draughtsmen in slavery, but thoy had tho publishers as well. For instance, Mr Topper writes to his publisher; ' Dear Mr Sycophant, if you will send your artist to paint my new magnificent mimnlus, I will tako 500 copies of your monthly magazine.' When the submissive artist goes to the rich nurseryman, he is told that all the best mimulus have gone off, that a few poor blooms are left, but they are not one-quarter the size of those just gone off. If the inof fensive artist will draw these small flowers exactly four times the size of nature, they will represent the missing blooms. Should the poor drudge remonstrate, a threat is held out that tho 500 copies will be cancelled, and Mr Sychopant, the publisher, will come down on the draughtsman like a thousand of bricks. Well, sir, I made a mistake once, and I did entirely enjoy it (behind my employer's back). There was a plant race—two nurserymen were each madly eager to get a plant out first. Mr Swiggers sent the blooms on to mo by post in hot haate, with a request that J should get his out f at all risk, and aa extra fee would be I

my reward. Sir, I got out my compass (Mr Swiggers stretches more than any other man); I polished the plant off like light ning, and got it out first. On the day of its publication, I received a lettor from Mr Swiggers's undersecretary, summoning me immediately to the plant emporium. Of course I werrt, instantly. Mr Swiggers was there with dilated eyes, hair on end, and his tongue cleaving to the roof of his mouth, speechless. At last he said, "Oh I Mr Staggers, I tremble under the blow you havo put upon me. The plant, my young man, was a dwarf varioty, and ought to havo been shrunk in size at least three times, whereas you have en larged it with your peculiar compass six times. lam ruined 1 lam ruined ! You artists aro a bad lot; you have no sense." Mr Staggers took good "caro nover again to employ the inofiensivo

"SWIGGMIS."

INCIDENTS OF THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

Si'KctAt.i.v Collated by oi;a Londos

CoIUtESI'ONbF.NT.)

London, February 13.

Loot descriptive letters (not to bo con founded with telograms of nearly six weeks later date) aro now beginning to arrive from the Soudan, and in a few days we shall probably know all the interesting de tails there are to know about Colonel Bumaby's death and the terrible action at Abu Klea. For me to send, or you to at tempt to publish, all these lengthy epistles, would bo abaurd. I shall, however, of course, go over them carefully and select for your benefit "tho plums" of the correspondence, or in other words, such additional items of intelligence, "tit bits" of military gossip, and good stories as soem likely to interest your readers.

The " Telegraph" of Tuesday, February lOth, contains a long letter from Mr Bur leigh (their " special"), dated from Gakdul v'vells just four days prior to the battle of Abu Klea. It describes the commencement of Stewart's march across the dosert, which soems to have been principally remarkable (or the sufferings of men and beasts from want of water.

The Lieutenant Tigott referred to in the following amusing incident was killed at Abu Klea.

The Jack Tars and their Camels.

" I think 1. told you," says Mr Burleigh, "that one of tbe funny things of camp life at Korti was to sco the household troops or ' Heavies ' learning infantry drill. ' Fours . deep,' ' fours right and left,' ' form square' resounded in theirquarters all day long. Lord Chas. Beresford's Naval Brigade arrived on Ihe Bth, and having promptly pitched their i tents and made themselves comfortable on tho following day, they turned out on camel-back to learn to handle these ships i o£ tho desert. "What's the British army a cominj* to?" I overheard a soldier who was looking on saying to his comrades. ' "It's a turning it upside down Lord • Wolsoley is, and metansorphorising every thing." "First ho makes sailors of us infantry, sending us hero in boats, then he turns the cavalry into infantrymen, and I i am hanged if ho ain't making cavalry of the sailors." Perhaps he was. Anyhow, ' the process was droll in the extremo. With ) much persuasion Jack had towed, strung f into line, some sixty camols, for the detach i ment to ride which was to inarch to 1 Metemmch. Lord Charles Beresford and ' Sir Herbert Stewart and staff, with many , more, were there to see the Naval Brigade i drill. " Mount," shouted Lieutenant, ' I'iggot, who was drilling the contingent, I Aboard went Jack, still more quickly the • camels snorted and surged to their feet, •■ spilling and sending sprawling in all direc i tions many a bravo sailor. Somehow none I of tho men were hurt, and whilst Jack was t trying to remount the lookers-on smiled t audibly ; oven Lord Charles Beresford i himself produced his handkerchief nnd • smothered something that sounded more. , like laughter than coughing, though it r was his own command which was furnishing s the fun, When the sailors at length had J securely mounted, they seemed unhappy. ' l'jssibly thoy did not liko the short lurches i and swinging of tho camols, and would , havo preferred a top-gallant yard in a i storm at sea. The camels also did not i appear to respond promptly to tho tugs i givon by Jack to tho guiding head-rope ■ which serves as a rein for the animal, and a the brutes blundered against each other, a throwing tho lino at times into confusion. - Their officers, with wary eyes to faults of 1 that sort, strave to correct them by calling - to their men, "hard a port" or "hard a I starboard there." One sailor I heard di -3 rocted to pass tho ropo across, as "that i bruto eteers better from the port side." 5 Another Jack had bo loaded his • animal with the equipment for the march that ho was told to dismount, and 1 " stow it afresh, as tho camel's saddle had 9 a bad list." Jack, however, was in dead 3 earnest, and meant learning to ride, so tho 3 detachment pereevered. Tho spectators 1 might have, I think, recognised this i seriousness. No, a good deal of quiet chaff I wont on all the same. Tho cruellest thing I have hoard for a long time was said when 3 the troop got the order to trot, and the ' sailors went jump, thump in their saddlos, ! as if they were playing leapfrog on the 1 camels. "Don't bump so, cried a by ' stander to one of the sailors ; "you'll make '' his head ache." Jack turned upon his tor -1 mentor a melancholy eye, moistened either > by the poignancy of hie situation or the ; cold callousnes of the remark. i Tbo March Across the Desert. ' _ Some time after three p.m. on the Bth ! inst._ General Stewart's column formed op 1 outside of the camp and moved off across j the desert. The object in starting in the afternoon was to placo the troops olear of ' tho camp, and yet not beyond reach, so ' that anything overlooked could bo re -1 covered, and to have the men all settled in 1 their proper places before the journey was \ fairly entered upon The following was ' the actual force which marched, rank and ; file included :—Naval Brigade, 58; 191 h ■ Hussars, 130; Heavies, 400; Mounted 1 Infantry, 357; Royal Artillery, 11; | Southern Division, 43 ; Royal Sussex. ■ 417; 2nd Battalion Essex Regi ment, 58; Commissariat and Transport Corps, 77; Mounted Field Hospital, H ; Bearer Company, 42 : total, 1,607. There ; were in addition 304 interpreters, camel • drivers, and others. There were 2,228 • camels, 150 borees, and 2 mules. These, as i may be easily understood, made a vory long line ; the front some fifty yards wido, and the length, even in close order, half a, *nile long. _ Tho troops marched in what is i technically called open column of companies, each detachment or regiment having its own baggage animals immediately in rear of their line. The transport and hospital corps were near the centre of tho column. One driver led four baggage animal.--, riding the loading camel, the other three walking behind. The head of tho second was fastened to the leading camel's tail, and tho heads of the others were secured in the same munner, namely, by a stout ropo to the tail of the animal In front. There was much trouble in getting the natives to start with tho column, many of them bo'ting rather than run what they considered the fearful risk of falling into tho hands of the wild Arabs of the desert. It was only with groat difficulty, such as nearly every body experienced who had "servants, that I got mine out of Korti. The column went slowly off, marchin?, after getting quite clear of Korti vil lage, nearly duo east. Wo passed under the telegraph wire stretching to Merawi, which was torn down by the rebels, but has since been replaced and restored on im provised poles cut from dwarf mimosa trees The wire hangs so low that care has to be exercised in passing under it. At sundew n the_ troops were halted for the night on the plain seven miles from Korti, covered with bunch grass and mimosa. Indeod, our route for most part of the way led through country littlo differing from the seeho of our first night's bivouac, and it was only at rare intervals that the column had to scramble over the small sharp black stones which cover tho rocky ridges and slopes of the Soudan. Firewood was plentiful, and in truth tbe rough dry sabas grass gave light and heat enough to cook the evening meal. There was no stint of water, as all had brought what was thought, and should have been, an ample supply in " Guoalis," or water skins, and copious draughts of tea were drunk, for either the dust or heat, or may hap an unconscious nervous apprehension at seeing no water anywhere, but everything * arid and parched, creates in the dosert a I thirst which would make a water drinker of i a toper. Tho Galidul Wells. . We take the following interesting descrip- 1 of theso now famous wells in the Bayuda Desert from n letter of the late Mr St. Leger Herbert, published in the "Morning] Foßt"' to-day:—As straDge and as £no aj'

sight at any soldier will see j„ _l> . drawing water for an army [_ «.„?. _*t of be seen at the GaMul \Vell, Jf,eld S three wells here at difieJVtt ___, here lit the other, though not in « fiS^ the perpendicular face of the „??«l The hoyol Engineers have hS"" 18 *- in..-the water from the secoml "^ we I by „ canvas tub £?£_#». eve n'jmvntto the WertS* *' lev-! of tie tfiound. Ti,c Jf '0D cavity (~„. nou - Bnnk] iJ,**»h'«S no longer of sufficient length t "> It his become necessary tk» <each*t. transfer tho tube to the m_t_Fl> *» three wells, and thence {?£L*fc keeping it filled to a certain T ?& drawing up water buckets fromtK. b? well end emptying it i nto _T_m But to do this men must h_! 'phtßt. tho highest well and thence down?? * of rock to the second. This Z , natural pathway of the wate whil^ Ing from tho surface of the earth i * highest woll, rushos, when it L "* the pool to a certain _£_M through an opening into tT , ollt cavity. To descend by ropes into* T r well, to find a foothold tCuf^ cipitous furrow of rock info the » Pt and to arrange a system of hanlini H> wator by buckets and passing 'ifcU? tt' higher to the lower %__**• boen tho especial labour of' l Charles Beresford's sailors. I nnw""' , gleaming in the gloomy JJJjji rock, and voices aro reverattne Z fS throughout the valley. No gg« ' London has a scene as weird, and Zl ■ in the world is tremendously hard *mM_! | more cheerily or more efficiently % . the plain practical result of __ . • <1 ' theatrical scene, of the unearthly echoing ■ midnight voices in tho rocky bowels of tv , precipice, of the gleam and flash of S f tion lanterns io dark cavernous AuSR t that the men will fill their waier-SC the march with good water. These _Z 3 wells, or, more proporly speaking __\ i natural reservoirs in the rook arewZ? t dicular, cylindrical cavities, formed „ though a giant had piercedthegrsnfoJ! a mighty anger, makingthe lowest weUU driving the auger 20ft. below the level! ! the valley beneath, and making _*;_\l . of less depth. °^?

RUSSIAN SECRET ALLY.

Is Ayoub Khan in the Muscovite Cum

Tbe English Government wassuppostdto have rapid and accurate information of Russia's progress towards the Afghan f m . tier until the recent sudden irruption ol troops of the Muscovites upon Herat opened its oyes to tho folly of its comptjisant tog. fidenco in its Central Asian spies '

How is it that tho Russians have _»'■,. abled to advance their light outposts nift. out the British Government being Apprised in time to stop their movements! fc must have had o raison d'etre for __ advance upon the Western Capital of Attn*, istan. Whatwasit? WaeitbeamePenii connived at the movement ? WasitbajM Russia overcame by force Persia'sobjec_o_i to allowing a European power to f_n itself between her Eastern frontiers on oti side and surround her with hungry hoi) of enemies on every other!' There is kei hitherto unexplained myetory. Onetlwy upon tho subject has noteven beeitbroadud by any English journal, althoughitiiioij. portant that it deserves consideratiotbile present extremely critical position oltHui between England and Russia.

Where is Ayoub Khan I Where bulit boen lurking for the last twoyeatif log England know? Whon in 1868 the Sin*. ---" Sirdar " is really a chieftain of pmi —Mahomed Yakoob Khan defeated tbe troops of Afzul Khan, seized Kand_-,ttd proclaimed Shero AH, hie father, hy virtue of his victory, the Ameer of AfgMita, everybody was led to believe that nponthe death of Shore Ali, Yakoob Khan Wl succeed him upon the throne of CtU , Shere Ali took unto himself a nemriltj who bore him a son which was named it doola J_n. This boy becami so greati favourite with his father that Yakoob, the •• first son, and Ayoub, tho second, wereei . tirely ignored. So far did the old tan) : fatuouß fancy gc that ht issued thraegW Afghanistan a proclamation to tbe eSed that in tho event of hia death, AW * Jan should be tho successor to the tta .of Cabul. This naturally displeased W Ayoub and Yakoob, M the latter W i into open rebellion agitoifhfefilter. Iti Government of Jn'aa,, which always ie i lieves its interests tie. ~>*clueßy concen-l . trated in the politics .til Afghanistan, a*' trouble in the situation, and protested at Shere Ali's discrimination again** the» cession of Yakoob, the eldest born, and I ■ man who has proved himself a veiyiM , and gallant soldier. The Ameer, bowem, was obdurate. He refused to see sow , consequences ahead which hewastmbll ' to overcome, and Abdoola remained tk ■ nominee to tho Afghan throne. YaM i fled to Herat, where ho remained mop revolt against his father. Events move» pidly in Afghanistan. AbdoolaenominiM , took place in 1873. In thefoUowiogye«^ i koob was enticed to Cabul by haft-J * with promises of entirely satisfactory M * of reconciliation, and was, with chn* : ißtic Afghan treachery, thrown into m whence he was only released to lfM" the death of Abdoola and tbe«rgeot«-» , strances of tha Government of IMB. » the following year Shere AU'sreoepU^ . Russian embassy and his, refyealtoreem Sir Neville Chamberlain's mission fg , England led to a declaration of war(M Afghanistan and thi Government of I* ■ After a comparatively ____ , British victories compe led SheK \tm to Balkh, where he died, and ..toM so to speak, elevated -t»»P*JL' throne, a not uncommon episode-KW personal careers. &_?__}_ was made Governor of the distnct.ot_» dThe massacre of Sir his companions again »»«re|MPJ Yakoob^Khan. lie was MH ried into India as a polity ?««^ British Government and it «g in the pre-ent crl^M|W Bala His-ar, or Citadel of. o*|| British Government claimed to |g covered Kussian doonmente,^ am of which it refused to itdrHj likelihood these JWV_?.jil of Kussian intrigue in,o*4 '^ difficult to conjecture why Enga act upon them before she «&# that Russia was of Herat. Ayoub Khan was ot» g idle during the, war ' ri»h MM exile of his M?J n%_mA nomination of , AbdumtowT m tbe Ameership. *»»*.■!&* with a largo army, < f *JgM vand, close to the 1880, and almost annih*lateda|^| of 3,000 men under Gen.Bungy* ing up his victory, he »"*lJs* with such rigourtkt it «^ijSi could do by forced marches to J»g oity by his army from Wfflß leisurely retired to Herat, wh^ July, 1881, he defeated alargej' haibeens;ntag a io S thi»byAj< He was, however, *"*»%ss floe from Herat, and bnMJffl Persia with considerabl _* number of followers. Stnceh^ Herat his movements -*™ n l*?2W There is now some reason"^ Ayoub Kban foundh« way»yg Central Asian camp, of revenge and gain. »Wpi coviteto obtain WpffiJSll gate of India." « Ifrjffiffl Pect, Russia's menace ■WgSg mow formidable than *^ L»K he at, first si.ht. Had she PJJ single-handed, the Herat^*^ j£ have opposed her prog**' » gone there inih Ayoub Kb»n. J 'ho may -X' upon th« COW P rent number of Afghan jfW consider Ayoub one of th^ rfc^ that ever ruled as ™^&J Russia in short, ™'V* benefit of Ayoub's P«*tg ° M --,« a pucccsf.il soldier, but *» f^V guished member of < h. eT at M cannot hero bo forgotton^W previously intrigued "££**•£ considerable expense w» *> Durance royal i*m]>J__t*#s Ahdurrahman.thopre^tf^ safety in fli?ht fr/m *_ s ,[ o ni W***M £v*« yinthpßßß«»lg! (( rf^B him with an M»^j£S*.~»sß him (<> support thsappwrajJM X W h,.s to con«de Ameer of Af-hantsta" i« Ba- irJfHM forr^rW^a_fi« as to enter into fh »m°* if,. _■ Shfl ft ,, o i iaß to 7** h.r n v EpH Kandahar if Ajoub■ Kg* h „ * ■ appearance '"» Jfe**:* honoured guest m mJ^_ H «™«K*ttS_S^

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAK, SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1886

4