RANDOM SHOTS.

[BY ZAMIEt.I

■■'■■- wrlto, (i nei(,'hbonrß namo to laflh, ,;.•■ t.-riii"—vain t:hoii(fht!—for needful cash, .--.r.-j vvrito to plciisu tlio country claah, And r«iao a din, or nn, p.n ami I novor fash— .1 writ o for fun.

Tin: humorous side of tho lato commercial excursion to tho South Sea Islands has not boon half told, and probably nover will bo ; but from the hints that a littlo bird has whispered in my car, I fancy the delegates had what in vulgarly called " a high old timo" among tho dusky potentates and pcoi-lo whom thoy visited, A rather wild story has boon circulated by some ill informed individual, to the effect that ono of the delegates was fined 1,000 francs for smuggling a lot of Hennossy'a brandy ashore at. Tahiti. " The French authori ties," according to this individual, "will look with very groat suspicion upon auy New Zealand visitor-particularly any Government representative—whn may in future vi^it thoso parts." Hoity-toity, there's a pretty insinuation to make against a body of New Zealand's picked men ! Say, rather, an ugly and liuo'.loiuj accusation against ono of their number, for, as it happens, there was only one "Government representative " among the Janot iSicoll's passengers, and that ono no other than tho rospocted Chief I'ostinastor of Auckland. I hope tho scurrilous scandalmonger who invonted this story will bo brought to book for his reckless statements ; for my vera cious littlo warbler tells me that there was v.o attempt at smuggling either at Tahiti or elsowhcro; that no ono was tinodina thousand francs or a thousand farthings, and that the French authorities at Tahiti, »o far from viewing the delegates with suspicion, received and entertained thoin most cordially. Thero was A littlo "contravention" unwittingly committed by ono of tho commercial delegates on land ing at Papeete, but it was all amicably ex plained and sottled. Tho gentleman in question was taking ashore a copy of Bar raud's " New Zealand Illustrated,'' with tho object of presenting it to the Commtnvial Club, wlion ho was pounced upon by an "olishus ofishul," who impounded tho book ns contraband cargo. Tho delegato pluckily dotormined to stick to his book, howevor, and tho Customs ollicer, with delegato and book in his custody, drovo oil'in a buggy in the direction of tho prison. Howovor, the dolegato persu ided tho official to call on tho Director of the Interior boforo consigning him to a duneeon, and there was littlo dilli culty in convincing tho higher functionary that nothing worse than an innocent mis take had beon made. This will bo apparent when 1 state that printed books are ad mitted duty free, and tho pole offence con sisted in landing tho book without a written pormit. Such is the unvarnishod tale of the smuggling exploit and the 1,000 francs fine.

As I havo hinted, there woro quite onough actual experiences of an amusing description, witheut any necessity for in venting ridiculeus canards. There wore, for instanco, tho adventures of three of tho delegates with an equal number of Prin cesses of the blood royal at Tongatabu, not to mention tho more exciting exploits of the dolegato who wont ashore all alono to witness a native dance at the houso of the Princess Anazieno, a lady of great "weight" in tho community ! At Samoa, again, there was a ludicrous contretemps through certain gravesoigneurs among the delegates being hailed as " Kissy-Kissy " by tho dark but comely damsels of the land, who cherished pleasant reminiscences of the vhit of Mr John Lundon. There was also seen the solemn farce of a delegate formally restoring to King Malietoa his stolon seal, in tho prcFonco of hi* Ministers and Secro taries of Stnte ; and the screaming comedy of " Turn Him Out" was witness! at tho German Company's works, where a too inquisitivo dolegato wos all but kicked out by tho irato manager, who did not relish commercial rivals poking their noses into every branch of the business.

Turning again to the bright oriont clime of Tahiti,what merry pranks were indulged in ! It was thoro that the celebrated Cap tain Cook went long ago to observe tho transit of Venus; but my foathored tale bearer tells of more delightful achievements in the prooont day among tho enchanting Yon uses of that pleasant clime; of dusky damsels who danced tho "hula-hula" be fore, behind, and around tho wondering New Zealanders, till the dryest stick and baldest baldhoad ef tho venerable lot felt hi« pulsei quicken with a now joy. But sic transit gloria muntli. This "transit of Venus" proved a very transitory affair, and well that it did so, or somo of the com mercial representatives might havo been tempted to do a littlo contraband exporting of live stock. At Karotonga, too, what a taerry 'meeting was that at Queen Mepe Paa's, when one of the delegates recited a poem in praise of the island beauties, and the natives responded by offering wives to the whole of the European visitors. AVhat a curious midnight rencontre was that in which a certain gentleman wns waylaid by a dusky damsel, who gently stroked his flowing board, and employed all her blandishing arts, till he was compelled in self-dofonce to avow that he was a mission ary, and thus cscapo from the toils !

The most amusing sceno of all was on this same lovely islo of Kirotongs. It was at a dinner given by the Now Zealand colonists of Karotonga in honour of tho visitors, and a crowd of natives had been hanging around the vorandahp, watching the "papa" as they feasted, and sang, and orated. Later on tho nativo3 were invited in, and they sang, in their native tongue, " Pull for the JSho'ro," and pome songs of tho "hula hula " persuasion, to the great delight of the strangers. Then, at a hint from a plantor, a whole crowd of the native girls made a rush at an unmarried man among tho visitors and literally smothered him with kisses. What a sweet quarter of an hour that bashful young man had, and how uproarious wa3 tho mirth of the assembled company when, after submitting to the embraces of the dusky ladies for a time heplucked up courage aid assumed the offensive against tine attacking force—suddenly developing "kissy-kissy" proclivities of the most ad vancedtypo ! All theso,and more than these, havo beon told mo in full by that littlo bird, but I refrain from exposing to ridicule tho 'jrave fathers of families by recounting all theirdoingsin the "Summer Isles of Eden." Suffice it to say, that however I may thirst after tho honour of being sent to report on South Sea Island resources, " Mrs Zamiel " (who of course ia the sharer of my confidence) firmly declareß that if I should over go, she will accompany mo. In these circum- Btancee tho reader will understand why I reconcile myself to my old stay-at-home routine.

The frequency of advertisements for wives in tho eolonU! papers, to cay nothing tho results of Hannaford'a experiments in too matrimonial agenc\ business, show that a considerable number of bachelors scattored through the country are prepared to guarawteo bed and board to any likoly looking young woman willing to run the risks ol a chanco dip into tho matrimonial lucky bat. A good many of theso adver tisements', however, are, I boiievo, inserted "fora lark," and some, porhaps, for even moro reprehensible purposes. I would, therefore, caution girls against being taken in by them. It seems a little curious that w ',ilo there are so many spinsters in our cities pining in unappreciated single blessed IV3fl« any industrious man should havo to do bis "'wooing by proxy, but then we must remember that in asparfioly-settled country Nature's vnalth In "bonmo lassea" is un evenly distributed, and some young mon are too morbidly bashful to carrya suit to a BuccoM-ful issue.

Ono of the favourite English delusions about the colonies is the idea that Polly, who has missed "her last chance" in England, can fafely count upon a good market for her homely charms in the cilonioß. Philanthropic but misguided pjoplo in Eng'and have actually started Sjciotieß to ship out to Australasia young Indies of the governess class with the mis taken idea that thoy are sending them to a female Paradise. They little know what sufferings such girls may undergo when landed friendless on a strange shore. Mr Hayter, tho Government Statist of Vic toria has lately exploded tho idea that tho colon'ios odor good markets for clearing oil' tho surplus fcmalo population of Great Britain by showing thai in \ ictwiti there i ••■ already a superabundance of umniapabli eitU as compared with the number of oH"iblo bachelors. Tho fact 18, that while mo°Bfc women are desirous of marrying, a vory large number oi mon—lrom Jiabit circumatancoe, and other causes—arc uot in

a position to marry,or n"n mrulHng to lake upon themsolves fnnilv re*p"in»ihi!ltii'.s Thn proportion of this elns-i to the tut til population is much greater in now countries than in England, and henro, though the sexes aio numerically moi-o equal in the colonies than iii Grvnt Britain, tho nvitri inonial market is very little, if any, better.

Some surprise may not unnaturally bo felt that while women so abound Betsy ha it all her own way, a*id wo are a.l her duti ful subjoots. The prejudice against doinoi ■ tic service is simply a-touii<lin'.r. con-i-loiing the facility with which ompl.-iyment U ob tained and tho largenocs of the emolu ments. It is an ab.-oluto rovcsal of tho law of trade that thi.s occupation should be so poorly supplied while every other class of fetnalo employment is so overstocked that stout girls can be got to work eight hours a day at fatiguing callings for nothing. In all of tho muehrun-upon trades providing occupation for women, twelve m mths' per vice without pay is invariably insisted upon, and it is accounted a favour oven to (rot admission on theso terms. These samo girls could immediately support theinsolves, and obtain comfortable homos, with fair wages, if they cho-o to enter domestic eorvieo. Where tho force ot prejudice leads a woman, however, let not foelish man attempt to bar the way. Though I humbly confess my incapacity to sco it, thero mutt bo some badgo of gentility about sowing and pressing corduroy breechos and making up feminine attire, or why do those adorable creatures whoso in stinct for tho true, tho beautiful, and re lincd wo all acknowledge, prefer that to tho pursuit of those domestic duties in which their mothers are engaged, and which they acknowledge as thciriiiituralsphoro whenever any simpleton in search of domestic peaiv and comfort is fool enough to call one of them from tho work-room to preside over his household ?

"Friend Zamiol " (writos aTapueones pondont), "if you do,' writo fur fun,' and with no aim, you manage to make a good score of bulls' oyes and centres. You re cently inontioncd a dospatcll which had boon printed by the A moor of Afghanistan having reference to the "Lost Tribes of Israel." If you have not met with, it yon will linda very interesting nccount of tho Jows in Afghanistan in " Public Opinion," of Mny 22nd, extracted from tho ".Jewish World," (riving full particulars of tho Afghanistan origin. Yon say "The features of "tho Afghans lend colour to I his tradi tion . . but their language—a much safer puitlo— goes in the opposite direction and almost disproves it." Among philologists lnnguago has coasod to be regarded ac a test of nice ; it was found to bo so untenable »n argument that it has been of Into yeaw gonorally abandoned. Language is proof of social contnc'jbutnot of breed. How many generations does it tnko tho progeny of Gorman emigrants to tho United States to lose tho tongue of their fatherland, and become members of tho English ppenking race? Many ot'nor instances will doubt less suggest themselves to you. The grammatrical construction ot a language is more reliablo evidence than the vooabu lary, Compare tho English language of A.U. 1000 with the present, and mail; tho growth of words, yet tho main principals, of inflexion have been maintained throughout all the changes. Therefore the tradition of the Afghans may bo founded on fact, in spito of tho language." Just so, tho Afghans may bo tho lost ton tribes, and tho British mny bo tho same lot ; but it is quito impossible, don't you sco, that all tho claimants to that honour ca-n bo tho true heirs of tho promises.

For oxamplo, the Zulus of South Africa and tho ancient Aztcou nf America liavo been plainly " identified " at difforont periods as tho lost children of Israel. Tho Aztec claim may be considered as aban doned for that interesting race has some how got " lost " once moio, and thoro i 3 a double process of identification required iri their case. But tho Zulus are still to tho foro, and it soems that they, liko tho Afghans, have traditionary lore which inferentially "identities" them with the Jewish race. Tho Zulu language may be primitive enough to bo " identified " with Hebrew, but the peoplo are woolly headed netrroes, and a very knotty ethnological dilKeulty is at onco raised which I don't kno'v how tho Anglolsraolites. get over, Certain it is, some Anglo-Israol writers aro just as positive about tho Zulus as thoy are about tho Afghans (or themselves for that matter) being tho truo descendants of tho-o wandering ' babes in tho wood " who have boon lost for so many conturies; and I can only suppose that climatic intluenco will bo considered sufficient to have trans formed the Caucasian into "tho negro typo of humanity. Tho whole subject, looked at by one capablo of taking a com prehensive view, is a hopeless muddle. Two of the marks pf identity relied upon in the case of the British people are—the "strango speech" and tho altered features. Now, if theso'two marks aro eseonti.il, tho Afghans fall short in tho matter of feature*l, 03 many of them have deeidodly .Fowieh rf0863. Language and physique are the two permanent things relied upon by ethno'o gists in tracing a race, but both theso aro pitched overboard as valueless by tho Anglo- Israelites. Let, "Tapu" look at another "lost" race—the Maori people, scattered all ovor the Pacific Ocean-and nek himself how tho immigrations°and origin of theso numerous tribes could be followed out were if not for the plain finger posts of physique and language. Aftor those two faetcrs come tradition, religion and customs, which are often of sreat value in supplying links of missing history. The caso cc between English, Afghan, and Zulu claimants would seem to stand thus : —The English pooplo havo nothing but religion which \TOu!d point to tho Jewish origin, and of course French, Italian, Russian, and Span iard havo all the same mark. Tho Afghans havo physique and tradition in favour of their claiai, while tho Zulus havo nothing but dim tradition. Certainly ; I agreo with my friord that tho Afghans may be the lost sheep of Israel; that is, if there ovor were any lost Israolitoj.

I give tho following letter without com ment, having littlo desire to minglo :n the pigmy-and-crano strife of tho local Parlia mentary Union : —

" Dear Zaraiel, - Would you bo so kind as to spare mo a littlo apace in your much appreciated column for a fow lines to the Hon. Member for Podger. I am so sorry the information I conveyed to you regard ing the Parliamentary Union lias caused such a ilutter in the upper story of tho hon. member as to lead him to look down in compassion upon mo, and I hasten to do tho nmnme honourable, or, I should gay, set tho matter right, bcoiuso if I u?e big words, Podger will think I am trying to imitate him, and you know, dear Znmiol, with my 'Spartan Simplicity,' I never could ' lacerate my sonsifcivo feelings ' by dealing in high flown phrases and long winded pontences, but have a lovo for the simplo and true. I supposo it is not pro sumption on my part to nddress the hon. member, becauso, botweon you and me, I havo heard say he is a big man and actually ono of tho Cabinet. I may be mistaken, I think I mnit be, for surely if ho occupies that position ho would never throw out tho sarcastic hit ho does upon his colloaguo, tho Attorney-Goncral, However, bo he who ho may, I think your 'unsophisticated, bucolic, (that makes me laugh, 'Znmicl'!') and young friond ' will bo able to show him that this time his sarcasm has run wild,and for onco the oraclo has spoken without his book.

"To the Hon. Member for Podgor. Sir, —Whilo acknowledging your groat intel lectual ability, and tho benefits you have conferred upon mankind, I bog to point out to you that your letter to my honoured friond ' Zamiol' ia full of surmises which are misloading and incorrect. You have evidently missed tho mark, and 1 feel in duty bound to my constituents to point out that your description of their momber ie altogether wrong, lam not a member of a mutual improvement clasa. I havo never had tho pleasuro of discussing the subjects you mention in your letter, and as far as Parliamentary oxporienco is con cerned, my own will compare favourably with most members of the Auckland Parlia mentary Union Without, I hope, appear ing egotieticnl, I may say I havo had tho honour of a seat in tho Cabinet of a local House whoso members included British Members of Parliament, and which in numbers, ability, and intercut, was second to fow in England. Tho {treat fact impressed upon my friend 'Zamiel' was tho absonca of young men. This you admit, and^l havo thus gained my point as such a union is essential for tho education and training of young men in political thought and public speech. I have not spaco to say more, but some day I hope you and I will cro<s sworJson tho floor of the local House, and the best man will win. Until then, J remain, youra &c, Tin; MiausKß i-vut Slouu-m."

Auckland has several well-known char actors, and not tho least of thoso U that groaecr uf tho wheels that carry the car of

justieeon (uit.'j,;'n ' "■ '•' :!n >l! '■'• "''' ''■'• ' who koi.-rn '• ,-ihj •• ■--.' ''■■■ I'.ilii-o '.\.:<vi: Thi-i iii.iivuliin' i • ;;-■ -1 f-'votiriti; with those who know him ■iiiii..-i-nil; In luHcr stand si:-;; !.£■= b-iit :.-* ■■■■-•• <\::'.:< hi.-, bin). Oiia of " Ua.-.V1 gio.'.ict. ti-iiilhln" is thfl pcrsi.s'ei.eo of tho "t-Mr' imwn-lu-il " in blocking up theoiiM'.iiiivi.il I'huCoiirt-hnn.'o, and hi.-) p:itionra m-or.-iy tax-d ynmitioics by tho ol'.-iinar.'y i)f intruder-, fl ■_■ is. huw over, a gixisi rrspci-'pi1 pf persons, and his judgment rarely fails T'w other day, however, by [iljini'-ijr too much I'i'liaiico on dress "M'ie" " puMiin too! inlo it " flu accoiml of the tib-oiu'o uf Ih Sup'rinluii dent of IV'i\v, fim-w [<i?p ci'nr look com nmnd if thi' An 'klaud ?t.Hfii"i. Uy so:no strange ovcrß:;;hr. inn gentleniMn wa* no! introduced to so important a por.-<ona;jo as "Mac." The mornini; uftcr hi* arrival the Inspector visited tho I'olieo Court, and with tho natural instinct-*1 of n member of tho force blocked up tho doorway. Almost immediately the angle eve of " the regular dustman" was upon him, " and "Mac" g.ivo the nbetractionisti r. very plain hint that ha would lind room among tho crowd. Of (Mur-'O the Inspector smiled sanlonicnliy nnd n iiiiu dhis po<ition, which so oxae-peratoil ".Mae" that ho was bearing down with looks of thunder wlu-u a brolhurcon.'tnblo, saAu^ how miiltersHtu >"d, informed him of I lie littlo mistnko. Tin's changed " Aine'.s " modo »f prncoiluro. lli< solemn vL'dgo becamooverspread withnn ex pansive- Hinilu of rocogiiition as ho huriied to get tha lnspcrler a chair, with all the ooremony duo to a suporior ollii:or.

Another instilled (if mistaken xenl on (ho part of a "member of the foarco," whoso name is more htmhliLv than M* lemppr, no currcd shortly after the incident aln-mly mentioned. The '• bos.-j" of all the hlno coats was sunnir.g hiin*clf in tho passage leading to thegii'.irdrooinof the si at ion when tho eneivet,iefon-t able afore-aid (such being the lanijunjjo of the brothorhood) in mnki'ig a sudden entry came into cuUi-ion with tho intruder. The Inspector smiled good naturedly, and the constable being one nf " the generation uhich knew not .losenli," mistook his superior ollicer for a civilian, andt-vrtly inquired "What the Wankhom-aut by gottingin tho way?" A eh'ilin;; rojoindor from the- Inspector did not improve matters, and tho "Colonial Robert" bo coming exceedingly wroth, suddenly clapped hands on tho inspector and "ran him ill" iri II milliner which rellrc'ed le.-s credit, upon his difCl'otion than his valour. When the conHlabk and his irisonor j;ot into thn guaid room, ho.v o^er. the latter ws iinmuiliiitoly recog nised by those i:i charge and he was re leased "without a stain on his clu.rartar." Then all [nvsoiit cnj-iycd a hearty laugh at tho ditcumlited i:olicem.'in.

A vtvy good story of mistaken identity is tuld of another Mac. occupying n mnro exalted station. Tho version 1 havo heard, but cannot guarantee, runs thus : — Shortly after his appointment as District Judge, His Honor went on circuit t.i Hamilton, and being an early bird, strolled down to the Court-hoii'r ti'rst thing in the morning to sco what business awaited his attention at tho fitting of tho Court. While leisurely engaged inspecting tho interim' (if tho building and in'iikjing in his usuul morn ing whitl", tlio 1!..» i. catnc bustling in tn prepare thing* for the new Judge, wi'h whose personal appearance ho wa j entirely unacquainted. Upr-n p-itohinjj sidil of tho intruder, ho mistook him For an oxpooted new bailiff, and after admini'teiing c proper reproof on tha cnormiiy of smoking jin the temple of Justice, oidercd tho delinquent to i'ft tho broom and sweep yip tho I'ourt hou-c. Tho Judge, being ■m invuleralu wag, obcyrd with al;i"iiiv, hu' mum tho X.SI. withdrawing, took the opportunity of making his c-rapc. At a later hour when liis Honor appeared for tho pnrpo.-c of dis posing of the bu'ine.-" of the day, thoro wan eonsternntion wild depicted on the conn tonance nf tho brother "beak" who hail treated him so unceremoniously,

Tho Island m;ul steamer Janet Kinoll is expected in h.irb.iur tonight, on hur way back to Tonga, Samoa, and I lie ro»i of thoso "Cannibal 1.-l-iuds." 1 lcirn with interest that tho Bishop of Dmudin, along with ;<m Arohdcncoi nnd mine

mis-ionanes, arc going down mi this trip " to extend commercial .relations," 1 suppose in reality, tho'igh ostensibly to evangoiiso the poor heathen. If <;o\l lMchop Nevillo only knew it, thoro U !,.- need of missionaries in Tonga. Simon, Ttihiti, or Uarft'oiga than Ihoru i« in Duntdiu ; mid in piety, honesty, and good behaviour geuorally (lie natives could "j/ive points"

to tho inii'D ijiii'l population oi the Southern C:ipit;:l. [liTievcr, as the running d? the mail pteimor U specially dovi-rd to further trade with tho Islandj I v, ill charitably puppiso that tho Hishop and hi? as-ijtants uro actuitod by a single minded licsr; to extract inoro dollars from tho simple savages. These iluiky pooplo aro not so imlutonil »•< m-my suppose, for (ho natives of [tiiratongalu'M a late mifsionary in i-'cnsmit rtuicmbrancu by tho nmio of ".Money dill" from the earnestness with which ho always im proffcd thfl Chri.-tii'ii duty of giving. BMiop Ncviho will fiiul it n hard task to cajole more mosey o:it oi them, for they arc already taxed very heavily for their roligion, the mifsionarius charfring ihum S.« and sninetimos \H< for a lU'dlc wliidi !.■ supplied by tin Ilible Society for v shi'ling or so. I won ler, really, if tho patcrnu! N'.-w ZonhitnUtovornmentaro paying the pa-.«agc of tho Bi^hnp and tho Aichde ceon, ha they did for tho othor commercial dclegatoi !

And talking of the Jntirt Kicoll, 1 .-co fron tho papers that shomwlo things lively at sea by her pleasant habit of rolliiiji-, pitching, and kicking about generally, It was expected that thu yuuen of Kurotongu would havo boon a passenger to Auckland, and would havo helped to stoady I'm steamer, but tho hope proved delusive, as tho lady resolved not to coino till the warmer weather sots in. Tho giddy .Tar.ofc NicoU'* light headodncss ia to bo ro-necliod by tho taking in of a good load of ballivt on the present, trip. To give the pii.^onguiv on this occasion an idea of wlmt tlioy will mif's, I give hero a fow voivch descriptive of tho lively Janet's antics on the occasion of hor last Island tour : — THffi DEL.Er4A.TES" CHORUS. JairtNio'-l, .Tanot Nienll. Frisky maidc.ii. fajpc nnd flcldo. Sending, witli yr.ur constant jirnnnintr, Deletes and dishes dancing ! Janet Nlooll, Janet Nleoll. You've l'Ut v.' in a pretty pickfr. Whilo tlic.jovir.l Captain Mutton, ])oi» not ;<eem tj care a b: tton! .Tanot ' icoll. Janet Xicoll. You Iho poei'n fan^y licklo: Fro'icsome Blim-wniatod niniilnn, Glad and joyo«s, li^Qtly laden! Uollinf; nor tho Sq'ith I'aciflc With a motion quito torrilli:; Till rid Heath (■ mica with Ms r>k'!;ic, We'll not fon;ct tho Janet Nicoll!

Safety of Cast-iron Pillars in Case in Fire.

A .short timo ago a discussion occurred in tho Auckland City Council on tho safety ol iron pillars as supports to tho iloors el buildings in caso of lire. Tho following extract from that reliable tcchnical'piiblica-

tion, "Engineering," will bo read with in terost: —" Wo stated enmo timo sinco that, owing to tho upper stories of a building in Berlin falling in during a firo by tho giving way of cast iron pillar?, tho Prussian police authorities had issued an edict for bidding tlio ufo of cast-iron pillars in any inhabited building, but permitting tho ueo of wrought Iron pillar.-*. Cast-iron may only bo used provided that each pillar is surrounded by a fixed casting of sheet

iron, in such ;i manner that thcro is a good air-spaco between tho two. This eriict has provoked much criticism and opposition, and eoveral authorities have reasoned against it, a-j well as mario experiments to disprove tho assumption on which it if based Pro fessor Baaschingor, of Munich, rocontly made a long sorica of actual trials with pillars of b'.'th cast and wrought iron. Ifo loaded them with tho weights that they arc usually allowed to bear in buildings, and heated them first to 300 dcir. Cent., then to 600 deg. Cent., a:id finally to a red heat, and lot a stream of cold water play on them, exactly ns would bo tho caeo in a fire being oxlingui.-hcd by firo engine*. The cast-iron pillars woro much damaged and cracked by this treatment, but. continued to carry their loads cjnifc fafely, while those of wrought-

iron were much benf; before rcdno.°s was reached, and po twisted when coid water was squirted on to them tHiat they could not carry their loads. The conclusion i-; that cast-iron is really far pafer for buildinpra than wrought. Pillars of other materials wcro also exparimpntocl with—viz., natural stone, brick, and coneroto. Tho luffor

stood the test best, resisting ;;. fire of throo hours' duration. Also pillars uf ordinary brick stood very veil, but granite, wntl slono, and other natural stones did not show a-3 ranch resistance. If the obnoxious edict of tho Berlin polico has done no other good, it seems ut loust to havo sot a good many pooplo to work on this important subject."

SPORTING.

i!)\T S '>!•' ntl^'f'M'V'. Al'.-'l'l? M.IAN A..--H SVAV KKAS.ANI) HACKS. ! |[.nvi.mirii\ !;riNK.>. -.-S. plmiliTlO. ■ .\..it\ i');:''ii'v. '.•-'•|.|'.'-i.l.',- 1:1 f vi I.KIKI II < '<!'.- tll'll|l|l-r 17. V.K.I! -ii;:;:;:v. D.i oW :U. IMiini'K m.1 W.\i.i:s Vtahio?.- >.-. vi'iul'ii'i' 10. Civn:Mu;iivh;i:i:v. -N .vciilior VI ■ I'L'Ki.ANi) l'i:i\ — Iheciiib r'J'i. Tn Corie.».p(iii<letitß. ('.;. I. !i :i ie,! li:ihw»! the JIMli-Mir-ip fu i (i:ir ■ oi'.y, tir, i!ri!i»l h'l ui-tir. J, Williainsun r. do SlKf'.ini-Ust.:-,-. !).A !'.- [t was v rrinrfr's .«mr J;l J.ilv.'s liiiK'fortli!l 1| mil,., viy,. ■.!,„!„ nj, O o, ii (lie fa-oji ivcon oiMiiAH trali,. VV.I! -Lii.aox «iis i:ol hj lluriliirnon.' from i itil Ktii'.'-ilou. li ! Win ! Mil by \ii-Joliiil.iM-, n '(! H.'l'l in i j:.'.--.-1 • tiii to tho Hon. ,I.i«. White for I.l2oguinea". ltl'.\vi (CiiiiilipMco) At thft ''1-,ii-iii-3 SmiiTiii r Moe ins: of l.'-S.1!. IConM-.vorth I7:s> IJ.li) wo.-. Iho 'J'li.liiiks I'latr.l.V.iui'C I,'uwi ,7m 7 li>. In i-.i? ii; o:.lynti:rr.-l,,rt,T. I <:|. -Stuwi r,'.V Ilnml.iNiii 1J ini'o. Iv^'nii1 urlli IS;: 7 lijim:' l(civi(S .1 lilli) run ii iK-ml he-it. Tn. (in £i\ Id-,' lliii irnii, 1.-: inilo. win iTi-.ii by l.ili, II r (Ist ISlli), K--nil v-.inli (r,| Tit.) l-.i-iii - b i (!••:»). kihl I.oih- lla-id ITit IQIi) ll,i--'. \\ ruod|u-i:i;i-i- (7-<r i"il.) m.il I!jwi(7Bt7lb) nYivihooiil • (-tliiirptoners. NCWL'KS BY IILt'PONA. Tin: prograinraoa for tho various mcotinuH to ho held by (ho Aufklimil Kaeing Club during tho forthcoming reason were finally decided on bj the Committed in (ho early part of tho weuk, and a peni>al of them ■ •hows that tho Will) arc deiei-ininod not to let the turf doclino in this part of (ho Colony. Tho Club proposo to givo in added inor.ey at four gatherings the very handi-nmo sum of i.'7,1;t0, dis" tribute 1 thus :— Spring Meeling, .UiS I ; Suiiiiiior Weotiiig, j.'!,li'O ; Autumn Mooting, L'l,i;."i(): Winter Meeting, .fll'.O. This hliows mi inoro.-iso of £1,310 over last .season. The most notable alteration in lh 0 progratHino is tho raising of tho added | money of tho Auckland Cup to l,ooosovg., and with Iho s\vccpst«l."o, il will tol up to "■ largo amount. Every eneourageinenl 100 has been given for owners te have their horses rildi'ii out in tho rn<v, for the runner up will reo.ive tho nice plum of l!(l(>ovs. and lh;i third |ior.-o lOO^ovn. out of (hu staiiu Kcmiimtioiirt for tho Cup, and ulso tho Kncinu' Olilb Ilandieap and Sl-jt-plecha-o, are .luo on tho KSth S.-pf.■uil.-r, which is about, a month earlier (linn hitherto, and the alt. rut ion will no (lnnbt at; Jenst Imvo ti.o ell'rt of eau-ing more local inforoil to be taken in the laeo! Anotlier pleasing fcNliiroof the bill of fnro provided for tho Summer Meeting is th.' fiic! that a pecond Hurdle Haco has been ic-erted, to hu dcei'.'td on N'eu- VoirV Pay, v.'lilo th* I'lililicans" l'ui>« his been lv.'-n uneii I'm " Membpis' Ptwvc" At tho wp.-i1;; M'eliug, it will bo nuticed by the progi-immo printid beUnv, that the priii.-ipal eve m li.-ii lu-yn ro-named the "Pii-ivof W.-ilo-" Slakes," and the ti.lilt-il „.,„.-..,■ ;,,..,•,.:.,,■,i to i,-,(u,. V ;., t |.,. Woloon<e Stalii^ :>'.'n being nf tho tamo value, while tho Hurdle llueo h.ij anotlnr :)(!-ovs. "tneked" en to it. At tho Autumn Moi ting th.i only alterntioiv are tli.- raising of the add-.-d m.moy of thn lO.i-ti.-r II mdiean toJJiO.-ovs,, tho Miu-fft' r'roilnpeS[«k(«i(ior which tho ontrii-e a-e 010-ei) ij n-'-.v sul)si ili-o! with -OO^ovs., mill t!io(!ivat N'orlheni Si. 1.. ._-.,.r of -JUOi-nv.-. v. ill take tho place of Iho I'liblir-nns1 I'mve. The bill of fare for tho Winlr-r Me (in.; if idontit-d with Ui.-t year's, 1 • ■ tlio m.ittcrol pnyinontc, etc., I am glad to ?-v Ih it tho Chill have acted as liberally a- ever towards oh-i.cis, a:i.l a-a cfirrrsp'ondinir rcwanl tlu-y will no lUmhl riO good i-ntrii-s and hirgc" li.-lds gotothn p.,.-! fortho various race.--. Th* proL'r.immc aUogothor ii ptm tlut Aiu-klauders i-.ui p.ii:it to with prido, and the many temptini; baits Hint haw h.o.i tliiown out cpoeUlly at t!:..1 Siunmcr Meolinjj, "ill ii-it!l>tle,-.-' havu the rlTect of inducing a large immbor of foreigners lo p.iy us a visit. The following arc tlio nmou ts to bo |Ti*cn a; the various gatherings :- Sprlns ?Tcctia.';. TfffsliAV. Km N..vkmi;m;. — Tilal 1ii.0..... : WYI.-om. r-i.ife s C..- e.vo y nro!i! t ) l.v;i.uvt. : lkiill.-vi llurnle Rrci'. HW-nvf. ; P'inro i ' NS'j.'ei il.inili.--p. ljj"ovi>.; ri-lliitj; Htorplei-liMf, M)*nv>. j Kl.scni Cli-'u i(M-OV3.

Summer Meeting.

FiiiviDav (datuni.is .-JiUhDeccinlH'T).—Mbuloii l'liilc. K« .(.v«.; Mi.'.Mimiii. r ."litkw fur (i «•«■ yrar-oWs). 3'iOd is : Au-Vliini i.':i\: ',00*OTa. : II v.illiwri nnrtli' Pa.-*. lui>»iv«. : niilwuy i'ivr lOO^nv*.: i"n Htniii JlmMcflp. lOiiv.iv> Si:, iixii !Uv iS«tuWnr. I-l .In' ll.\rr). An -X - lin,! UiTht, ?W)«nv.«.; Sfiv \>.M-"« FUu.l ( -in H'lnlls K-rr. liHi.vivs. : i:«c-lnn Clnli Hinli.-a;., r'>nv;i : Mf-nli-r»' !'ar.«,.. I'Okhs ; lirfU Koiil "lacM. aii'no'-. ; (ir .nil tft\r:il il.iu.ln-;ir. I.V):VIT I. liiikp Pay fiitu-iliiy, Jikl Jimu'ryl.- V.My mirko! l!iiivlli'«p, I'D ■■-.m ; Xura^ry I'l-HKlic-.p. H'l.-.v.: .\ii:Klard !'!•.'•-. iV); ovs ; .-tco| li rhi«o, SO'.-uv-.; SeiliiiK stnku>, 100-rue: Sul Coi'iMin'.i SiruS' Huko-, :tX)-ov?. ; Free Ilitn ilicap, niO'ovf. Autiunn Mooting. First Day Uv.m.- Mo-vl-r, Anril •_"i:li».- Tri<lcsmcir.i IU-.Hotn. I00.<o'«.; At.iws' IVo ('ui'« liMki". ;ip<i-.ts. : K'iUp llaiirtiofir. 3 (bovfc : llurdlo ItH'-. liO»ivr. ; lia ■», jniovr : (■'•••t Nor'licni Si. I.cjit. JOO-i'lv*. s KftiNti Dvv lirth April. - t'"iTiiiK Stpkod, I00<ovs.: Tii^.Siinrtfliiiii'i'lcipi.lCOiOVf. ;Stc|i'i.- rht.::-, lafo'r-.; F."iT«ili.< ri.Me (for livo-y.ir n'il. tiiir-ov-..; Uil:-rn [tanfllMp, 20050T3.; Krce llMidief.ii Ji-evt Wiutor MootiDK. Wurr Monday ill'li Jum I. -Mai '.on SUnnl« ---i-lr^s,', ll'Ovivf.: llu:;illi\!.n II unlln Hnr:i>, liM-ovf.; (Jr-C North, r:i s'tonr-lech^'o, :i'Jo'nv>. : Novel l!ur..l'! Kir-, .Meow. ; Ss'lini; istecpluchiia*, ion c\- 1. Tie fir*l foaling" at Sylvia lark this ■i'.'l-oii took piano on Monday l.'i^t, when Krupp's dam Maid of Athol dropped a filly foa! to Muket, anil Lilly Kavoneworth a colt foul lo tho snino sire, while on tho smio ilay Lovebird produced a cult to Leoliini-.

Tho D.uiphin has so far recovered that ho was removed from tho North Shore to Oman Lano during iho week. His owner onlortaitifl tho opinion tkat tho poo of Traducor will be abli' to servo marcs lato in tho season, but 1 am pooptical about tho matter.

In Christeburch, Turquoi.°o has hardened in price for tho Now Zealand Cup, nnd no^* occupies tho position of first favourite at 100 to 12, Captain Webster coming next at IHO to 10,' whiles 100 to S can bo had about Lochiol nnd Ike. Sronoyhurßt is quoted favourite for the Derby Tho Auckland Racing Club, I under stand, aro to jay Mr J. O. Evelt L'l.iOa yo.ir for hi* -enicc.; as handicappcr, but out of tho amount ho will havo to pvy hw travelling expense*. Tiic Spring Mooting will bo tho only gathering from which Mr Evett will b* absent.

Local turlitrs will bo clad to hoar that Messrs Whet him nnd Walker, of Duncdin, intend biiiigin'.r out tho Bccond volume of the "New /calami Turf Record." Tho work in now in tho pro.-.*, and tho publishers inform mo by telegraph that it will mako it-= appearances on tho Ist of Soptomber.

From the South I loam that tho lion. Mr Kobin: on's two year-olds Torrent ((ho Apremnnt — Wiitorsprito eolt),tho Apremont

■- Fleuraii'_'<>colt,and tlio Albany—No Name colt are, shortly to go across tho water to join the team under Mnson's chargoon the of her si:le,

The Tnkapuna Jockey Club havo fixed their Spring Mooting to take plane on tho 28th November; Ihn ■'ummcr Mooting on tho 20th January ; and the Autumn Moot ing on tho Saturday in Eastor woolc.

(Sydney papors record that tho Hou \V. RobiriKon's team arc doing famously at I'andwirk. Liverpool and Thunderbolt are paid to bo looking particularly well, and Winchester has been treated to a lot of strong work lately. All threo are in groat favour with tho "touts." Tho following littlo tublo fbo.wing tho amount of ndilud money privon by tho Auck land Raoing Club during tlio past cix Reasons will fihow Iho progress tho Club haa inado : - '70-80 *80-I '812 '821! 'S3-I '81-3 'Si-fi Hiring .. - - .. ~I no s7s 570 CSO .Summer .. 1..V0 l,(! 00 1 S'iO Safin 2 7SO 2 350 I lj() Atitumn .. 750 7H5 1,005 I,l'Jo 1,310 1 m lfi r>< Winter .. — — — — — (150 650 £2,230 2.383 ! K~ri 4,095 i 67S 5 820 7 130 "Robin Ho-id," the Christohnroh sweep promoter, writes me that his consultation on tho Hawkosbury Handicap and County Pnr/»o is filHriß rapidly. As a tinalo previous to tho Gaming and Lotteries Bill bonoming law, tho firm intend coming* out with a big monster consulfcatiou on tlio Melbourne Cup, viz, 50.000 subscribers at 10rf each ; first prize, £5,000

I notice that tho Hon. J. White's unit

Lennox was among the starters for tho Spring Handicap at the Rosehill Meeting (Sydney). ITo divided tho honours of second favourite, but was unablo to pain a place, tho winner turning up in Mr J. Alsopp's

an,-:li a-Unllanph. Tn tlio Aiukl.md Racinjf Clnb programme ■r tl;c forthcoming season, tho forfeit svs-

(■..■ in which haw boon in forco in connection «ith the big events for tho pust two or threa eensons has been rlono away with, and the* old and more simple custom of nomination, accoptanco, otc, beon roverted to.

Piipera to Iriml thU week state tr.nt be( lint'on Hid V.llO. Porhy mid M.-lbiurrie <Juj> in quiet. fc\>rl!;u lih'm Kibunil Urall.i ha- mot with cnm-i vipp-.rt, I ufc New t'.-.-id stdl h .hip t! o \K-rW hi i,! favourite, ami th • bo*<i prieu now ollenxl ami rial him in !) to i. (Juroii'ti. an.) l.'(iiin:iotiii) cond'uuu to li-d friends for ilio Meiboi-n n Cup nfc I Oil: 1" 7 a-:d ■; iv.-po- lively, liio " iSfi ir!«man "■ ' tho l-.'th ym;.-i the."following as ihi i-luti. of t.ho mai-kot : — Cui.i'iju.n Pii1. 1,000 to U) Uuriioaiio(ili) I.Oi'll o.lfl Velnrip.-rt (nH'i I 11) Mi) 10 S. 1, urittiß" (i.> I I DUO to .'1(1 l,'i.n:i:rn ((' ) I,:; uml . 111 I OUO lulio LorU \Vi!l in (IK) J. '() lo :ia i l:uir:iii (o!l"> l.nU In.'!1) (inn c I) ■r'iiiß (o(0 ! ('O,l lO.iO.lmniiM M 1 0 UloS'l I'l Li^i'ii.i (Jill i.'d) to.'to l.v jkv Hit loir I Dili) loliO Merlin |-=tl"l ].oo(H.i::o<t, .lull, (oin l.OOilb. :t)illink llunny (lls) 1 1)10 to*) l.c-b'allt-:) 1,001) 10 ») Aiehioloin 1 COO in 'M Wcloomo Jack (Ik und oil; l,()l)i lo'.'O Vision (oll'l V.lt.C. Dwhi-.v. 1.000 to V.lO Kowbtwul loll"! l.liOOlo l»0 ])un!up('kiii'd will) 1,1)0;) 10 10 i i\lo;itcl'h:ii|o (tk) 1,000 to 100 Urn.Uu (Ui (rc-.-ij) 1 t'Ol) lo S) lKoiioPny (tk) 1.000 tOiiO sunny l)u.js (010 MKIJiOI'IINK Cll' 1,000 to 70 Coronet (otr 1,0 m 11 (id (Join»io'inn (dO i.uoo to mist juiuiitk und oil', 1.000 to :,o jjiij- (tit mid oio i.(();> io;'.'i i;»/in;ii.i (ti;i l.Oiiil i.o Si) l,iv»n-nol (HO 1,(«() to:«) :>.lniu!hcnt(r.{ofl'l UMI) to :tl) Al-.mtil (r.k) ),OUO lo M .Myluj.im I'ojiimleen (oil") I.OOIHo HO liimW-i (011 l

D. ,1 ones, ivuU-knovn in tlio South, and who for live. yours past has trained Me (! (i. Stead's horses, diod rather suddenly at Christeluirch a few days buck, from in llunmatiou of tho lungd. I'eccaPcd boro an oxcollonfc character, and ho is credited with havhug steered to victory tho winnow of sovoral big New Zealand event*.

" Flaneur" linn tlio following items among liis notes :—Mr James lliggio lm» sold Ilia Well known troop horeo ami hunter, Grey Douglas, loan Auckland buyer, MrJo.-eph Cbadwiek, jun,, at as I'l-factory figure.— 1 ai»- I'ona Afinorum yesterday, and ho is looking healthy, and bids fair to bo n well furnisliod youngster. If liowo c«h got him in good nick by our Autumn Meeting, ho ought to have a say for the Derby Stake.*, as thi! number of prob:iblo starters is already

Finall —Bayard, too,is looking very big and Mrong, and tho picture nf ho-dth." His oil' tore, leg-till shows tho clToct of the severe strain ho gut a 'e\v days before ho started for the last Wanganui Cup, for which he ran so game a second on three lens. Tho Adelaide colt Ironoiny, who irn boon backed and talked of a good deal in c-inneo tion with tho next V.X C. Durby, started at tho Adelaide Hunt Club mooting. This «-is in the Aupuil Ilandieap in which ho carried S.t 71b, anil he got second In Tarjieia (7-t), Sandal and on-..1 or t.-.vo oilier Iliers being behind him. Ifonomy l-> a luilf brother to SiirJiuw, and it is said he Hhoiild have won the event under notice in n canter lie, was left at the post seven or tij;ht lengtliH behind everything, and vet made up hi- ground rapidly, and at t!»e lini-b w.is gi.ing two slriiles to the winner* one. Tho Sydney correspondent of the "Au-trnl nsi-iii " fay l>e-p.M U fa-t coming on, and hK.k." iiko'h iving another t-y for Mclbouvno Cup honour*. Nordoiifclilt does not njjpiar to tlinvo as -.veil as li\< fritMiiU dc-iie -inee s-lrong work h.-n bee:, given him. while Marrhlock and MonteCliii-tuare putting on muscle. Lite Knclis'i lik.i to land toll that Molt >n, the l>eiby winner, still holds tho po.-ition of liist favourito f.ir Ilio St. U-ger vi th, .^.,.n price of - to !, tho others mo-t fancied being l-obur and \ dntiaillc- 100 to 8, Fji-mvcllat 100 to 7, and l-onoly IWO to (i. With I'.irndox not: enjagul in the red rib;iud, that ranu 1..-uk» the bi-.-t of g.'oii tilings for the ton of Master tildaru ar.d Vii-lut Molrosn. At thoKo.-eliill Mooting (Sjdne>) young ll.ixtablo, who rode Woodpecker nliirii hu won tho HenJeivoii'H Mill Cup, got home I:.-.-! in the .Imiior Iliimliuip on Farewell, K-iglo (!r !ii'-<- bcHig rocoml, mill liner, a .mi of Muskot and l.yrti, tliirii. Farewell li.if been showing sour-goo ! form lately, and ii groutly fancied for tho lUwkobui) !l:ni.iieap. in which hi Inn only li.-l (.. eii-ry Ii i.- rai.i ho gallops eloso to (ho ground i;i tho stylo mi ivoH kiuin-n us "d-liiy er.ttiiig," and liai t wry appLilMluie of a -t'nyei-

"Vi(iil«nt,"cif llio ''SihuLmu in,"coiiclii lo» a longthy analysis of the Melbourne I'.np ramlidntes by i\t present pinning la- faith In Commotion, ii.irdiu*, Lord W'illun, Coronet, Warwick, Normnnhy, UraUa, Willcrao, Piinlop, and SK'nm- ,\< tin- half cooro in which (ho ivinnnr of tho Mull.: iriJO Cup of ISS.") i.i coneoulod. Mr 8. W. Knight'- fmiv-yeur cikl H.ieo-

bort, by Kxooisinr from l).i-m ir, i. ■..- ;in ning to attract nttontio.-i at Knmlv. .■:!; h tho nuuinor in which ho bowl? along wit;

t!io oolt Clarendon, «:>d it is ««d if li trains on, will bo .1 very liar.) one lo bevi in tho tiprinc hnnilicap'. liagobert has ft. ll'b in tho llawko-bury llnurlicnp, and i jiis) cn":i"cd in tbo Melbourne) ','np wit G-t 21b.

Writer "Augur" : -From Sydney I hoar good account? otthol'erby colt, Manchester, a youngster for whom I Imvo :»livayn enter tained n fancy rincA ho was sold as n yearling. In (ho matter of coufnrmiUon Manchester i.< all that could be dc-irnd in a

]»jrby colt —long, low, and i-fron b ', mi glor lotf-i, nnrl ■nit!) a middle piece whioh denote

staying. He is bred like fi rncehor.-c, being by Kobin.«on Cru.'oo from Cracker, by Pi reworks from Boajrico, and should Tom Brown succeed in bringing dim to tlio pn*t in his best, form, MrLoiiK may hiivo tho

satisfaction of repeating ilio Griiml Flaneu dmiblo.

The Adelaido snribo "Trumpalor re cently paid n visit ti> the Morpliottvillc rnurso, nnd lie (jives tlio following informu tion concerning thohoiws in work thoro : — Tothill, who lias ft strong string in hand for the (rood things of Molbourno, gave Snrdius and Juiuina a'gooii striding gallop of about Two mile-, both horfes acquitting lliom eaivGß well. Tho dip horeo U in paud form for tho («no, and iio h.is thickened out a dojil i>inco ho won tho Birthday Cup. John Hill sent his Dtrby colt Isonomy n sound working gallop, and all tho Morphott villo folk* seem in lovo with this half-brother to Surdius. Tie is more on tho leg thnn liis brother, but his performances uro oncourag ing. mid thsro is no ro.ixo'i why ho should not improve into aurst-clfwshoree, a»ho is agroat racing cult, with any nraount of powor nnd a splendid goer. Griffiths worked his Derby colt Dunlop, who looks as well as his trainer could wish. Tho colt's porformanuo in tho All-Aged Slakes at Flemington in March causes mo to regard his Derby chnnfio with n great deal of fin-our, and I am glad to find he ifi going on so well. Since ho bo:it Urnllannd Oartiold overamilo, Dunlop has not been feon in public, but he has cvi dently bcon doing nico work, for ho looks clean and hard, and his quartern show signs of condition. Standing about 15.3, Dunlop is a lengthy level-made colt, with great depth in tho girth, a good loin, and long poworful quartors, while Ilia legs look well tittcd for work. Hi 9 gameness was well attested in tho All-Aged Stake.', and thcio is that good honest wonr-nnd-tear lo<ik about him that, ono likoq to?oo in a horso from which groat things aio oxpooted. A conplu of the homo yearling nalos had boan held bofovo Uio doparturo of tho last English mail. At tho salo of the Yardloy stnd yenvlings, tho top price of 2,100 guineas was realised for a colt by Sterling out of Cherry Duclioss (.ind consequently an own brother to Energy and Chorry), tho noxt largest fiuma bfting given for a colt by Stor ling out of a King Tom mare, and an own brother to Paradox. Each of these fetched ■2,000 guineas, and tho lnttor was socured by John i'ortor, whiln Mr D. Bnird became tho purchaser of tho first-named. Tho higheot nrico realised at tho Henham House year ling salo was 1,100 guineas for a bny filly by kobcrt tho Devil out of Ursula. The tot.il amount of the pnlo was 7,175 guineas, or an average of 239 guineas. The fancy bofc of fivo hundred to four hundrel has been laid in Melbourne that " Tho Ncckoragnts beat tho Cheaters, ono two-throe in Ilia V.X.C Derby." There arc tlirco representatives of each oflho sires rc ferroi to engaged in our Dorby (fays " Vigilant,"), but tho layer of t.ho od<h has, in my opinion, along way tho better of <ho liguros, ns ho has Newutead (four to one), Duiilop (ton to one), and 1.0. U. (any odds) on hi£ side as opposed to Monto Chrieto (tons), Uralla (tens), and First (/hostor (any odds) to do battlo for tho Chatters. I read latoly in an English paper that Mr Matthew D.iwfr.n, ono of tho most successful trainers of modern times, gave it as his opinion that two better animals never trod the turf as two and threo-yoar-oltls than St. Gatien and St. Simon. Tho opinion of so excellont a judjjo carries with it a groat deal of wo'ght, and it's much to bs regretted that Mr Hammond's wonder, and St. Simon, tho hoi>-o which most English sporting authori ticn have dabbed " the horse of a century," we never likely to come rng«thor, to settle conclusively which is outitlutl to the name of champion. ' Tho doings of both hones nro of auch Bret-class form that a meeting between tho pair of clinkers, would cause excitement Maong turu'toa throughout the wido world,

CONDENSED ITEMS.

King of tho '.iipsiej has been turned out of work.

The Tak.ipuna Jockey Club invite ap plications for the post of secretary. Nominations for the Dum din Cup aro duo en the 20th ftjpiombor. There are 1113 horses being daily worked on Ilij Knndwick training track. Mr 11.I1. Ivory has purchased Lancer, tho winner of tlio last Brisbane Cup

lisivak Walton (the ciro of Killingsfratej stands in the Wanganui district this season. Tho foot and Minerva will bo prepared for tli' if Spring nngagoincnts by F Bolton.

S. Iliggott Inischristened tho filly by I'er kin Warbeck — Minnehaha owned by him, AdKailiiress.

Jlahta, tlio winner ol last year's Melbourne Cap, ia about to bo put into active work a'iiiin.

The adjourned annual meeting of tho Otnhuhn Hacing Club takes place to-night (Sat inlay). lloutor cables that Tasman and Precious Stone liavo boen reralclied for tho Mcl bourno Cup.

Kingsdalo is said to bo looking in groat form, and ia highly fancied i;i Sydney for tho llavvkesljiiry Handicap. Mr J. (jCorjL'O, of Taranaki, has purchased Armourer, and intends racing linn during tho fortheoining season.

It is paid that nohorsns at Floininf,'ton aro looking boiler than (Jomniotion, Off Colour, Cjionot, and Kof;inald. Hurricane has been very freely supported in .Sydney and Melbourne for tho Caulliold Cup at 100's to 0. F. Archer was in yreat format tho Epsom uicetin;,', where ho was pucceesful in twelve out of iwon'tysix moiintc.

llni.oydew, Kathleen, and Farowoll divided favourili-m for tho ilawkocbury Handicap at last advices. Misa Fi.itl. (the diun of Welcome .Tack and Wi-'chcKter) dropped a filly to St. George at Middle Park, Clnii'tehuri-li, last woek.

Vision, tho Tummnian horao engaged in tlio Gaulfiold Cup a', list 51b, by St Albans from Beeswing, is reported to have " a leg " Ji a our advertising columna Mr 11. McClelland invites tondora for tlio leaco or purcluuo of tho well-known Waikato liorso, Tho Clown.

Mr .J. Wilson is eaid to Imvo a very promising V.X.C. Derby candidate in Waiting Maid (a full sister to First King and L'etrea).

Nominations for tho two principal cveHts of the, Auckland Spring Mooting - I'riuco of Wales Handicap and Hurdles—aro duo on Friday, 2nd October.

(iasconado, tlio Adolaido colt who lia* beniso much talkci'about ii' connection with the foithcoming V'.K.C. Derby, has been thrown out of work.

Tho ownor of Smdius is reported to have recently taken £3,000 to £200, from Mr.l. Thompson, that tho son of Emulation and Kuby wins tho Melbourne Cup. The Hon. \V. I'enreon'n colt Arsenal, who Ins been backed to win tho Molbourno ("up for a good pfoko, lias received a slight injury thlfou»li being c.'i-<t in hid box. .Sixty-Hve nomination? havo been received f,ir tlii« yoar's Wnggn Watfga ('«p- Wel come .lack i? tho only oiio of tho. New Zealand owned division that is entered.

Mr It. Jnrdino, tlio well known Eii^Uhli mem;; man, Ims had t'io honour of a baronetcy oonferrcil on him, and will in futnro be known a? Sir R. Jnrdino, Bart.

Tho will of Mr Fred Swindella-a well known Kn^lish turlito, who w.'is an owner as well as v bookmaker und n lurfjo bao.Uor of hordes—was proved latoly at £H<i,os~.

Tho Amoric'in bred horw, L'luo (irass, by Pat Molloy from Amy Farley, was the u'innii- of this yeirV No'rthumberlitli'J I'luto of 1 000- ivs, tho bi^' event of the Newcastle (Kn:,'lui»l) incotinf;

Tlicro H 0:10 ".Inly" foal to record tliis scison, for J noliec by \dolaido papers that Mr r.liickli-r, tho woll-known stiulumstor, hi I a littlo c(ranger nsliereit into tlio world before hi." time.

At tho rwiit ('liristchnreh Hunt Club Mci-tinu, I'etor Osberk, tho winnor of the lliiiit-.'iv' lltmllo Unco, rawnnlcd hio sun [inrteis in I ho toralisntor with tho nioo little dividend uf MS IS?.

Caiil.-ii'i ('uvent-ry, it woll-luioun sports uiiiM, ilio'l renontly in RnglaniJ. Tho lic'.'i-nl ;,'ri)tleman will bo remembortd a? 1I11? riili'r of Aloibiii'Jos in the Liverpool Urnnil N'.-itionnl Stocplofhasoof ISO.").

states that tho ChriH

ehm-ch Rportfmnn, Mr Mcliratney, hac sold SnppK-j:.«k to Mr tSrccn, of Opotiki ( hiiu!), .mi;! the vctrnm ma of Mniton will be t:ik'.n to hi.- now homo in :> few d»y«.

'1 liol.i't Kngli.'h Derby \vnn tho fifty-sixth ponsopiitivo liluc Kiband witnessed by Mr Wciithtrhy, tlio hold of tho linn of brother* which publMita tho "English Oalctidiir," nml i- ivjtponstbla fur mast of tho important handicaps.

Mr John T.-iit, tbo veteran New .South Wale." uivnrr of hows, is uerioiiMy ill. Ho w.v thrown out of a trap returning from tho Canterbury Park races sumolittlo whiloago, nnd li.i.-i never Ihoroughly recovered tho rlloctn of tho s>pill

A do'oondant u[ old Fisherman won tho 1 )I _r two year-old rnco at Four OaUi> Park, theGr.!it Midland Foal I'latc of I.OOO.'Ovs. Tho winner, Johnny Whimplo, is by John Davis from (liidlly, by Trumpeter from Mwlnmo W'nlton, by Fishcrmsn.

NcckorHg.it'fl progeny aro commencing tho fsca'on nuspicious'y, for at tho Adelnido Augu't MooWiifTi M [■•• \\r At.=on's lilly M.idelino won tho Sapling Stako.i .<-omo what e.-i-ily, in tho fa»t tiino of ■13teee for Ihe three and a half fiirlomrs.

Tho Tasmania!) horse* Townlcy, A?tro nomor, mid Hosicruoian, have arrived at Molbourno from Tasmania, and were handed over to 1! Battyo, who will superintend their tivunini;. Tho two lirat-named woro a good bit knocked "bout on tbo voyago across.

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION.)

Rpoffurfh has intimated that ho does noi intend joining Iho next Australian Eleven.

•I. L. Sullivan nnd Jack Burke wer^ to box four rounds at tho Chicago Driving IVk on Juno I'J.

It i-< *t*ted that tho celebrated cyclist Hon. J, Keith Falconor intends going out to China «a a missionary.

Wallace Rojs is again cogor to try his skill .it rowing, and ban ipsuod a chaliam*o to row Ohas. E. Courtney for .€2OO c. side."

Tho Canadian Argonaut four-oared crow were defeated by tho Cambridge! crow easily, in London, on July 2.

Playing f»r Horshnin against Froo Forest ars on Juno 13, F. M. Lucas made 11!) and M. P. Lucns 103 out of a totnl of 4IU.

Mr Slciyh.of Dunodin,loaves for tho Old Country aflor tho Intorprovincial match in August. Footballers ami many othors throughout tho whole colony will regret his locs.

Thus fays tho "Now York Clipper":— " Tho Australians could hardly Imvo treatod Edward ITanlnn bettor tlinn they cKd had ho omo out winner of his matches with Beicb."

Daniol O'Loary, the cx-c!mmpion long distance pedestrian of tho world, is attract ing largo crowds by walking fair hool and too against, roller skaters in tho various rinks throughout tha Unitod States. Tho match between Surrey and Essex ended in an oasy victory for tho former by an innings and 147 runs. W. W. Road, not out, '214, was at tho wickets for four hours find lifty-fivo minutes, while 345 runs woro mado.

Tho result of tho meeting at Buffalo on June IS botween Edward Hanlan and John Teenier was tho signing of articles of agree ment to roiv a pories of five races, for HOOdols a sido oach, with tho privilege of increasing tho stakes to l,ooodols a-sido. Scott's backora havo sent £100 to Sir J. D. Astley with tho request that ho will endeavour to linda man in tho United Kingdom to meet Scott in a twolvo or twenty-four hours' walk for £500 each match.

Captain Richard Brown, a veteran Sandy Hook pilot and sailing master of tho yacht America when .she won tho Royal Vaclit Squadron Cup In English waters in the suinmor ol 1 Sol,died on Juno 18th athis resi dence, in Brooklyn, N.Y., aged 72 years.

A San Pranoieco papor nays :—"Hanlan h.19 invented a new stylo of metal shoes with which to walk on the water. Some years pince, a man walked across tho East River from New York to Brooklyn by means of eomo fucb device ; but it was found that if by chanco ho capsized, thoro waa no show of riuhting himself-" Tho .supporters of Hearn, tho champion Fcullor of Kow Zealand, placo bo much confidence in tho ability of their man that they have forwarded a cablegram to Sydney challenging anyono in Australia, exenpt Beich, to row him for £'200 a side. Tho message stipulate? that any match that may bo arranged must como off in Kew Zealand within throe months.

While rowing on Toronto Bay, on Juno 18, llanlan'n boat, a purchase from Tricltett, ;ho Australian oarsman, broke in two when 10 was tlneo quarters of a milo from Rhoro,

A'< there was not enough loft of thu craft, to cling to, Ifjwilan swam until ho was nearly exhausted, when, fortunately, ho was picked up by some sailors on v sdioonor and taken ashore.

E. Donovan, tho well-known Aucl*^ light-weight boxer, has issued a din \» jj." offering to box W. Burcombe, of ( church" for l'sO or £100 a-aido. c l Ins accepted tho challenffo, and will ''"• _ D jnovan in a fight to a finish, in a a, fortnight's time, for .C23a sidD, tho # ""« to take 75 per oont and tlio loser P I lcr cont of tho gate money. rwland Notts suceeedo,! in defeating nn Wg»« team by an innings and 14 runs. ll™ • very creditable porformanco, con^""h the county representative, wore »PP° by such players as Ulyctt, Hall, l' ' Date- Bri""--- Peel, Chri.^P 1C : 0"' OV to en C U\ bright, ami B^'f ' BarnoTwa, the mo,t>o C eß,ful bof°* J« Notts, taking nine wickets for ' J, rli i against a good batting team on hiiru> m' wickets.

SOUTH SEA LETTERS.

Samoa: Ita People, Gove*-ii»>eat, and

Products,

|Hv Own CoKhMroxiiEir "ITH «« Janet Nicom,.]

The Samoa group of island! are all vol. came, and aro 14 in number, I™ being ««• inhabited Wets. Theyaro t ii«»tol between 13° and 14° South lntitude and 160' and »|- West longitudo. Savaii, Upol«. !ind Tutmla are the throa largort Man*, »»*'lo «J" immcd.andthctotalarea isco'Wuted atl.OaO gqnaro miles. A proportion »f thi" i?> from its broken and mountainous nature unstated for cultivation ; but-; being woll tevcd> tho groat bulk of tho land fe m^t admirably suited for the growth of tropicj.l products- Tho native population last year was 35,000 Since tho war, have coated it b boltaved to be steadily increasing. I" 18/2, it was stated fit hot"™" -iA- 0M !ad :M,00(). so that it tfould appear to have increased by !•«» "> th° oouno of twelve yo-.* Tho clima o o Upolh is a goad <ieiil hotter than that ot Tongatabu, aim lr.-s clothing id required. Iv consequenco UionalivoJ aro very eoantily attired. They are lighter in complexion than tho Tonkin.-, | M s dignified in bearing, moro vivacious., liwm) indolent, and keener on trade. Tlio Janet NlcoU bad no eooner come to her anehordgo in tho lino harbour of Apia than about tiro dozen native ounces came off "with naked limbs, and flowers, and fruit," bogles 0»™l> boads- shell*, mid other articles " too numerous to mention. Our docks were soon crowded with these lithe and pleasant-looking people, jabbering in the liveliest f»s»'on among themselves, and oflbrin- their various goods for sale One young follow, on »>y refusing to deal with him,'astonished me by exclaiming - " J!y G—, if I was rich gentleman like you, I'd spend lots of money and got everything I want!" And the fellow laughed im modoratoty at hisown conceit, Others wero offering thoir eorvicca to do washing, mid producing bundles of testimonials to their honesty and efficiency. Most of tlio lottoiH wore from officers of Amoricin warship", and it was plain that in rorao cases tho Vaults had played oil a harmless jolco on tho guileless nntivee. Thus, one letter tootilid that; .Jim Adams besides doin" washing and speaking hngllsh, could sim<'ly tho travollor with unything he might want "from a lMnceea to ft war-club. Another letter paid the bearer was "in Kwno way connoctcd with tlio Uoyalßamily, but that did not interfere with his oiliciency as a washer-woman I" One gentle native in particular urged mo (oread his letttr. thoui'i. I had previously assured him I had no washing to do. 1 read them, and him they "were very good. " You, ho rotortcd, "ovot-ybody hay very <;ood, but no dam washing !" From which, and a pro co-lin" instiineo, it will bo teen that llis uoblo Samoan likoa to indulge in a little mild profanity, there being here no law ugainetsueh indulgence us there ia in the moral kingdom of Tonjia,

The ronder mint not run away with tho iden that the Samoa mon aro exem plars of indu.-trv, and not above wash ing and droving the dirty linen of the "papalngi." On tho contrary, they ore ns invo'-orately lazy as their Tonga brethren, but they.-no tiot abovo allowing their wives to do washing, dressing, and othoi meniiil gorviccs-the men simply act ing tho part of c.m'-.-ts.'crs and dealers. Tho Samoa wemmn id truly Industrious ; we

saw horat work in the mysteries of tho-native fuU'w, washing clothes in the fresh water i»prinj»s nnar tho beach, and working sew ing machines. F-tery native house has its sewing mnchino, mostly of American mako, and somo of tiie stores, employ nativo women in nvik-ing up rcidy-mado nulivo dot him; for file.

' Apia" N a large and flourishing business contra by comparison with Nukualofa. From tho steamer's deck wo can read on a building ne-ir tho wharf tho Homing sign " American Storo," and on landing wo lino there- arc livo hotels and t.wonty-j'ivo "stores," inostot them boasting sign- boards, and all of a more subritan'iul and costly kind than was to be seen at Tonga. Tho white population numbers nearly 'MO, of whom about 100 arc English, 110 German, 12 American, and 1 French. From tho municipal books we learn that there is one lawyer in the placo (Mr Hc-thorington), ono auctioned" (\n American named Alvord), besides 2.'< carpenters, If) clerks, 4 blacksmiths (this contradicts tho signboard of n German who advertises himself as

"the only blacksmith"), 0 cooks, 4 over score, .') bakers, '1 purveyors (ono of theso is Mr Mabin, formerly employed in tho Now Zealand Survey Department, in tho Otago and Canterbury districts), besides one each of tho following: — Engineer, butcher, photographer, sail-maker, boat man, barltor, cooper and tailor. Tho butchor is a ('hinaman, and the European residents strongly desire to havo a "grca?y" of their own colour. All tho tradesmen enumerated, as well as tho publicans an .1 .storekeepers, havo to pay licon:-os, and there- is in addition i> municipal tax of ono per cent, on the value of all house property. Tho placo would seem to bo ovordono in the matter of stores and handi craftsmen, for tho total trado of Samoa doos not equal that of Tonga, although tho nativesarouOpercont. moronumorous. The exports from Samoa last year I ostimato at L"7!',45G, of which tho copra was worth .L'GI),O7(i, cotton i'B,4SO, fungus £600, shell £-2Oe, coffco £500, and fruit .£6OO. Tlio total imports woro probably worth no moro than £50,000, and about tr/0-thiids of these were English manufactured goods, brought principally from Sydney and New Zealand. The products of Samoa might, bo indefinitely incroased in varietj and quantity. Arrow root, nut-nog, indigo, cinchona, cocoi, turmeric, saudalwood, and other thing* might bo freely grown ; while it' tho people could only bo persuaded to wear moro clothing -weio it only hats and paper col lars—tho import trade would bo visibly expanded.

Kissy-Klssics" and "Frauds.

Wo wej-o alternately amusod and shocked on learning in what estimation New Zea landors nro hold in Apia. Kvcr sinco the sojourn liorc of a certain Auckland gentle man the Samoans give to Now Zealanders tho nnmo of "Kissy-kissy." Tins name originated through a playful habit of the gontleman referred to, whoso wont it was, in intervals of grave international busi ness, to wander pensively along the boach and ofl'or each Samoa woman or girl he met a shilling for a kiss. Tho modorn Snmoa woman is by no means bo austerely virtuous as the chroniclors represent her to havo been of old, and our " kissy-kissy " friond parted with a good fow pounds in exchange for the unbraces of tho dusky maids and matrons of Apia. This 13 a " development of trade with Now Zealand " which tho commercial delegates (nearly all married men with numorous olivo branchos) had never contem plated being asked to report upon ; and several visibly trembled as they looked forward with vague apprehensions (o being besieged by pretty (?) girls offering their pouting lip", at tho small charge of a shilling a smack ! However, as tho gentleman who inaugurated tho " kissy-kissy " businosswas a married man, perhaps tho dologates would lind their scruples removed; but as to the amount of trado done, I mint leave the Chamber of Commerce reports to speak. It was a more alarming shook to iind that Ancklanders had tho reputation of being "frauds" — this generalisation being biscd upon tho characteristics of nearly every Auckland man who had tried to settle at Apia. Thoeo, I found, had generally been younsj men of inexperience, deficient in moral stamina, and, of oourfe, peculiarly sufecp tiblo to the demoralising influences of women and wire, hi tho dining-room of tho International Hotel, there are displayed on tho wall tho portraits of some fifteen of euch failures, mounted on ono sheet and neatly framed, and having underneath tho bold in scription "AucklandFriiid;--." Nay. more: under enoh photograph is inscribed the full ntuno of tho individual; but in considera tion for tho friond? of th<B> mifoi-i-'niito youths, I forbear publishim.: them. I iind that this letkr U already long enough, so must reserve for another fomo account of native customs, tho Government of tho country, :;nd a visit to King Muliotoa.

THE GARDEN.

[Bit Hohtds.]

Calandar of Operations, August 22.

lloktus in willlnß to answer any queries. Cor respondents mv.it Klvn their full nnmoe and addrcsws. though not for pubHcalion.l TO CORUKSPONDKNT3. „,,, p A i.M (00 . A'kv-1 Uifl). The so'o of ihi-i H' •iw ftbuiit nn I'-ah ii«-. r> Oiwd vic-li nv'-iat. B-;i!istheb'i.-I.Th.':rc!uv.il;lj.iartrftnn>lnntini{ cannnis''y 'v'l.i-.tn'orawi'llf'rr.'tin New zTlnd uu for inn Nortli of Auckluxl they ..re well worth a trial. Tho date p ilm mint he planted in clumps, as ono tree bears tho male afad nnulhur me female (I .wen li Ukts from lirtcm to twenty yo:irj to nrii>K the treo to ,1,-; friiii-'K'JiiinK a-'e. Several bmich^n of I iwcm arc fjiinnrl in om: car. produuing as „,.„„■ as 200 J:it"H. In Krfyps as many *s 4«wt. of dales lmvo b^ori h.irvcs'cd in one seawn from a sini?lo date palm.

Manukx and Soil fob Potatoes (,'lu.«-). ---i'oti'ocs will thrive on nlmort any good soil. T'lemannrre bent suited for their growth aro thrive of v nuiC- action Good Kii-nm or sup. r lllOßPlmte 1H EOOd artificial .r.anure. Wood ighCM aro u'.-o toy good, but thcs^lack \\Mien nthero%Vi™ty"o£ los'^lp /""E^^ other manaro is warned. Artillclul manures arc mot valuable wh.'i. npi.lUtl to the potato on eround that has been hpavil}-3rj»cd pro viouslv t.yMttbloiiKinnrefor bum other crop. Cru»he I bnnca make a KOad permanent nanuTO. but liii'dly nctivn unoiiKh for pota to -. It is be u-.r used when la} ing down permanent grass. Kitchen Garden. AsPAHAana. — Immediately after tfio snrin" forking of the uparagna bed give a hoavf drcsaiit;? of silt. Salt may bo Fprond on tho beds at any time during tho ceason, in heavy or H«ht dose?, but after tho ufum.l spring forking is the best time fo apply tho salt. Say that the P'ilt is put on tho beds about the ond of' August or September, it will not only furnish food tor tho plants during tho growing season, but it will save considerable froublo in boeinjr tho weed?. It is death to wecdp, but lite to the asparagus, which thrives under this treatment. At tho s<imo time, salt has con siderable hygrometrio powers, and icreatly assists in retaining the moisture in the ground, thus having a marked influence on tho growth of pants. It may be spread pretty thickly without, injury to tho plants, but a bushel to two square roods U enough for all practical purposes. This may be applied with advantage every season in the S!lU"°' Ro-grafting Old Trcos.

Sometime?, after growing trees for a few years in a given position, the grower finds out ho has, n-.t got tlio variety which ho supposed ho was supplied with when the tree was planted. " Or perhaps ho is beginning to find out that tho variety planted does not suit either the soil or locality. Do not lift the tree, but in tho spring ha\'o it out back pretty so voroly, find ro-graft some other variety upon it. By re-grafting you will be able to obtain a new head of which ever variety ii wanted in a very sh< rt period. When it is decided to re-graft, try and procuro fcions of trees which are known to succeed in the soil and locality, as a great deal depends upon this?. Also have the scions* cut about a month before they are wanted, and nearly covered up in sand, so that when tho period for grafting comes on, tlio stock will bo in a slightly advanced state, as tho branches of tho old tree will bo much lurgor and thicker than the scions. The best plan is to make a long slant ing cut on tho Fciou. Tho etock should bo" cut cloin across, leaving a slight slnnt, then make, a straight cut on tho baik corresponding in length to that on tho scion. With tho haft of the knife, now open out tlio bark so that the scion can ea-ily be inserted without bruis ing. Immediately tho ecion ia in position, ti(7 securely with some soft material, then covor up tho tie and wound on tho stock with grafting clay, which should consist of an equal mixture of clay and fresh cow manure Any tree hsaded down and re grafted ousbfc, in a fow years, to givo a good", healthy troo again. The grower may, if ho please, at the sanio time, graft a few varieties upon tho same tree, which is in t ere-ting in small gardens, whore only a limited number of varieties are kept. Grov/liiß Onions. To grow the abovo crop to perfection, a Httlo labour is nectary. Where a quan tity of onions aro required every season, a bre:ik of ground should bo specially ;ot apart for their cultivation, a? this is one of tho few crops that will succeed year aftor year on tho same piece of ground, especially if trenched and manured every season. In March the ground should bo trenched to a depth of IS inches the first year. Bastard trenching is tho best, unless the ground has been previously tronehed. In such case, bring somo of tbo subsoil to the surface, and go anothor spitdoeper. While trenching, givo plenty of ptablo manure, placing this under tho top spit of soil ; tho more manure tho hotter, as the onion is a very gross feeder, and requires plenty of food to ensure a heavy crop. It does not require tho manure to bo very rotten, just as it enmes from the stnbles will do, as it will have plenty of time to rot during the winter. Whenever tho whole plot of ground iJ. trenched, and a favourable opportunity occurs, plant the ground with oabbago or eaulillower, or any other crop that will como off tho ground bofore August ; even oats for greon' food will do if taken off early enough. About Uie end of July, tho crops should be taken off tho ground, clearing off all the de bri?. A heavy dressing of coarso salt should then be givon, taking caro to die tributo tho salt evenly over the surface, then fork over tho break to a depth of threo or four inches. Tho salt will have tho effect of .retaining moisture in the soil for a long period, besides invigorating the plants when thov begin to grow. Tho salt and forking should bo applied two or three weeks before tho onion seed aro sown, so as to givo it, plenty of time to get dissolved before sowing. Sowing. Sometimo during August is tho best time for sowing. Chooso a period when tho soil h in » good working state, then tread all surface firmly with tho feet, and rako it all smoothly with tho rako. Mark out the whole break in tho lines, about ono foot apart, than draw tho linos with the hoe about half an inch deep, sow tho seod, covorintr it firmly with the back of the rake. When all is sown, rako all over the surface of the ground. Onions sown in rows aro far more easily kept clear of weedf. Diseases of Oranges and Lemons Professor Kirk, who was appointed by the Government to inquire into tho disca-os of tho citron family, has sent in his report to the Minister of I anrls, and it. has boon pub lished. I propose to givo a few of tho sub jects mentioned : —

Foot hot is caused by tho rootlets pene trating into a cold, Retentive subsoil, excessive manuring,deep plant ing.earthing up, whether with wood ashes,stablo manure, or with earth. In some cases, by excessive nuturn-i pruning, lending to a lato growth and consequent development of unripened wood, the roots are stimulated to increased action, which is suddenly checked by a fall of temporature. Plants kept too long in pots, so that tho roots bocomo pot-bound, are particularly liable to be attacked.

Prkvkxtion axd CuuK.-The degreo in which remedial measures may fairly' bo ex pected to provo successful must depend, to some extent, upon tho stage of tlio disease. As a general rulr, so long a? disease has not encircled the stein, recovery may bo hoped for. The soil muit bo thoroughly trained, and if of a retentive, character, properly worked avar bof ro re-planting. The roots must bo laid bare, mid the unsound portion? cut away. All traces of decay must be removed, and the roots left exposed for a week or ?o, un less the weather be dry and unfavourable Afterwards they should bo lightly covered with leaf monk!, or some light alluvial coil. '' ho decayed bark of the stem must be care fully pared away in such a manner as not to wound the sound portion more than ran bo avoided. Frequent applications of tar water to tho roots and stems will bo found berioflcial in all extreme ca?es. The disease is most frequent amongst troos growing in cold subsoils. It ia rare on open volcanic soils or where trees havo been surface planted. It-, attacks tho loraon and citron moro frequently than (ho orange, and its cllVcts on tho funni'i-nro more sovero tlinn on tho ],itrr. The lime is open to its attack?, but 1 havo soon no instance of the shaddock boing attacked. Tn somo cases a gummy oecrotiriri i< exuded by tin aflecled parts of tho etom constitu ting tho clU>arH' termed "lagrima," but I am unnblo to draw .1 distinction botween the two. The exudation of gum is ronlined to tha early ftages, and ceases with t.ho decay of the*bark, so far at least as it has como under my observation Bom; Fus<a:s-Another form ol root rVoay is canted by tho mycolium or vege table system of a fungus (lyeopo'don sp) wln«h ntfaek= the mot fibres. This alloi:t-i..n i. inert, epocilily fulal than ordi n-.ry lent rot; ui,d often spreads with great rapidity from troy to tree. Trees p'anti d on torn land me especially liable" to be attacked tiy thu funguo. In moat casoa il

will ba found that fraj-meJrssss' ground stems of fern^^ : the ground, an d ; through tho soil inexaf ,18' Th*, 2 mushroom .'pawn, !lr , :, { th °fWn 6 *£* .anddest,oy! e Vfir ;S'OSS way. Ihaveacen sheep s Z^*Z commoi. meadow vms '• cock ß , soil should be sparingly to'W*>HdiJ tho dressing tu r {, ol i f n y "Nte^ Apply n dressing o f " Sf t" ■ water ; sparingly to the affected^* £ : the disease is not too fj. H I but in any case the decayed n , Jvat W carefully removed PowderrS ? ""a bi be mixed with tli o surfaced ml*»bs with new vegetable mouSTtolelli I procured and applied freely (J til °""« cloudy weather the roots Sf1,6^.!, with advantage. Wood or ctf eiW bo mixed with tho surface soi?' 60?'""I prove of groat value. Weak F Ond w«»l would doubtless p rove honl&l*I* ' require great care in tbrir 'T*o* All decayed roots and bm'l m^ burned without I MS of time "^i ( To lie Continued.)

REPAIRING WASHINGTON.

Standing on a Foo~7f pi a .,, Five HundrodJ-ect taj*,** j

The elevator ia the Wuhingto, % ment stood ready for n ascent * down with a huge coil of rope, anoj smaller size, a narrow plank and !ev , tools. Thoropo in tho first coil wu , aad a hall inches in circumference 1 fe coils were woven with extraord D ™7 from mamlla of tho stoneest cS 7 * afterward thoroughly u.tSis« ready," said Superintendent vSS lin, as ho stepped into the elevator 2 panicd by a carpenter and tvro'riS^ Whoso nerve, had often been triedß work on the greal obelisk. In ton „• . • the elevator reached the.ba^of ttT* midal roof and etopped. p roß this S^ interior ladders ran up a di'tan* J!? feet and reached the WifU?^ directly under the capstone and 2' south. Climbing up with their tS. ments, and staying themtelwiasE! csuld by clinging to the stone arcb»»2 cross-piecesofthointetiorconstniclk? Laughhn and his men ran the plait wj tho window until about two feet of ih. jooted over the lsdgo. The othere^S'. securely lashed by a pieco of the ehmti»: to a beam belov/. Around the ink.'; James Hogan, one of the diggers,ontegjjj a lope was pushed and made secure, fin - drawn so as to allow barely len«tifev dora of movement, and the oth°er enln: tightly fastened within the rco! V Hogan'a hand was then pkced about e-' feet of the 4J iaeli ropo. Mounlii, t'.'' plunk, which wai only twelve inrtarili lie cautiously crawled to its projectW | : and, slowly straightening himseif. ( w| ■ erect upon tho slender footing which m I hung the dizzy height of 545 feet. Fa' several seconds Hogan etoad rig* c j ■ waiting for a sudden giddinew to'«'; away, and then holding the tm it!'. of the ropo, be threw the Jojp otb I ■ tbo top of Ihe capstone, and, mA'■ ■"■' it to dop uatii it reached thebiseoliii:, window, tied it firmly around tie pyusl! By tho same process and in thessmtma v Eiugle strand of tho ropo waa tiediraj r the monument at the top of tleiUti ltopan next stepped upon thero|»fe: : inches iv circumference, and holdingti4 i upper ropo with his hands, crept aioitit- ■■'. "\ tho wcEtern eide of the monament tss : ant Rigger Charles Smith- then pissJij: |V upon the narrow ropeway and JJrSt' Laughlin followed, makinghis Kiyiiia: to tho northern side of the pyraniJ, ih the telercopo had located the Blonoiijiii . ;h by tho lightning. Both were pnlotrfi the same manner as Hogan jniij a catastrophe of a fall by a rope atraiSa waists. Thousands of ehudifiirin; 51 from adjacent portions of the dljra fixed upon the immense height rimlii

men, looking likeblackmites,bii3/rjii{

letting fall from the upper or luin^s each sido of the monument, a ta%i

ropos, which reached therataMwi'-." tho base of the pyramidal too!. " How did you feel, MrMiiji when you first got clear ot thenndni stood out on that plank Tasked a"{«' reporter. " I nave grown up with tha mocißiet' said Mr Mclaughlin, "andlhiiebul , , on it many a time. Mine was the MM :li :' that touched the aluminium poiotrisa scaffolding was takon down, But, io fi of my long experience, I must frutifi.; sure you that to-day when I kid n;fl glance around I felt fora momenldriJ^ uncomfortable. Oh, no! I *'t# V. hend any danger. I knei^wo talaj;: everything fast— vo certainly iMI have ventured out if ive hado'tteß fident, of that." '■ How did the world look toycnlraatß perch up there?" ■ , , "Oh, that is an unanswerable qw» replied Mr Mclaughlin withan en* of bopolessness. "No man canolJ* to it. You must see it for I**' gather youro-vn impression. No,il«> winiy up thoro to-diy - the «&<< very favourable and simply beautiful , "What did your examinp.tionrtTa-. " Well, I stood upon tho upper ff could then just comfortablj loohns* minium top. Tho lightning hadafi| I the sharp point, and tho top pra*. , . : j rounded appearance of the top" »'| ,H h discovered also thatityas the«!» stone on tho north Bide '" *S , : 1 directly under tho capstone «*»•. / I struck. Its east end w»S cftcWW- s to bottom. The crack 13 aboutW;!; wido and extends, 1 think, e«^V: ; B the stono. What will wo do? W»S» ' 1 catoly nnply .1 powerful force and 1P,:.; pieces together. A well-paddrii^.: el perhaps answer tho purpose, <i of course, which held tho rf«M -\ broken and dislocatod^and it «"* : practicable to remortarit. «»"««, |i| sarv, therefore, to employ emw? ■ riveting when it U restored to mi»J ,y A couple of bronze csponnvß w , probably bo all that is needed. w ■'What will be done to-morrm.^. = "From tho lower window«•*(,. ] on eac!, sido a h B wido and ten long, which wllg. , ,| to tho tackling linesi yon «c« • "l from the upper oncirclingro?3« win.lo-.vs. Thoso when d»» ■/g position just below the hn'K-. . ~ rope will meet mid bo to* % ;?1 each corner of f-o Ryraniid. i, ' will then go up with «*(.,- .--| thorough inspection 0 thaw £ tho roof, and the best me W # , ~t the crack by brinKinß «!>« TO "1^ together will bo ™^ d jtiTV ■1; * determined upon, tim of tho additional rods to ."c protection of tho monuihen ' j| . V object of our operation' «P ™ jV that as tho work must ncce*"^ ff» slowly, wo will be ensued np» *= forawcok.-"WasMa ß toD^^ -\ [Tho moMimwt lms ""^ik': |« according to tho p!oo oatUrtd' ....... J|«

UNKNOWN.

AFKKNTTsareoon^th.to'*; g™ ing sonic micom.H.fting^L* X% they ;ri,.i to bite b»j ««V J again in a M.^m^ fli 1 sinned in f c..Mlnl't.y. Act , . when'a patent sho-.ved »r . # ""tion'si^overth^Sl gr . the kut quit;-; h\ V .h- >■<!J^: . too bocan.o «.«:- ■^:iVl^ fl return to loii-crinn tbehCl'^ai ?J h tent,: tho chlorufonn. ; V -~^< with veil '■ll,l ti | tao l?^:r .get a f.malo r «tiont (to fcio i-ter,d chl..rofo.m)fro»«t ft^' £m auxiliary o.'iilirn'.ati""' • gja ffi , «^?@ la Hum head downwards, .^j*"::. ■-■Hv n:{ thu wicked results tf • ;. .wt th, UlOlllf.

HiK AUCKLAND KVENLNO til AJI, SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1335.

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