RANDOM SPOTS.

■(:■:) 7.AMJKI.

~„.■ wriir vain ihonplii for n.-i-.lfiil i-ft--.li mm.- \w-ite to plojis.. I In- i-oimli;.v K<h\-A\. Amlr.ii-i' .! ilin. >r me nn aim 1 iuhw f.ish

A wasted SESSION !" For about tho rcntioth time in anrcewion such i j tho

idgment which the rox poftili will 1""

uounce on tho labour.' of our legislators at Wellington, Barren indeed in u'cful legislation have been tho last four month" spont by tho suporior politicians of Now "oaland [riik Mr Fronde on (he colonies) in tho biggest wooden talking-shop in tho world; but it would be rash therefore to conclude that the session has been wholly wasted. "What's (lono we pa-lly may compute,

But know not what's i\ aiatod,

Tt does not require a very exhausting arith metical calculation to compute tho positive achievements of the past session; but it might, tako a long row of fiaures to sum up what has been resisted. Risky experiments with tho tariff have been prevented, that barefaced Jloiggs job ha-< boon knocked on tho head, and nobody c;iu toll how many other ineiniotifcschemosof mischief have been burked by tho iliseomlituro of tho Government on their principal policy proposals. Compared with years when wholo batches of objectionable bills wore passod into law, tho past session has been a very useful ono ; though it shows tho sorry pass to which Now Zoaland politics have como when tho benefits of legislation are counted negatively, and onr politicians aro only commended for what they don't do! This will surely teach peoplo tho supremo absurdity of maintaining such nn elaborate and costly system of Government, and pay ing ninety-tivo men for exerting themselves to tho noblo end of—doing nothing !

That ig tlio serious view of tho cnse. The laughtor como3 in on the part of tho mem bers who now draw their honorariums, and of tho Govornmont who havo succeeded in keeping their scats, despite tho vigorous kicks and cuffs they got. I nool not try to improvo on Major Atkinson's satirical re view of the situation, but I may embalm in immortalvorso the jubilant aoiijf of Ministers □n

GETTING TO CHICAGO,

Joy! joy for over! our task is done. Onr perils are past; Chlcngo is won! Oil I aro we not clever ' Wo aru, you bet; Though they kicked us oil' from the Treasury train, Wo nimbly have vaulted on ajain. And the sweets of ottini\ wo hold them } et! A fiE for tho lhanklcsa Hallway mob, Who grind their touth o'or a thwarted job, And a i!g for tho red-hot Itndicnl crow, \nd lor AtkinsoD, Russell, and Ormnnrt to.

Farewell! those fights on the Senate floor, When kicks wero many and ha'-pojioafow ; The Houso Is prorogued, tho session is o'or. Of tho blest Recess wo have renchni tho shore, Oar Hoais are eafo and our dollars tco! Joy! joy for over! tho kinking is dono, Our hides aru sound, and Chicago is won.

Lawyers are generally considered smcrt men, still at times they do meet persons in other wnlkß of life who ovinco an oqual aptitude to look after number one. Tho following instance of this was told mo the other day :— A member of tho legal profos sion, who has become a general fuvourito on account of his jovial, free-hmdod stylo, was, in the course of his professional duties, brought into connection with a member of the agricultural community. Tho causo of complaint was that ono of tho lawyer's clients had allowed olevon of his cattle to stray on to this man's property. lie had at once shut them up, and prior to pound ing thorn, interviewed tho owner, who referred him to his solicitor, to whom ho accordingly went, and demanded damages, expenses for loss of timo, and also 1 Is, which ho contended ho could claim if the animals had been driven to n pound. The lawyer smiled grimly, and objected to tho latter claim, quietly pointing out that the Act stipulated that only Is would be allowed for the driving of tho cattle no matter whether thcro was one or a herd. The claimant appeared to consider for a moment or two, during which timo tho pro fessional gentleman smiled blandly in a self-satisfiod manner, but this was quickly changed to downright amusement when tho man intimated tint ho was not to bo dono that way, and ho would tako tho trouble to drivo each beast separately, and thus justly claim Is per head. Jt is neodloss to say that tho lawyer saw tho force of the argu ment, and gavo way good-hutnourodly.

I geo that in their zeal for tho reformation ot their "fallen " sistors.the Salvationists of Melbourne have got into a scrape by carry ing oft'to ono of their Homos tho virtuous daughter of respectable people. This ia a real danger to which giddy girls arc now exposed, but it is by no moans a new one. More than thirty years ago a similar inci dent happenod in one of the largo cities at Homo, though tho victim had sufficient presence of mind and forco of character to savo hor from (.ho contaminating contact with vico which mistaken zeal would havo forcod upon hor. She was an innocent but wise Scotch lassio, and when in the strange city a philanthropic gontleman warned her of the frightful sin eho was committing, and invitod her to enter a Home, she re buffed him effectually by exclaiming— " Hoots ! Oae wa' wi' ye ! I'm no' a social evil I" Moral for dalvationist* — " Don't call the righteous to repentance ;" and for virtuous maidons—"Beware of philanthro pists."

Bishop Seville and his chaplain have como back from tho Pacific Inlands in a couplo of hurries, as I half expected—having caught the mail steamer at Samoa. They do not appear to have done anything in the way of establishing missions in Tonga or Samoa, and havo probably been convinced by what they saw that their ell'orts should begin at home. In referring to their de parture a few weeks ago, I tnontioned in cidentally that the nativo Christiana were already pretty heavily taxed for their reli eion.having to pay Sa or 10a for a copy of tho Bible which tho Foreign Biblo Society could supply for a shilling or so. This appears to havo boon a "random" etatemont so far as the cost of pro ducing tho bulky volume ia concerned. In a letter which has beon handed mo from Itev. 0. Phillipa.head of tho London Mission ary Society at Apia, ho states that the price charged is Ba, not 10a, and it juet covers tho Co9t of production. Tho courteous rorreapondent further points out that tho total contributions last year of the 22,000 Samoan adherents of tho Mission named barely averaged fid a head or a halfpenny a month. That is cortainly not a high prico to pay for tho blessing of religion and educa tion, and seoma to provo what tho Stak correspondent stated in ono of his letters, that tho Samoa mission aries are not such adopts at "painless ■extraction " as are their Tonga brethren. A3 to tho prico of J.Oa for a Bible, I did not allce that to havo beon chargod in Samoa, or by tho London Society's missionaries ; but I boliovo suoh a prico lice been de manded and obtained in soino of tho Society Islands, doubtless without Mr I'hillipn's knowledge Most people will wreo with mo that oight shillings is quito niiigh onough prico, and will wonder what becomes of all tho money subscribed to " buy Biblos for the poor heathen," whon tho " p.h." aforesaid havo to pay full value for thoir copies of tho Scriptures.

A young lady of fair coraploxion wont to a rfarden party hold recently in tho suburbs, and, unfortunately, after tho pleasures of tho day 3nO lost her beautiful Indian fan. The fan was a valuable ono, but tho weather Was not favourable, and tho handsome aummor cooler was not in constant request, and was neglected by tho lady. Garden parties aro fashionable, and n vory pretty Tnodo oi spending eunny hours, where the givers are persons of ample means, and fiossosß sufficient accommodation for such a pleasant enjoyment. The drawbacks, how cvor, arc the ahowera, which havo a damp ening oil'ect upon tho spirits. A wet after noon at such a pavty, although the flowers omit a sweeter fragrance after tho ■freshening rain, does not improve the temper. Tho young lady in question some how or other dropped her fan, and it was nicked up by ono known as Peter, an honest kind of folio * who gets a moagro living by selling fish. Not caring for tho silken prizo, he would havo given it as a present to his friend's litt'o daughter, but tho child's mother persuaded Peter to advertise it in tho Stab ; he did so, and the owner was discovered. He had paid eighteen pence lor the advertisement, but when ho took it to the young lady's house hor economical parent sent a shilling to old Peter. "But," said Petor, "I shall loso sixpence by it." " Can't give any more," flaid the gentleman of tho house; "you <must> get the newspaper msn to return the

• ivpi'in'c-. li ■ : i.'i)ii : fhl if, vory mean, l-ul ri-!.ith\-i! t> lo?e the " tanner"—his

!.i\.>miii' i \,iir.-sinii —rather than make such a miscrahlo application. Ho debited honesty with tho ditlbrenco, and continues to pry" "Fish 0" for a livelihood, but will in tho future bo careful no! to pick up any stray fans !

"In ways that nro dark and tricks that tiro vain " tho heathen Chinee is acknow ledged to ba "peculiar*'; but tho peculiar ity "of tho meok and mild looking ".fohn " does not stop there. Another questionable accomplishment which ho in very apt in picking up ia nn ability to swoar in pood Anglo-Saxon, before ho can othorwiso make himself oven intelligible to English spoalc ing people, in this rospocfc lie boars a re markable resemblance to tho Maori, who likowiao greatly fancies liimaolf when ho can turn out a good round oath in broken English, repeating it frequently and/oiling it, under his tonguo liko somo sweet morsel. On Sunday evoning last several Chinamon assembled on tho ond of Quoon-streot Wlu'.rf to hoo tho mail steamer tako Her departure for Sydney They were gating at the lingo ship, na sho gradually hauleii oil' from tho tee, in open-mouthed wonder, when some evil-disposed European on tho stonmer began to make fun of them, rho stranger evidently know some Chineso worda, probably of an offensive character, and ho frequently referred to tho pigtailed " johnnies" on tho wharf in thoir own tongue. Tho Chinamon soomod intensely indignant ;it this uncalled for interference, and one of them took upon himself to give the Htrangor a " Uolanrl for hid Olivor " in a string of mo.it horrible and blasphemous oaths pocnliar but by no means creditable to Uritona, Xhewordy warfare soon became so disgusting that <a policeman felt callod upon to interfere. Jlo caught tho offend ing Chinaman by the shoulder, and, groatly to tho amusomont of tho crowd, observed, "Now. my good man, just stop that. If

you want to swoar, swuar as mucli as you like in your own language,and then nobody will understand you." Tho Chinaman mi doratood onougii of tho noat speoch to gather its meaning, and remarking " All lightee," ho turned on his hool to leavo tho wharf—not, however, before ho got ono final broadside into tho departing strangor, who onjoyed the scono immensely.

REVIEW.

[TRANSLATIONS.]

"Tk. Uon'ae," \ Smali, Collection ov Tkhpkuakpk and Sacrrd Melodies in Maori, By 0. 0. Davis. 11. Brett, "Star" Office, ArcKi,vNi>, ISS">.

Tins excellent little work will, wo are sure, become popular throughout the Maori settlements. It contains 101 songs, many of thorn set to popular airs, which will make them attractive to tho natives, especially tho school children. A considerable pro portion of the songs aro original, and tho others havo been translated with that thorough knowledge of tho subtleties of Maori thought and expression of which Mr G. O. Davis ia an acknowledged master. The work has beon a labour of love to its author, and ho boqueatbs to tho Maoris in this Rongbook a heritage which will accom plish much practical good among thorn, and be a perennial sourco of pleasure in many a native homo. Tho following aro among tho favourito airs contained in tho bool::—

■ Star Spangled Banner," Hiizel Dell," Whon Johnny Comes Marching Home, Homo Sweot Homo," Thorn's Na» Luck A boot thn Hoos.\" KincTtlioPell, Watchman,'1 Aulcl Lam; Syne," Yd iiunka and l'.raej o Jionnie Dooii," Poor Old Joe," Work, Hoys, Work," Mothnr ICifcacd lie in My Dream," Marching Through Georgia." A Jtotto for Every Man."

We cull the following, which will givo an oxeellont idea of tho original and translated songs in the book. It is, of course, all in Maori, but wo think tho translations givon below may be relied upon : —

No. 12. Air—'

Hue Bells ot' Scotland.

O year after year i have, cycil thee, more and more; 0 wine, and thy cheer, And I now would give thee o'er:— Would mingle with the friends who urge lly heurt with tlioe to light, And" join the rank-; of those who say Thou must not see the light.

O one a 11 er one. As the seasons glide away, Is pressing us to drink (Sad customs of the day). And though thr wine be crimson, And w ems to milk,'us glad, A cruel sting i-iiuil That makes our spirits sad.

[TRANSLATION.]

Ail! -" The Pilgrims of the Night. Aim ! alas ! what evils now are [lowing Kroiu wine and its enchantments every day ! And 0 how many thousand:; still are going In finest of it, to drink their health away. CIIOP.tTS.— Great are its evils. tJreat are its wrongs ; Hardening llie spirit In bonds that it prolongs. Alas! alas ! why will ye madly perish ? Why will ye plunge unbidden into night I O let now hopes your laden spirits cherish, And walk uprightly in tl.e paths of light. C'HORCS.—Hreat are its evils, etc.

[translation.]

No. 10. Air— "Buy a Broom. How happy the people by wisdom directed! I<ighl onward they cheerfully move ; ah ! they show That In guarding the heart they're from evil pro tected, O ! they never will full away, never, Ono ; O neve*-, O, no. And now that our names on the tablets are graven O, who shall compel us to yield to the foe! We'll fly from the curse, nor abandon our haven, We never will fall away, never, O, no. Never, 0 no. Whenever before us, these liquors offensive - Before us. O courageously let us say No; Thus acting we'll ever be on the defensive, Wo never will fall away, never, O, no. Never, 0, no. Should tl.e servants of darkness with cruellest railing lie tracking our pathway wherover we go ; II we but look up there's no danger of falling; We never shall fall away, never, O. no. Never, O, no.

No. C. Am—" The Crystal Spring." Pour me a draught from tho water spring, When Ihe sun is warm and bright: When the trees of the wood their.shadows fling, And the water streams with light!

Pour me a draught from tho water spring, When the winds are fanning the ground When the thirsty leaves in languor droop O'er (lie peaks and p'uins uruiiml.

Pour me a draught from tho water spring.

When tho cold asserts its sway : When the leaping waters' roar is heard As it rushes in frantic play.

Pour me a draught from the wafer spring, When fruit smiles on the bough ; For thco, abstainer, brave inul tine, ItliangHfortheojusl now.

No. It. Am—" Home, Sweet Homo." In traversing land and traversing sea. Xo liquid like water is wholesome and free The beer and Hies wine, and intoxicants all. Kngender disease, contusion and thrall, O, water, water! No liquid like water is wholesome and free,

In .seasons tho' varied, throughout the year's length, In wrestling with weakness, or revelling in strength: When twilight is closing, or day's shadows flee, No liquid like water is wholesome and tree. O. water, water! Xo liquid like water is wholesome and free!

No. 78 in '-To Honao" is a translation of hymn HSS, S.-icred .Songs and Solos, "I'll .Stand by until the Morning."

No. S3 is hymn No. 170, Sacred Songs and Solon,

Nn. 83 is a translation of hymn No. 27, from Hymns, Ancient and Modern, "Abide with Me, fast fulls the Eventide."

No. 01 i 9 from Wesley's Tune Book, No. 105.

No. B7 Is from tin Salvation Army Music Book. No. SO, " Wei'O Travelling mi 10 Heaven above, \\ ill you koJ"

Improvements in China.

Berlin, August 22.—The "National Gazette"' says : China has contracted with a Manchester firm for materials for tho construction of a railway from Takon, at tho mouth of tho Hoon- Hoo, on the Yellow Sea, to Tong Chero, on tho Pci-Ho, an affluent of tho Hoen Hoo, at a point about twenty-fivo miles oast of Poking. Tho railroad will bo a most important work. It will be about 100 miles long, and will give Peking direct and oasy communication with tho Yellow sea. The road ia to be built and operated by a Manchester firm with Chinese labour and capital. China is now engaged in rais ing in Europe a loan of 100,000,000 florins to be extended in internal improvements.

To Correspondents.

Ixqiimai.-Kiin: Don ran third in tho l'.iUu runfra Hunt Cup of ISSH. D.K.—Dnrlne his naroor, Ikn has starterl in 21 races, of which he has won X P.M.- Tho rj|..r,i of Hoiicyilow ii not iilmitinnl with tho ciiini of UtiiiK. ilioukli Blmilarlj niimert. Tholirst is t.v I.oaiuiiii'tOM, ami the luunrliy Now VVari'lor. HKM.vavil.r.K.—Tho lion. .1. Wlilto lihh won two V.tl C. liorbina ami two Melbourne (Juuh. 'i'li.. KiUuti'Ht. rtiiiiihl. fur nny of the wiimiir tin-in- j(\iri)liln i,i Thl ;-illi, i-anlod Ijy .Miutlui •Tfnnry.

A DAY AT SYLVIA PARK.

[By Ilii-eosi.]

To :i lover of tho nnblo thoroughbred, thoro is nn more pleasant spot to spend a day than among tho aristocrats who aro to bo found nibbling the grass in the luxuriant paddoclca at Sylvia Park, Ac companied liy a frloml who could talk "podigroo and performances" in galore, I had n rnn out thoro ono clay in tho early

part of the present, tvoek, and starting

from town early in the morning with >;Ini iouH wonthor overhead and a good "stepper" in front of us, it was not long boforo wo wero at the gate leading to the Park. Soon after our entrance, wo espied Major Wuhnsloy, anil ho giooting us in a thoroughly hearty manner, it. was net hard to see that nothing would bo lacking on his part to make out visit enjoyable. A quarter of an hour's "chat" discussing Nordonfeldt's victory in tho A..1.C Derby,

and then arming ourselves with a bool;

giving full particulars of the various at'imals, etc., wo .-tailed on our inspection

Making our way for the stallion boxes, the

first brought out for notieo was Musket, and I think it may be safely said that the old fellow was never looking better than at tho present time. Loolinua and Cap a pit boiny each interviewed, Ingomar, who has boon leased by the Company from Mr I. Campbell, of Chriatchurch, for tho season, was led out. In colour ho is a dark bay with black points, and stands fully 15.3. Ho showa ft deal of quality, and although deficient behind, lio is in other rosneety n

woll-proportioned horso, and ono 1 think

that, will ;;et sumo real {jood jumping Htock. There can be no inistnko about his stout

brooding, mid us his services luu'o boon pul at a low figure, ho in bound to havo his full share of public patronnito. Anforo.-i having boon fakon up to (ho Waikato, we did not havo tho pleasureot renewing our.acquaint, ancc with him, and our stops woru then

I raced loulmt are known n-ilho now stabloe,

in which worn located vivo yorirlinf,' colts. A br.nvn rolt. by Musket - L'Ori- nl (Uio dim of Kadatiu.s) crime lirsf under roviou, and .'in ovori well-shaped yomij: jrontlomcn ho i-, with wonderful power behind, and I thought a ((nod ilo.il of his noxt-door companion, a coll by Munkot- llosette (full brother to Mr .1. Balnmin'.H Musk l!oso). Ho lins n iiinn hi-*), is well ribbed up. and has bark. luiti-, and quartern that should take him over ,-t jnuniuy. A bay by Miiskel I.adj Mary in a ent-nndooino attain cii*toiner, and promised to bu a very bijj horso, while a colt by Mu.ikcl -Realisation (dam oi Wapibi) is a clean shaped youngster with several u'oud galloping points about him. (iOolimir) and Lure havo ns t!io result of thoir union a black colt, very much in

rosoinblat.co liko hi-i highly-bred mother

(who ia full i-i-(cr to tho great Lurlinc), but !io has much butter haoUn. In tlio next box vo wuro introduced to n brown colt by ,\lu.-ko( Onyx, and if 1 vomombor rijjht, ho i^ just a- woll-mnde as hi* now famous fuli

brother iVordenft lii; was when a ycitrlin

The roll, has not been doing so well as some of his companions, but tho weather we no\<-

havo upon ua will doubtless have a great

effect on him, and if only on account of the deeds of tho great family from which he

spring*, thore is bound to bo soma great competition lo fecuro him when ho gees up for salo in January next. The adjoining box was occupied by a chestnut, oolt got by Anteros from Atalantu. Ho is a vory big strong-looking fellow with tho head of hi siro, but much belter quarter.-, and al together is one of the best of Antor.w's

yearlings tli.it I have looked over. Another good-looking chestnut cult by Antoros. —My Idea (dam of Nelsor.) w.i» his noxt-door companion, whiln the hist of the batch to bo iiitorviowed wan Too Soon, tho colt bj

Anteros out nf Steppe (half-sister to the

great Hermit). This colt, it will bo re membovod,\V!ia fouled in July, fcheroforo he now ranks us a two-year-old, and eonso quontly will bo debarred from taking part in any of his carlv engagements. This is greatly to bo regretted too, for ho gives every promiso of growing into something out of tho common. Major Wnlmslcy next lod us to a boiuititrl woll-grafnod and roomy paddock foiiio fow hundred yards distant,

where wo found no less than sixteen fillies disporting themselves. Our intru-ion had little olloct on thorn, and thoy allowed 111 to approach quito near enough to lot us have a thorough inspection, f was greatly taken with tho young lady by Jluskot—Eryciua (full Ms tor to Mitrailleuse), and whom die resembles in a groat many respect.-*. We had tho pleasure of witnessing her having a run round tho paddock, and I think thore is little doubt she will turn out a galloper. A full sister to Necklace and Thunderbolt, and who has had the nanio of Uawjh

\ bestowed on licr, is also a really nieo lilly. In appearance slio greatly takes uftor Thunderbolt, and lias all liia points, wliile sho 13 of tlio samo colour. A filly by Muekot-Fancy (dam of Foul Play and Tlic I'oot) is ouo tlml should prow into a beautiful mare. Sho is very evenly made, and has a splendid sot of logs under licr, while a lilly by Musket out of the Traducor marc Florin, and tho first of hor progeny, is a por/eot lady in appearance, and if good looks go for anything, thoro tlici-o should be v future boforo her. Tho filly by Musket—Sylvia (full sinter to Martini-Henry), although a lato foal, is woll-grown and a-* handsome at paint, and oven if she novor racoa a yard, her breeding alone must make her very valuable.

A iilly by Anteros- l'orfumo is certainly tho best that the old favourito cross country marc has yet produced, and it is very ovi dont that Aniui'os suits her much bottor

ban Musket,

Antoros and Sweet Oicelv

aro represented by a bay lilly with good quartors and Hhouldore, and she promises to grow into a great; raking maro. Among tho othors wore lillios by Antoros out of

I'carl Ash (dam of I'oail), and Tres Douce

(dam of Lonio), wliilo a filly by Htorlintc worth—l'ulchrn ia by no moans » bail ly mado ono. Bidding adiou to tlio largo bovy of young matrons, wo proceeded to tlio stables whero tlio lato yoarlingM woro located, and nmong them was undoubtedly the handsomest of tlio whole lot inspected. This wan a filly by Muskofc—Titanin (full sister to Mr J. Marshall's two-year-nid colt Howitzer), and if there is such a thing as perfection in horeellefili, J think ithna boon attained Jioro. A colt by Musket—Agitoin also a lino powerful looking-follow, despito tbat ho has boon brought up on foul's food, owing to Ilia (Jam dying aftor giving him birth, whilo a filly by Musket -Hannah,, although light-bonod, has some oxnollant points to recommend her. AJ togother the yearlings numbor 35, and with the ' oxcoption of a colt by Loolinus—Maid of Honour and a twin colt by '.vfupkot—Fairyland, they aro a splondid-looking lot and in tho vory best of health. This, of course, is in some measure duo to tho mild winter wo have had, and there has been no strangles among them. Tho wholo draft will bo ?nnfc up for sale by auction in January next, but I understand the directors of (lie Company havo not yet finally decided whothor they will all bo offered hore; or divided into two batches aR in tlio two past years. Our inspection of tho yearlings being completed, wo wended our way to a paddock which contained six of tho mares that havo foaled this Feason. Thoee wero Locket, Lady Ravensworth, Mersoy, Sister AgnCs, Lure, and Pearl Ash, (he threo first-named having colt foals, and the last trio fillies to Muskot, scampering about at their aide, and they all go to tho son of Toxopliolito again this Beason. The mares' wore looking in simply perfect condition, and tho foals looked

equally as Ptron<j and healthy a1" their innil'oiH. ]n an adjoining paddock we interviewed I lie remainder of the marcswho Imvofoalecl thisseason. FloroncoMcCarthy 'vas the first to greet us, and she hiul a nico looking colt I>v Musket at hor side, while Potrolouflo, who wns put to Musket for tho lir:-t timu iast season, has an cqu'iHy good looking colt foal, and sho has been put (o tho same sire again, Rosetto was likewise accompanied by a handsome colt got by Mnsket, snd Miss Laura by a filly t* the same sire, and Ihe first-named has gone bad; to hor old l<ive, but Irijjomar has been mated with Mi--s Laura. Lovebird's pledge ol ali'eeiion was a colt by Leolinus, and slie hm gono to him ugnin, In tho far end of ilio paddock wa i Tnw l'cuco, who visited Muslcot last season, and the result of tho union if a particularly woll-shapod and big boned colfc, and without doubt ho is tho " boss " ot the foals ho far this season, who, at tho timo of our visit, numbored eovon colts and livo Hllics. ljuiotly grazing in an adjacent, enclosure to tho above named aristocratic bcautios and their offspring, was the "quoon of tho lot" in tho shapo of Sylvia, and sho had as an only companion Fairyland. Those aro tho two oldest mares in tho stud, for while Sylvia has now 21 years over her head, Fairyland is two years hor senior, and both aro taken in and housed at night. Sylvia is oxpocted to foal to Muskot next month, and it is to bo hoped thai, it will be n full brother to tho illus trious Martini-Henry, whilo Fairyland, who was put to St. Lrger last; season, is also expected to foal about thosanio timo as lior companion. Bidding adieu to tho pair, wo had n quiot sauntor among tho remainder of tho matrons, and all aro looking healthy and well. Those notin foal aro Realisation, Sweet Cindy, Crinolino, Hannah, and Lady Mary, whilo Nolly Mooro and Fancy havo both slippod to Musket. Hannah is to bo )iut to ingomar this season, and Lady Mary to I.eolinus, while tho others go to Musket. I was glad to sco that Raupo (tho dam of Mata), and whom the Company havo bad so much bud luck witb.isin foal to Cap-a-pie, and Onyx, Stoppo, Titania, Erycina, Pnl ehm.aihl Scottish Lassie (who was put to the liorso last yoar), aro in foal to Muskot, and Amohia (dam of Tigredia) to Leolinus. A look at Vorbona, by I'eter Flat—Sweot meat, recently brought up from Wanganui, and who is in foal to Natator. coneludod our ramblings, and after accepting the hospitality of Major Walmsloy wo returned to town, after spending ono of tho most pleasant days it has boon my lot- to havo at Sylvia I'ark.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

The contest for tho socond of tho big Aus tralian Sprint; ovents—tho droat Metro politan Stakes -took placo on Tuesday last, and the winner turned up in Acolyte, owned by Mr A. Hallinbourg, a well known Victorian wioldor of tho pencil,'with Lord Bxetor, who had boen heavily backed

at the ln«t moment, second, and Brown and Rose third. The winner has boon highly thought of in connection with tho event for

somo couplo of weeks past, and his victory was hailed with it -.rood deal of satisfaction by a number of backers here, who hud sup ported him for small amounts. Acolyte is

nu inmuto of the Victorian stablo presided over by T, ColVoy, and which includes ituuh flood ones as Welcome .Jack, The

Broker, St.. l.uwronco, und Hurricane, and it must bo confessed that his party had no end of tackloto try him with, while judging f rom tlm aoeountsof t ho way ho finished hnms, no mistake w:is mudo about, his capaliilitie.i. Princo Imperial did not run up to his tlartktwbury Handicap form, and had lm-1.

•i-enis to i-fiuk to Iho winner nl the mile

mil a half mco, for tho double i i llnwkesbnry mid " Mo.trop." hits only bcoii pulled oil by ciio boi>o mi ono occasion, unil I hi! I h.i> in 1STI.', v.lion H.u'worth appro printed thodoiiblo. Despot appears tuli'iMi iicon :i> unfortunate a-< uvor in Iho race, llio

m'pounts of tin? rimiiitirr statin;.' thai lif foil. li will bu reinuinboru.l l-hu gro'y e.amo doirn in Iho Sydney (Jnlil (""up of ISS-I, and mi* badly interfered with in Martini- Henry'« Melbourne Cup year, while in tliu llawkoibnry Handicap tho other week liv could not get through hi* horses', or it i<

H.iid ho would liuvo been closo np to Prince Impeual.

Mr .). Marshall informs mo that it lvi: boon ilolinituly fixed that his tonm will be

rhippod to Curistchurch uuxt Tlmi.-d.iy week, Slli of Ootubor.

Consequent on .Inly being watched in Chii-tc-hurcli last wcok for Iho Mel bourne Cup, lio lias been nibbled at

tor the Now Ze.ilaud Cup at 100's to S, and Wapiti has so many admirers tlicio that 100 to Si« taken freely about him winning, but 100 to 10 is now the beet ullor. t'roui v privafo telograin rocoived in town this week, 1 loam that lko is now at tlim head of the qiiotationii, having boon freely bm-kcil straight out and in doubles with Stunuyhuret lor tho Derby.

Tho Australian .Jockey Club Spring M.eting will bo concluded this afternoon.

Among tho uvonts to be decided is the Kanduick Plato, three milt-, and it is ju.-t pu.-j-ible Nordonfoldt may be pulled out to tost his abilities at weight forage.

From a private lctU-r received in town from .Sydney, I loam that tho two-year-old colt by Antoroa Sylvia is growing into a real gentleman since ho lias been brokon in and put intoworU. Thuyoungster has been christened Silver Piince, and ho will make UUttebttt with tho colour* up in tlio Mart brynouj; Plato. Tho well known Sydnoy trainer Ihiffgnn luis charge of tlio colt.

Now stables aro boing erected at Bllor.-ilio to tho ordor of Mr \V. Kobertson. They will contain six boxed 12 x l'J, besides every pospiblo convonionco, and 1 unilor stand they havo already been leased for a term of threo years to tlio local trainer, T. Clark.

Mr (•. G. Stead's maro Atholo, by Blair

Athol—Florcnco McCarthy, and Mr Allan McDonald's Anonito, by Derby-Occult, arrived by the s.s. To Anau on Tuesday on a visit to Musket. Major Wahmloy informs mo that tho Waiiganui mare i-iissiu also oonioM to lugomar.

Sydney papers on tho day tho s.S, Wai liora loft state that at the rooms 600 to 100 was accepted about Newstciid for tho V.iiC. Derby, and an oiler to tako C 7.000 to i." 1,000 about him winning wan declined. Dunlop has also come in for somu notico for the event, and won quoted at 8 to 1 (tk) Leila (by Buccaneer) dropped a colt foal to Musket, at Sylvia Park, ono day this week. This is. the first of her progeny foaled in tho colonies, sho having missed to Musket two seasons running, and to Cado gan previously. Naiad (full sistor to Lur line) has also producod a colt to Loolinus.

Advices to hand this weok stato tlio whole of tho Hon. VV. Robinson's horses aro in work at Flomington, and the tout of tlio "Melbourne Sportsman" is vory loud in his praises of Thunderbolt and Winchester.

Matchlock linn boon scratched for all his ongagomonta at tho V.R.C. Spring Moot ing, Tlio colt mot with an injury to ono of his [out recently, and Fennolly despairs nl potting him to tho post this spring. Reginald, tho crack three-year-old ol last Boason, Ims also broken down, Tlioru is no horso engaged in tlio Mol bounio Cup this yoar that has boon more genuinely backed by hip party than Sardius, anil news comes, from Adoliiklo that ho caught a voritablo swallow at Morphclt villo rocontly, and his. trainer Tothill is quietly confident that tho big son of Kmulation will nearly win, doepitohis heavy weight. Tho following nccoptancos have boon received for tho principal events of tho liawko'.s Hay Jonkoy Club Spring Meeting, which InkoH plaeo on tho (ith and Bth of October:— bpiiinci handicap. l| inllo, fit 11) ft lb .Administrator .. ■'< S Haynrd .. .. 7 5 Pourl 8 1 Soudan .. .. 7 J ChrlHtina .. ..8 .') IWyliuck.. ..7 :i Humiliation .. S 2 Iluionlanoimi .. II II I'ailm .. ..7 7 Thnßard .. .. fi 8 Strenuous .. .. 7 (i Itovoko .. .. (i 7 FLVINCI IMNDICAI" ,' BlilO. Ptib stlb A'lmlnis'rator .. 810 S'tmniious .. .. 7 fl Consul .. .. 8 S Horcilanouni .. 7 3 lVarl X 7 Jlifia Dum'on ..0 12 Cbrlatlnn .. ..8 7 Allure .. .. i; 10 Hipoonlntion .. S li Yimku.) .. ..(18 Th ■ Bard .. ..8 2 Comot .. ..CO Pasha .. .. 7 10 Drown Bow .. U 5 Writo3 tlio Chrietchurch correspondent of tho " Otago Witness";—" The departure of Tronton lor Melbourne, via Sydney, was tlio occasion of groat rejoicing and toasting success to tho grand Musket coit, who is now essentially *ho favourites here for tho vlelbourno Cup. Mr O'Brion wired to a friend llio information that tho colt was. taking lifo vory easily on board ship, and had laid down in his box on tho first night of his journey 'like an old gentloman.'" Tlio came authority statos that after an abaenco of 12 days from tho course, July has again put in an nppoaraueoon tiie train ing ground. lIU absonco was duo to his having sprung a curb.

Frying Pan having brokon down badly after an exercise gallop roeontly, his owner intends relegating him to stud duties.

The Dunedin Jockey Club have renowed for the seafon their agreement with Messrs Mason and Roberta for the latter to work the totalisatore at their race meetingß.

Previous to the start of tho HnwkWfciry Handicap, McGrftth, tho rider of Pnnce Jinporial, was fined £10 for disobodionce at the post, and ho narrowly escaped siftipen sinn.

From some interesting turf statistic* pub lished in the " Australasian " for last amann, I gathor that, tho lion. J. White and tho Hon. \V. I'oaraon woro at tho liead of the list, of tho winning ownorp, tho Now Smith Wales sportsman having won ). l(.l,071, and the owner of Commotion £3, n'IS. LJralla hoadnd tho winning homes, having placed no less thnn i'.ifib" to her credit, Mahm, C' 2,462, and Commotion, £2,435, coming next on the list.

Lndy Emma's turf career will come to an en'l at tho eloso of the present season, aho having been served by Norton. This fact bus boon tho means of her coming into a good bit of notieo for tho N.Z. Clip, and she is now quotod at 100 to 7.

At tho settling ovor tho Hawkosbury Meeting, i' 2,37!) was paid away by the Club. Mr .7. Mayo, £422, and tho Hon. .1. White. £881, were the largest winners, while tho Now Zealand Stud Company re coivod CfiO for breeding Nordonfeldt, the winner of tho Biros' l'roduco Stakes.

Tho NewZoalaml-brod mare Oalumuy has this ponpon produced a colt to Dnreuin's brothel' Motea, and tho first of the progeny of Sardonyx has appeared in the shape of a colt out of Richmond's slstor, Richmond Hell. The Fawn, who has boon a moat con sistent breeder, and duin of ho many good ones, lias missed this year, and is atill tniek- Hrijj her yearling. Mr \V. 11. Kent's bay filly My Lady, by Vespasian—lfirnfc Ltdy, consequently half sister to Grand Flaneur, won tho Two- Year Stakes at tho Uawkesbury Meeting. Sho was subsequently put up for sale, and pasnod in at a resorvo of 2,000 guineas. John Koan, who has boon riding for tho Hon. O. McLean sinco his arrival in this colony, has Hovered his connection with the popular Otago sportsman, and will don Mr D. O'Brien's colours this season.

"Sir Launcolot" says that R. Hay's old favourite maro Maritann has been quite " a white olepliant " to lior owner sinco sho has boon porforming Html duties, for hor lirst foal, ii colt by Ivorari, dioci ; last year )>he slipped twins, and this your sho doo» not appear to bo in foal. St. John has again advanced in favour for tho Molbourno Cup, and was quoted at 100 to 1 (tU. and wtd.) at last advicoe.

Mr Donnott, tho Napior sportsman, has purchased from Mr Allan McLean a three yoarold gelding by Tho Muto from Maria Antoinette. His now ownor, it is statod, intends naming him First Chester, This is originality in nomenclature with a vengoance! Mr F. Dicker Hamilton, one of tho votoran turf writors of Australia, died a low days back. He wroto under tho noin lie plume of "ToatOoln," and was con nected with the Melbourne "Sportsman" in its infant days. I loam from " Flanour's " notes that Mr lienry Redwood's thoroughbred mnro Awatoa droppod twin foals at Spring Crook lately. Ono is dead,and the other is not ox liectod to survive. It is v curious circum stanco that for twonty yours past at least ono of Mr Redwood's mares havo dropped twin foals ovory year, though all tho oil spring invariably die in infancy. Consider ing that Mr Hod wood lias ownod about 16 brand maros per year,this avorago of t.vins ifl very lii^h as comparod with studs in tho Homo Country, whoro tho avorago is paid not to exceed ono case in a thousand. Ono mare of Mr Redwood's threw twin foals livo yearn in succession.

Tho throo-year-old colt Lonnox, owned by tho Hon. .1. White, succoeded in win ning the Maiden Plato at tho Hawkesbury Meeting, Mr & H. T. Hart's Enor, a three year-old son of Musket and Lyra, being his nearest attoEilnnt.

Tim owner of Malua intends to let him h.-ivo :. I urn at stud duty boforo putting lid? intci I mining again, having i-ovoral well bred muros of 'is own that ho purposes mating with tho Molbourno Cupwinnur.

Mr A. II ltohortunn, thoovtner of Dun lop, h:\s pirchasod another good ono in .Antonio, He is throe years old, and full brother to Ri-smio and" Shylock. Ho has (hit loputntion of being » speedy cuntotuor. When the well-performed Quoeni-lnnil howe lu-n Boltanivedat Uowen froiuTowns ville, lie was recoivod by v brass band and an enthusiastic crowd.

Mr Abingdon rocontlv ottered L'I'J.OOO for The Hard, tho KuylUii crack two year old, and it is stated that it had boon iir roptvil, subject to the ratification of (.ioncral Owen Williums, who is half owner of tin undefeated colt.

Tho Hon. .1. White has nominate.] Martini-Hemv for tho V.11.0. Sires' Pro dupe Stakes of 18S9.

Tho Lock leys- Hoyden colt, pur<l.*«od by Mi-Joseph Thompson in Adelaide, md now trained by.l. Leek, has bo-on niiin d Master John.

Says tho Molboumo " Sp.u I man":— " Tho biggest winners as a reaull of Prince Imperial's victory in tho Hawkesbury Handicap wore his ownor, Mr,l. Mayo, and the Hon. John Ealos. Altogether, the horfo was supported to win almost £30,000 but, us so many others in tho raoo woro backed, the ring, although heavy loser* a'! round, do not drop anything like half that sum over the Handicapalono." Kingsdnlo broke tho bones of tho kneo of his otr foreleg in tho race for tlio Hawkes bury Handicap, consequently his tuif ivircer is now at an end.

Sydney Tnttoraali'i Club intond holding a two days' meeting on tho Ut and 2nd January. 'Ot.OOO and .t'4,000 will bo given away in prizes. The most important addi tion to tho ne\r programme will bo tin- Canington Stakos, a handicap cwenp oi €1,O('O, tho firs* h"i-fo to receive £700, tho neeoiid i -'DO, and il.u third X'HH), n mile and thiee furlongs.

GOSSIP FROM STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By Edtkui-e.)

1 I.KAKS with regret that Beethoven's

" Engodi " has been ueloted from the pro gramme of tho Choral Society's next con cert, and replaced with a part of Roasiui'a " Most 1 in Egitto " Harold Ashton, tho onorgi tic and cour teouH business manager of tho Buffalo Minstrel?, i« an old preeHmnn. Ho was formerly upon the litorary slatY of the '"South Australian Register." tin tht tbat Mr John Radcliff gives his assistanco at tho Ponsonby Choral Society's concort next month.

Tho Faust tamlly of acrobats open shortly in tho Opora House. As old friends thoy aro likely to hnvo a warm welcome. l'ho Howardo Comody Company aro now in Auckland. Tho principals aro : —Mr W. 11. Cowan, Miss Jessio Ifowardo and Miss Kato Howardo.

MrG. W. Anson brings with him from London the Australian right of "Tho Croat Pink Poarl," tho latest London sensation.

Tho Pollard Juveniles bavo boon doinji, >voll in Adolaido. They opou in Hobart about tho middle of noxt month, Mr Pollard having secured a loaso of tho thoatro thoro for 12 months.

Mrs Marcus Clarke is about to undertake training pupils, for tho stugo in Melbourne. Mr Thomas Bracken hus gone to Aus tralia on a locturing tour. He was to have given his first lecture in Sydnoy on Thurs day last, tlio subject being "Tlio foots of Ireland."

Mdllo. Khoa, a woll-known and capable actress in America, pays us a visit next .I uno, after which she plays a season in Brazil.

Mr Dion Boucicault, junior, will not ro turn to America with liis father, as ho hat nccupted a longthtmed ongagemeut from Messrs Garner and Williamson.

Harry Hickards, oi Music Hall renown, will appear in Auckland with his London Concert Company at tho conclusion of bin Australian tour.

Mr Dion Boucicault opous at tho Princess Theatre, Dunedin, on October 24, in " The Shaughraun." Mr (.ieorge Darrill has dono oxcellont businoss in Adolaido with "Tho Sunny South," but the public still refuse to swallow "The Squatter." Mr John Ilosford has onco moro sottlcd his neck in tho histrionic collar, and is just now torn ing tho Victorian provinces as v mombor of tho Clara Stcphcnson Dramatic Company. Miss Minnio Palmer, the Amorican bur lesquo actress who mado such a hit in London last year, will visit tho Australian colonies in April or Mny next. Sho will bring her own oompany with her, and will bo ropre-ontcd in Australia by Mr W, E. Chapman, ■ A plan adopted in Wellington for tho convenienra of playgoers might very well bo copied in Auckland. On booking their soats ticket purchasers aro furnished with an envolopo containing tho tickot, and boar ing on tho face a plan of tho orchostra stalls, and of tho c'irclo, with each seat numbered. They can thus mark off the

numbers of their seats, and by referring to their plan find readily tho exact location of their reserved placesj

THE GARDEN.

[By HoßTtrs.l

Calendar of Operations, September 28.

inoiirus is willinß to answer any (juorles. Cor respondents must k'vo their full names and addressee, thmiKli not for publication.l

TO CORRESPONDENTS

TrunußO-sns (Amateur).- Vi 3: tr.brrror.ja Hower In iho open huro. Tim hnlbn nro boucr to be lifted cvory season in the: h-uiiiiii'i; ul wiiit-r, and allowed to rost for the winter. They should lie i hinted out avuin, either at thn end of ihia or iKWiininii of nßSfc inonlJi. The Boil they liko brst ia a rich, sawiy loam. You will act, wii-ely iv nuiklnx up v onuipoat for thorn. Get about one third goad/lhium.i loam, one-third w.-H ---rotl/'d horte manure, and one-third bund. Make hoKa where yen intend to firow the luberosOß. put about three shovalfuls ot tho compost in encli holo, plant n. low bulbs, and covor up. They out;lit to succeed, and if they do they will repny any tronblo you may have taken in getting the compost. Bkdiuno Plants (A. It. Poneonby). Tho soonor bcddiiie plants, oro planted our.now the hotter. From your query 1 would uudxrutund that you havo (tct'io stock youruolf. In mch case "you will need to go to ono of tho nu:>.eryinen imd KOt. ;i stock from him. All iho l^iiin:, ntirserleßiiow pror'ttßiileagnod otork rf bed dlnif plants every tcason. Your olioice must be ruled by what thoy have in stock. Hin too lalo for you iv strike euitiio< now, ao hs to do much ;;ood thin noasim. Yoncoulil notblrilioon a cold frame and have hem out and well (,-rowu bufnre the hi)t weather setH in. Tt.e. uuluinn hi tlio best, Unit; for striking moat biid(lm<

plants. Purchase thll. rauon. and nexl auiunin ruur your vino stock. TINIM (Vinery).—VincH under "lags mint receive careful attention v.-hilo th > arc growing. Attend w oil to the di:ihud<iuiK of mipcM lluuu:) iiliDotJ and the tyin.' ilov, n of. Hie fruitluu slici.it! litiroru the puint r. ilclicb tlie Kluas. l',n.h .it the awvjnrt or third joint buj ond t!io buiuili. AftHi-wnrds only allow niliicient Ittt riil Bhuota ho an to i;ivo pknty of :;!mi!i', with stout, lioalthy foliage. Syringo with water sanin tfiiuicmture as honsu uvery nfturnoon, atmilinK up thu housu bl iho .saiiie time. CloiiO curly su aa to retain us much of Rolar heat as po-oibk-. Conilnu^ ill) syringing till tho uiiiichi.9 heein tuupeu for tl jwerlne, Un.-n all syringtuK must bs Btopped i j 11 they have Bet. Ai'iliß ON Cinerahijs tP.it Plantb). — I. You must fumiiKiito then . 'J'liwi? U no cure tor Ilio ltcuii iH" li«u a tfuod mnukiui,', aim if. t-aiofi-lly " dono,- nitl.er flower* nor hiivc-B wilUutlor If you eiinnot fnniica c tho pluiils whore they ure, W1 a lartfd hux, invuri it over a fuw o( yuur pluuU, and umcJc ■ tiiohi in butclioa. Alculuriau can also bo treated In tho same muniici-. -'. You can (,'ivo, J'JUr planta liquid miinnro once a week, it will btrenirthen the plant* nsd Rive more colour to thfo llowers.

Kitchen Garden.

A coiui dual ot work in this department must have been got forward with during tho lato lino weathor. All vacant pieces of soil should have been wolldug and manured, so as to lot it, sweeten for tho lutor cropa, Every advantage should bo taken of lino weather, so as to got tho different kitchon crops sown and planted. Continue planting out small patches of cabbage und cauli llower, eurth up those that aro growiag, sow a frnsh patch of seed for late spring planting Early potatoes fork between tho rows before earthing up ; plant a few more of the-intermediate varieties. Attend to tho Hueceesional sowing of peas, sow every fortnight, enrth upthoso that aro sullicienUy far advanced. Muko fortnightly sowings of turnips in small patches, so that you may obtain mccoesions of them tender and juicy. Turnips us they got old get stringy nnd harsh in iluvour. The pumpkins, marrows, molons.and cucumbers sown under glass ami [.otted oil' for ourly crop, should now be pretty well OHtabli.-hcd. They should now bj hardened off so that they may bo planted nut in the open on tho first favourable occasion. Slugs aro very loud of the above whilo young, and, if not care fully witched, will destroy the young plants. I'rep.iro h bed for ]iicking of tho early celery plant.-. Sow it fresh patch of seed for later crops. A good number of tho earlier nown vegetables, will Itipiiio careful attoniinn. Si-o'that tho slugs do not got at them, and attend to tho thinning; givo plenty (if spaco so that, each plant !"-ts plenty vi room tv di voli.p. It the main crop of looks, carrots, onions, and parsnips are not sown, have them put in at. once, limth ii]) all growing crops; givefioi] o:d dustings with lime, hi .-is to kill slugs, '."lie evening in t-lio best, time, as they are then mil. 1,., din-.

Flower G:u<Xcu. Kvery endeavour must bu made while tho vvimtlior is line to hnvo all tho boddiuir plant:'struck Ironi cuttings phlitod out as soon as jm-siblo. Knrly planting, if tho plants are proporly hardened, is (lie best, as they coon |;ot. osttibli-'lurl, nml as. the, season advances tlioy will noon grow and cover I lie jrromiH before tho dry, hot tveathor pets in. t»ee iw f>r op ji-wiblo that thoy are properly nrranged in tho bods as to height and colour, tall to tho back or centre, and smallest to thu Inmt uf tho border. Hardy annuals w»r. Consult catalogues, so that you can arrange in border both BB to in-iirht and colour*. I'onlinue planting out bulb* (or sucnofsional tloworiuff. When planting put n shovelful of (tikul soil uiak-r oaoh bulb. Most bulbx lik-n wood ai-hen mix. d with tho Foil they ;<% planted iii. DahliiiH •. Old plants divide iii.d put oil', so tlmt they may bo established before planting out. Curaolliaß Imvo dono llowering : >j;ivo a plight pruning fo a-< to keep tli.. plants in -Impu. Cork over tlio surface soil nbout tho root? and apply well rotted manure. Asuilias aro cominp into llowcr j K'vo xl'Kht waterings with li(]uid innmiro. Tlioniirfiicosoil in thobodn»liould bo frequently stin-u<), bo ns to keeji weeds undor. Look alter tho dilloront seeds nn thoy come through tho (.'round : thin nnd protect from (lu^s. All tho gra°s cdnin<;n should now rocoivo tho usual spring paring, •o thai ihoy may look neat and tidy for summor. Walks phould bo thoroughly cleaned of woids and rolled, so as to thoroughly bind tho gravel. Lawn : Keep ♦ho (;ra«H an short a? possible, uping tho lawn mower oneo a week, or cutting every fortnight: roll IroquOlltly. If well kopt during tho nest two months, it will "ivo lo.'*. troublo during the re^t of tho season. Sweet P.tato. Tlio cultivation of this succulent has boon almost, entirely overlooked in Now Zealand. It has boon grown only by a fow, and but raroly offerod for salo ill our markets. Whothor its ueos aro not properly understood by tho general public, or whothor, owing to it.* proper production or cultivation not being understood by our market gardeners or farmers, tho sweet potato i» not snfliciontly bronght boforo tho food conßunicra in (1"r lnrgo cities, are questions which wo have often heard dis- OUPKcd without any satisfactory reflultß. W o will, thercfoio, essay a short chapter upon its cuKivaiioii Tho sActt jiotato is a poronninl with lorgo tuboroua roots and creoping etoms. Tho loaves aro vory variable in ahapo, boin^ heart or hslbord .shaped, with tho lobos projecting, and it is not rare to find tho loaves dooply lobod.

Tho Hower of tlio swcot potato is in shapo like that of tho common Morning Glory, though not quito so spreading. ]t is of a purplish colour in tlio throat, and whito on the margin. Tho plant rarely produces Mowers in cold latitudes, but in warm climate1! whore tho seasons are longor flowers and ripe seed are not raro. Tlio plant a* it runs along tho ground strikes root at ovory joint. This peculi irity is an advautago in warm latitudes, whoro tho season is long onough for tho roots to grow to a useful size, but is a disadvantage in colder climates whoro tho soason is barely long onough for tho principal roots to mature

Yawktikk :—As with OtllOt' succulent vegetables thoro aro many different vnrletios of tlio awcot potato, powering widely different qualifies adapting thorn to tho varioui" sections of tho country. Whish particular variety will besi suit a given locality can only be ascertained by expori montal culture In Amorieu thoro »ro almost as many variotios grown as «f the common potato, 801110 loonlitioH having peculiar advantages ; particular situations and soils producing abundant crops. As there aro only v four varieties cultivated in New Zealand, and very little in known about them, public bodies and sooiotica interested in tho introduction of new plants should introduce tlio best of the named varieties grown in 'ho Northoni S'tatos of America. Experiments should then bo made with them, and tubors and infor mation connected with their cultivation distributed among tho country settlors. ['.ROI'AOATIOS :—Tho meanfl rOßortcd to for multiplying tho Bweet potato are nntnorouSt and its propagation i^ elTected more readily and to a gronter oxtent than i>> practicable with many other vegetables. Thoro aro methods used for this purpose that insure reproduction almost indefinitely, but tho mothod moat in vogue is by s-ets. Tho potatoes chof>on for Feeds .sliould bo phort, straight, and sound ;in fact, tho best medium-M^od vubera. To produce good sound crops, good sound seed must bo iiecd I'noi'AGATivc! Bed i—Throughout Sop temher tnko 0110 or two fash frames and build up a hot-bed to euit tho sizo of tho framo with fermenting gtablo manuro, giving tho bed aboufe ton days to insure an even commencement of heating. The bed should bo of such a chnrnc'oras to givo a steady but not a violent heat. When you have mado certain that tho bed is properly heating, place tho framo on it. In the bottom of the frame put about four inches

of pood soil, having a larrfe quantity of saiui mixed with it. Upon this tho seed potatoes aro to be placed ovenly (about one inch apart) and pressed down in the foi! to one-half tho thickness, then sprinkle with water and cover with threo inches of aand, afterwards giving tho usual attention to watering, airing, etc In about ten days after planting the white crowns of t,ho young plants should be pushing vigorously through all parts of the surface.' From thenceforth give plenty of air and iight on all good daj s, Pradunlly hardening the plants by taking the sash off until jusf before planting out time, when they should be left uncovered night and day. Tho bed will want frequent watering, which ia best done early in the aftornoon. „ „ Preparation of the Sou. :-Success with the sweot potato mainly dopends upon tho preparation tho noil receives, as well ns tho after culture. Choose light sandy or slaty soil which has been well drained and deeply worked for a previous crop ; plough tho ground throo or four inches doop, harrow androll.thon throwup shallow ridges throo feet apart; let them stand thus till ready for planting. When the young plants aro ready for planting flatten the ridges and set out the young plants about eightoon inches apart.

(To be Continued.)

SOUTH SEA LETTERS.

(Hv Oik Kkt-ohtkr with the .lankt Niccol.)

TAHITI,

Of all tlio "hundred thrives of happy climes" that, dot tlio bosom of tlio South Pacific O-'fan, thoro is nonothat arouses so much interest as Tahiti ; there is none which ?o enchains tho imagination of the expectant visitor, and lliere is nons which, once visited, so often and so pleasantly recurs in delicious day dreams. Writing now, two months lifter my return, 1 find that tho enchantment of tho place still hovers nround mo, and there is the utmost. difficulty in dissociating tho real from the unreal, and describing soberly and truth fully the countlens charms of that island of tho bloat, Summing up tho general impros sions of the Paradise of the Pacific, no lan guage so well describes it as that of Thorn eon in dopictUfC the vale in which stood the " Oastlo of Indolence " :—

A plciiflinß land of drowsy-hoad it was ; Of dreams thut wave bofuro tun half shut eye, And of Kuy caeilea ill the clouds tliat iiass. for evui1 IlualiiuK round v Summer kky ; 'I'lion- eko the s jfl delHchtu thai witchuißly liibtll ti wanton sweotneas through the brcaßt. And tho calm pleasures always hovered nitjn; lint wliute'or smacked of noyuueo or uurebt \Vu« far far oil' oxpell (1 from this delicious neat!

I must, lioivcvor, drop from Cloudland, in order that I may give tlio reader an in telligent idea of the island, the French and native Governments*, and tho central conai tion of the colony, while 1 may also make a short exesrsion into the historic field. That dono. I may gracefully "drop into poetry," but doubtless tho reader will approve of adhering to tho old rnlo of " business first and pleasure after." The Sooloty Islands,

of which Tahiti is the chief, He between IC'll and 1753 South latitude, and 148°;j and 152°12\Vestlongtitude. All the islands iv tha •iioup, ten in nunilier, aro marked by great natural beauty, which is as fresh and striking today as it. was nearly ft cOhtury and (i half ago when Captain OooU described it. The principal islands after Tahiti aio—Kaiutru, Huahoino, Buia Bora, Taiia and Mooren. Though lying well within the Tropics', tho clhualo of these islands is not oppressively hot, for the high l'iH« and tho surrounding ooean render tho temperature at once mild and equable, Thocliwovory of these islands* prohubly iliito* back to about tho year KiUO, when li't'inundodeQuiroa, nSniuiUhimviga tiir, while voyaging in search of a South I'acilic lUnitiiiont, Mghtod an island in this latitude, but did not land.

Tliu full credit of tlio discovery of Tahiti, therefore, i« (generally accorded tv Captain U'ullic, of JI.M.S. Dolphin, who liret lighted its laud on tlio 19th Juno, 1707 Anchoring in v bay, Liout.' Furnenux woni. on shore and erected a British pendant, formally " taking poMOssion " of the Island in tho namo of Kin},' Uoorgo 111. Next morning tho flatf wan gone, and as the native." interfered with tlio sailors when uxboro foi ■ ireAi water thoro ncemato have boon some skirmishing in eoneequenco. Ultimately amicable relations wore ostab livhud, though tho native* fctole everything thoy could lay their hands on, unlev* forcibly prevented, Meautimo, tho native women nuver ceased to omiiloy tho most shamolesa ciiiticcmenta to allure tho suilora from tho ship, or from thoir work on shore—^reat inconvonicncc lieiii{r caused thereby. After five weeks, May,' tlio Dolphin weighed anchor and dupurted. In 1708 Tahiti was visited by tho French voyager, do Bougainville, to whom tho natives seem to havo shown great hospitality. Auain tho women paused firoiil trouble, mid oven some murders of Iho natives by tho French sailors. A chief accompanied M. de Bongninvillo to France, but died of small pox ut. Madagascar in returning to his native land, Lieut. Cook first visited Tahiti in the Endeavour, for tlio purpose of ihcro ob porving tho trnnsit of Venus in 17(i0. Ho then surveyed tho whole island. Four years after, CooU (now Captain) again visited Tahiti in tho Resolution, accompanied by tho Advonluro, undor tho command of Captain Furncanx, already mentioned as Lieut, with VVollis, On leaving for homo, ho took with him a native o{ Raiatoa, who returned in 1777, which was Cook's lost visit to Tahiti. In tho interval, the island had been visited by two i panish votscls from Limi, Tho commander of this expedition died at Tahiti, and was there buried. His gravo is marked by a cross, on which is inscribed " Chrietue vincit" and " Carolus 111. imjjorut, 1774." Elevon yours now clapsod, during which period no vecifel seoms to havo visited the island. The next visitors wcro 11.M.5. l.ady I'onrhyn, and about three months afterwards, tho famous Bounty, commanded by Lieuts. Watts and Blif(h respectively, both of whom had served as officers with Captain Cook. In 1701 JI.M.S. Pandora, Captain Edwards, arrivsd, when the whole of tho Bounty mutineers who remained on Tahiti—fourteen—werocaptured and taken homo for trial. In 1702 a Sydnoy whaler, the Matilda, was wrecked on a reef in 22° S. latitude and 138T W. longitude, tho captain and crow e?oapin;; in their boats to Tahiti. No oHior arrivals of any conso quonco took place until that of the Dufl' Captain Wilson, on the sth March, 17S1", bringing tho first batch of English mission aries from tho then newly formed London Missionary Society. " Los Etabllssemcnts Francois do l'Oeoanic."

By a curious fato, Tahiti, which was so intimately associated with England a cen tury iigo, bus bocomo a French colony, and Hio centre of Government for French Oceania Tho French Protectorate was established over Tahiti in 1844, and wan soon oonvorted into a regular colonial Uovornmonr, wliilo tha Protectorate Hag was hoisted on a mimbor of adjacent islands, as also on the Tuamotu Croup or Low Archipelago, consisting of eighty islands of atoll formation, contain ing 3 300 square miles, and yielding largo quantities of valuable products. The Marquesas Islands, to iho northward, which woro formerly a separate colony, are now also governed from Tahiti, and it in stated that Rapa, a small but import ant bland far to tlio "outhward, hm lately boon taken possession of by Franco. Eaiatcn, tho jocond in importance of tho Sncioty Croup, though its indopondflnco was supposed to have boon secured by a Ppocial treaty bettrenn England and France, is insidiously being brought under French influence at the pre sent timo. Tho French Protectorate flag has been lmisted over it, and in answer to British protests it is urged that this has been dono by the natives thomsclves, who dosiro to bo brought under French rulo. Our neighbours used to make a by-word of Pr.iiide Albion, but if this bo a par^plo of Gallic faith, I foar they are not in a posi tion to call names, l'n all the Anglo- French negotiations in tlin South Pacific, tha plausible sons of Oaul have succeeded in outwitting our Government, and now it is saiil they are urging that they should be allowed to possess Rain tea, thoy in return relinquishing their fishery rights in Newfoundland waters, which o\ vo rito to frrquont unpleasantness, If our Government are wise, thoy will insist either upqn the independence of Kamtca boing respected, or upon tho French re linquishing all claim to the Island of Rapa. Tho last-named island, which has a good harbour and coal bod, should bo secured as a coaling station by England ; and its mili tnry importance is considerable, for it is in tho track of steamers to and from Australasia and Panama. Apart from the military view of the subject, indeed, we might well allow Franoo to extend '. ■ Hiuth Pacific posses sions indefinitely, for the result wsuld be to largely benefit tho commorco of England ftnd her colonies. At Tahiti, there is a com plete governing establishment, consisting of

Governor, Director of tho Interior, Cus toms, Educational, Postal, and other Depart ments, vith a garrison of some ISOO soldiers, an efficient, battery of artillery

and theincvitable gtnd'armf*. Thoreareex tensive and costly public buildings, substan tial quays, excellent roads and bridges, a J'ttliii* ili- Juxticf and Prison (Momnle. But amid all there is no real colonisation by the French, and there is but an insignificant trade done with the Mother Country, I et I us see how

Tho French and Hi tire Governments work together. This they do admirably for the simple reason that the French hold the supremo power and the natives are perfectly submissive. It was not always thus, for on a monument erected in the graveyard beyond the b.ittery ] saw an inscription to tho memory of over 40 French troops who had perished In a battle with the natives. The present King, Pomare V., isamoronobody—adisaoluto .scamp, whogoea " on tho spreo" with a Chinese barber, and commits all sorts of outrages on his subjects — the French authorities so far recognising his authority that they do not punish him for these pranks. His Majesty has a big two-story palaco provided for him, but never enters it. The greater portion of his time is spent at a native sottlesnent some distance away,

and when :n I'apeoto ho prefers staying in a small verandah cottage behind tho palace, 'I'he French away over tho natives is by no means a hanh ono ; in fact, there seems a remarkable fitness in these light-hearted natives being ruled by such merry con querors. Tho natives have to pay a poll-tax of 20 francs per annum, or in default the authorities "tako it out" in labour on the roads. In this way, and by means of mili tary labour, excellent roads have been con structed, and are kept in good repair. In return for their contribution to the revenue tho natives are pioviiLd with religious and secular education five—the salaries of preachers and teachers being paid by Government—though each district hag to provide its own church and school. There is just a triflo too much of officialism in Tahiti, so that for New Zealanders the conditions of life would prove rather irksome ; but considering everything, Eng lish and American subjects got on very well thoro, being in fact the leading merchants of tho place. Tho French Governor, M. Morau, is, I understand, a retired nival oflicr, a bachelor, and of course the centre of European society in Tahiti. On the 14th July, when wo landed at Tahiti, ho gave a ball, which was a splendid affair—uniforms, costumes, music, mirrors, perfumes, refresh ments, and illuminations boing in tho true French style. On tho Kith I had the honour of meeting His Excellency at di'jcmii'f in response to an invitation, and found him a thoroughly well-informed and agreeable gentleman. He tpeaks no Eng lish, but his aide de-camp does so fairly. After a breakfast of seven courses (if my rather confused memory of tho event is correct) came winos, fruits, cafe noir, cigars, and a stroll through the garden, resplendent with many beautiful flowers, and rich in tropical vegetation, exotic and imported. For that very pleasant forenoon I am in debted primarily to Mr D. B. Cruick shank, French Vice-Consul at Auck land, who favoured me with a letter of introduction to tho Governor. M. Morau is a shrewd, clear-headed man, and a bit of an epicuro withal, and his conversation clearly showed that ho was deeply interested in the proepent of having speedy and fre quont communication between Tahiti and Now Zealand. He had tasted the jams of this colony, and thoir oxcollonce had given him a keen desire to tasto our fresh meat, our butter, rheeso, game, and other things which Frenchmen know how to enjoy, People and Language,

The people of Tahiti, liko those of Tonga

and Sumoa, belong to tlie Maori race. They uro more regular in utatnre and feature* than tlie Tonjjans, whom otherwise they eln.-eiy rocmblc, being darker in com plexion and less active in habit than tho Samoana By adapting ra'lior than adopt ing European costume, theso pciple have attained to a most graceful anil suitable garb, The men wear light trousers and white shift, and tho women a i-i,ng'o long (lowing robo depending from their shoulders to their houle, while boiii soxqh wear taste fully trimmed straw hats, and adorn t hem solves with articles of jewellery, Barofoetaro (ho rule. Good tnsto is manifested by all tho natives in the stylo and colour of their clothing, being as far removed from the Maori .standard as Bolgravia is from llound>ditch. Although at times indulg ing to excess in utrong drink, t'ae Tahitians aro uniformly inoflbnsivo, and never develop ferocious or violent traits of character. Such a marked contrast-as they present to tho Maoris of Now Zealand, wliiie at the uiimo timo they aro uiiMistakcably closely allied to thorn, has doubtless been brought

about by tho genial influence of climate, anil by contact with their polite and ii'stlietic conquwors. Tho number of natives in tho Society Islands is stated at 25,000, and it is nearly stationary. With tlio uxeoption of ono tenth, who are liomau Catholic, the ontiro native population is Protestant, and is under the earo of missionaries of tho London and i'aris Missionary Societies. Kov. Mr Groen, head of tho first-named Society, gave me some interesting particulars regarding the iell,'ious and educational condition of the peoplo. Of tho character of the women it is only no ossaiy to say that it corresponds with that of (heir ancestors, nfl described by Cook and do liougainvillo. Their charms aro indubitable, a^d might tempt tho voriest aacotic ov the wost confirmed woman-hater. I Graceful in carriage and figure, you soon forgot their dusky huo, and gazing into their dark, lustrous, li<iuid,rolling eyes, you ignoro their lack of culturo and refine ment, and are ready to exclaim with Byron, "Oh! that eye; 'twas in itself a soul!" I earned as they aro in all tho arts of lovo— in all the fond ailuremonts of affection —I do not wonder though the hint of tome chroniclora may bo very near the truth — that tho attractions of tho Tahitian women formed tho chief causo which precipitated tho memorable Mutiny of the Bounty ! But 1 cannot lingor over this too-delightful theme.

Tho Tahitian languago may bo more liquid than Samoan, but, to my mind, it is not nearly so musical. It ha 3 fewer con sonants, but it retains tho guttural aspirate and "r" of tho Maori, which are absent from Sanioan. Tabitian, indeed, might bo classed as pure Maori with half the con sonants dropped. A fellow- passengfor, who was a good Maori linguist, found groat ditliculty in understanding the Tahitians; but when ho spoke Maoii, they asked him whero ho had learnt their language. As a sample of the mothnd of varia Man, I may instance tho Maori tangata linn-" bad man "—which in Tahitian becotnos ta'ula 'mo. I will close tlii* discursive letter by quoting an early incident in Ttihitlan history, to which I liavo already briefly alluded. Cr.ptain Cook, on the occa.-ion of one of his visits to Tahiti, took a native of Raiatoa, named Omai, to England with him. Though hut of ordinary rank, Omai was troated with every distinction by the nobility and literati of the time, and for four yeavs was feted, flittered, and caressed. Amid all he com ported himself with a native dignity that extorted universal admiration ; yet when lio returned to his native la-id all ho took with him from among the many -svorrdoiTul things which ha saw in London was a box of toys, a compkto coat of mail, and a barrel oigsn ! History haa repeated itself quite r. ceutly iii tho case of the Maori King Tawhiao, whu.in tho course of his London trip, seemed to have boon mo.-t powerfully affoctfd. by a contem plation of tlio mysteries of tho sartorial art and tho excruciating sweetness of barrel organ irmsio. And juat as Omai, shortly after his return, took to his primeval dross and habits of life, so Tawhiao has gladly exchanged tho gilt cf tho London siilons for the squalor of his whare at Whatiiyhatihoe, lint liickC'l offhis patent pumps, his trousers, coat, und stovepipe hat, and resumed onco more tho happy nat.ivo costume of blanket and mat. These two, instances aro typioil of the nutiro raoo. The noblo I'ojyno.-ian, y^ith hjs high natural gift* and wonderful improvablenesa, lacks the ambi tion to strive and tho fttmitia to peraorero in the higher path, and sinks back into his original state of barbaric stagnation, which is synonymous with physical decay and rasial extinct ion. I find my spaco is fully oocupiecK so that I cannot doal with tho question of the com merce, and- industries of Tahiti; but the roador will find full mrtkmlara of those in tho pamphlet published by theJChambor of Commerce.

Koad tho lateat unsolicited testiraoniafc ta the eX'*j'llenco of the " Knrnu•■'.•'

"In my opinion the 'Farmer'ia far superior to any journal of lh<! kind t.uMi»ho<l thin &ido of thit lino —V. K. CI.Ai'i'HRTON, Palmoraton North."

"I mn not an BRricultnr.il. but a pastoral farmsr SttU I consider tho 'Farmer' a most valuable paper, and I m-wt Binccrl? trust it wll! moot with tho sue«es« which it moat fully deserves. Ii: «i>rmliCß a ionefult war.t.-R H. MaSON, II i ■■ • -k-iho. Napier." Tho "Km mm "is publiehod monthly by H. TirtKTT, Phortlaud and Fort-streets. Auckland. Subscription, 10s per annum, payable In a-1 vanoe.

A SOCIAL SENSATION.

Homeric Combat Between an tn . n Baronst. an«

(Fnoii Onn Lwtdoh Coßni*P Ojn , N . T)

LoNtKW' Aagmtn For the last week all fashionable lJ hai been talking ,f tho myrteriou/Z! " the Park between Sir George Ch 6 t4 2 u>rd Lonsdale. Sir George i s d racing man. He married the widow off last Marq.ii.of Hasting -the 2 ho young plunder of whose it^ 9 on the turf so much has been 8 J *! written. The Marchioness, it wi u 1 mombored, threw over Mr Cha V "*' young Hasting.,. Chaplin was Jl^ say, very fond of her.bnt he didn't likeVT mad 9 a fool of, and he showed it Wi < 8 18 months the now Cabinet Min'uJ . more than revenged. All the worW I* M how the young Marquis laid a laZ^ 0* 8 against his rival's Derby fcvonritTft HT how the horse went hopelessly he started at forlorn odds ; an^WS" mrp. i*e of every body, he won, Lo^'wi, he stood by Lord Hastings on the stand that bitter uZ aftS.^ scanned the field with his opera gluLtlT .■SO runners swept, round Tuttonh&m P ° cried. "Hermit," was the oniaf ,' Then,a:ninut fl ortwoktor,: 3 T ft hope of Danebury, tho horsa ho had^wS to win a great stake, compounds S* yells of delight from the s ß «r u^* Marquis lowered his glasses. » EitherT 8 mit or Marksman will win; Til backM.V man for a thousand," he criedl "TV*, said Lord Wilton, " Hermit wins "«„]' he did by a neck. The Marq L, ll* tioally a ruined man, but o£ ??* on the ooaph that evening ftI**1 ** gayest of the say. WK™ M Hastings died his l&ow ft^* self unconsolable, but in a vervf«»-» 1 wedded Sir GeorgeChetwyndXS:*B one of the best-looking men in LoodcL ' Ho it was who, conjoined with V, i Lonsdalo ten days ago, afford^ Btodtajg Hydo I'ark and riders i,n the R Ow C great social scandal a.nd sensation of S season. ™ "» The scene occurred at noo», « n hourwhe* the daily crowd of fashionables and sfekt seers m tho Park is at its thickest Tv drive was crammed with vehicle's tl ; Row alive with equestrians, and £ tween the two on the broad »2l" , Eurged backwards and forwards n stna* ! of well-dressed pedestrians divided by» of chairs placed under tho trees and aoiH. used by onlookers. Upon one of S chairs, in tho midst of a coterie of MmST sat Sir George Chetwynd. To £t comes Lord Lonsdalo, stalwart and athletic A few whispered words pass, then thet» calls the baronet a profane name Vnd whisking his cane, delivers a wingiig cS full across the other's shoulder. SirG«i»« though evidently surprisod at tie asuff sprang to his feet with commendable agihty, and, hardly giving the nobls earl time to get hia. "mauleys" into position, planted a well-directed Mow full in tho left eye, A brutal fight U lowed, in which flats and sticks were both employed, tho aristocratic combatants poking and belabouiing one acothm with tho fury and energy of a couple of belli gerent costeraiongers. Fully fivo mioutes did tho battle rage, no one likine to inter, fero, and the poHce feeing conspicuous by thoir absence. Thon Mr Cecil flowiri eaiso up, and promptly insisting^ stem porary cessation of hostilities, snw the ireful adversaries walked off in different dira , tiona.

The cause of the quarrel is sairf to Is * wonderful portrait mi china of Mrs Lmgtry which both gentletten much desired to par. cha?o. Sir George absolutely obtained it from Mr Downey, tho artist- photographer, Unfortunately, the latter avers ho thuqhl he was Eellina; it to Lord Lonsdi^ Ilinc Ulne laerymmt ! His Lordsliip M yi ha" believed the baronet impersonated him in order to get the much-coveted ■plagufl Bad as tho quarrel was, it must have ten quickly made up, for at Goodwood on Cop Day the two i/HOw/eiM adversaries werearifl. in-arm together every where-the obeatred of all observers.

Tempom mutnntur ti nos mulawwinillk A fow yoars ago, 6uch a public fracas a the forogoing must inovitably havo ended with a duel. Neither patty would tan dared to allow it to "h'zzlo out,"lam«lv explained Uy a preposterous cocimd-bill story no ono believes. Tho Jcney Lilyi name was incautiously mentioned during the row by ona of the belligerents,amw quontly she was connected with it iu&ttj ways long before Sir George Chetsyid, it his Club, volunteered a eeuu-puhUQeiplm tion.

An Atlantic despatch of Aug. 25th ays: Inasinuoh ns the I uiuiUlc CheUyndquwnl still continuos to bo a frequent topic of «»• versat ion heva, and »s all sorts nf strange »nd contradictory rumours are. in'circuUtion about it, I havo taken tho pains toasperWn tho actual facts about the origin of tit de pute. 1 now ca'ulo tho story as iiisralaUd to mo, movoly promising that my informant guarantees its absoluto correct Dew: Sit George Chetwynd and Lord Lonsdale rai both very old friends of MrsLaDgtiy. Off ing to some feeling of jealousy on her IC< count, there had been all through, thput eoason more or less concealed enmity I* tweon these gentlemen. Shortly beforetha vow in tho Park Lord Lonedsl*, wbllfMll ing upon Mrs Langtryat her house,,Up pened to see on the jflantelpieca a piohn of herself pointed on china. &M ---mired it very much, and as he atois to take hie leavo lie begged Mr« Ungttyto m^ke a proeent of it to him. Ktilugte replied that the picture was not hett. It belonged to the Messra Downey, pi* graphers, who refused to sell it evea toher. Thereupon Lord Lonsdale said: "W jj all events you can lend it to mo., I woMl liko to show it to some one." He wm nnuj allowed to take it away, on condition of re turning it in a few days. , Same time passed, however, ana.itdl Lord Lonedalo neglected tokeap hiaprocnis* and bring back the picture. On tae«? before the final outbreak of hostilities, Jw Langtry was riding in the Park m i w Goorgo Chetwynd on ono side, and W Lonsdale and Alfred De Rothschild M'» other. Mrs Langtry asked Lord Immi» when ho was going to eivo bsct her pi«i» "Oh," ho replied, " law going to bay v frow Downey. ■ , ~ Sir Chetwynd thon chimed in, sajfflgtmi Lord Lnnsdale ought to return thepi«J«j and added as he turned toward him, « you don't I will make you." HigbW" then followed from both sides. Qa th«M« evening Lord Lonsdale wrote *« WrGeoip Chetwynd requesting an ajwlogy and tbiw ening chastisement in oaso it; wa? »»»» Sir George, however, did not «ea fitwj™ an apology, and on tho followl°§ n , {' wisely or unwisely, Lonsdale Proce6a7 tfio Park to put his threat into •««'»» Ho began by fl&unting in Sir Ceorgf ub wynd's faco a receipt from Powney, »w he had finally persuaded to «» »'» r picture, which lifld been the bone|»' whole contention. He then cownunw: w BPeanlt as waa described atfthei time. « not true that the Prince of tfalM t«? hand in the sstllcmont of the W^ri affair, which «as linally srsa»ge'J oy , pood onicos of Lord Galihorpo «i« w Huntley. ,

A BALTIMORE HERMIT

Ho Dies Without Rc**»-Hng tlw S*^

of Bis LJf«-

Amh in an old mansion wtart ** lived tho life of n hermit for two* F and more William H. Israel,****^ citizen of Baltimore, died on- AugM Honevr wont O'.twf'Sp* howooldrit on bis 'roß*TC eSfi» at tho stars for hours. Un'U j m venra aijo ho used to K« tO,"iLBW)!i -aud bakor daily, but of l«w 1» "JJ^, firm to lMTetba bou.-o, and hu mM" ffJ( , brought to him from « ■„,(, a waiter took him a P>» ln ?T,>b>t>" morning and »opp«d on tho win* „ the long bony h"»d.^Md**3 reiwh out and grwp th« ""^hbo.rV pear. Tho waiter called together they entered the hoasM oU man dying it tho foot "•jrfji down which ho had fallen, no r a short time , ur. g trapPf Tho sccrot of tho hermit* W«» ,ti» in mystcrv. For the Itft * „»< ho«-ota which h.h.»*«*^, l rf* Bhut up. H has ne«r.Sjßgi»«»^ painted, and was K'^" 3''^''^^* Say. Tho houeo vrts once »»k furnished. O..rt «'wd;fi W .*'* ered the velvet-cashione* f«w hftf ,»j parlournnd the >-™owoodbutetm room. It is «id that a tew •" y^U the man to becomo • J cloeod himself > B . from * f m, f3»l>«* very rich. The lm.iuew a *u^ ff(l 9 by tv, other son?. .^j-UflOft y««i-<. Hand worth about »IW ..

E AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBEK 26, JLBBF

6



. CATARIW OF TUB Ci,ADDER.-stii, s i,, i! i,,iia. " iJuuhu-vaitft." At UrurtriflU. KunsUiorue. I'russor & Co., AjenU. Auckland.



s • « ii 'V i s «. HACINQ J'IXTUUK :. llawkc-'.i Hay ,I.C, Kpvlna OntolKi-C.S" Oiieiiiu K'i -i('- rti.ring October:!!. P|..::<:r.u"; i !tu:;l C'luli Anninil Octohi r ::i. ■> uri;l- ml i:.< '. Hprinc N'ovfinhor II). (i,.nt.-riuir> .!.''■ Si.iin:: ... Novuinhcr If, 1.. i::. Tokaiiunn J.O. Suriiij; November 2S Dnnutlln JA'. Spring Novoniber SS, SV.3". DATKB OP PRIMCIPAT, AI'tTRALIAN AMD NEW ZEALAND RACKS. CArr.riEi.il Hi'i:;f..i^.—October 111. Uai/I.pikmi I'll1. -C.-tnt.nr 1?. V.H.C. l)ionnv.-Un.ol)erfll. MKi.nornsKiit'p.—Noremh«r3. Napier spkino riAHnicAP.-Ootohw s. I'iui.tk or Walks .vt.vkk-i (A.X.CI -fiOVIO. N,/, CiT. -Nov.-mliiT Hi. (.'ANTKniiLity Dxitßv.—Hovemlicr 12. AuriiLANtJ ('L'C—lJDCi'inhoi-aii. DATKS Ob' iNOAII.NATIONS AND AUOKPT AN OK '.



Noiiiinatii'iiaforjiniioclinCiip, O.J.C.nmlFor bury l[aniUoapß.—Soptomhor'Jt!.



NominaiioiiH I'm- Drini.Mii.il uvont-t Auckland H.!i'imr Chili Si.riiii; anrl .Sunini:'i-.MI-cHhk:!.- Ooiobnr 2,



Xominatlona for Onohunsa .Spring MeothiK.— October 2.