RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.]

Some write, a neighbour's name to lash ; Some wrile—vain thought '.—for ueedf ul cash ; Some write to please the country clash,

And raise a din. .For me, an aim I never fash— I write for fun.

Well said, Sir Robert ! " Parochial politics" are fashionable in that nest of (un)civil servants which arrogates to itself the proud title of the Empire City. While the rest of the colony is deeply exercised on questions of national importance, such as the reduction <|f governmental expenditure, 'the adjustment of the incidence of taxation, the land policy, etc., Wellington keops on grovelling in the mire like the veritable Little Pedlington that it is. Tho cry for retrenchment may become a "roar" all over tho colony from Cape Maria to tho Bluff, but the parochial minds of Welling ing statesmen are not at all affected by the popular craze. With a consistent and affecting devotion to petty ■ local interests, the only "roar" now to bo heai'd there is a vigorous howl for a town clock to be provided by the Government! The last clock on the Post Olliee building was only partly paid for out of Govern ment funds; but tho Wellingtonians, astounded at their former moderation, are now demanding that. theGovernmcnt should "stump up" the full price of the time keeper that they want. And this question has really been magnified by a Minister into a matter for the serious consideration of the Cabinet, and has led to a furious on slaught upon the Government, and that particular Minister, by the patriotic press so neatly " dressed down :I by the Premier the other day. it is perhaps appropriate that Wellington should have a big public clock, to remind the people by its constant tick-tick-tick that the colony is living on credit; but why limit the boon ? Lofc every township in the colony have a big " ticker " at tho public expense; it is a penny v/ise and pound foolish policy that would deprive the ratepayers of the means of keeping up to " the time of day ;'' but let vigorous •retrenchment be applied in other directions, and especially in tho cut ting down of those costly .Departments and sinecure billets upon which Wellington thrives at tho expense of other districts. Have your clock if you like, Messieurs, but don't make it a cloak for concealing from view the large political issues before tho country.

* * ••<■ *■ <:• * Among all the theories advanced toaecoun t for the "depression/ no one in New Zea land has had the hardihood to suggest that over-education has anything to do with it. An English author, Mr Geo. Challig, has, however, boldly tackled the subject from that point of view, and in his novel entitled " British Slaves" he advances the thesis that the compulsory education system is directly responsible for the widespread depression. Here is a sample of jhis reasoning:—"No one knows how much depends, upon our little workers ; tie their hands from helping each other, their parents, and themselves, and then you will begin to see the effect of compulsory education. In a large family, where many little hands work, the labour fall lightly. Father's money buys food, one child's earnings pays the rent, another's buys shoes, stockings, &c., whilst a third helps with the household work and the universal baby, setting the mother's hands free to sew, bake, and wash. Tie all these children's hands by making them keep at school, and their parents will be slaves. It reduces tho incomes of the poorer clases ; and if working men have less money to spend in tho wares, merchan dise, and produce of the country, the shop keepers and tradespeople will place scan tier orders with the merchants and manu facturers. There will be slackness of work, which will cause masters to employ lewer hands, making a further decrease in the incomes of the already impoverished families."

There is a large amount of truth in these statements —so self-evident, indeed, is the truth enunciated that the only answer that can be made bo it is that it is for the good of children to be taught book learning rather than to bo pub to work. But that fallacy is pretty nigh exploded, and the " Kindergarten " system and the growing demand for technical education are proofs of the dawning revolt against book-learning and the setting of the tide in favour of practical and mechanical training for children. As one of Mr Ghallis's characters remarks: " People can live very well upon plenty of money and education, but plenty of education and no money won't fill people's stomachs. Every one alive cannot get a living with educa tion. There are many losing their time with education who will never need it and don't value it; and it would be a poor look out for the world if it was not so. Keeping children from work so many years and filling their heads with rubbish, certainly is unfitting them for hard coai*so work which must be done." We have seen in New Zealand more baneful resulbs flowing from over-pressure in education than ever flowed from bhe placing of children in factories, and experience should teach us wisdom. In the middle course is safety, and I am firmly of opinion we are on the straight road to slavery if we don't stop teaching our children "rubbish" and rather educate them in matters of practical utility.

As an example of the kind of " rubbish " that is stuffed or tried to be stuffed into the heads of the rising generation, take the following account of what actually took place at a recent school examination in Auckland. A little girl was thus addressed by the Inspector, after he had tortured her to the best of his ability : " Now, I have only one more question to ask, and if you answer it correctly you will pass ; if not, you will not pass. Can you tell me where Perm is ?" (an outlandish place hardly ever heard of, and the name of which is certainly nob in- any of the school books.) Of course the poor trembling creature "failed to pass," and the Inspector put a b.lack mark . opposite her namo with the grim reflection that the Government did nob pay him a big screw for nothing, and then passed on to the. next caravan, " with that air of satisfaction which good men wear who've done a virtuous action !"

It is plain that the brain of the most brilliant Inspector in the colony would soon collapse under the tremendous pressure of preparing such deep questions, and to lighten the onerous duties of the Inspec tor in question I would humbly suggest the following list of crucial questions : — "Where is "Sheol, and give its latitude and longitude ?" " There are two brewers in Auckland, one measuring 28 inches and the other 48 inches in circumference ; if six bottles of lager beer, nil the little fellow tight, how many bottles of Whitson's ale will it take to put the big one in a similar condition ?" "If it takes a Sydney quack doctor six years to kill a wealthy, patient, how long will it take a .duly qualified medical practitioner to polish off a poor man's child ?" "If a :man whose head measures 23 inches round the ears pan stand six glasses of Scotch whisky ! toddy, how many glasses of Irish whi-ky, neat, could a man stand whose .head only measured 21 inches?" "It takes :ten minutes for. a.. teaspoonful; of pain killer to reach the. toes; of a man, 5 feet 5 inches, high.j. how. long,.will it, tak§ ;fpr a .man 6 feet high, to feel the iensation of»

141b weight dropped on his pet corn V " What is the amount of the annual trade between New Zealand and Guam '!" These questions, in all seriousness, are as ell'ectual tests of the amount of useful knowledge in stilled into the young colonials at the pub lic schools at a cost of about half-a-million per annum, as many of the questions asked on examination days. Are we not already serfs? and is not the day of absolute slavery within measurable distance ?

Who was it, dear reader, that invented the phrase— Per/ermdtimiwjeniximScotorwmP. Perhaps it doesn't so much matter, So long as we have the thing itself in our midst; and 1 fancy we have had as much of the fervid genius of the Scots among us of late as would satisfy even Mr J. Aitken Council. The Tactician, it I remember arighfci has a theory or opinion to the oliect that the only hope of salvation for New Zea land lies in the immediate importation of several thousands of brawny Hoolanmen, " in the garb of Old Gaul, with the lire of old Rome." Tlie invasion has already bdgun, and the colony may be looked upon as practically saved. The visit of (.lie Earl of Aberdeen helped to make things Cale donian i fashionable ; since then we have had Scottish " chicls " and " lassies " dancing, singing, and performing on that instrument of torture, the bagpipe ; while this week another fervid won of Scotia, Mr Mcßurney, has by en, in conjunction with his wife, treating Aucklanders toaelever exposition of national music and dialectical peculiarities. Then wo ai~e promised classes in Scottish dancing, and by next winter we shall have the half of Auckland; fired with Scottish enthusiasm, (lancing the Highland Fling, and Sword Dance_, amid barbarous yells of "Hooch!" after the manner of the aborigines of Scotland. Heaven be praised, there is as yet no proposal to teach the youth of this Southern Athens how to play die bag pipes ! If the financial salvation of the colony were contingent upon the adoption of the bagpipes as our national musical in strument, I guess the people would gladly welcome utter ruin and loss of credit, rather than be for ever " doaved" with the " blawing" of that infernal apparatus. The piano is bad enough, in all conscience ; we may send the bagpipes down to Wellington, where the people are used to a " blow." In one way only can I imagine " the pipes " would be of use in slaving off a financial crisis ; that is to say, they might be effec tual in dislodging a bailiff, for is it not on record that a Highland -piper, when on his travels, effectually frightened a pack of wolves by playing up a tune on his indispensable instrument ? Apropos, a correspondent propounds the following conundrum :—" If a big Piper can tame a pack of wolves in ten minutes, how long will it lake a little Fidler to frighten or puzzle a hundred school children?" I give it up; perhaps some of our highly-educated youths can give the

answer

Speaking of things Scottish, ib is not often that a " Southron loon " displays such just appreciation of Scotch literarure as was lately shown by Mr John Ruskin. A student of Edinburgh University had written to the great man asking his opinion as to the best hundred books to read, and the eccentric John took up his parable and replied in the following fei-vid strain:— "Mr dear Sir, —You hear nowadays of the worst nonsense- over uttered sinco men were born on earth. Best Jffundred Books ! Have you ever read yet one good book well ? For a Scotch man, next to his Bible, there is but one book—his native land ; but one language — his native tongue, the sweetest, richest, subtlest, most" musical of all the living dialects of Europe. Study your Burns, Scott, and Carlyle. Scott, in his Scot tish novels only, and of those only the cheerful ones with the ' Heart of Midlo thian.' but not the ' Bride of Lammermoor,' nor the 'Legend of Montrosc,' nor the 'Pirate.' Here is c right list: — 1 Waverley,' '<!uy Manuering,' ' Tho Anti quary,' ' Rob Roy,' ' Old Mortality,' ' Tho Monastery,' 'The Abbot,' ' Red Gauntlet,' 'Heart of Midlothian.' Get any of them you can in the old large print edition when you have a chance, and study every sentence in them. They are models of every virtue in their order of literature and exhaustive codes of Christian wisdom and ethics." How many Scots arc there in these degenerate days of dancing and fiddling who have such exalted opinions re garding tho writings of tho Great Wizard ? How few have the hardihood to maintain that the broad Doric speech is " the sweetest, richest, subtlest, most musical of all the living dialects of Europe : Alas ! Too many are ashamed to bo thought vulgar if they betray their nationality by word or.accent. The Burns Club should pay some attention to this, and might do worse than consult Mr Mcßurney as to how best to preserve the musical accent and sweet sound of tho Scottish dialect. With the high encomiums of Mr Ruskin on the value of Scottish literature, there should bo little difficulty in getting the proposed Caledonian Institute and Library founded in Auckland. But, for the sake of sweet ness and music, don't let the bagpipes inside the walls of it!

It has now become proverbial that endow ments are seldom managed so as to benelib the object for which they are given. Many instances could be cited, even in this cifcy, to prove that such is the case. Take for in stance the Coetley Training Institute. Surely thei*e never was an institution so well named, for the system carried on there is " costly" indeed. A very handsome building is erected, masters are engaged, and then, forsooth, only about a dozen pupils are af orded the benefit of the institution. At the same time the building should be capable of accommodating 30 inmates. Is this what Costley meant when he endowed that build ing '! Then there is the bequest to the Old People's Eefugcs. Are the poor any better housed or fed because of thatendowment? Do they not still occupy the same ramshackle buildings which they did prior to the be quest being made ? And yet the money is lying invested, while hundreds of men are walking the sti'eets who would be glad of a job at building some better home for the aged and destitute. It is true that plans were called for the erection of the Refuges at Ellerslie, bub it is also true that bhe plans were all returned to bhe architects. Not only that; it was also stated at a public meeting that it was thought better that the build ings should nofc be erected at present and that the money should remain invested— the interest to be devoted towards the cost of feeding the inmates of the Refuges. That, of course, sounds very well, but after all, is that the object for which the money was given ? Under any circumstances, we should have been compelled to have fed the inmates, so that tho bequest instead of assisting to make them more com fortable has merely been devoted towards the reduction of the taxation of those who 1 pay rates, and not at all for the amelioration of the condition of the poor and afflicted. I notice that Mr Suiter has given notice of motion to call for tenders for the erection of a new refuge, and I for one hope that he may carry his motion, for that would mean a decided improvement in the condition of the inmates of the Refuges, and would, to my mind, be more in keeping with the spirit of the bequest. Let the usual ex penditure for the maintenance of the in mates be borne, as it should be, by the public at large, and let the special bequest be devoted towards obtaining for the in mates a better .residence than they could have had. without the bequest; then the object/for which the money was donated will have Been "secured,'- ■'".'

Among tho many epistles which " Zamiel' has received congratulating him upon his timely resuscitation, tho following is too good to be consigned to tho limbo of oblivion. "G." writes as follows:-" I sacrificed a good position in a small town ship about a year ago, thinking I might be able to find more enjoyment in a largo town like Auckland, and be able to get as good a living as in a country township, and in all respects have been disappointed. Busi-' ness is nil, and tho only real pleasures I have enjoyed have been the performances of tho Amateur and Pvoyal Comic Opera Companies, tho Sunday morning services of the Salvation Army at their Barracks, and your contributions to tho Stak. It was therefore an ecstatic moment when I found last Saturday that you had resumed firing your random shots, and hope you will not run out of ammunition again." . . . .

Much obliged, friend "G. ; " you are apt at compliment, and ought to succeed in life. Fancy how proud you have made me by saying that my performances are ap proximately as funny as those of the SaTU vationists and Mr Howard Vernon ! This, indeed, is fame, and "G." may depend upon it that I shall " gee up " in future. * -a *

That " Macgrogor " episode looks like a bit of special Providence lighting on the side of the federated Seamen's Union. As " the stars in their courses fought against Sisera " of old, so Neptune and /Eolus ap pear to have combined to bullet tho Northern Steamship Company. Minor accidents to other .steamers of their ilect might have been passed over as of little account, but when the Macgrcgor is driven and tossed about as a helpless log, the superstitious " salts " naturally look upon it as an omen that tho Company are doomed to defeat in their struggle with the Seamen's Union. For is not ''Macgregor" the watchword of the Company ;' are not tho ethics of the "bold outlaw" adopted by them; and was not the " Macgregor " the representative

steamer of their fleet? But, stop, my gentle believer in omens, lest you prove too 'much. The Macgregor has come nobly through her difficulties — tho slings and arrow's of outrageous fortune proving in effectual to harm her; and may not tho Company in like manner overcome the "sea of troubles" upon which they are launched by the present strike? Omens are queer things to argue by, so let us join

m singing

Wolcoran bank to Auckland's shore, Rob Roy O. Now your troubles all are o'er,— Itob I toy Macgrcgov. O. Ruddov and pi'opoller gono, .still you bravely stnu^lcrl on ; Now', at hist, your goul is won. J tub lloy Macgregor, O! ** * *

* ::• * * ♦ What a tremendous fuss the Sydney people have been kicking up because they have a dozen or two quack doctors who suc ceed in taking trade away from the " regular dustmen" of tho profession ! One of the obnoxious and pestilent fellows is a very decent old chap, who was hustled out of New Zealand last year through the per secution of tho gentlemanly fraternity of /Esculapius. Ho was not of the tribe who make a handsome fortune by preying upon the fears and ignorance of tho people, but lie was not " duly qualified," and was there fore forbidden to do good to his fellow colonists in Xcw Zealand, and ho was forced to flee to the land of nee trade. As my readers arc aware, I have a wholesome eontomut for purely conventional distinc tions, and have no sympathy whatever with that spirit of exclusiveness which would condemn all merit and ability because their possessor cannot pronounce a certain shib boleth. The right topldcethe letters "M. D."

after his name does not prove that a man lias any special powers of body or mind, nor is it any guarantee that the individual is not a " quack "of the first water. Are there no " duly qualified " practitioners who persuade their patients that they have a serious illness when it is but a trivial thing? If to be ?>, " quack "is <o profess a great deal more than you know, is there not a multitudinous army of "quacks " in all spheres of human activity ? And as the whole world is a large duck-pond why •should there be any special "set" made against medical quackery while the Other sorts are allowed full scope for dovelop-

Mont ?

» * ■» •» * I know the answer of the regular dustmen will bo—" Tho sacredne.'-s of human life de mands that the State should supply some safeguard against it boing tampered with by unskilled and unscrupulous men." But why such zeal on your part, Messieurs les doc'teurs ? Methinks if there were such a great difference between you and the des pised " quacks," the existence of the latter —their disreputable practices and whole sale slaughterings—would only serve to .show off to greater advantage all the super-excellencies of your noble, selves. If these would-be doctors and self-styled " professors " makes people pick, i.-i it not ;:11 the better for you, who arc so skilled to euro ? " Oil, but," you reply, " the people are so foolish, they .will prefer the illegiti mate practitioner out of pure cugsedriess ; and the said practitioner docs not only make sick, —he kills outright, which is very bad practice, and very bad policy indeed !" All I can say is that if tho people arc so foolish, it is a wise dispensation of Provid ence that " quacks " have been created to remove them from the face of tho earth, and it would bo madness to fly in the face of Providence, and seek to dissociate effect from cause. But, perhaps, messieurs, you are interested in perpetuating the race of fool«. Your zeal for their preservation arouses the suspicion that you look upon them as your best customers, and you are only mad because you are being deprived of their patronage by the competition of greater adepts in the art of humbug !

Josef Hoffman, the Child Pianist.

The " Daily Chronicle," describing the boy pianist, Josef PlofFman, who gave a concert in London recently, says:—ln all he does there is no appearance of effort or of undue draught upon juvenile intelligence, and at the same time he is apparently unconscious of the remarkable sensation he creates. A healthy-looking child, of somewhat slight frame, and with a self-possession that has nothing in it of objectionable assertiveness or showy confidence, he sits at the pianoforte and plays as though it was the most natural thing for him to do, and this, too, without haying a scrap of music before him. But besides exhibiting an ability to render a very fair amount of justice to the music of others, he introduces slight piano forte pieces composed by himself—the total number of Ms productions in this direction being, we believe, by no means small —and he skilfully improvises upon a theme, original or otherwise, that may be sug gested or played to him. Dr. Louis Engel, who was among the audience, was asked to give the boy a subject, and as cending the platform he played upon a second pianoforte two themes of a few bars length of Beethoven. Joseph Hoffmann's attention was perceived to be wholly absor bed by the task that was being sent him, but directly T>* Eugel's fingers had been lifted from the iustrument the juvenile player jjroceeded to base upon the idea given him a piece that would have dis credited either of the most popular tran scription preparers of the present day. The boy in knickerbockers made a low bow, seated himself, and gave the pieces for which he had been set down without the slightest pretentiousness or attempt at effect. The only variation to the even tenor of his proceedings was that now and again he took his handkerchief from his nether gar ments and coolly wiped the keys. His musical precocity certainly exceeds that of any other child seen on a concert platform during the memory of the present genera tion >

SPORTING.

TURF GOSSIP. [By Hippos*.]

The fine weather we have had this week has enabled our local trainers to give their charges a bib of work. Pending the com pletion of the tan gallop, Mr Percival has had the double jump at Ellerslie removed > and a ground prepared in the centre of the course. Wright is sending Fusillade along, and so far he shows no sign of unsound" ness, and Bangle, Turquoise, and J. B. Williamson's Gipsy are likewise doing well- Of the Ellerslie trained two - year • olds' Tartar, Rataplan and Teksum are the most forward. E. Kelly is working Lady Norah> British Lion, Foul Shot, Cinderella and the other members of his team on a private ground at Epsom. During the week men have been engaged laying down the tan on the new Bller.«lie track, and the work is now all but completed.

The first foaling of the season at Sylvia Park took placo in the early part of the week, Maid of Honour dropping a colt foal to Captivator.

The programme of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club for next season, which has just been issued, shows that the Club will give away L 4,480 in added money against L 5,560 last season. The leading events of the Spring Meetincr, which takes pla.ee on the 3rd and 4th of October,are the Hawke's Bay Guineas of ."00 soys., and Spring Handicap of 250 .soys., while the " plums of the Autumn Meeting are the Hawke's [Jay Cup of 500 soys., 1;? mile, St. Leger c*t' 300 soys., find Burke Memorial Stakes oi 250 soys., 1£ mile.

Messrs Whetham and Co., of Dunedin, intend republishiijg tho "New Zealand Turf Record " this season. It is expected that the book will be ready in about a fort night's time. The compilers iinding that the publication of vols. 1. and 11. resulted in loss, the price of the " Record " will be ]()s. I sincerely hope that Auckland turntes and racing clubs will do their share towards recouping Messrs Whetham and Co., for their trouble and outlay in printing the work. Copies can be ordered by address ing to tlic compilers, care of "Star" office, Dunedin.

From Napier I learn that Gooseman has in hand the two-year-old filly by Anteros —Yattacy that wan purchased here in January last. She is described as a very strong-looking filly, having a good back, with well-sprung deep ribs, a deep power ful shoulder, and a grand sob of legs that look likely to stand any amount of hard work. She is the property of Mr George Hunter, who lately purchased her from Mr Allen McLean.

At tho Gcelong Winter Meeting, the Two-year-old Stakes, tho first race of the kind this season, was won by Guildford, a brother to the unbeaten and brilliant colt Newstead, by Neckersgat, out of Ada. Tho winner was bred by Sir Thomas Elder at Morphetville, South Australia. Lesbia, who always crops up when least expected, won tho Winter Handicap from a large field. Argus Girl led nearly all the way in the Steeplcchapo, raid won easily from the Tasinanian-brod Kangaroo.

Several prominent Melbourne citizens are moving with the view of forming a stud company to breed n'rsb-class stock of various kinds, and if they succeed in float ing it they intend to devote L 7,000 to the purchase of two English sires—one at 1.5,000 orL6,(X)O, and another at LI ,000 or L' 2,000 ; also 40 thoroughbred brood mares, at an average of L") 00 each.

Mi- G. G. Stead has supplied the weekly papers in Christchurch and Dunedin with the whole of the correspondence which has taken place between himself and the Dunedin Jockey Club over tho Marion disqualification case. I must say that there are few horse-owners who would have been bold enough to put the correspondence before the public, seoing that the replies of the D. J. C., to say the least, were decidedly warm. Replying to Mr Stead's letter asking for an explana tion of the riding of Marion's jockey, the Secretary of the D. J. C. concluded his letter thus :—" lam also directed by the sfceM'ards to say that had they then been as morally convinced as they are now of other circumstances connected with the case, they would, without doubt, have gpne much further than the simple disqualifica tion of tho boy (Jackson)." Mr Stead winds up the article with the following: — " My main object in publishing this corres pondence is to point out to owners tho de sirability of taking combined action to in sist upon protests being^ heard in the presence of the accused. It is a question also whether this case does not tend to show that tho public have some justification in demanding that these investigations should be held cither with open doors or in the presence of and so abolish what have been termed ' Star Chamber' in quiries. "

A record of the sums passed through the totalisator in New Zealand during- the season just closed, which has boen compiled by " Mazeppa," shows a fcobal of L509,C02. In making up the total the compiler estimates L 20,000 for meetings the particulars of which are not set out. " Mazeppa " concludes his interesting table of statistics thus :—The greatest sum put through at a single meet ing was L 36,730 at the 0. J.C. I [etropolitan. The smallest was Ll6 10s, at the Waip.u meeting. Adding up the sums fcurned over by the leading clubs,we find that the C.J.C. tops the list with L 55,848 for three meet ings aB against L 64.522 last season ; the D.J.C. comes next with L 54,294 for five meetings (including the Hunt Club), as against L 66,173 for six meetings; the A.R.C. is: third with L 51,562 for four meet ings, as against L 57,439; Hawke's Bay L 30,522 for four meetings, as against L 29,519; Wellington R.C., L 19.517 for four meetings, as against L 28,036 ; The newly formed Napier Park Club comes next with L 16.035 for four meetings ; Takapuna has L 15,756 fo;r four meetings, as against L 20,043 ; and Island Bay, L 15,126 for three meetings,as against L34,46S for six meetings last season. The following figures show the totals for this and previous seasons in comparison :— Smson. L. 1881-85 «.:;':."«■ -■'.— "- 470,602 188n-8(5 *. „ „ .. 559,773 1886-87 ~ ... m •• 509,6u2 For the 1883-84 season the total was at the time roughly estimated at L 330,000. I have to express my thanks to Messrs Mason and Roberts, totalisator proprietors, for .their courtesy in supplying me with full particulars of the totals passed through the machines at the race meetings which they attended during the last season. Were all totalisator proprietors equally obliging, the task of compiling this-record would be an easy one. My thanks are also due to " Hippona " Auckland Star, who at some trouble hunted up and forwarded to me certain details which but for his energy would never have seen the light.

The Christchurch correspondent of the " Otago Witness " supplies the following training notes to'that journal :—The New Zealand Cup acceptors which are being trained at Riccarton are now doing strong work. Nelson gallop 3 more freely, but walks very lame afterwards. His owner seems anxious to send him for the Mel bourne Cup, so that if he gets well enough to win in New Zealand he will almost cer tainly go to Australia. Stoneyhurst is now quite sound, but I have not yet seen him extended. Artillery.goes very- short, and it will require the greatest care to. train

this handsome horse. Fair Nell is another handsome one, and there are those who think highly of her chance. She is doing as well as can be wished, and, having become more sedate, the chances of her knocking herself about are fewer than they were last year ; and Torrent has also become quieter and does his work pretty kindly. He has done nothing in public to bring him to so short a price, but as the money taken about him was a commission it is assumed that he has shown his owner something good. Hermitage is on the big side, in which condition he seems to do best. Sex tant is a grand colt, and is making great progress. Moana is going on steadily, and we have not yet seen him at his best. Titbit is low in condition, but sound, and will do something good later on, if not in the Cup. Gipsy King is getting very for ward, and O'Brien has a strong second string in him. Ruby is carrying out the promise he gave in the autumn of develop ing into a good four-year-old, and there is every prospect that he will have to be rec koned with in the decision of the Cup. Derwenter has satisfied his owner with his progress. Cruchfield and Bronte are among the most improved colts here, send the latter's likeness is more easily dis tinguishable. Teredo is about the fastest here for five or six furlongs, but her un sightly hocks are against her. Captain Wheeler has grown into a fine colt, and must not be put down as having no chance for Cup or Derby. Wakatipu has hardly fur nished so well. Leon, as I told you last week, is sound and in work. Sultan is a hot-headed colt, but is regaining the good looks he had last spring. Lorraine is coming on well and it should not be forgotten that he showed good form last autumn. Lochiel, Maxim, and Beresford are, I am told, doing good work at Yaldhurst. All our Cup representatives are thus going on well in their training, and Nelson is the only one among them who can bo called a cripple, and he will probably be all right as soon as the weather is warmer.

It seems to be conceded on all hands that the forthcoming A. J.C. and Victorian Dorbys are the most open that have en gaged attention for some seasons past. The A. J.C. Blue Riband will be run on this day three weeks. Cormnentingon thepresentpro spectsof the Victorian Derby, "Asmodeous " discourses thus :—From the betting opera tions recorded to date, it would seem that the great spring three-year-old race is looked upon as likely to result in an inter colonial contest between the respective re presentatives of New South Wales and New Zealand. The 2-year-old running of Abercorn certainly justifies the public con fidence that has been reposed in him, and his backers have the gratification of know ing that the Falmouth of Australia would dearly like to win the Victorian blue riband with a son of his favourite Chester, who 10 years ago laid the foundation of the Kirk ham stable's subsequent celebrity by pull ing off the " big double," and inflicting on the ring a staggerer which its principal re presentatives grimly remember to the pre sent day. Reference to the hero of 1877 re minds me that in another of his sons, the untried Cranbrook, Mr White possesses a second string to his bow of no means preten sions. Undoubtedly a much finer looking colt than the present favourite, this hand some son of the aristocratic imported mare La Princesse should, if occasion require, be capable of upholding the high reputa tion of the Kirkham stud, unless good looks and broeding go for nothing. With Aberdeen, Carlyon, Lava, Perfume, and Enigma, in addition to the two mentioned, the dreaded "blue and white" must, bar ring accidents, be as formidable as usual on the first day at Flemington, and it looks a moral that one of the stable representatives will, for the fourth year in succession, start first favourite. In Trenton's half-brother, Niagara, Mr W. Cooper possesses a colt of great promise, and should Foulsham suc ceed in winding him up to concert pitch the prestige of New Zealand as a breeding country should be well sustained. The arrival of Mr W. Eobinson's string from Maoriland will this season be a matter of even greater interest than the occasion of his former visit, which was not attended by success. The Derby candidate, especially, will be eagerly scrutinised, Enfilade being a full brother to Nordenfeldt. In Rose wood, Mr W. C. Cooper has a colt which I expect to develop into a capable 3-year-old, and the same owner's Abydos and Miranda are respectively brother to Newstead and sister to Richmond. It seems probable that South Australia will be but poorly repre sented, though Mr Pearson's colt, Bedouin, in all his 2-year-old races, impressed me with the idea that he would furnish into a more than moderate 3-year-old ; and classi fying the Derby candidates from their breeding instead of present ownership, I am inclined to look upon this colt as about the most capable representative of the wheat colony, albeit the well-named Pakeha, by The Englishman —True Blue, is a nice looking colt and doing good work at Flem ington. Tasmania furnishes one in bhe now Victorian owned Silverton, one of the best-looking colts that will grace the newly formed bird-cage at Flemington, and as Scobie has the reputation of putting his questions in pretty severe form it may be taken for granted that if this son of The Assyrian be a starter he will not lack any thing on the score of preparation. Some week's ago I made allusion to the paucity of Victorian bred horses engaged in the Mel bourne Cup, but the prospect of Victoria furnishing the Derby winner is, I am afraid, still more remote. Boz, who at one time gave promise of future excellence, went back on it in the autumn, but in Tabard Mr O'Shanassy possesses a rarely bred colt by St. Albans from the Nun's dam, Pilgrimage, and none of the other few Vic torian's possess high class credentials for a race such as the Derby is likely to be. In concluding this cursory glance afc the most prominent Derby candidates I am forced to the conviction that on paper the Hon. James White possesses a better chance of annexing the Blue Riband of the Victorian turf than at a corresponding time of year in any pre vious season.

In referring to the reduction of stakes by the leading racing clubs, '' Beacon" writes :—As I have always maintained, the totalisator is a deadly enemy to racing, for. no man can afford to breed or race horses with only the small amounts to place to his credit that he can pick up by way of stakes and through the medium of the total isator. In the old days an owner could win L 25,000 or L 26.000 over a Dunedin Cup; nowadays it would be difficult for him to win LI,OOO cash. The exodus of our best horses to Australia year by year shows plainly which way the cat jumps—over there a backer can Avin as much money over a Selling Race as he can over all the cup races in New Zealand put together. Of course the totalisator benefits clubs to a great extent in providing them with the means for providing their racecources and appurtenances, but once they are on a firm footing in that respect the clubs will, I feel certain, find that their interests Avill be best served by having the " infernal machine " abolished.

I clip the following from a Sydney paper: —A good many of the early morning visitors to"Randwick are not enamoured of the Australian Peer's chance of distinction on the turf owing to his high action in front, still he is not without a long list of admirers. That he does "get up" very high cannot be disputed, but he throws his hind legs well underneath him when ex tended and gallops in a style which reminds racegoers of that p-ood performer Chester. The pace he mitft^rj proves him to be no sluggard, and his uninviting style should not be too much calculated upon. His stable campanion Peabody, however, is a nice even goer and very determined, and there are more unlikely things than that he will pay his way quite as well as the sou of Pare.bu* and imported Stockdove.. _'

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Action.)

FIXTURES.

FOOTBALL.

August 20.—"Rep." practice match. August 25.—Auckland v. Otago.

Junior Cup. August 20.—Gordon v. United: Auckland v Ponsonby; Waitemata v. Grafton.

Second Junior Cup.

August 20.—Selwyn v. Waverley; Remuerav Gordon; University v. Waitemata.

AQUATICS.

Sep. 27, 29.—Thistle races for the America's Cup. Nov. 26.—Beach v. Hanlan for the Champion snip of the world on the Nepean.

FOOTBALL.

The great contest is over — Canterbury and Auckland have met — and the local players have every reason to be satisfied with the result, They deserved to win, even though they didn't.and any one of the three tries obtained was equal to the goaj Francis kicked. Taking the play all round, I think Auckland had the best of the play; in spite of the boast made when the team was picked that Christchurch had the best back team in thecolony, I think Auckland last Wednesday placed a back team in the field far ahead of it. Our backs were better on the defensive and on the offensive, Canter bury taking the shine out of them in kicking alone. Ifc seemed a queer, offensive, game that continual punting-out of touch and no running, but it is a feature that we might adopt in a modified form here. In the forwards Can terbury had the best of us. I have nothing to complain of in regard to our men—they worked all they knew—but they did not know as much as their opponents. The way the reds screwed the scrums was really splendid, and in the open it was a treat to see the way they followed up the quick kicks of their backs. I will not mention any individual play of the forwards, but Wilson deserves praise as back, and " the baby." of the team played a fine all-round game. Our own forwards all worked their hardest, and what many dreaded did not happen—they did not go to pieces in the last quarter of an hour; on the contrary, they rallied in fine style, and pressed the visitors hardest then. Marshall, Lecky and O'Connor were the pick. Poland played well, but if he could have been a bit quicker in getting on his feet at times it would have been better. The wing men proved themselves of value not only in the dribbling but also in stopping the passes of Roberts and Donnelly. Among the backs Elliott played the best all round game, and showed that already he i 3 a first-class player, and should develop into a second Whiteside. He was ably backed up by Madigan, and the arrangement was splendid that allowed two couples like Elliott and Madigan and Conway and vVhiteside to play into each other's hands, and I do not think the Selection Committee need make any alteration there for the coming match with Otago. As for Lusk, I do not consider that he justified the confidence placed in him. It was said he could get his kick anywhere, but he failed to do it two or three times, and but for a very lucky chance one of his returns might have been very unfortunate for Auckland. In the collaring line he was not tried much, Allardyce being the only man that reached him, and though he secured and ran him out of bounds- it was a very sick way to do it by the nape of his jersey. If he had missed that, the Canterbury man had a clear four yards start of him in a fifty yards race for the line, and it would have taken Hutchen3 to have caught Allardyce with that. As we have had the hard lines to'practically de feat the Southerners without winning, let us hope that next year we may make it certain on their own ground. Let Auckland footballers take warning by the result of this match and pay a little more attention to potted goals, but at the same time keep up the running. The Ponsonby 11. came near suffering a defeat last week at the hands of the Grafton 11. The blue and blacks had anything but a good team, but they succeeded in making it a draw, both sides scoring a try. There is some talk of it coming before the Union. Auckland 11. managed to defeat the Waitematas by a goal from the field, kicked by H. Parker. If this Club beats the Pon sonby to-day, and North Shore puts them through next week, they will have to Elay off with Ponsonby 11. for the Junior ■up. The University F. C. is a very promising Junior Club, having some fine forwards, and last Saturday they succeeded after a tight match in playing a draw with the Rovers, who were leading for the Second Junior Cup. Thanks to this the Selwyn and Rovers will now have to play off. It would be a very good thing if old students of the University, budding B.A.s, etc., would join and help the Unis on. There is no reason why they should hot work up to a senior in time. All footballers will be glad to hear that George Smart is getting on nicely in pas tures new. After playing for Gisborne against Napier George is now picked to represent Wanganui against Taranaki. He plays half-back now. In respect to the comjag match with Otago it will be interesting to note that the Otago players do not depend so much on the forwards and "potting" as the Gantabs. They have a very powerful set of backs, including some fast and strong runners, and are not slow at potting, either, so we may expect some fun. Auck landers delight in a match where there is plenty of the f' apeeling " business. Only seven of the team that represented the province against Canterbury were in the team that was defeated by Taranaki, and only two of the backs. Two Auckland players' names appear iij the Wellington representatives Team that defeated Canterbury last week, viz., Gage and Crowell. The former played full back, and is well spoken of, which Crowell, who is a well-known mile-runner, is described as very fast, and one of the best players in Wellington in the open. *

ATHLETICS, ETC.

Bean, who was here with the Christchurch footballers, is the champion bicycler of the City of the Plains, and holds the Champion ship of New Zealand for the Ten Miles and One Mile. , ~ During Jubilee week A. N. Hornby, the Lancashire amateur, played two matches and had the pleasure (?) of fielding innings of 514 and 557. The first three daw of the week he was playing for M.C.C and Ground against England, and the last three days for Lancashire against Surrey. . Ernie Bailey Tost his heat with Wuli in the Floyd Handicap (Sydney) through foul ing the Glebe Wharf. . Dick Matthews having returned from bis Southern tour has now settled down here again, and here he intends to stay till ms match with Laing comes on. Hehas started a boxine saloon in Wakefield-street, replete with all the latest improvements, so all would-be" knocker-outs " will know where to find him, and they could not wish for one better able to instruct them in the art. The return match between the counties of Notts, and Surrey was VW eA »* Kennington Oval, on August 1, 2, ana <J, when Surrey won by four wickets, *y latest files! to hand Surrey had not lost 9 match, and for thQ first time s.inee 18*7, when Gloucestershire was top of thettre t a southern county promises.to. tyqfym P.* 0?

;wickets : J? Sfepe oj. j,Uj| J<2| It is announced that Dr »„' nob form om fof Z\\Wti- Vernon's cricketing team l^^Wll, to visit Australia ' The Lancaster Park C p V t? engage Cooper, the Mdw* sional selected by-Mr fr«S= ■ season. m W> k^i- Bubear and Gaudaur bo t,, v _, rowfortheChampSpSfc*t. the Thames, their fetaifii*Wfc ha being abandoned. "%[!!■( priggs, the well-known h, I cricketer, has recently £ J** ¥' his reputation in a rLSbr^'- At thekildare Amateur Afchlefe^-" on June 11, A. B. Georse a 2 F c.lebratedWG.won^Sjg, cap from scratch, in 54 l^eHJji the two miles scratch lace it taiigj Mr W.W. Read, the Surrey «*.£. playing m extraordinary aqodWfctl season. For thirteen innings ha W>? average of 1064 runs. Hfe swT2 Surrey in all matches, so far,i3ll(j,lJ match Surrey v. Lancashire, A '(iiSr" scored _33 and 105. For ; Sussex Jgl Cambridge University, Jesse ffidajS 115 for his county. ' v The fastest time ever made by akfe yacht was 9 miles in 7 rmM km Snowflake, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ijnif calculated that the! yacht travitd M the rate of 120 miles per hour. dnaawM Several gentlemenatpiesffitisKikrf* chartered the, handy little clipper sfei Sybil for a long cruise, among %yP Sea Islands. The Sybfl i? tbeast&p. same half-yacht half-cargo schoonEr ni=:: will be well known in Auetlsai li; schooner is to have her cabin enlnl $ fitted up to comfortably aoi»iffl(naiife|" yachting party; andinaweekotsotbi to sail for Fiji from Sydney.

UNKNOWN

Troubles Which Burden tfie Blciw Unknown to tbe Poor,' I believe that there is' more tajia M about the happiness of the awagealsa,,- Last Sunday I Went to a BaptM hi presided over by an old-fashioned &% man whom 1 heard first when Iwifl years old. He isn't exacfclytefa^Jl he preaches sermons of the gcwflfpldorflßa || - style that are to me more.acrap^ls tap the vain frippery and resonant'criip; the two preachers who. are jiikwife idols of the town. The usher took .rfj^ way up the aisle, and I sat doif '■ i man who was perhaps 48 year Sol iga s| wore the conventional frock coat I" struck first by the. magtiifioeni ccctaaa:L. his head. It might have'been m«« r.; after that of the greatest; f H Csesars. But he looked very Ma«'|: health. Hia skin was wlourtee, | heavy, and brow wrinkled. ™.^fg: quarter of the church eyss ff*!S'■ j him from time to time, 'm® particularly was his restlessness. l« . an utter iinpossibiUty for I™*™ quiet even for an instant. ftgJJR; seat, twisted his'head and twiWJf fingers aU through the service -.W»\ doSbt he would lave resented «bg I menb on my part, taU \ exceedingly pleasant Jin| j* J^ | Sir Rockefeller is theli^£^!iSK OH Company, and M cafes, lonely, crabbed and Jt #? | one his friends have left glj^li 1 even an old school!ello^w^^^ j m tS7s repulsSSharacto^^ even his fainUyfjh^^gtfk BusseU Sage eWj^rf I greeted his arrival reached" ears. , t,.« .«««$ JMsW 9S £1S&

A Child's Thoughts About the Queen.

TT little letter. PL July-— -'-dm dearmredi^^ eii^jbj|| sssesw waleswthaqueg^ff^Vl illness he go better ». j, « god for M*f m% franco from dftJmkk W year and,., tf^^nav*

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1887".

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