RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.]

Some yrrite, a neighbour's name to lash j Some write—vain th -ught!— l 6r needful pasn; Some write to please the country clash, Andiaiseadin. For mci an aim I never fash— I write for fun.

"What's in a name?" The legal practi tioners of Auckland will be ready to retort that there is a great deal in a name, espe. cially if it should be a name which one has adopted without asking leave. The Rigby- Ramwell romance has, I doubt not?, reached its final chapter, so far as Auckland is con cerned ; and while I would wish carefully to abstain from planting a thorn in anyone's bosom by commenting on the episode, I cannot altogether hold my peace. Assuming, as I am fully justified in doing, that Mr Ramwell's account of his troubles is the correct one, and that his object in coming here was, by honest toil, to recoup to others what he had lost for them by rash specula tion, is it not sad to think that he has been hounded out of the place like a leper, iust as his energy and ability were placing him in a position to begin the work of restitu tion ? Melancholy as is the fact, I can yet recognise that a just if merciless Nemesis has been at work. Mr Ramwell's clear duty was to have remained in Bolton, and braved poverty and the contempt of his fellows'; lor then his misfortunes would have com pelled sympathy a.3 his fortitude would have extorted admiration. But in a moment of weakness he resolved up6n the cowardly course, and he has been overtaken by a law of retribution

" More fierce and more inexorable far Than emptr tigers or the roaring sea." It seems hard to deny a man "another chance " —a fresh start, with a clean sheet, among people who know nothing of his wretched past; but the plain fact is that the past will not be rubbed out unless the actors in it have passed through the School of Penitence, and learnt that Suffering, as well as good intentions and restitution, is necessary in order to atone for error. Vicarious suffering, and even universal sympathy, will not obviate this stem neces sity.

From another point of view, it may be said that Mr Ramwell offended mortally against social ethics in making his way in Auckland under false colours. His brethren of the Law Society could not have retained him in the fraternity after his admission that he had deliberately imposed iipon them in the matter of his name and history, and those excellent people who had every con fidence iti Mr KigDy would have looked askance had they been asked to express their faith in the integrity of Mr Ramwoll. And yet, between the names there is not so much difference. As the nurae said to Borneo—" Doth not Rosemary and begin with a letter ?" So the people of Auckland might reply in the words of Romee— u Ay, marry; what of that? Both with an R." But, for all that, Borneo is not Rosemary, any more than brains jvre brass, and for his slight departure from the spelling of his name, Mr Ramwell is thrust out of the community and practically denied the right to live by the calling at which he is expert. It is hard, ac I bJkve said; but it is well that the way of trans gressors ie hard, since it is only by each dis cipline that they can be won into the way of right. Sympathy with the wrong-doer ie altogether misplaced, and Mi? R. has virtu ally confessed this; for, instead of ec'ceo -ing the assurances of confidence that .wero lavishly showered upon him, be has, acting on the very best advice he could obtain, re eolvect to go out and face ofelooujrOTid ship,'until he has *• learned botf sublime a thing it is to suffer and be strong." For myself, I knew him not: but as his experiences have been made „ public property 1 have thought ib well to point the moral of his sad career, for the benefit of all such as are weak-kneed, and ■who fancy that they can evade' moral re sponsibilities and yet be happy #1$ prosperous. .'.

Following up this sober strain of thought, I was led to turn to the Epistle to the Galatians, in which Pawl treats of matters pertaining to the law, and I tbereiound so many passages applicable to the ''legal sensation " of Auckland that I have trans cribed a few of the more striking. I take the passages in order as they appear in the Epistle, without any re-arrangement what ever. Thus we may imagine Mr R.'e partner saying— ,, I marvel that you are so soon removed . . . .bub there be some that trouble ypu . . . . let him be accursed." To which Mt R. may respond, "And afterwards I came into the , regions of '■'■■■■'' • and was unknown by face , . . . but privately, to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run in vain . . . . because of false brethren, who came in privily to spy." The sympathetic crowd; exclaim— , ' How turn you again to th© weak and beggarly elements whereuntb you desire again to be in bondage? You have not injured w at ■ ■• • '• Tkey zealously affect you, nob well; yea, they would exclude you." Mr R.'e reply—. " I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice. .. ". . . Ye that desire to be under the law, dp ye not tear the law ?" Mr B. ejaculates—" Neverthe less, what saith the opb t ,' .' . . For I testify again that he |c a debtor, to do the whole law l' ! *' J?amiel'« " reflection after the departure of the mail steamer —" You ran well ? who did hinder you ?" The sympathisers add— u l hay in yptt. Bjitllie ; that troubleth you shiill bear hill judsnienfcj, | whosoever he. be:" Kefjeetibn for thej lawyets:— H But if ye an<i devonr one j another take heed that y«> be ptjb epoeamea one pf another. v (ffie moral ol fehe incident— ««For eyefry man Shall beat his owabutdeii; whatsoever a mail soweth that shall he also reap." Mr R.s farewell—"Yβ. eee'bfW largea letter X have .written unto ypu mine own hand. . • • • "SWM- forth let no man trouble me J"

Iqk me add a practical reflection eogr gested by the admitted cause,of |Ja|i well'e sudden departure rr his bankruptcy troubles in England. Had tfie English bankruptcy law five years ago contained the? proviso thai ib now does, thjafe proceed ings, against bankrupts §fcajs bo undertaken, by the public prosequtoiy Instead of by the creditors, " tbe Barawell afifour wcwjld probably have a totally $if&rftnt 1 gla4 to §cc the editor of the Stab, the other day advocating a siimilauc amendment ef fche. IJew Zoalan4 Ts?wk m ruptcy Act} bufc wf»y nob jgo and cause all pnttsnal to be ■instituted' liy tnepubKp prosecutor? "Old" Scotland fe in thjs »"#d of other countriea, for all prpseeu tions,£ire there undertaken omciale and the result is that such a thing Qβ " com pounding " a felony" is alraost unknown* system engenders a wholesome, reject for law,as*riot being an pr|Vißte yengeaiice* \iu% i;he CQryec,fcpß'■ «tf sjfi, Thisietnecbrrecitheory of legsjl punish- pffence llaa bpfin againsfe eppjgty oq| jfeftf |odil vMuar--and it is, ; I ihinl, conducive, to. fffielinff in,.a community. It also be true economy in many cases to have aii'pe'ety charges and %li&, slaf-emtihtS of W|tl nesses subai|tte4 to $he Qrawn, ycesetjutor in dkpfiob, m whether there was sufficient ground ton uMn% fcheminto Court the fw?«|fei.oneQf fche ; io the dnectioo of oriaw. Oα

the whole, I think it would be well if our criminal law Jferp amended in this direc tion. '•-,■.;:, ;.•■:.', ■'.■■'"

An interesting story has lately come to my ears regarding, the 'cute ways of pro perty agents. A land agent was waited 'upon some weeks ago by a gentleman who was anxious to acquire some 80 acres of land in a northern county, the owner of : which he did not know. The agent did know the owner, and also that he was anxious to sell; but keeping his own counsel he asked the would-be purchaser how much he would give as au outside price. Fifteen shillings per acre was named, and the agent getting an authority to purchase at that figure, next waited upon the owner. As a preliminary, however, he armed himself with documents showing that he had land in his hands in the same district which was offered for sale at 7s per acre. The owner of the 80 acres being shown this, and told that a purchaser might be found for his bit of land, gladly made out an authority to sell at 7s per acre. With these two documents in his possession the wily agent's course was clear. He got a convenient lawyer to draw up a deed con voying the land from the owner to the agent at 7a per. acre, and a second deed conveying it from the agent to .the purchaser at 15a per aero, arid the agent went home with £30 in his pocket as the reward of his labours. The seller of the land does not know of the game that was worked, btit the purchaser " dropped to it" when he examined the deed at his leisure, and now he and the agent " nsver speak as they, pass by!"

Another little bit of cool practice has come to "ZatuielV knowledge. The dramatis persome in this afiair are the chairmen of two country Road Boards and a city collector. The two Road Boards wanted collectors for town and country. As the Chairmen were friendly they secured the appointment of eacn other as the country col lectors—A, being collector for B.s district and vice versa. This snug arrangement being all right, they adver tised for a city collector, and both ap pointed the same roan. The Chairmen next set themselves to increase their own commissions by collecting rates from a n,uniber of the larger taxpayers in town, leaving only the small fry for the city agent. The latter allowed them to collect to the utmost extent of their ability, but he included, in his bill oommission for all the city rates, no matter by whom collected, and he got payment, too, for he deducted the amount from the rates that were paid into his own hands, and defied the Boards to take action against him.

The die is casU Bagpipes and haggis are to be " feature* " at Burns anniversary meetings in Auckland for all time coming, and local Scots have cheerfully agreed to pay double the former price for the privi lege of enjoying the musical and gastro nomical treat. The man of peace who pro posed the resolution regarding those twin bags of mystery claimed to have scored a point off "Zamiel " by the discovery that the bagpipe ie mentioned by Burns—that being the instrument played by "Auld Nick in shape a'beast" to the witches who danced so nimbly in the haunted " kirk " at Allowftv! Granted ; but surely Burns : could nob nave raoro effectually conveyed hie contempt for the so-called national instrument than by placing it in the hands of ••Auld Hornie, ,, as fit only to provide muaic for the wild gyrations of M Cutty Bark "widtherestoftbem ! Another member of theßurnsClub, learned in antiquarian lore, declared that Nero and Nebuohudnesmir j?ere.aieo skilled players on the ancient honourable instrument. Thifl decided the meeting afc onoo. If the bagpipe was good enough for Nick, Nero; and Jfebuchad aeazar, W'was rarely not to be despised" by modern ana degenerate Scots. The Sal vation Army, who evidently believe with Brigham Young that " the devil should not have all the goQ4 sausio," have adopted the bagpipe, ac I for meriy pointed out. It« power over the conscience ought to be tremendous, and under its influence even "Zamiel" might be drawn to the penitent bench. Auckland Scots are nob so sound on the haggis question. There ie no record of the Ola Gemtleman having it on hie bill of fare, or of Nero having indulged in it, while it is well-known that Nebuchadnezzar preferred nice green stuff! Musical Auck land may tolerate the bagpipes, but dyspep tic Auckland cannot be expected to stand an overdose cf baggie*

That eoquiry ab the Newton School muat ham bean rather an interesting affair, judging from the reports which were pub lished. It roust have been quite a pleasing sight to pee the lady and gentleman teachers marching in one after another to answer the leading quesbipna put bo them by their superior. Fancy asking a teacher if she .thought that the. caning was a.severe one. You might as well ask a dentist if it hurts to pull out a tQoth ! No doubt, my friends, some of you have done co. The defttipt. fiffidiea eweetly and says "Oh, no, you scarcely feel it, and it ie over in a minute." Then he prp<Mieda to wrench ac ypur toptb. until you feel as if you are ready to believe all that you have ever heard about the doom of the lost, and when he has finished you are prepared to speak about condemnation yourself, only in your hurry i you sometimes drop the first syllable. No doubt the dentist speaks the truth, for it does opt hurt him, and ep it ift wifch the teachers. They are so muchi in the habit of thrashing tKe cnjildren that they almost forget that it cause* gain to $je receiver. The maiden wl}o Iwa §►£€** de§igrke<J as "no. mean wielder of the foa" dpesnot appear to have been more than prdj(ne|nly severe, for o,ne of the, speaks of hep as gpad- tnefeiore I, am 1e,4 to the conclusion ttiat she U'mh Tor the adage—?" Handsprne is that handsome does 0 bse a application than to tne ihere giving of charity or gratuities, It was rather unfortunate for the autocratic head teacher "of "the"school that a, father shquldj hjwe fy? lor the"p ur P o ' 9$ laying cprnplaiiit. about |b,<& wsjr in wlbtch been -fjds&jb, fry <w»e qf the: lady teachers, If the Cpipmittej^fasdi npfc already made, uj> their it might have have prejudiced them againefo the fogging sy»te.m lately intrq t|wed itif ifewUfhr Bagfe' School, That *3j as f {IV girls *?e coiMwrnecl, {q>v |rom t*m» Immemorial it has has been acknowledged that the average boy requires at times an interview with his respected parent, when the patter of the shingle makes music more loud than sweek

i An interesting and intelligent question I was asked by one of the committee. It was something* to thefallomngeffeefc:—•' What day was. it that you despatched the note to Mrs*"Shpapd that did not write 1" Even the : : headmaster waa not equal to answering tjiafc. - The sapne interrogator also floored Dr Lewis with an inquiry as to whether fat children did not 'mark' more quickly than thin ones. Tho medical gentleman quietly replied, f tl eannpt say; you have gene qpit«> peyond me.". farrowed down to a t w %oresi fche! w hple. matter resolves &! self into the fact that poverty is a crime at ;Newtop Of pourse tne child was punished dieppedienpe—so the j master''says.' Yet what, dpes if eppeist. qj? i Tlje/ 'eM%' fst|jep ' >vaa put of' wprlj,. -her \ moth# PPP r i and, in popsequenpe, thi. mpney u,pii forthcoming/ An ex-! i euep ' ig askpd for and' M$ §upplied» ; a§ft tlie cMjd, fop What, in I#}s' first instance, was the result of \tjjs j ppVsF%i a»j|' In the second lass WmM ¥ ft#*W ftp w#'

of these things was the girl really re sponsible. ■ I notice that an interesting bib of inforinaticm was given by one of the witnesses, who admitted that at another school he had seen ohildren punished for not bringing their quarter money.' Taking all things into consideration, the life of a child at a public school is npt altogether unalloyed bliss, more particularly if the child happens to belong to poor parents. What with quarter money, inspectors, pupil teachers, and the boss griffin in the shape of head-masters who pride them selves upon being strict disciplinarians, children have a lively time of it.

How often do we hear this ! " The hall is spacious and admirably adapted for a lecture room, but its, acoustic properties are bad. This disease was not provided for in the specitication6,andeveryonelooks crooked at the builder, who blushes becomingly and shakes his head. Then the architect is sent for, to feol the patient's pulse, as it were, and prescribe for it. The first thing ho does after trying a few octaves and finding them reverberate from every point of the com pass, is to give the room the appearance of a high-toned laundry; wires are stretched overhead and sheets and table novel's are hung around, regardless oi criticism or expense. This is the faith cure, and the patient seems bettor for a few days, but she takes bad again. If he gave her a dozen Holloway's pills night and morning the effect would be the eatiae. What else can the architect expect in a room with four bare smooth walls from which Che voice rebounds like a ball in a racket court. Take for instance the City Council chamber and let us suppose that the Mayor is dis charging against that dead wall from an imaginaiy gatling a million elastic pellets every moment with a voloeity of 2,000 foot in a second. What is the result? Those bounding off the opposite wall meet those that are fired at it, straight in the teeth, so to speak, and confusion is worse con founded. Every billiard player knows that the angle of reflection a ball makes off the cushion is equal to the angle of inci dence, except when he puts side on with the cue, then the recoil is different and it flies off at another angle. Now, Mr Devore never makes a break until he has got the cue, but then he never puts on any side, and so the bullets come level back at him and meeting the fresh volley en route mako everlasting hotch-potch about the ears of the councillors. How would I cure it? Why, pad the walls like the cell of a raving maniac, corrugate them, vandyko thorn, chamfer thorn, do anything with thorn but plane them like the face oi a gravestone.

♦ • ■ ♦ Once more, I fear, must an affirmative reply be given to the agonising query—<■

"Is civilisation a failure, And is | he Caucasian played out 1 , Wo have it on tho authority of Mr j. Aibken Connell that Scotchmen are tho salt of theearth, and that the Caledonian strain in the British breed constitutes the hope of England and her colonies; butit would verily seem as if the salt had lost its savour and the Scottish blood its virtue, and that nothing remains for Britain but ignominy, degeneracy and ultimate annihi lation. A competition in Scottish dancing took place on Monday night in the City Hali, when a young Maori chief entered into the lists against throe Auckland Scots, and—tell it not in Oath—the judges, though they were perfervid Caledonians, were con strained to award thp prisse to the stalwart Polynesian! The wuwrior toanner in which young Karaitiuna, dressed in full Highland costume, performed the High land Fling was acknowledged by the loud applause of the onlookers, most of whom had no idea that other than a " dark HieJan mon " was before them. It if Well for Mr Munt'o, the chaihpiori Scotch 1 dancer, Wat he is leaving Auckland noon, otherwise he might have been challenged by his pupil aria forced to resign the laurels which he now so proudly wears. I know thai some ill-natured folks will declare that there is nothing surprising in a Maori be coming rapidly expert at the semi-barbarous pastime of a rude people ; but to my mind the incident has a deeper meaning. It proves that Civilisation has failed to im prove the Scotch as dancers—(l'see, by the way, that a siniilar complaint is made of their degeneracy in the divine art of song), and italsoshowsgenerally that theCaucasiao is going down.in tho scale. Macaulay's New Zealapder poking among the ruins of Lon don may after all prove more than an idle dream ! * * .* » * «■ * * * At length the hard times are beginning to affect the churches. "Zamiol" is in formed that at the quarterly meeting of one of tho dissenting bodies it was decided to retrench In the expenditure under the heading of " ministers' stipends." In order to bo perfectly fair, it was resolved that all should be equally reduced. To this ar rapgement, however, one popular preacher made a most decided objection, as far as his own salary was concerned, and it is said that he threatened to do all ports of dread ful things if those who held the purse did not keep their engagements with him. Of course this kind of action is quite right, for after all ministers are but men, and there fore fully justified in getting the highest possible price for their stock-in-trade, always providing that matters pre reduced tea'finan cial basils', for busipess is business ; but still there are some people, old-fashioned per-; haps.whp believe that ministers arespecially called to the work of teaching the people, and that their reward is to be receivpd in a better land. Granting such to be the case, the question assumes a different aspect, for if they expect a reward in another world, surely they cari afford tp be a little acopmo datipg in this, in the matter of pay, In the case referred to, the congregation wer© rather amused the following Suridayto, hear thpir rpipister hpld forth upon the evils re sulting from tb> Updue Ipyppf filthy lucre.'

ATHLETIC NOTES.

FIRST JUNIOR CUP.

(By ' AatMQv.^

November 12—Auckland v. National ? Gordon v. Alpha; Holland v. United; Onehunga v. Waicomata.

AQUATICS.

November 26.— Sculling championship of.the world, Beach v. Hanl*h, oti tho tfepeari River November 29.—Intercolonial eightroared race at -Asftol^ide. January, 1888.—World's sculling and double sculling races on the Paramatta. November 12—Senior a°d Maiden gig. races Ponsonby R.C. v. West Wndß.d ' ' " ' NOvcmberia—Aoiaterir AthMfo Club's Spring Meeting. November 26.—St. George's R.O. Trial Fives. November— Pickering % Gopdliffe (sprint) fpr tM Championship of Auckland. ' A January—Ma» thews v. Laing (bqajing) for the Waaganui Championship and hett".'

CRICKET.

"Who wilj win the Cup year ?" is a very natural question to, askji and a very difficult one to answer. Holland have got the bowling talent this season, and backed up as it is by good fielding, may i»Oro tb*ap infljke W $$ • '■'•. ■ • Vatbing eleven and cause tlw feeulfe of all theit* futuro matchea to bo the eamo as the' ono laat weelf. Auckland have such a good aH-rounjl eleven that the chances are that they wIU turn the tables when they next meet the Holland. Both in batting and bowling they will grow stronger as the season To go over phe, qhances of the various ofeher , clubs against each other would result in almost endles a

the first matches of the season it is evident that Auckland B are out of the fight, while Parnell have very little show of winning, though they will surprise some of their opponents before the season is well on. lney played with hard luck last week, but their defeat cannot be accounted for any other way than that they were not good enough. Gordon bad a streak of luck in meeting Auckland B first, for their bowling is not nearly ftp to what it was last year. The same may bo said of their bat tin j?, but there are two or three of their men that are coming out of their shells, and who may prove too good for even the best bowling here. As regards the United, they are better than last year— a strong batting team - bub they miss the bowling of McPherson. McCormick and Scemson are both good men, and both shaping well, bub a good change bowler will be wanted against a strong batting team.

The Gordon C.C. are very weak this year compared with last season. Both their bowlers are gone : H. Gould still suffers from a football accident, while W. Meldrum went away, to Whaugarei last week. He will be a loss to the provincial team as well as his own club.

There were a number of accidents last Saturday owing to the bunipiness of the ground, and somecno wishes to put the blame on the'cyclist*. Now, these cyclists are deteatedby a good many of the cricketers becauso they think they do the ground harm. This is not so, for the wheelmen, with perhaps an exception here and there, keep well to the edge, and the ground is so hard that its is almost impossible for the tyres of their machines to make any impression oil the turf—what little there is. Without minc ing matters, I may state that save here and there the ground iw in a far worse position as regards turf and good wickets than it was last year, and thero does not eeem to be much likelihood of improvement.

In the first match the M.G.C. English Eleven played in Australia—against South Australia—their seventh wicket fell for 104, and tho remaining three batsmen failed to increase ib. The destroying angel was Giffen, who clean bowled Newton, Attewell, and Beaumont in three successive balls. For this great feathewasdeservodlyeheered, and the perform an co may be reckoned by the South Australian champion as one of his most brilliant. Holland beat Auckland A by 12 runs, Gordon beat Auckland B by 51 runs, and United boat Parriell by 101 runs. Barton came up just in time last Saturday to go in last man for Auckland against Holland, and the last wicket added 28, to which Barton contributed 22.

Gordon 11. beak Holland 11., Waitemata the National!., and United 11. the Alpha, The lust match was finished on Monday evening, when the Alpha had one wicket to fall and 30 runs to get to win. They scored one bye and then the wicket foil.

A player in Melbourne named Turner, who was fast making a name for himself with East Melbourne Club, broke hia hand while at practice a ehort time back.

ATHLETICS.

L. G. Myers, the quarter-mile champion of the world, has at length won a race in Sydney. He has beea in Now South -Wales close on a year now, unci has run in a great number of evente.but was seldom in the final for any. Three weeks back he made tho Australian record for a quarter-mile, run ning ; into a place in a handicap from scratch, and last Saturday week he won the Carringtoa Quarter-mile from the four yards murk in 498QC Br. Poanett, who left for Home by the outgoing mail steamer last Monday, purpose* bringing before the authori ties of iqe Irish Kugby Union/ the advisa bility of inviting a New* Zealand football team Hone next year. Tho Irish Union is affiliated to the English Union, and the in vitation, when sent, and Dr. Posnett is cer tain it will bo sent, will come from the united Unions. The estimated cost of such a trip will be£3,<XX) At least, but this will be more than covered by the receipts of gate money in England, judging by the receipts of county matches there last season. It is to be Hoped that when the invitation comes, each Union will do its best to bring; the trip about. There should be no difficulty about fuaranteeinjj the necessary expenses, and should bhink that the colony could send Home twenty players who would more than bold their own with the counties of Eng land. Another point that should be taken into consideration is the advertisement it will be for the colony. Australian/ cricket teams have done wonders in the; way of making the sister colonies known to the English public, and why should not football do the same for New Zealand ?

John L. Sullivan, ; the American pugilist, is again on the war-path, having determined not to give up the championship without a struggle. He is going to England, and, according to American reports, will issue a challenge to Jem Smith and Jake Kilrain. Sullivan is boasting as usual, and he has announced his intention of fighting Smith and Kilrain in the same ring, one after the others With only breathing space between each battle. Tall talk even for a Yankee, but Sullivan is simply splendid at the brag ging game, and if gas goes for anything he nas already " licked creation," and Kilrain, Smith, and Co. are corpses. I don't sup pose, however, that oither of them will take any notice of J.L. 's challenge (if iesued) until they have settled the fight arranged between themselves, which will take place some whire near Q-ibraltar in October. When that is satisfactorily settled, the victor will bo ready to take on Sully for any amount he s likes. Still John L. heed nob be idle, for there are plenty of good men who would be pleased to try conclusions with him. Khifton, the Hpxton bruiser, for one would certainly tftke up any challenge Sullivan gave. Kniftoh ancj Smith have been m the rinff together several times, but the police have always interfered. 1 hear that Tom toes's opncmeror, Bill Oood, has accepted Lees's challenge to box to a finish at catch weights for £50 a : side. The t,erm?arci certaiiily very much in Lees's favour, as he will be aVle it go into the P n g at 12«t ? under which weight he certainly notto fighfc. t anticipate that Lees will make a beitec show than before.

AQUATICS.

William. Beach is reported to be as " fresli as paint," find as willing to stick to anybody that can scull alongside of him. He is much pleased with the boat just completed by Connelly,, of Sydney, buts he intends racing in his old faypurate the "TonlMuir. 1 * '

Edwt).r4 Etanlan pompletely recoypped fronx BeyptQ l?libters pn hand?* is now again in hai'd training. He will race In the boat he b,rpugh\t America. ■

CYCLING.

Con Pwyer» fche well-known bicycle cham" pion, has been Ittfd up for over three month? with a severe attack of con gestion of the lungs, brought*on from neglect of a cold caught whilst train ing in Sydney for his match against Ben netts .theiNiew Wales chanipion. As he been out otf employment fpf some now, a number o| friends and sym- 4eci%d to raijse a fund for Ijis assis tance, ajid Majop Wart»i|t has promised J>jm a situation on a sugar plantation in jijt

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

[By Sauntkbeb.]

November 26.—Island Bay Jockey Club. ~ November 26-Takapuna Spring Meeting J November 30 aud December I.—Wellington R.C Spring, A '

WEDNESDAY'S RACING.

The Auckland Racing Club have every reason to be satisfied with the result of the first day's racing of their Spring .Meeting. Both financially and in a sporting sense it was a great success. Some £5,342 were put through the two machines during the day, and the Club's percentage on this is a nice littlo iisum. To turn to the racing, Cinder ella was regarded as the good thing m the first Trial Stakes—but when the pinch came and she was asked to fight out the finish, she was nob in it, Fusee and Balista leaving her half-way down the straight. Ih spite of her 61b over-weight, Fusee should have appropriated this race, and a canter's finish by Pearson is the reason to give for it. Jusb past tlie dis tance post Fusee had half a length the best of a great struggle, and if Pearson had kept on riding should have won. It is not often that a field of two-year-olds faoes the starter like the ones Mr Stephens sent on bheir first journey last Wednesday. Thirteen two-year-olds, and not a weed among them ; bad points were to be seer, here and there, and two or three did not quite suit the eye, but there . was real, sterling quality there. Pearl shell (Musket —Poarlash), the winner, was tho'pick of tho lot, and a beauty she is. Standing a nice height, of a dark brown colour, with clean limbs, powerful quarters, and a light game head, and standing on a lot of ground, it is no wonder that she was well rushed on the machine and established favourite. From the drop of the flag she kept her field and won hard held from Hilda* Artil lery's full sister, who is reported to have done such a great trial. Man Friday, another brown horse, powerfully built and of a lively disposition, as his antics in the saddling paddock showed, ran third. Cushla, by The Dauphin, out of Jinny, ran a good fourth, and will make a great race horse yet. Satyr (Leolinus—Naiad), who ran in the Hon. E. Mitchelson's colours, is an ugly-looking animal, and though he did not show up well in the race, is reported to be a real hummer, while Brammron his breed ing should be the same over ashorbdistanceat least, Ps he if full brother to Mitrailleuse. The Hurdle Race was a real treat, all the horses jumping well and the finish being exciting. Peter Osbeck could not quite concede Coral 2£ stone, being beaten by very little by the beautiful mare. The Handicap was the principal event of the day, and the large field of twelve saddled up for it. On the strength of a great trial Victoria had done she was well supported, but public fancy leaned more towards Clogs, British Lion, and Antelope. Mr Stephens sent the horses away to a splendid start—the best of the day, and the racing was made very fast at the start and the colours were all kept well together. At the entering of the straight British Lion, Antelope, and Clogs were in front, running strong, bnt'ViP toria came with a beautifully-timed rush, and beat British Lion by very little for first place. Whalebone received quite an ovation over his victory in the Steeple chase, when he pub down Huntsman, Guy Fawkes, Orangeman, Hawthorn, Holly, Nora and Torpedo. The last-named lost his rider the first timeround, but I doubt if he would have had a say in the finish froiri the way whalebone rari the whole way. The Cat,ridden by J. Kean, won the Selling Race very nicely. Bangalore looked the winner all over at one stage, but The Cat came just when wanted. The Epsom plate proved another grand race, and it took the. judge all be knew to separate the first arid second, Paddy and Fusee making as close to a dead heat as it was possible to go. Bangle was greatly fancied by the public, but could not manage to get near the first two. The. second day's, racing conies off to-day, when I expect'therp will be soriie more good sport shown : arid sonic close' finishes; ■ AA

SPOUTING GOSSIP.

MrGUohriet's mare, Bragela; by Panic— Phyllis, dropped a colfc on Monday last to Captivatpr, and visits King Cole. A colt by Johnny Faulkner, out mania, been Van IHemen'S Land. -1 ' ,K . 0 .[.,.[, The reason why Sardius started for the' Melbourne Cup was that his owner had several small Wagers on that he would start his horeei, and he saw no reason why he should not \vin his money. The financial result of Derby day this year is stated 'to be much greater than of any similar day in years past, This argues an increased' attendance. The "Bird Cage " was fairly patronised, but the returns were scarcely what were expected. The victory of Lochiel in the New Zea land Cu}> must now. do away for evex with the belief that the *?on of Prince Charlie is a non-stayer. The public fancy was right as regards hie being the horse of Mr Stead's stable, though thf,y went down in ji lamentable manner ovpr *

The field that contested the Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie and Riccarton daring the past week presented a very different ap pearance, and the advantage is alt on the side of the local race In of its , being: qf considerably less value. Five up for the C.J.C. "Welcome Stakes and thirteen for the Auckland race. „. ~

The ■Committee of the pacing, Club have decided to use the tofcalisator received on approval from ITew Zealand at the ensuing spring meeting. The machine, which, is a 15-horse instrument, anij bn^"of' flayesanii Jenkins-a patents, is a hftfidspme affair, the only objection to it ajfc preseijjj peing that it is worked from the fronfc, The purchase of the machine will not be effected \jntil after it is tried $ Bhvicjk next moiitlj. " Sportsman" says :—'• It is a singular fact tfiiat of the .28$ horses remaining in Melbourne. Cjip of, ' ifo present nqt one is Victpnaa bre4;, so tiiaj; wjjjichevor arijmal wins the grpat racing event of the year, this colpny cannqt bo regarded as the land of its birth, 4.be>'<rQr n > Recall, Frisco, Carlypn, iian Peer.Oakleigh, Algerian and Cnarniei? wore alt bred over the New SJouttii /Wates side ; whilst .Thvjnderbblt,: Silver Prince, Niagara, Enfilade, Whakawai, Esciitciieon and Tr4 n W' hail from New Ze.alan.cU Ta9: mania |s represented by 'Silyerntine and! and South Australia by Sardine, t)unl6p, 4^ u e«AQ> J?b u fifce and |wWH?- Never before since its inauguration the* Melbo"^ 6 U P ee R ky a fiel4 of horses not oip of w}iioh Y|o %iriari Tbr44i 'W l ** o>erpfore, in one pspept, jjris leaist', the cape of the present can, fairly w regarded as It is tilso a nqtewprthy fact th'at'ojnly oiie mare, The is eiisaged in coming Cup, ana that of the twenty-four, horses left in there are no lees than ten three-year olds, of which, three are owned by the 'Hon.. James White." * .

S»y9 an Australian exchange :-r-i" The disposition shovvn by backers of Wvaes to spedulato at '"the post" instead; of, as Ijitherto, weeks and lifionths ahead, i? be coming more. &Ips inoro «ye*B.if dfty,; and" itf a Uttle time it"iv quite likely ' *'. books on the raajQvity of races vyUl )?o done away with entirely an<| both client go tp the course 'with clean sheets. Even' 1 on the TSJ'elbourtie Cup thdr§ i,%! nothing approaching the amount of spfpu lation there was on that won by Arsenal, and fell considorably shpit;. of thf> preyibujfofte; aiid lftajiy meballicians hav(s rtot>! yQt : wncten tt line, onthe RT^*^^, 6t |üßtr|(fp ' Tlif W

were wont to be wagered havo dropped to ( hundreds, and a couple of years agof % W af j boastfully but truly satd that a horse! could; £ be backed for the Melbourne Cup#!j*jg:A £25,000 or £30,000 without his price >being £ very much shortened. Those tunes haVe[ , changed, however, and better proof ih ( support of it could not be hadthaii yestep f day V experience in connection with the < rush on to The Australian Peer. Although ) only backed to win £6000 or £7000, he roue' -, from 100 to, 7 to 100: to 10, and at the latter i quotation there was evidently no| much i money in reserve," A , Racing matters in country districts are jdstnow in a transition state, and it hf ! , hoves members of clubs to act with, a; grea.fr deal of caution befpi^.committing them selves bo any line of action in respect to the rules under which they run, or they ffiay in volve thehiselves in most unpleasant and long-continued trouble. In the interest, of true sport, and with a view to restrain as ; much as. possible malpractices ,'pii thel turf, more especially in country districts where little i»: known of the antecedent! of f>eraons visiting outside meetings, the A.R.C. last year introduced rules 4 which were fatal to country clubs. This was an error; but, as tpe sequel proved,- Iti was ari §rror dictated by right motives, for no sooner was _ the pernicious tendency of these rules pointed out than a change was promised, which is now ef fected. The new rujes of the A.R.O. which have come to hand contain not one ob noxious clause. To clubs running under these rules are afford fc k e protection and assistance they require, maintaining the integrity of meetings and the promotion of true sport, without in any way interfering with the local management. Seyerance from the A.B.C. means protection to neither horses, owners, nor stewards, andbhe courses of unregistered clubs would be invaded By the disqualified and the swindler of every class, without thepower to raise a restraining voice, for absolutely no punishment could be inflicted. Small clubs may be as pure as the gods, and the most virtuous rules may be drawn up, but both combined could not, battle with fraud. It would be but law without an Could exist no power to enforce obedierice. When metropolitan clubs meet country, clubs in the liberal spirit %he A.R.C. has done, af fording them all the protection and infor mation they can give, and make no un reasonable demands, it would be suicidal to sever, and set up a puny independent asso ciation, soon to crumble, leaving a heritage of disqualifications to the future which must for years remain a barrier to all racing prosperity in any district.—"North ern Advocate.'? The London correspondent of this journal writes :—-." The weather on Leger day was wretched, but the crowd seemed the sairie as ever. Nine runners Were telegraphed for the big race. Kilwarlin and Iridspord finished up equal favourites at 4_to 1 ; then came Merry Hampton arid Scottish King at 6tD 1"; and Phil at 15 'to. 2. AH these animals Were heavily backed, the two last especially being strong ordens for places at even mopey. A little money was laid out upon Timothy at 100 to 7, and Servile and | Grandison found plenty of friends at 20 to 1. Against Carrasco 40 to 1 was fruitlessly offered. :', A'" ', '' A . i : " la the parade Kil#arliri showed such temper that Robinson dropped out and made straight for the starting corner. Here too, Mwever, f/Ord Rodney's colt bucked, kicked; arid persistently refosM'tb; join his horses, eventually, to the horror of everyone, being;left behind at thepOst. ■■,'■-% Sierfect yell went up from the liugjas this act wae realised, and "20 to 1 Kilwarlin " became the universal cry. The field had gone fully lqdyards; before th> erraht animal put his head, oil his ohes4> and started off like a steam engine. Ghee away ; however-, it; that,the, biothetivto Beodigp,was-travelling far faster* than the other- eight, runners, and as "the. colbslowly closed up with the whippers in; hundreds to five against him be ramo less, plentiful. - Before a mile had been traversed Kilwarlin' had: caught h& horses and was carefully steadied. Servile 1 and Merry Hampton had made the running for tho first part of the race, but nearinjg the turn for hoihe John Osborne drove Phil to the front, arid Mr Fenwiek's colt made such a bold show rounding the bend that even money was laid on his victory. A minute later, ; hoMrever, he faltered, and amidst jubilant shouts from; followers Of the Man ton scarlet, Iridspord assumed the , Kilwai'iiu. was now closing up! with tbp front division, and when Iridspord compounded half way do\ifn; th© straight! Lord Rodney's colt shot gallantly to the frpnt. Altripst iminediabely, bowr. ever, ho Was challenged right and left :by Merry Hariipton and Timothy, A ding dong race ensued between the three, buf Kilwarlin managed to Qtall both of them, o|| and eventually won cleverly by about half a length frohi Merry Hampton, who beat Timothy a head for the second place, whilst Phil, who came again, was only a neck behind the latter, fourth. The finish was Orie of the finest ever witnessed &t Honcas ter, apd Will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Lord Rodney's face was wreathed in.smiles as he led the winner back to scale, arid even Captain Macholl for once looked positively cheerful. The ring have, vulgarly ' speaking, 'got 'snuff* over the race,ahd; (as usual in Such cases).were loud in their waitings." '?.: '■'' "V '" ' ' A' ' : '

ENGLISH VERSUS ANTIPODEAN THOROUGHBREDS.

"Vanity Fair."] There has recently been some discussion in English sporting papers on the com parative merits of< our> own ■ racehorses and of their l cousins of Australian parentage.! , Colonists have claimed the* superiority, alleging that' the thhe test is the only true! one, ana. that the Australian thoroughbred must be* fleeter than ours because the time in which a mile and a half has beep done in' i Australia is shorter than that of any I. English Derby. Australians further. '<$%; ! toftjjtthat their whole system is superior toj that their- climate "not only favours the-early development of thorough i bred stock, butisaisp favourable to steipm* i and wind. X$ this disoussion, New Zealand ! norges have been-; mentioned. Ajtbj i will, tberefpjpjiprobably be surpriseto i mpst of ypu? tp those who i. take W$ intelligent interest in one!! of England's that the thorough bred of New Zealand |l$ » at least as fast ap4 qpite as good- a st&yep i! sis t|e Australian. Only two mon*hs;agij>; two horg.es were sept over from the niiddie f island to Pw.for; # ie prizes. They w;erex Nelson, an aged horse* I whose sire it King. Col©; tvud l&axim, a twOTyear-qld son of Musket. Although Nelsop was beaten t?y a head for the Apfc \ tralian Cup— ■%. in which P 8 ! i carried top weight—he Was suppesaful JPJ several other, mippif the best Australian blood, and Maxta proved! himself a marvellous youngster, ; Wo may therefore safely qonsiderthehep horse? of th* three polonies—New SpuJ| Wales, Victoria, aud New\ Zealand—-to be . abouteqpah Now, thereisnp doubt that' tho Erigjilsh time record has been beaten; . over and over again an this side of the) world. Only last week t saw Maxun win tho Champagne Stakes of three-quarters of ft mile in exactly! lmin ISsep ; and although no doubt Maxim 'is afirst-classhorse,he cannot 0$ within 41b of Trident. The comparison :ovpr longer is sjsill more in favour ' of the colonies. Are, then, the Antipodean horses really faster than our own, and would; Ormonde, if exported, be a mere plater, unable to win more than an occasional " up pouritry" racp 1 Have the new CQ »nt.rJs| beaten us in horse-brpeding, as. in a agricul tural products ? . .!• ■ - With, all .respect to the pabriobicopmipps; of colonial trainers and (weed#rs, f .l , ?*>■■ whether oven the unrivalled climate of Zealand and the a%tWHShiug epring pastel

"; • A■ 7 B short , ttore nr 1 '•i ■ Uniy-Ai4avw»EHBMM I aisence of arowdv'slessst. 'i«Ks|3jJ f Vit«a.'number, '*" *■ r 3 e?efft sßsPj I .beeii' backing their n3afty^*{f| • : ©tSS2SSH i pjtiee tuft* *',™ .! • r'nft6t(WwJlWhh3 ; hic&l p/?»".' 1 . - -nijheous- pe^ l - t tJ ? &JlV:*'p" riAfioverflnwn''P jjjp i, ty pad" oo *' ' Hbt3

THE ATTCKLAKD EVENING STAB, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1887.

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Wouking Mek.—Before you, begin your heavy spring work after a Winter of relaxation your system neede oleansing and strengthening o prevent; au attack of bilious or spring foyers tpc sickjipss tJiaV will unfit you fora season , work. Ybu >v±H save fclnio, sickt'*'■■•' 'indexponsa it ydu will uae one bottle of Jim < Ccs Hop Bitters itt your family this nip;: .. .. m'fe wait. R,ead,. :■ '/' •..,',.' .... . /,. . ■•■.