" Thus, my friends, I providentially—if r may use that term in view of the' melan choly fate of so many others—escaped the .emble calamity that befell the R egulusand 'icr living freight. I arrived in Calcutta | speedily and safely, closed my business without trouble or delay-for Sir _ William had been a methodical man, and his attains were all iv order when ho passed away—l closed my business, settled everything that required 'settling, deposibecl the greatwealth that had fallen to me and mine, and took letters of credit.on London, and bhen sailed for home. " , T " There would be no English steamer, 1 found, ready to start for two weeks, ab leasb. Tho French steamer which had broughb mo from Cape Town was ready bo sail, bound for Marseilles ; so again I took paSSftgO On board, her commander gladly giving me bhe privilege for bho sake of my services, his Own surgeon being down with fever. " And now, your honor, and gentlemen —friends—comes a surprise. Ab Cape Town, on my way homo, judge of my as tonishment ab meeting Ralph Ashmore, my daughter's promised husband. Ho was ragged and wan, his face the picture ot misery and cankering care. He had been picked up ab sea, weeks and months before, by a Swedish brig that had como from bho North Sea down through the English Channel, bound for Australia. Her com mander, who had clone all in his power tor the poor youth, had left him at Cape Town Iby bis own request. Ho had taken Ralph from a small boat, without a sail or an oar, $_.houb a ci*umb of food or a drop of fresh water—had taken'him up utterly insensible, and, for a time, he had bhoughb dead. Bub •ho had revived after a time, and had re covered. The Swede had told him that his boat had been found fifty to sixty miles off the extromo northwesb headland of France. , , , "I will only add: Tho poor boy had been ab Cape Town only a week when I met him. The joy I must leave you to imagine. ' I took him bo my bosom, and I haven't lost sight of him since. Home by the way of Marseilles, across France as swiftly as steam coulel carry us ; and we never knew the mischief brewing here till wo landed at Dover and met poor Werter. You must allow me to say, tho meeting WAS a blessing to him ; and if he shall nob bo troubled tor this last wrong, I am fully persuaded thab The will reform. Thab is all." The matter of the causb in hand, Jonas Crandal v. Samuel Lay brook, el a 1.," was given bo bho jury without a further word, and a verdict rendered instantcr. Then as the assembled people wero eager beyond any power to restrain them, and as bhe '•court itself was in full sympathy, Ralph Ashmore was asked if ho would kindly bell his story, and ho consented. Ho stood up, nob in tho witness-stand, but by bho side of bho judge, and began. He bold tho story as wo know ib, from bhe timo of bhe assault and capture on.Regent street on that dark, stormy November evening, to tho moment' whon, having failed "to attract tho notice of tho passing vessel, he had sunk down in his great suffer ing and happily found rest in utter obliv ion. He told of seeing tho face of Tom Crandal, of the words thab passed between them, of how he had begged that his cruol bonds might be loosened ; of how ab length Tom had come to look at or feel those bonds, but, instead of easing them, ho had only felt to assure himself that they wore secure. Then of his being loft alono; of the discovery that the boat had been son-bled-; of his final.attempt to throw him self forward upon his knees to pray ; and then how, almost miraculously, the knot of tho cord had become caught in a belaying cleat; and at length cast loose. " After I fainbed," ho said, " I remember

no more until I awoke, or came to my senses, bn board the Swedish brig of which Doctor Bale has told you. The Swedes were very kind to me, and I only hope I may at some future time bo able to repay them, Pardon me—l can—say—no more !" And a little later, notwithstanding the multitude of gazers, his hoad had found a rest on Morna's shoulder, her loving arms entwined him; and of all who saw there was scarcely a soul that did not look through blinding tears. What more need wo tell ? You surely do not need to be told that Balph and Morna were married, and that, too, without un necessary delay ? nor that the event was one pf the most joyous that Wallingham had seen for many a clay. Sir Lawrence, feeling it his duty to make'his home at tho ancestral Abbey, gave up the dear old Grange to the young couplo, where, though wealthy bo yond every want, or even power to legi timately expend, our hero continued the practice of his profession, not more from love of it than from love of his suffering fellows ; while our heroine, moved by tho same grand* spirit, became Lady Bountiful of all the region round about. And we know who are the cherished friends that give added brightness and blessing to their Eves. ' Jonas Crandal, having been taken in hand by the government whose laws he had outrao*ed, was tried and convicted, on several counts, and transported for life. He made no appeal. Tom's was a different fate. He broke away from the officers who had arrested him ; and having dr.awn a pistol which had been concealed .on his person, and turned upon his pursuers wibh direful threats and imprecations, he was shot, falling dead where lie stood.

A pleasing fact we may record ab closing: Poor Darnley Werter, having been freely forgiven by those whom lie had so unwillingly sinned against, turned ovor a new leaf, with a firm resolve that the rest of his days should be lived as nearly right as it was in him to do. And he kept the faith. Mr Blackmore took him into his office, where, in course of time, he became art honored and trusted actornoy.

THE END

Suicide of a Sculptor.

A curious case of suicide occurred recently atßome.. A.young sculptor, a very able and talented artist, becoming despondent at the lack of means and employment, brought his* lifo to a. close by maldng a cast with plaster of paris' over the living face. The affair was partially hushed up, but the cast will probably figure in some museum as one of the eccentricities of art. Such another case is a fine figure of bronze attheEcole dcs Beaux Arts, at Paris, re presenting Mercury drawing a thorn from f&B Jjasal. The right hand of the |p! Is wanftfng, ana you may imagine, not alone from the nobleness of the work, but from this defect, that youare looking upon.an old Greek statue.. This Mercury was the last work of the luckless sculptor Briants/ Although he had gained the Prix de Rome, and his genius was acknowledged as incomparable among his French contem poraries, he was almost always, so far as commissions went, unemployed. A ga,rret served him both as studio, living-room and bedroom. Here during the severe winter he worked .at his Mercury, always saving his small quantity of coal for the hours during which his model was sitting to him. He sperit the rest of the day without a fire. One night the cold was so bitter that he heaped upon his bed all the clothes he possessed. He suddenly re membered his masterpice, which he had just finished,, and dreading lest the damp clay should be frozen, he stripped himself and put all his clothing and bed covering around the figure. When his friend Cava lier entered to see him on the next day, the sculptor lay on his bed frozen to death. His Mercury also, in spite of the artist's .sacrifice for his art, was frozen, and the .•right arm had fallen on the floor. His friends had the Mercury cast in bronze ; but : they resolved, in memory of the sculptor, that' it be cast without the right arm, exactly as it was found at his (ieath^ T}s iptwy £s as sad as iti is true^ ■'- "; '' ' $**

RANDOM SHOTS.

[BY ZAMIEL.]

Some write, a neighbour's name to lash. Some write-vain'thbught-for needful cash, Some write to please tho country clash, ■ Amd raise a din, For me an aim I never fash- , I write for fun,

The groat korerorium is over once more ; members have drawn their two hundred guineas for a session of six weeks, and bhey are probably now on the way back bo bheir homes, most of them' wibh tho conscious ness that nover before—nob even in the longest and wordiest session on record—was tho honorarium more honestly earned. From that state of serene complacency I have no dosiro to disturb bhem, for quibe apart from bhe negative good attaching boa session innocent of experimental and heroic legislation, I quite agree that the positive achievement of ending the Old Man of tho Sea Administration is one of which they may reasonably bo proud. The Steut-Vogel combination is nomoro ; th-Parliament thab (irst met wibh such glowing anticipations of leaping and bounding prosperity, has gone down before a strong cry of extravagance, corruption, hard times, and increased taxa tion. Sic transit gloria mundi ! When di.s appointed in its expectations, the greab de mocracy is as cruel and revengeful as any eastern potentate who strikes off bho head of bhe magician who fails to perform tho brick which ho undertook. Our Financial Wizard, liko an African " rain-maker," professed his ability to order a golden shower to descend upon the thirsty land ; bub his talisman had lost its power, and ho musb pay the forfeit! "Off with his head ! So much for Vogclism !" Such is the cry of the people—an unreasoning cry, perhaps, but nevertheless containing a rude dement of robribubivo jusbico. Tho head and fronb of tho Ministry who have just fiillen was Sir Julius Vogel; his principles guided them ; tho lamp of his genius lighted their .slippery pathway; and tho general feeling now Ls that, to effect a radical reform, bho head musb be cub off. IProtectionists may lament that in Sir Julius they loso bho most sincere advocate of thoir doctrines who has yet held tho post of Colonial Treasurer; bub all bheir lamentations will not alter tho inevitable. And thoy need not sorrow as those who have no hope, for thoro arc many good I -•otectionisb sbatesmen bo choose from in Now Zealand, and many good men besides whoso, opinions may nob bo altogether what is wished, but who will be quito willing to alter them to suit the popular taste.

Tako mysolf, for example. (The admir ing reader will not accuse mo of egotism and other readers' opinions aro of no ac count.) Like Sir Julius, lam neither a Freo Trader nor a Protectionist, but a bit of both ; and if I am requested by a suiliciently large and influential deputation to contest a city constituency, ib would not bo a diffi cult matter to get me to " take tho stump " as a full-fledged Protectionist. In this con nection some curious facts havo been stated by tho correspondent of a Dunedin paper, and these facts aro somewhat significant in tho present circumstances of Now Zealand. Tlio writer shows by an array of figures that in Free Trade countries the valuo of pro perty increases immensely, while tho prico of manufactured goods and other com modities falls ; the very reverse being tho rulo in Protectionist countries. It is surely worth1 remarking that tho great fall in tho value of property in New Zealand took place concurrently with the advent to power of Sir Julius Vogel, and tho recently rejected tariff proposals wero well calcul ated to raise the price of certain commodi ties, and thus place us in the exact posi tion of well " protected " peoplo^ Those who pay rents may bo well satisfied with such a state of things, but what of thoso who own property, who constitute the great bulk of the adult population of tho colony . I feel convinced that whichovor party may get the reins of Government after the gono ral election, they will have to introduco modified Protection, so tho elections will not turn upon the great economic question which still divides the world. Sweeping retrenchment and purity of ad ministration aro tho points to bo insisted upon at this time, and I noed hardly f*ay that the best way to secure these is to re turn good, honest, capable men, duly and strictly pledged to these political reforms. The good man will be slow to pledge him self, but his word onco given will be ad hered to ; with the political adventurer, on the other hand, pledges arc only made to bo broken. The tight will soon begin ; I fer vently hope that the electors all over the colony will quit them like men.

" 'Tis a well-bred dog that goes down stairs when ho sees preparations made for kicking him out!" I don't know who is the author of that immortal sentiment; but had he lived in this day and generation I would suppose that lie must have had Auckland West electorate in his " mind's eye, Hora tio," when he penned it. The valedictory ad dress of Mr Dargaville to the electors whom he has misrepresented for two years was about as graceful an effusion as over emanated from the plausible membor for Kaihu Valley Railway. People wero, however, hardly prepared for such an evidence of good breeding as Mr Dargaville has given by his method of exit. How stupendous would be bhe sensation of sur prised delight that would permeate the country if Mr D-irgavillo's master, Sir Julius, would tako lessons in etiquette from tho Kaihu Chevalier. : . ,

Sir Wm. Fox has been getting some in formation from the Government Analyst at Wellington, and tho temperance organs of Now Zealand havo beon laboriously try ing to disseminate it—with such poor success that I feel impelled to lend them a helping hand. The astounding facts aro that samples of "pain-killer" and "hop bitters " have been analysed, with the re sult that tho former has been proved to contain 74"4 percent, of "absoluto alcohol," and the latter 14*12 per cent, of the samo " accursed thing." Along with the.se astonishing facts the temperance papers publish tables showing that Burton ale only contains 9 per cent, of alcohol, brown only stout G pr 7, per cent., the seductive champagne 5 to 13 per cent., and the wine that is red from 15 to 25 per cent., while whisky and brandy reach a strength of 50 to CO per cent, of "absolute alcohol." That is to say, hop bitters is a more in toxicating drink than champagne, and for a proper drunkard's tipple pain-killer is superior to whiskey or brandy— : the fiery spirits that are the special abomination of Bluo Ribbonites. Coupling theso revelations with therecent disclosures of the strong hop beer that is brewed in the King Country, I am led to the conclusion that a Revised Version of Proverbs' is wanted, which should read: "Look not upon hop bitters when it is red ;" hop beer is a mocker V pain-killer is raging.and he that is deceived thereby is not wise !'•'

But why should the temperance folks be so anxious to disseminate information as to the alcholic nature of these beverages and medicines ? Of course they will say their object is to warn the conscientious ab stainer against using " the accursed thing" even when presented in such innocent guise; but what will bo the effect op the unconscien tious teetotallers—the weak-kneed brethren who are often seen about the back doors of public-houses (spying for breaches of the law of course)? Will riot these brethren transfer their custom to the chemist's gfopp,

and will there not be a " run upon hop bitters and pain-kil.ler < Teetotallers (especially those who drink cold water in excess) will have frequent .attacks of colic, and for that painful disorder what could be more handy than a draught of pain-killer And a teetotaller's wife who '.would scorn to own that she takes a little -wine for her stomach's sake, may quite open.ly indulge in hop bittersas Score lor indigestion, me pro hibitionist tactics in America have had the effect of driving tho trade from the publican tothe druggist. Itis noticeable thata number of druggists hereabouts are ardent romper anee advocates, and the horrible suspicion arises that thoy and the temperance .socie ties are in league to " rob a poor man at ms beer " and drivo him to Imp bitters fcWCI pain-killer ! I hope somo teetotal authority will set all doubt at rest on this point with out delay.

Whilo on this topic I would commend to the free and independent order of good tipplers an excellent substitute _for pain killer or anything elso containing ' ab solute" alcohol. It is a well-established fact that a man can make just as great a fool of himself, and can have just as full a sense of degradation on ether as ho can on alcohol. Out of wood can be obtained an ether, a methylic alcohol, which is lighter than tho alcohol of ordinary drinks, and which produces tho same effects, only more quickly, and which leaves tho drinker less broken up. A man may take bis ether, and in a few minutes ho will be wildly excited, and will want to whip all creation,; but before he fairly gets ready to- whip anybody he will be in a stupor—and in half an hour bo will be as sober as he ever was in his life. He Can get drunk and sober a dozen times while tho drinkw of whisky is gothing through one debauch. In Ireland there is a district where tho only drink of tho people is ether and a mixture of methylated alcohol. It sells for 3d a pint, and that quantity is moi'O than enough for one luxurious and degrading drunk. So it has economy in its favour,which should make it a favourite tee total tipple. Dr. Richardson, who visited the region, says that none of the savage acts of a man raging from alcohol are com mitted by the ether drinkers, Dr. Richard son is a man that tho teetotallers swear by, so I expect to hear that tho United Temper ance bodies of Auckland have resolved upon erecting a Grand Jubilee Ether (eal) Hotel, a sort of " castle in the air," where the poor man can got drunk on 3d, and feel under no necessity to go homo and kick his wifo after ib!

There has been in Otago a regular flood Of " Buri-Siana" over bho unveiling of tho statue of the poet on the Queen's Birthday. Perhaps tlie best effusion which tho occasion evoked -was a pootical address, supposed to bo spoken by tho statue, which was pub lished in the " Otago Daily Times," with (tell it nob in Gabh !) a glossary appended bo explain tho Scotch words bo bhe degenoiTito Scots of Otago. Tho following verses re ferring to Sir Robert Stoub, Sir Goo. Grey and Mr Thomas Bracken aro worth quot ing :—

Ah ! namcsako Rab, my lad o' graco, Fair fa' your honest, Bonsic face ! Proud chieftain o' the " Frcethocht" raco, Why'do ye flee 'em t There's nano wha now can tak your placo I' tho Lyceum. An' you. auld man, palo lingering star With lessening ray. come from afar ; Lord! How I wonder what you are, 0 Knight o'Kawau, Wi' gab sao high above the par. Bow-wow! Bow-wow! An' you. dear Tarn, my brithor bard, A statesman-poet's lot—how hard 1 But Poesy's her am roward, So dinnnfrriove: Your cramboisnit sao ill faur'd As folk bcliovo.

It has been remarked aB a curious freak that tho Otago Freemasons took no part in that day's proceedings in honour of tlio grandest Mason of them all. The address, which was of courso written boforo tho event, had tho following reference to tho change in the drinking habits since tho days of the ploughman bard :— An' you my brither . lasons a' dome (do's a prossnre o' your claw. Wo'll drink a quale, o' usquebaugh— John Barley's fluid. Como Itochabito an' Templar braw, An' hoary Druid.

What, no? Yo shak your pows sao wiso? Ye'vo salrly changed sin' my rlemlso. If weol-thncd daftln yo despise. An' barlOY-brcc, Good Lord! Who evor saw such guys, Ore'or will sco!

The Otago folks did not prove themselves such " guys " as Rabbio's ghost feared, for if all accounts bo true the banquet was a rogular drunken orgie. Ono of tho newspapers described tho scono as " a discredit to tho city." It stated that tho chief offender was a well known citizen—name not givon for obvious reasons—who had to be threatened with expulsion several timos. As the evening advanced tho disturbance grew moro dis graceful still. A gentleman proposed the toat-.t of " The Ladies " in a speech which, though at times happily inaudible, was Doric, Bacchic, erotic, and hiccupic. The "nichb wi' Burns" drew to a closo at length, and towards midnight the company broke up singing "Wo are na fou " —a declaration which few were found to credit. It was some time, indeed, before the room was quito cleared of tho. diners, one of whom showed an unmistakcablo desire to engage in a "set-bo" with tho waiters. Tlio Otago Scots thus showed thoir fervid zeal in imitating the example of Burns, as advised to do by Sir George Groy.

Mr A. J. Burns, a descendant of the poet, who proposed tho toast of "Tho Mayor and Corporation of Dunedin," took occasion to show that ho had inherited his celebrated ancestor's antipathy to clorgy mbii. Ho said ib seemed to be tho fashion amongst certain individuals nowadays to find apologies for Burns.—(A voice ; " Oh, no.") Hang the apologies, said he; the man waa far above any human apology. Who woro thoso that dared to apologise for tho genius of Burns? Were thoy his equals ? Were they his superiors ?—(A voice: "No.") Wore thoy men who had many of his faults and follies, and nono of his virtues?—(Hoar, hear.) And yet mini sters who were scarcely able to compose a sermon in their "am" pulpits thought fit to find apolgies for Burns. — (Laughter). A correspondent signing himself " Hudibras " writes to a Dunedin paper, drawing atten tion to this caso of inherited tendency, and adds:—

" But thore I fear that all resemblance ends botweon tho pair —The point of Mr A. J. Biirns's remarks appeared to bo that none of the poot's actions required apology ; but it is only fair tb the bard to mention that the kirk sessions of his period, whose records aro still extant, hold and expressed a, somewhat different opinion, in which, indeed, tho poet acquiesced from the elevation of tho cutty stool."

A PARTY DEFINED.

A select assembly of invitod gnosis.-- Won- OESTItn. The names of Mr and Mrs Blank and ours-* Invitation i The servants, waiters, catorora, music, flowors— Preparation; The carriages, tho guests,tho giialilng greeting— Adulation; The groups, and noisy talk on subjects fleeting— Conversation; The strolling, hither, thithor, promenading— Exiimfnation; Tho swift athletic dance/with bump and tread ing, • ' Perspiration; Tho haste to eat and never sign et shrinking—

' Satiation; The oft but not always judicious drinking— Exhilaration: The ," I-never-had-such-a-nico-timo at part ing— "; i. i Exaggeration: Society notes, the misspelled names,the darting

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

Fnirles May 17: general entries. Juno'i. T_n« 28-Nanier Park Winter.-Nominations May 20 and Juno 1_; weights. June 21; july^S-Wlihgton B.CL Steeplechase Meet, JUY ng . JLNominations, June 17; weights, Juno J Wrics, June 23; weights, July 5; accept ances, July 18.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

F a H —RinKwood, the Australian Cup winner, as ayoarlW. was sold tor 35 guineas, am Malua for 40 (tuincas, Stock well (who ran second for the Melbourno Cup) £jl, Snoot Anchor £10. and Tasman £3.5. Blink Bonny, who will be remembered as the winner ot. UIC Caulflold Cup cost £85 when a yearling.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By Hi-toxa.j

Racing ab hcad-quarbers is always enjoy able, and bhose turf pabrons who journeyed bo bhe A. KG. Win bet* Mcebing ab Ellei . lie on Saturday witnessed some genuine and interesting sporb. In bhe early part of the day, bhe abbendanco was small, but by the timo the Great Northern Steople chase was aboub bo be decided, there was a good muster of onlookers, and I should estimate the number at fully 3,000. Gloso finishes arc invariably tlio rulo in Auckland steeplechases, and Saturday's contest is one more to bo added to the long list, for it waa nog until tho last hurdle from home w.as reached that ib could bo determined whether Silvio or Magnesia would be re turned the winner. Silvio fairly outshone himsolf in bho race, and I think beforo the present illegitimate season closes he wil] entitle himself to have a place among the " cross-country heroes " of this colony—if ho has nob already earned tlie distinction- The success of Silvio musb, in a greab measure, be abbributed to the manner in which Kean brought the little horse to the post. I had a good look at him previous to tho start, and he presented a perfect pic ture of condition, every muscle in his body being clearly defined. Moro than a word of praise is duo to J. J. Russell for tho way in which he steered Silvio, and although the Taranaki horseman is not an artist to look at when seated in the saddle, yot when it comes to riding he can put somo of those to shame who dub themselves as New Zealand Corrigans. Kelly had Huntsman looking ab his besb,and he parbly justified tho great confidence placed in him by his owner and connections, who were B weeb on him bo tho last. The great sur prise in the race, to the majority, was the improved form shown by Magnesia, for after hor previous display in the Maiden Steeplechase there wero few who cared to trust her. To say the least, she would ap pear to bo a very shifty customer, but on tho other hand one who is improving each timo sho sports silk. In the Hurdle Race, Victory upheld the reputation lie mado for himself at Takapuna, but tho country in the steeplechases was a bit too big for him, and in both rncos he camo down. To a young horse ab tho game this does a lob of good, and we will yob sco him to better advantage at tho cross-country game. Altogether, tlie meeting was an en i'oyable ono, and I am glad to hear from Mr 'ercival that it will result in a profit to tlie Club, but he tolls mo that tho totalisator rcccipbs show a falling-off from lasb year of aboub L3OO.

The nominations for the next Melbourne Cup, which woro duly cabled this week, re mind us that many weeks will not elapse beforo every Australian mail will be anxiously looked forward to by the specu lative turfite in anticipation of gaining some information about tho various candidates and the most likely one to appropriate the groat race of the year. Numerically, tho entries aro not quito so largo ns last year, numbering as they do 125 against 145; but nevertheless they are well up to tho average. New Zealand owned and bred ones aro more largely re presented in the list than ever, comprising as they do all tho best known porformcrs, excepting Maxim, and several wlio havo yet to mako a namo for thomselves, viz., Nelson, Enfilado, Silver Prince, Disowned, Thunder bolt, Spado Guinea, Pasha, Krupp, Too Soon, Tranter, Maria, Escutcheon, Whaka wai, Niagai a, Trenton, Bangle, and Sextant.

Tho first acceptance for the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase shows that out of the twenty weighted for the race cloven remain in. Tho only ones dropped out that could have had any possible clianco of annexing the pri_o aro Bcllo and Volcano, and their de fection is not to be put down to being over-burdened with weight. Thoso who remain in aro a vory select lot, and tho race will probably furnish an interesting contest; but nevertheless I opine that on his form last Saturday Silvio will bo found capable of getting home in front. His most danger ous opponent, I think, will be Den bigh, who is a downright good one, possess ing both pace and superior jumping ability. The following aro tho namos of the horses who have paid up : — -

st lb st lb Denbigh ..* II 9 Kangaroo ... 10 3 Silvio^ .... 11 9 Romeo .., 10 0 Orient ... 11 7 Mangaohano 912 Owhaoko ... 10 10 Waitangi ... !) 10 Victor ... 10 9 Huntsman ... 9 8 Erebus ... 10 7

71b penalty.

Trenton's full-brother Curraisseur was placed in J. Kean's hands several days ago to receive tho rudiments of his education. I shall look forward to this colt making even a groator racehorse than his famous relative. '~'.

I think Ancklanders can pride themselves in saying that ib is only at Ellerslie we see two horses trained in the same stable fight ing out tho final issue for first and second honours. Early and in the middle of the season wo saw Niagara and Bangle (two stablo companions) endeavouring to assert thoir superiority over each other, and the latest instanco was in the Great Northern Stooplcchaso on Saturday last, when Silvio and Magnesia contested every inch of ground. Silvio is owned by a couple of straight-going young sports, the success of whose colours it is always a pleasure to chroniclo, while Magnesia is the property of a wealthy patron of the turf.

Mr W. Lyons tells me that he intends taking Too Soon and Queenie over to Sydney for next season's campaign. He finds that racing for the amount of the stakes in New Zealand is not a paying game when the ledger is made up, On the score of breeding, nothing can be better than these pair. Steppe, the dam of Too Soon, is half-sister to the mighty Hermit, all of her progeny being able tb race; while Tres Deuce (dam,of Queenie) is a full sister to Calumny, : It will be remembered that on being taken to Australia this famous New Zealand bred mare proved victorious in the Hawke's Bay Handicap. Both Tag poon ahd Q^ehiQ ai'& hy Ariteros, M,v' ' ■& 'W_

Ib was a bhousand pibies bhab Belle mob | wibh bhe mishap in the Greab Northern Steeplechase. At the time, nothing in the race was going stronger, and her friends aro confident enough to think sho would have won. I must say thab just previous to the daughter of Musket coming down, I remarked that she would about win, bub in a calmer moment I have come bo the conclusion that sho had not sufficient condition to have beaten Silvio, for the pace from the moment she fell became terribly fast, and added to this the ground was all against her wibh such a big imposb as 12sb 21b. Nevertheless, I should like to have seen Belle stand up. The amount of bad luck her owners had with bhe mare in tho last Hawke's B-ayf. tecplcchaseand during the .season now almost ab a close would be disheartening to mo..b men. Such speculative and plucky sporbs deserve a better fate ab the hands of the fickle god dess Fortune.

Christchurch Tatter-all's Club, at their annual meeting a few days back, resolved thab the Club .should hold a race-meeting in September next. Tho Club was started in a small way, bub it now nob only possesses far and away the besb room in bhe colony, but a substantial amount to its credit in bhe bank. When shall I have falie pleasure of chronicling a race-meeting held under the auspices of Auckland Tatter sail's ?

The greatest surprise ab Ellerslic on Saturday was the form shown by Tawhiao. His diminutive and rat-looking appearance was the cau.se of bub littlo attention being paid to bim as tho horses left tbo paddock, and even throwing that on one side, lie had nobbing in bhe way of public per formances to recommend bim. Tho old adage thab bhey race in all shapes was once moro exemplified, for he jumped beautifully in the both races thab he won, and demoil strated that he possessed a bib of pace. Tawhiao, I am informed, was sired by a horse called Monitor.

The Committee of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club have passed a resolution to the effect " that no betting by bookmakers will be allowed on the course ab the Steeple chase Meeting, and anyone infringing this regulation will be turned off tho course." Now for the life of me I cannot think how the leading turf institution in Hawke's Bay camo to pass such an absurd resolution. The Club have interfered in a matter that they havo no light to, and, so far as I can see, for which there is no absolute necessity. A race-meeting carried on without betting would be a tame one indeed, despite how much we may deplore the fact. Betting is part and parcel of tho sport, and so long as a bookmaker sticks to his legitimate business and pays his way, Racing Clubs have no right to interfere with his calling.

Silvio is to be shipped to Napier via Taranaki on Monday next, to fulfil his Hawke's Bay engagements. It is quite likely that it will be some time before the littlo chestnut is seen back here again, as I am informed that it is intended to nominate him for both tho Wellington Meeting and Christchurch Grand National. Silvio carried 41b over-weight in the Great North ern Steeplechase, so that he had ilst Gib in tho saddle, or 31b less than he will be called on to carry in tlie big Hawke's Bay cross-country race on Jubilee Day.

It was rather unfortunate that theLadics' Bracelet had to be run almost in the dark on Saturday, for I verily believe that ib would have been a feature of the afternoon. This is an event that deserves a prominent place in the future programmes drawn upby the Commitree of the A.R.C. Races of this description are the means of assisting and bringing to light good amateur riders, while further, thoy interest and help to secure a large attendance of tho fair sex.

The Dunedin correspondent of the " Canterbury Times" remarks that Mr A. Snider's death is generally deplored by Jew and Gentile. The funeral ab the Southern Cemetery was attended by about 150 persons, including tho leading members of tho Jewish community, also Messrs J. Baxter, H. J. Walter, L. Court, D. Stuart, S. G. Smith, F. Coxhead, and other leading citizens. The mourners were Messrs Nathan, Hart, M. Moss, A. Moss, and the deceased's brother-in-law, Mr Goodheim. The Rev M. Lichtenstein performed the funeral ceremonies.

An instanco of what handicappers have to contend against at the hands of some horse-owners came under my notice on the night of the acceptances for the __.T_.C- Winter Handicap. The owner of Friend ship is tho case in point, and the way he heaped it on Mr Evctt's head regarding her bad treatment must even have tingled the cars of the A.R.G. handicapper at distant Napier. What was the result in the race on Saturday? Why, the mare simply smothered her field when called on, and won in the commonest of canters !

On tho strength of their good fortune with Silvio, his owners have closed for the pur chased a half-brother toT the Great Northern Steeplechase hero now located at Taranaki. He is a rising three-year-old, and sired by Endymiou.

From Wanganui I have news of the death of the thoroughbred stallion Fev<_ Last season he was sent down from the Waikato to Foxton, where under Messrs Baker and Go's, supervision, he stood the season. AlthoughFev- wa_ agre.at bred-un, being got by Lord Clifden from Haricot, he never got anything of much note, and the only winners he has left behind him in this colony aro Victory, Victoria and Patrician. During tho time he was located in Aus tralia he sired The Bean, who won a race or two. Feve- was imported from England by our late Governor, Sir James Fergusson.

I notice by a Christchurch paper that Artillery is looking in capital health again, so thab next season we may look forward to his showing some of his best form. Stoney hurst is a regular, attendant at Riccartort. The condition of his understandings has not been determined, but it is thought un likely that he will stand another prepara tion.

A somewhat strange coincidence is to bo noted in connection with the Auckland Racing Club Winter Meeting in the fact that since its inauguration three years ago, the Maiden and Selling Steeplechases have been pulled off by the one horse. In 18S5, St. Dunstan proved triumphant in both races, and last year Falcon secured the two events named, while on Saturday last Tawhiao after running a dead-heat -with Omata in the Maiden, succeeded in. getting homo first in tho Selling Steeplechase. Omata broke down in the Maiden, which compelled his retireirient for the remainder of the day. ' ■ ' ■'■-.'

Mr G. G. Stead has asked the Punedin Jockey Club for full particulars relative to the disqualification of his jockey, Jackson. The resident correspondent of the "Canter bury Times," referring to the case, says : — Now that the public have had tiriie to ponder over the affair, the general con clusion is that the disqualification of Jack son was very like saddling the blame on the wrong party. But from all that I can hear, Jackson admitted to the stewards that he did not ride on the first day according to Mr Mason's orders ; he intended to do°so, but by a miscalculation of distance, allowed' the horses to get farther from him than he thought they were.

A London correspondent says :—" The sort of coup a turn-up like Oberbn's at Lin coln means to the . bookmakers may be gathered from the fact that a welhknown leviathan admits; landing between £15,000 and £17,000 over the race. On the after noon itself a ready-money man inTattersall's ring took £850 odd in solid cash, the sole payments he had to make being 40 half sovereigns Oberon to win, and 8 half-sove reignsOberon 1-2-3, which he laid to the stable 'boy who looks after the son of Galopiri and^Vheelof Fortune,'? * '"^; ;' " '•' l

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(Br Ac____-.)

FIXTURES

Senior Cap,

June 11.—Waitemata v. Ponsonby, Auckland v. North Shore; Grafton v. Gordon. . • June 18.—Albert v. North Shore; Grafton v. Ponsonby; Auckland v. Waitemata. Juno 21.—Auckland Representatives v. Eg mont. ■ • I Juno 25.-Gordon v. Albert: Auckland v. Pon sonby; Waitemata v. Grafton. Junior ■ Cup.

June 11.—Waitemata v. Ponsonby; Auckland v. North Shore ; Grafton v. Gordon. Juno 18.—United v. North Shore; Grafton v. Ponsonby; Auckland v. Waitemata. , June 2..,-Gordon v. United; Auckland v. Pon sonby; Waitemata v. Grafton. Second Junio- Cup. June 11.-Waverley v. University; Rovcra v. Remuera; Gordon v. Waitemata. _

AQUATICS

July. 1887.-Hanlan v. Teemer. United States. October _.—"Thistle" races for the America

No. P26.-Beach v. Hanlan for the Champion.

ship of the world on the Nepean. Juno 21.—Five-mile Amateur Race from One hunga.

FOOTBALL.

Apter. a nuriibcr of successive victories the North Shore boys had to succumb on Satur day, tho Grafton proving too strong for them. The maroons had the best of the game, the forwards working exceedingly well. Madigan was in great form, and Jack Kissling proved a very valuable help. The Shore scored a try just ab bhe-finish, much to "the -disgust of their opponents, who were nob slow to express their opinion, but the referee could nob have done other wise ; in facb, he should nob have been called on to express an opinion. Gordon scored a win againsb bhe Waite roatas by seven points to nothing. After a long absence Fred White reappeared on an Auckland football field, and showed bhab his foob h.is iosb none of it,, cunning. The Waitematas looked very like carrying all before them at the start of the game, forcing tho blacks down several times, but they could nob lasb.

Jordan will play forward in future for the Gordon. He scored his lirst try in that position against the Waitas. The Ponsonby 11., " the nuggets," were again successful on Saburday, "beating the United. Ib is a breab to see young Cleaver and McConnell play. Skinner potted a beautiful goal for the Grafton 11. at the Shore—left foot .from near half way

The Association Cup matches start this ! afternoon, and no doubt they will be very keenly contested. As yet the followers of that game have a very crude notion of how ib ought to be played, and I am afraid it will be a long time before they learn. ' The forwards are not supposed to be always together on the ball, aa in Rugby. Each one has his appointed place, and he is always supposed to be in that place, ready.. It is a game that requires more unselfish play than Rugby, and requires an alto gether different style. If the Association funds will run the expense I would suggest that they have printed a good short' ac count of the game and the oesb manner of playing it for the benefit of the local players: Canterbury has accepted Auckland's terms, and will be here in August. The "N. Z. Referee" advises the Auck land Rugby Union to adopt the new scoring rales without delay. Joe Warbrick is reported as playing splendidly down at Napier. Ned McCausland has joined the same club as Jack Tadelroa and Joe Warbrick, viz., bhe Hawke's Bay County Club. ATHLETICS, ETC. Dick Matthews whipped the darkie last Saturday night. It is all bunkum for some people to speak of the stranger not having fair play. He got more license than he deserved. The 20 miles professional cycling cham pionship was run at Leicester (England) on May 14th, and was won by Howell, who beat amongst theirs, Woodside, the Ameri can crack. The time was GOmin. 54 sees. One of the novelties in the cycling.line in England at present is the "Trailing Victoria"—or elongated cycle composed of attached Victoria tandems. As many as ten riders form the crew of a machine, and everywhere they go, as might be expected, they attract a great deal of attention. : One was lately tried at Aldershot before the Duke of Cambridge, with a view of ascer taining its possibilities for military pur poses. : . The road race for amateur runners, from Onehunga to Parnell, on Jubilee Day, promises to be a good success. It is anti i cipated thab a field of at least ten will j start.

Sammy Goodman is likely to have his hands full soon. I hear Stephenson is anxious to meet him in a six-hours' match in a short time. .' ■ ■ ■ ' \

STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By Euterpe.)

The final rehearsal by the Choral Society of Handel's grand oratorio,^ "Samson," is fixed for Monday evening next, and the performance takes place pri Tuesday even ing. I append the allotment of solo parts;: —Soprano, Miss Culpain ; contraltos, Miss Scraggs and Mrs Geddis ; tenor, Mr A. L. Edwards; basses, Mr T. Charter and Mr Henry Brett. Herr Schmibt,'by assiduous application, has broughtthe chorus up to its usual high standard of "proficiency; and the sbloists are fully 7 equal to the de mands made upon them. Unless,1 however, the orchestra, will consent! to moderate their tone in solo passages, the instrumental accompaniments therein i■. are : likely Ito impair the .effectiveness of. the perform ance. At the practices- so ' far-' -they have been altogether too loud and, as i a consequence the soloists liave been unduly handicapped. Verb.sap.A-Z' }.

Robert Buchanan has written a ne-w- orie act play called " A Dark Night's Bridal^" which is played at the Vaudeville.' ' '■''' "' ;'

Sir Arthur Sullivan is in Berlin to conduct the first performance of ".'j* Patience "in German. 7 '" "7 ,'7 7 < '.-"'"'7

Mr Irving has himself prepared the stage version of Lord Byron's. dark and dreadful "Werner," which he produces ■■> at .the Lyceum on June 1. * ,; ' i .::• ■ ■'•

TNelly. Eairren has found a new'character in Smike in "Nicholas Nickleby,".which she is going to play for her benefit.. Old playgoers.' ,!' ■*"'

The late Mrs Wood, the author of X East Lynne," left the manuscript of a long novel and of a number of short stories, written in the ; character.of '! Johnny Ludlow.".., /_ ■ ■

Professor A. H. Sayce is to be the Hibbert lecturer daring the present year. The sub ject of his lectures, which are'soon to be "de livered in London and Oxford, will be " As syrian and Baby lonian Religion." ■ '

Macmillan and.,.C0... have projected, a " New History of English Literature," of Which the second volume,.in chronological order, Elizabethan literature, by George Sainstbury, wjll soon be published.j .', "

Professor J. P. Mahaffy is shortly to pub lish a new book on the social life of Greece. It'will embrace a review of the life and strength of all the Hellenistic kingdoms, from the days of Alexander to the Roman conquest, especially Egyp,fc and Syria,

THE GARDEN.

Calendar o. _-_7^ —" !*■ I77HO!«Ds.k l 77 HO! «Ds.k . " - respondents nmstWir?W«Mi ?ffi ._ dresses, though not|,SM»C,,

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

an impossibility■'fo'raM-iyoi_4|ji.: if -. the grubs winch We ™.to get mfM^ ■§ several things■ ./__fls >^ioto .^« P thorn-for instan^ff'C&aS 1 Bait, carbolic adr^'.fo^Jfc-I; M', life as well. In some ff I**1 '** R_2_.' ■ to do this. cspc<&UTr_i??S^''ri__-^ '<■'■__- of ground l iS''afFeW ea ™E-D^2 . *'' W is infected, aiiditwo.i7*lTo^wii {f* : ■ , any single indlv^S»!»-^**-* ,: I| perhaps one of you.S^sfi/^Ot:. 1 trouble himself; snchS%lßS3 H you a fresh br*U^ ■ . boon troubled withS^JK ifi. T* H , my pot plants, and tK' a. W&1*1 It arrest, their rafa^-o^J**S *» . ! the plants, etort-SJiLSSSSwia- R roots repottingwitF n »MML ttS ' H subjected to.'aprocesstt Tl _W&-' V_M grabs, and used SW^ W ■ wards.. I beliove.fla&Sg^sg?;.» proachmg when thel_#Eg*^ t W compulsory laws. deal-Si.?« m__-: B all sorts. If not, care S^pS : B tlie mercy of careles. todto^.gS. §§ Best Z^ToTrnxl^f^-^ E -It is the natiireof. a utii«-Sif'«ti«.. m throw onttheirhFan.SS^**^ ■ the ground ext ß na€ ( Z a»C*7 i trunk, anditisalsonaturalStf^'S" H lame and the upper B&n&a^Sft: 11 the lower, for the lower t_to_-S*W - WW e-eluded from the%h.™_|®%K 1 when we attempt to trim-ahfe^H'. W far as possible, followtiatbfll-? 0.. . M vyroroua the branches close.«.•_.'_.«_'•' H We must be careful to i upper branche. esteiididgrbeloSu* B ones; in fact, to kdep tie iSt** .'' B vigorous wemustheeareM'BSS-^ B quite as. short as t thc^S|P**i.'..'K hedge should be PrppSy'S^^S. :■ young, trimming it down quite ® '. I leaving the bptton. .of the hS wS'^ P tho^top.. and thct6'D!ffi-_W-|-'iEL% ll higher m the middle, m\-h]|„M£_. H letter A, slightly rounded rt AJ* .<* 1 Preparing tho Soil for Tree V}^,, I The ■ future welfare' of trees of _\ \_y 4 J depends much on the preparation J| 3 1 soil before planting, one of the main o^ I tions being depfcli of -hbleUnil^'.tho^ 51 pulverisation of.tjie >.hich is to coma X in immediate contactwifcK the rooK. te 8 I who plant ,a tree '_us't: about in..'thc^Sij* X manner as they would put a-post in ■ '_]__. I ground, with just a-hole I^ge^enougß'for 1 its reception, need never lob-! for" a'good I result. Where large fbrchard- are fkh planted,' the ground should be il .rashly ploughed to as great, a depth as posjlk ' Where. the bottom is.very; hard,'ttt6*j' w four -horses should bei attae_ed!t!.aife plough, and the snb-ploug . shCuM-folloi*-. Where it is not convenient:'to'plougH the whole of .--the ground _now_ for. the arbhad,. the lines of ■ the -trees -*! cbald. be, done '.fir» breadth of from five._o.Bi_**fe,eVip]oiigii, in._r the balance when more Qohye'nimt, After the ploughing, all- the'holes Ml* trees should be dug. *. The fdigging '"-boa!- - take place some time before -the trees ar. planted, so that the soil may.be thoronghly pulverised before . planting.rcoELmeices. Where specimens or. ornamental trees iti* lo be planted, holes cannot" be made too deep or too large ; the greater the 'depth aadUia. better :the: soil, the! £aster*.'ths, toes' will grow, and in a few years wi_ ___espfalil specimens. ' ■ ■ ■ ';••'• ■■.•-A.^Aaa Drainage.. .. a % New Zealand lias hardly growntb'dra. age yet, still, of all the'meebanical-Op-i* tions applied to land^7t_ere<_-nones!: greater-benefit; for. in. wefc soils it'i. __i to rapidly take .off surplus .''water,'and | dry sandy soil tho latter is b _iefiWfy|ii. B condensation from theatmqsphere'-bp_. I ing through the pipes. • But do-not Vrary I the drain-tile. Let the atmosphere Com* municate afc the upper end with' tkffley.y bringing aright angle npito ths surfaced the soil and * out; *of . the .way! ci ploughs. .This, can: -be done-fatVfen*J line," for the importance of., atmospkLl pressure upon, .water . ninni-g^d-Wii the inside of drains consists-;-in'''tlw facb that it causes the latter;to ran*. quicker than if the drains •w.rewtafc't This is how not to bury drains up,"-Sdwe hope it will be-remembered !mdital-rfl • of the. drain _i. iquestion::.-ot;be MM to be grown'over andchbkedi up:T.t3i|ras orother matter,. to? prevent, tne effects'^ atmospheric pressure. '• We drains'laid very scientifically, thought tote so, but without one half'the effeefetftaieir capacity through not ■'■"being*' ZvWA done. The : mechanical action ' of -Bii on soil is wonderfulj-'foE^^acMim-of water and air in passing fr.m''t_i.jiurßce ■dovm-to the tile breaks -away-fte soil bit by bit until the whole*soil^betw^.. .tiling, whatever be ■ the 'depth of to m, becomes, so to speak;:.tho_b-^Myftrencheq, and better done• in tim6''than':if-: m ,7 the spade, '.because'':doii-i.__6r;:-and;*m-li the result of much better disintegratea soil.: > ; "*" ~".. How much I wish the people of tbs coun try- knew hcwanapo-sessed'th-MaTOM. drain the land—knew-'its benefi€S-andfra importance.- - How> many 'crops coulel i» grown that are'now tleficie_tin manyw perties. How much alkah cbuld-te di?« awayfrom our s oil by placing urfflrtte f a depth of four feetirom'-tH-"s'ur{?cef;^ jerdniid,' and hence Ave'may'^onimue.to^ logise the-advan-. ge of -dpaimiigby We, we are exhausted, and then canno* a > ohe-th'ousaridth part enough for ue . *■ of drainage. •-"■', ~.v.'^ii" -■ '• 'I=thinfc-Ihear yousay;'''^f?%|°s require drainage." ;I answetffiat 'WJ unless very light porous -soil. 'arci»« by drainage, because 'of.>r«sonS-hjtftJ. givenP1 You; may- riot be able to . with this any practical;'re3tilHto|n convenient circumstances^ but 'don tL, nb'Use; Do 'nit say it advocatesp ew p Useless money. Properly Jdfained'Wu early land, ail tlie -Slue.of early'] M know as Svell as anyW^^»4ii- It's no use in planting'-OTlyf^.Fpri cropsof any'kind;ori tod*.thatar?',^. is the earliest crops that'. W-Pfll earliest 'frtdts' tliab' pay drdiriage to land that is naturally^' w what will be the profits rMmen^- .^ becomes of light' frosts''-^f^flyioil- It ceases to be : and'why:t-B?^sg f) .* ta3 is':diy. .'Wet land ;is me^ e %W-h well as iti-being late. ,: 7- 7,-r .-liaise -If you cannot, get^tiles^to^l^ brush. ■■- 'Cut your''drains-a pc fe put-in'the brush a'fbp't''b%feffiIV,i.jjH . mind wh-.t*the* Tb_its_. bitys&Jfa& we.have used tWmohb^ tml^^-^ . teen years an examination.H°^ n .'nifflOSt >r better than 'it T^TwHfefi^Ms^ in'a^tate of petrifaction:. '•Bri±s£[ff,|^nbf for swahipy laiids,Y6r all iLindstwii ~? g | solid. The drains on- sH-ri'lfff^r^ little use."' Brush is'-'much^etter,;. . last for years. , ■■ ,

The Picture Killed Her

There is a famous moderirßT 0 '^ cow of John the Terrible, after murdered his son in a fit ' j^3CoiuJ suddenly discovers the crime he ..^ mitted. ;- The > expression t - Of a madman; with'a curio* wfsoM. A and consciousness' striking OT^j,^ son has sunk ab his ■ feet triti ft _ streariiihg frbrn his wounded '-Wteo $ intensely realistic,ahd -reportJSU^lsP one occasion a lady was so mucnj the sight'of ib-that she feirdpirn^,|j c 'turj. spot. According to this..tale. A^'_^ea_ Was subsequently feinove'd'to A3 -^ and ladies not admitted in the ■ jnedical attendant^

_HE A-TOKIAND EVENING STAB, SATUKUAI, JUNE 11, 1887.

4