DISCURSIVE DIALOGUES.

SATURDAY EVENING TALKS ON CUftKENT TOPICS.

NO. 4. Politics Discussed — Men verses Mea sures — Working Men Candidates : Beer and Retrenchment --Queer Taxa ,j bion Proposals—The Devil in Politics— '■_ ''■ The Seamen's Strike.

_Scene.—The Working Men's Club. Pre sent—Jack, Plane, Toni Turnscrexu, Bill Bow line and a Political Quidnunc.

T.T. : Hillo, Jack, what's now to-night? J.P. : Bill and I have just been talking about the candidates for Parliament, and what the working men ought to do to get their views carried out. T.T. : My word, if promises go for any thing the working man can easily get all he wants. Such a time of hand-shaking and hobnobbing I never did see.

,* 8.8. : We've just been discussing whether we ought to go for men or measures—whether it would be better to have a good man with wrong views, or a man of any kind that is sound on the goose. What's your notion ?

T. T. : I would incline to say with Seotty, ** baith's best," only I know it's almost impossible to get a proper combina tion.

B. B. : Then, as we can't get both, I say have the measure.'*.

J. P. : But where's the good ? If the man is an infernal loafer we know that his pledges and professions go for nothing. Havo we not been deceived by them in tho past ? And is iii not thecasethat the "horny handed " are considered tho easy prey of every political adventurer with a glib tongue ? Better an open enemy than a false friend, I say. B. B. : That's very true ; and I've often Wondered how it is that so many working men candidates have turned out faithless.

T. T. : If Aye cannot get good men to stick to our platform, does it not argue something wrong in our political creed ? It strikes me that we working men are at times a trifle unreasonable in the pledges .we exact from candidates. If our demands were good and just and reasonable, then we ought to find them upheld by good men ; but as only political schemers and dodgers take up the cudgels on our behalf, it would seem that the cause is not a right ono. ' B. B. : That seems logic, but shiver my timbers if it's truth or common sense. How can it be wrong to ask for an eight hours bill, and compensation for injuries, and all that sort of tiling '! And where will you find a better man or a truer friend to the working-classes than Sir George Grey ? There's the proper man and the proper measures for you, cli ?

J. P. : Right you arc ; but there's mighty few like him ! Come to think of it, I don't believe there's another Auckland member that could stand beside him for steady de votion to the working man's cause, leaving ability out of the question altogether. But even he is not sound on the Protection goose. But supposing he was an out-and out Freetrader, like Withy or Sir William Fox, I say he is far better than a pliant can didate who would promise anything for the Bake of gaining a few votes. T. T. : Speaking of Sir William, wasn't that a rather foxy way of disturbing the peaceful henroost of Ponsonby ? J. P. : Oh, I suppose everything's fair in war and politics. Here comes "the Quidnunc" ; we'll hear what he has to say about it.

P. Q. : Hillo, boys, talking politics. Ain't you glad I've dropped in just to keep you right. B. 13. : We want to know what you think af Sir William Fox and his standing for ponsonby. P. Q. : I think with Evans, it was a very «curvy thing for them that invited him not being at tiie meeting to tako him by the hand : that is supposing it was not another bog-us requisition got up by some imitator of "John Brierly, J. P." T. T. : Sir William is a good old man, firm on the retrenchment question ; the saying is "An oid dog for a hard road," and as the colony is now on a very hard road indeed, we might do worse than put him in.

J. P. : Oh, he's too old and "faddy." What we want is new blood and young blood. New brooms sweep clean, and we don't want no extinct volcanoes,

P. Q. : Your metaphors are rather muddled, Jack ; but your conclusions are sound. Quite apart from blood, brooms and volcanoes, the country wants fresh vigorous men to take the helm at the pre sent time. Then we don't want men with " fads," but men of sttong common sense. B. B. . You've just hit it ! We don't want men to tell us that we could soon pay off the national debt if we stopped our grog and 'baccy, while all the time they spend their thousands on fine houses and furniture, horses and carriage, and so on.

P. Q. : The Minister of Works says he can't reduce the "screw" of our only General or interfere with the highly paid education officials; bub he thinks the work ing men are saving so much by not drink ing beer and spirits that they are able to stand a heavy tax on their tea and sugar. j. P. : And perhaps they'll propose a tax on the matches, as Bob Lowe did in Eng land.

T. T. : Better still, as New Zealand is such a prolific country, they .ought to in troduce a " birth-tax " such as was imposed in England from the year 1695 till 1708. At that time, for every "little stranger" added to the family of a working man two shillings had to be paid to the Government, and the rate rose with the rank of the parents till it got as high as L3O for a Duke's child.

8.8. : That would be a good idea to keep down the population of New Zealand. Charge five bob for every youngsterand LlO a-head for every " New Chum " that comes into the country. J.P. : Another good way of raising the wind is being adopted by the Ilussian Finance Minister at the present time. He is going to tax hens' and ducks' eggs. He ia a Protectionist, and says the object of the tax is to increase the breeding of poultry ; but he expects all the same to raise about eight millions of roubles a year for the revenue by^this little tax. P.Q. : Well, that's what I would call a foxy arrangement. I suppose he will en courage the breeding of poultry until they become numerous, and then he will shift the tax from the eggs to the hens to hen courage the egg industry, of course. Let's hope that Sir Julius doesn't get a hold of that brilliant idea, and try to follow the Russian Minister's eggsam-ple 1 T. T. : Oh, he would never be so mad as to try to impose such a tax ; the people of New Zealand are not so subservient as the Russian peasants. J. P. : I don't know ; the Russians have been liberated from, serfdom; but the New Zealanders are still serts and cowards —•the mere slaves of the rings and the banks, and the politicians. Am I not right? P. Q. : Them's sound Radical views ; but talking about a mad Treasurer, what do you think of that certificate by Dr. Hairies that Aitken Connell published the other night ?

B. B. : Why, it reminded me of 'Posle Paul that Mr Fell was reading about tother day,. He was accusal Of- being off his chump by some J.P. or other, and he I*oved his sanity by standing up like a

man and saying-"I am not mad, most noble Fisticuffs, or words to that effect. P. Q. : " Most noble Fisticuffs "is good ! Reminds me of the young colonial hands whom the old colonial is educating in the noble art of -'chucking out." I'd like to see them try their tricks on me. I'd raise Cain suddenly. J. P.: But then Aitken Connell might raise the very d . He can call spirits from the vasty deep ! B. B. : But as he's a Blue Ribbonite his " spirits " are likely to be very milk and water affairs.

P. Q. : Oh, no; he professes to be *-rery intimate with "Auld Sandy," or "the deil," as the Scotch folks affectionately describe the Father of Lies.

T. T. : Yes ; and there's something in what he says about the d having a big hand in politics. J believe the Arch Enemy has influenced New Zealand politics very extensively, and hence the preponderance of bad laws in the colony. B. B.—By Gemini! I see now what an Auckland member meant by asking to be described with a big --D" to show what party he belonged to. And there's so many of " the devil's own" in the House, and they manage to get the laws made to suit them selves. Even Sir George Grey can't get the better of them. What's the Scotch pro verb about the old man looking aftor his children ?

P. Q. : ** The deil's bairns have aye their (-kiddy's luck. £ ' That's true, I suppose, and as Mr Connell is not a " bairn," but only an intimate acquaintance, he can't expect to be lucky in his election fight. But it's all bosh to speak about the Evil One ; he is like Mrs Harris or John Bricrly, J.P., -" I don't believe there ain't no such person !" J. P. : For that matter, you've at present got as much of the d in you as keep the d — out of you ; but more guileless folks are still at the mercy of the Arch Fiend, or the belief in him, which is the same thing. T. T. : What, Jack, have you come to the same conclusion as the man in Shake spere, who says —" There's nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so?" Now, I firmly believe in the reality of Satan's existence and power.

B. B. : Aud as like as not he is one of the members of the House.

T, T. : Yes : old Hoofs and Horns can find hia way into the church and can preach from a Scripture, text, and why not get into the House ? The old rhyme might be altered to read :—

" When the devil was sick ' Tho devil a priest would be. When the devil «ot well An M. H. R. was ho!" P. Q. : That reminds me of a joke that was onco played otl* on a Southern mem ber. He has a rather diabolical cast of countenance, and when he went to get his potrait taken, a brother member, witii the help of the photographer, contrived to get him pictured with an immense pair of horns. The brother member had got concealed in tho artist's studio, and just as ho of the Satanic features had got in'o position and had put on his most devilishly bewitching smile, the con spirator emerged from behind and held a pair of horns over his head, and the photograph came out so lifelike that Aitkon Connell would havo recognised the Old Gentleman at twenty yards distance. J. P. : That's very good. What! are you going, old Quidnunc? Well, good night. B. B. and T. T. : Good-night, old fellow.

P. Q. (leaving): Ta—ta ; when you wants any political pints, come to me ! J. P, : And when we want political " quarts " where will we go ? P. Q. : To Aitken Connell's intimate and elderly acquaintance ! B. B : Old Quiddy ain't so good a chap for the' working man since he put on tho blue ribbon, is he ? T. T. : I suppose not; but I must be getting home now. Are you going, Jack ? B. B. : Wait till we talk over the seamen's strike.

J. P. : It's too late to-night. But de pend upon it, Bill, when you've got to striking, the time for talking is past. You must fight it out now. B. B.: And there's no fear but we'll fight and win the day. The Union has as much money on hand as would keep all the seamen in New Zealand idle for a year. Well, good-night, boys. J. P. and T. T. : Good-night.

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

July 28 — Grand National fit- epleebases.— 'Entries, June 2'; weights July 5; accept ances, July IS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Backer.—-The Bourkc Handicap, run at tho V R.C. Autumn Meeting, is the only race Mitrailleuso has won since she has been in Australia.

Young Nimrod.—(l) Thirty-four is the greatest number of horses that havo started in the English Derby. This was in 18(32, when Curactacus won. (2) Mr Porcivol tell 3mo that in the straight, tho Ellerslio race trade measure-* about one chain and a quarter in width, but round the remaining part of the track it is one chain. (3) Sixteen horses is tho greatest number started on the Ellerslie COtafse, but it would be possible to start about twenty.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By Hipfona.] With the departure of the Hon. W. Robin son's team for Melbourne, the land of the Maori and moa will be bettor represented at the Victoria Racing Club Spring Meeting than ever it has been before. I should think that it is now very questionable if any other Now Zealand owners will sec fit to take their horses across for the gathering. From what I hear, Mr D. O'Brien intends keeping his team in this colony, and as Nelson is not getting through his work in anything like his old form, this will be quite sufficient to deter Major George undertaking the journey. It is an open secret that the Hon. W Robinson would never rest content until he got even on the losses he sustained during his last invasion with a teaim of horses in Australia, and all the harm we can wish such a plucky and speculative supporter of the turf is that he will smite the ring over there hip and thigh.

The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase is run at Christehurch on Thursday next. The following are the names of the acceptors:—

My fancy for the race is Mangaohane. I have to acknowledge the receipt of the programmes of the Canterbury Jockey Club for next season, got up in the usual book form. The programme has already beeri referred to in these columns.

Echo's victory in the Wellington Steeple chase was not altogether Unexpected by some Aucklanders, for I hear of several who backed him with Some of the small fry of bookmakers—of Wham, by-tho-by, we •kit now boast of a gddd niiitlber. The fjuppoft given Echo WS_ sol _iy on account of hid^flhitiga^'ciJrid ihthe tecehtr HaWke's Bay Jockey Club Maiden Steeplechase and having annexed the Consolation.

Although Silver Prince appears to be in good request for the Melbourne Cup in both Australia and tho South, the vast majority of local backers will not havo him at any price. Most" of the money booked against the son of Anteras in Auck land has been for backers in Welling ton and Dunedin. From a private letter received from Sydney that has beeH shown me, it would seem that (Enfilade) Nordenfeldt's full brother, and stable companibn of Silver Prince) has been quietly supported there at different times for both the Melbourne Derby and Cup, so that backers have their work cut out at the present moment to put their finger on the right pea of the Hon. W. Robinson's team.

At the Victoria Racing Club's Winter Steeplechase Meeting, held on Saturday last, the Grand National Steeplechase was won by Royal Oak, with Promotion second, and Flashlight third. The Grand National Hurdle race fell to The Yoeman, with Friction second, and Darkness third. The annual meeting of members of the Auckland Racing Club takes place on the Ist of August.

Early backers of Nelson have had some what of a shock this week in the announce mentthatthe son of King Cole was not doing, well in his work, and was showing signs of lameness. This is what last week's " Canterbury Times" says about the matter :—" As Nelson had been supported for more money than any other horse en gaged in tire New Zealand Cup, and there is still a disposition to accept a very short price about the son of King Cole, it is as well backers should know that the big chestnut is distinctly lame. The trouble may not be a very serious one, but the hor?e perceptibly limps for some time after leaving his box, and does not canter with his usual freedom. He walked very lame on Wednesdaiy morning, but after being driven along at a good strong paco for about four miles he pulled up no worse for the effort."

The appointment of Mr Harry 11. Hayr to the post of secretary of the Pakuranga Hunt Club is bearing good fruit, and the members' roll has already been considerably strengthened. Mr \V. Percival is Master, and before the end of the season closes wo may confidently look forward to the Club being in a better position than it has oyer previously been.

Sinoe the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase was decided it has been a very open question among the great bulk of Aucklanders which was the better over country of Mr Donnelly's pair, Mangaohane or Owhaoko. This has not alone been con lined to local turfites, but oven several who had seen them run had their doubts. . The running of the pair at Wellington on Saturday last, however, I think, settles the matter, for it undoubtedly points to Mangaohane, and this is strength ened by the fact that their owner failed to pay up with Owhaoko in the Christehurch Grand National. Although Mangaohane is pretty plainly master of Owhaoko over steeplechase country, I think the latter is vastly superior to his stable companion over the small sticks.

Australian papers to hand this week show that the Auckland-bred colt Niagara, is daily coming into more favour for the Vic torian Derby, and he may now be said to be quite as good a favourite as Abercorn. " Augur " thus refers to tho son of Anteros and Frailty :—" Since he came into Foul sham's hands ho has improved nicely, and as the Caulfield trainer will leave no stone unturned to win tho Derby for his new employer, I expect to see him strip one of the fittest colts of the season. Whether he can effect the double coup remains to be seen."

It turns out that Marion did not accom pany Mr Drake's team to Sydney after all. Mr Stead had intended to send her on a visit to Martini-Henry, but shortly before tho time fixed for the mare's depar ture, he determined to substitute Iris. Marion, if not sold in the meantime, may probably come to Auckland to bo served by Nordenfeldt. ■

Eiridspord, who won the Epsom Grand Prize of 1,000 sovereigns, is by the cele brated Isonomy. His mother Sonsie Queen is by Musket, the sire of Martini-Henry, Nordenfelt, etc., from Highland Lassie, by Caterer or Stockwell from Glengowrie, by Touchstone from Glencairne.

I clip the following paragraph from " Augur's " notes, from which it will be seen that a very high compliment is paid the New Zealand Stud Company's young stallion Nordonfoldt: Mr M. Fennelly returned to Sydney by the Maranoa. lam glad to say that there were signs of im provement in him during his stay here, and he gained a pound or two in flesh, but still few people who know him as tho burly florid-faced trainer of the Hon. James White's cracks would recognise him. From 18st. nib. he had reduced to list., and his friends can readily imagine what a change such a reduction in weight must have effected in him. During his stay at the London Tavern, I called and had several chats with him, and was glad to find him in excellent spirits, ever ready to converse upon turf topics, and especially the giants of the turf that he had trained. With thousands of others I had fancied that the best animal that he ever had under his care was Trident; but Mr Fennelly, without the slighest hesitation, pronounced Nordenfeldt the greatest lior.-ie that he over pub through a prepara tion. He considered his Cup performance, when Sheet Anchor won, as tho greatest cvol' achieved by a three-year-old, for had he not been badly interfered with no less than three times in the race he would most assuredly have won, and he Svai receiving only a few pounds from three such animals as Sheet Anchor, Grace.Darling, and Trenton, close behind whom he was at the finish. 1 remember several of the jockeys who rode in the race having declared that the colt -would have won but for the knocking about he received from those who seemed bent Upon stopping the favourite. His defeat by Trenton" Mr Fennelly explains by an assurance that the. colt could not make his own running. Even as it was, he would have won if Robertson hadn't brought Trenton so close alongside him as to prevent Ellis raising his whip. With something to make a desperate pace for him over a. distance he considers there was nothing able to cope with him. Trident, on the contrary, can make his own running without difficulty. I believe it is Mr Fennelly's intention to retire into private life, and in all probability he will dispose of his establishment to the Hon. James White. It is without doubt the most complete in the Southern Hemisphere, and admirers of a straight forward and hronost trainer will regret that its. present proprietor is compelled by ill health to give up its superintendence. Mr " Abington," owner of Merry Hamp ton, is reputed to have netted L 40.000 in bets on his recent Derby victory, but he is such a wealthy being that even that, sum is not considered in the light of a big win. Despite his easy victory, there are not wanting good judges in England who refuse to see in Merry Hampton a really high-class horse, as his success was scored against what is admitted to have been the abso lutely worst Derby field on record. No horse, howeyCr, could do more than win easily, and Mr " Abington's" champion may ere long accomplish something that will entitle him to rank among the best horses of modern times.

At the Rartgitikei Hunt Club's Steeple chase Meeting, the Handicap Steeplechase was won by Cairngorrii (lOst 111b), with Mei-rilegs (12st 71b) second, and Auctioneer (I2st 41b) third. The Maiden Steeple'chalse fell to Lucy Long, and the Welter Steeple chase to Cairngorih, who carrid I4stj Whalebone (14st) secbwd, and Breadalbane (13st lllh) third. Merrileg** appropriated the Ladies' Bracelet, and Auctioneer the Forced Handicap.

Some time ago some correspondence ap peared in the " Sporting Times" respect ing the running of horses without plates in Australia; and the practice was depre cated, and pronounced to be unsuitable for England. However, recently there was an illustration of both the prac ticableness and the usefulness of running horses barefooted. Mr P. J. Clark, of Sydney, and some friends, were guests of Lord Rothschild at Newmarket: and at breakfast one morning the subject of running horse 3 without plates was d s cussed. Of course there was a difference of opinion as to the utility of the custom. But Lord Rothschild was so impressed with what he was told by the Australians present that ho at once sent, for his trainer (Hayhoe) and said he would like to^try the experiment. Hayhoe replied, "Very well, my lord, we have one in the first race which has no earthly chance with plates, so it will do no harm to run hor without them." This was a filly called Chit Chat. A farrier was accordingly requisitioned and the plates wore removed. The field started, and to the astonishment of all concerned, the des pised Chit Chat dashed away, and was only beaten on the post, by a hot favourite, Gautby ; and her defeat was owing entirely to the weakness of Fred. Barrett, whose first appearance it was in the saddle after his severe illness. Both Lord Rothschild and Hayhoe were so much surprised at the improvement in Chit Chat s running that it was decided to try the barefoot experi ment in the next race—the Selling Plate— and the shoes were knocked oft Mr L. de Rothschild's Fillet, which won easily. So pleased was Lord Rothschild with this re sult that he has desired Hayhoe to run the horses shoeless whenever it is possible.

Tho recent surprising victory of Bendigo in the Jubilee Stakes with a top weight h.as set English people raking up authorities as to the supposed effect of such impositions upon the thoroughbred ; and, as usual, ex perts are found to disagree. General Peel, and he was a very good authority, held that every pound added to a horse in weight brought a diminution in the length of hi 3 stride ; while Admiral Rous, another de cidedly in " the know," asserted that a horse handicapped at Bst strided as far as another did with 6st, but that he could not keep on galloping at hi 3 full stretch over tho same distance of ground. The late Joseph Dawson was of opinion that addi tional weight did not shorten a horse's stride, but thaff it told by making him stride the ground more slowly and at longer in tervals than when less burdened. Some of our readers may remember tho Californian Ehotographer whoa few years back ex ibited some extraordinary photos, of the action and paces of horses galloping at full speed, which was caught by an instantane ous process, and, judged by these sun pic tures, which, as the Yankee said, "can't lie," General Peel's dictum—that weight diminishes the stride—is fully borne out. However, no hard and fast rule can be made for good horses such as Bendjgo, whose grand form seems to make him insensible to urdens, though they may very well be applied to the rank and file of the equine race.

Major Playfair has supplied the London Field with several instantaneous photo graphs taken at a steeplechase meeting at Ashey, in tho Isle of Wight. The inform ation they afford is of great value to all interested in horses, showing, as they do, horsea in the act of jumping, and the varied seats of their riders in going over fences. In one of them the artist has been lucky enough to catch a rider in the act of cutting a voluntary, a feat which will pro bably not be photographed again in a century, as few would care to put them selves in that unpleasant and dangerous position. The pictures .are fi.e in number. One shows a back view of seven competitors closo together taking an early fence. A second gives three riders at hurdles topped with bushes ; this is also a back view. A very graphic and most effective photo shows them coming toward the spectators over a flight of bush hurdles ; the rider in the centre has lost a stirrup, and looks like coming to grief. This, and another photo, showing a singlo rider clearing a fence, demonstrate the fact that a horse in leaping does not alight on both his fore legs at the instant, nor with them parallel to each other, as usually represented, and also demolishes the fallacy promulgated by some authorities that a leaping horse alights on his hind legs. Tho photo shoving three horses racing on the flat is very interesting ; it demonstrates, if demonstration were needed, that the customary mode of repre senting racehorses extended to the utter most, with their bellies almost sweeping the ground, has no foundation in fact. It is easy to laugh at the eccentric figures of horses and riders taken by the instantan eous photographer. But there is no doubt that eventually the verities produced by him will effect a very considerable alter ation in the artistic delineation of auimals in motion.

Past Form of the New Zealand Cup Horses.

Below will be found a clear and interest ing table giving the past form of the New Zealand Cup horses, for which I am in debted to the well-known Dunedin scribe, " Mazeppa " :—

CONDENSED ITEMS.

The A. J. C. Derby is worth .Ll-,000 more this year. The Hawkesbury Guineas of 1888 has filled with 46 entries.

Moana is said to be one of the most im proved horses in training at Christehurch. A Wellington paper states it is rumoured that Bob Ray has purchased Artillery. The Victorian Club roll has been increased by 80, members since the opening of the new rooms.

W. Clifford is now in Christehurch, halving accepted an engagement to ride for a Canterbury stable next season. Mr G. G. Stead advertises for sale Lochiel, Marion, and Beresford, the price asked being 1,350 guineas for the lot. The. wager of L5,()00 to L 5 Silvermine and Bravo for "the double of the Melbourne and Caulfied Cups has been laid in Melbourne. Nine people out of every ten that, were on the Hutt course thought Mangahone beat Echo in the Wellington Steeplechase. Notwithstanding that Bowes's Tatter sail's Club in Melbourne is a comparatively young institution.it has nearly LI,OOO to its credit. - , ■ 'jjj< <, Hi •■■

Silence and Lady Florin have both beon backed at Napier for the New Zealand Cup for LSOO each, the former at 100's to 7 and the latter at 100's to 5. ' ;_i

The Lance Memorial Stakes has disap- peared from the programme of the Canter-' bury Jockey Club in deference to the wishij of members of the late Mr Lance's family. ■'- '

" Augur " thinks that at weight for age Isonomy is nearly, if not quite, as goot. as either Nelson or Trenton at any distance up to a mile and a-half.

English files report that Mr Benzon who, has bcsh named " Jubilee Plunger," would have landed something like L 30,000 had the Baron won the Derby. The most successful betting man on the French racecourse is an Englishman named Laffery, who began life as a drvgoods sales man. ' He is worth over L 200,000.

Horses are bringing big prices in America. The other day a yearling colt brought LI,OOO. At the same sale thirty seven yearlings brought LIB,OOO. Mr J. Beechey, the secretary of the Christehurch Plumpton Park, has com menced an action against- Mr Drake for de famation of character Damages are laid at LSOO

C. . Wood still heads the list of English winning jockeys on the flat with a record of 45 winning mounts in 155 starts, G. Bar rett following with 36 in 201, and S. Loates with 27 in 127.

The imported American trotting stallion Vermont Junior died recently in Sydney. He was by Vermont out of a mare by General Taylor, and was imported to New South Wales some years ago by Dr.. Weir. The Victoria Racing Club are taking drastic-measures to separate the sheep from the goats among the bookmakers —in other words to discover who are the Muldoons (or solid men) and who the mushrooms.

In consequence of the bad state ot the training track at Riccarten* the Canterbury Jockey Club have subsituted sand for tan on a portion of their gallop. Favourable results are anticipated from the alteration. Early Bird, who won the leading steeple chase event on One of the Wellington Jockey Club's programmes at Island Bay four years ago, is dead. He had recently been performing stud- duty in the Waira rapa. A . ' ...-

Mr W. C. Webb, the veteran Christ church turfite, owns a yearling fiUy, by Bundoora, out of Templeton's dam Miranda, that stands 16 hands 2in. She has a girth of 76in, and measures B£in be low the knee.

Writes a Melbourne scribe :—No sooner did the Caul field Cup weights make their appearance than The Levite was immedi ately spotted-a. being extremely well in at 7st 81b, and the brother to Creswick was on the tip of everybody's tongue. The value of this year's Epsom Derby Stakes,won by Mr A bington's Merry Hamp ton, was L 4,575 ; and when Ormonde won the classic event last year the prize amounted to lA, 700 ; while Melton's win in '85 totalled

Mr Thurston, the Mayor of Mount Gam bier (Victoria), is erecting a monument to Lindsay Gordon on the spot where the poet on horseback made a memorable leap, which has been tho wonder of all who have visited the spot. Mr J. B. Haggin. the well-known horse breeder of California, and the owner of Darebin, has invested the siim of 7"'0,000 dollars in the land near the town of El Paso, Texas, with the view of establishing a stud farm.

Among the youngsters nominated for the classic races of Victoria, which were entered for some days ago, are the first of Malua's get, Mr J. 0. Inglis entering three, viz. Haeri, Aloa and Maluina, out of Noma, tthea and Verdure respectively.

The loss of an eye does not seem to inter fere with th-fc shooting capabilities of the cross-country rider Batty, who took part in two pigeon shooting contests recently at Melbourne. He shot six birds out of seven in the first, and in the second he killed every time. ■

Of the long list of horses engaged in the Melbourne Gup only five have been handi capped above i weight - for - age. Those clinkers of their years, Trident and Hor tense. have been allotted 81b and Gib re spectively over and above what tho stan dard scale entitles them to, and Nelson and Trenton aro honoured with 31b each and Abercoru lib.

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Act.-eo^.)

FIXTURES.

FOOTBALL. Senior Cup. uly 23.-Auckland v. North Shore; Albert v. Gordon ; Grafton v. Ponsonby. Uly SO, August 7 and It.-"Rep." practice matches. August 17.—Auckland v Canterbury. August.—Auckland r. Otago. *,• r Junior Cup. ,- ■ July 23.—Waitematav. North Shore; Auokland v. Unit d; Gordon v. Ponsonbv. July 30.—Waitemata v. Gordon; United v. Ponsonby; Graft' nv. North Shore. Second .Tunic- Cup. July 23.— Selwyn v. Rovers'; YTaveviey v. Wai tomata; Univorsity v. Gordon. July 30.—Selwyn v. Gordon; University v. Renvuera; M"averlcy v. RoVcrs.

ATHLETICS.

June 30.—H»re and Hounds of TV. B.C. August 7. Road Race of A.A.A.C

AQUATICS

July, 1887. - Hanlan v. Teemer. Unitcc. States. Sep. 27, 29.—Thistle races for the America's Cup. Nov. 26.—Beach v. Hanlan for the Champion ship of the world on the Nepean.

FOOTBALL.

The Ponsonby last Saturday amply re venged their defeat early in the season by North Shore. No time was lout after the ** kick off "in scoring, Albie Braund dodg ing round the corner of the scrum and potting a goal within three minutes of the start. Whiteside was fairly on the job vvith two tries, both obtained in his old style. Harry Davy again made his appearance for the blue and blacks, and Was quite his old self again. It was comical to see Hookey limping about with a most .lugubrious expression • 6h' .his countenance one minute, and the _ next dartihg like I a streak of' greasedv lightning through the North Shove, backs until Ihe camo toa fnll'stop behind the .'posts. - His i collaring Was splendid, i and: deservedly j came in for considerable applause. The ; Ponsonby altogether played a rattling

fame, though they did not show very much ash towards the close, while a trifle too much hard kicking by the forwards was in dulged in during the second spell. Murphy and Marshall, as usual, were the pick of the North Shore boys, none of whom did anything particularly brilliant. I noticed Davy Jones had returned to his old Club, and played last week. He made some very useful littlo runs at times, and collared well, but he could not negotiate the long fellow,' who gave him a severe "gruelling." Mays was-rather off, while Wynyard seemed to hay. no confidence in his own powers. Patterson played a good game, but came in for a rough time of it from the onlookers because of his "off side ■" tactics. It is a pity that this player, who is very fast and might easily become one of our best wing fowards, should handicap himself in this way. The place kicking of the winners deserves a word or two. Wooller evidently thinks that to put a ball over the bar requires all the strength of a man's leg. This is a mistake. Harry Daniels was the best place-kick we ever had here, and he never took a run ; a eouplo of slow, firm strides was all he al lowed himself, and it was seldom the ball went far from tho mark. Place-kicking, is on© of the things our representatives will have to practise up. We must remember iliow nearly the match with Wellington was tost last year through no goal being kicked. ';A

The banner of the Graftons has at length been lowered, and that fairly and squarely, Even the maroon players themselves have to admit that they were overmatched in every department of the game last week, and the Gordons deserve all credit for their victory. I attribute it in a gi> at measure to the presence of McKeown in their team, but do not lose sight of the better form they displayed generally. If anyone had been stationed behind the scrum for them earlier that could stop rushes and pass out, they would not have lost so many matches. Jack Poland has now found his right place, and is improving every Saturday. He •Bcored three time against Alberts, and got across Grafton's line twice. I reckon it will be a tight struggle between him and Madigan for the place of half-back with Whiteside in the "Reps." W. Meldrum played in better form than he has done this season, and Lindsay also played his best game, although a trifle selfish when dribbling. Great was the surprise in football circles when it was seen that Auckland had made a draw of their match with the Albert.; It was as good as a victory for them, and will put a little more spirit into the players who have so pluckily stuck to the old club through their long series of reverses. The following is the table of the positions for the

After a very tight and rough match Ponsonby 11. defeated the Shore boj'S by 9 points. : McCbnnell kicked a splendid goal from half-way, a few yards from the touch line, and also secured a try, from which Laird kicked a goal. McConnell's goal was rather doubtful, a great many being of opinion, that it went a foot under the bar, but the referee gave it, and the kick deserved a goal. Auckland 11. were agiin successful, defeating the Gordons by 5 points to nil. while Unified beat Grafton by 14 points to nothing. It is only fair to mention that the maroons had but nine of their own team playing, and played two men short throughout. ... ~.

It will be interesting to notice the dif ference between the personnel of the teams representing Graf ton. and Ponsonby to day and those in the same match last year. Last year's teams: Grafton—full back, T. Brown ; three-quarter's, J. War brick and T. Ryan ; half backs, Madigan, W. Warbrick and.G. Cooper; forwards, Lecky, Gardiner, Veale, Spencer, Wells, Mountfort, Hewson, Stewart, and Elliott. Ponsonby—Full-back, J. Braiind; three quarters" G. Downey and J. Arneii; half backs, R. Whiteside, H. Davy and T. Whiteside; forwards, Wooller, Bruce, Walker, Keefe, Parker, Whitely, W. George, Besant, and McConnell. This year "the tean* are : I Graftori-r-Full-backj T. Brown 5 three-quarters* Johnstone: or W. Warbrick, Madigan ; half-backs, Mackie, Graham, Elliott; forwards, Veale, Twintvme, Muir, Sheddan, Higgins, McKenzie, Stewart, Spencer, and Lecky or Shiels. Ponsonby; — Eull-back,. J., Braund ; three-quarters,- < Pritchard and R. Whiteside ; half backs, Davy,A. Braund and Conway ; forwards, Arneii, Wooller, Mills, Hewsoii, Johnstone, Keefe> Otway,, Stone and Stewart. ■_._._;

1 In Wednesday'B Star appeared an article telegraphed from *.>t>umsdin paper 1 regard ing the forthcoming interprovincial matches, : and es-pecially referriilg to Whiteside as; a prof.es_sio.naL, The idea»the. article would give anyone would be that-thp Southerners were afraid to play against Whiteside, and were.endeavouring to have him shunted. I am sure, however, that this is, not the. wish of the footballers, and that they desire to play our best team.-j : Still,; there is a direct charge made there that Whiteside is a professional, judged by their rules, viz., those adopted by the English Union last season and ,by * the Southern Unions at the beginning of this. But our player has done, nothing this season to warrant his being styled a professional.; The Southern Unions cannot make the rule retrospective. If they can, more players ; than Whiteside would have to take a back seat. The rule being adopted this season can refer, to this season oidy, and White side has not, as Ifeaid before, as yet.placed himself in a position that will allow of his being styled a professional. He is a paying member of his Club and works for bis living. If he this-season received money promised last year for services then rendered, it would not alter his position in the slightest degree. Therefore, it would be i.well for our Southern friends not to. commit themselves. The East Christehurch F.C. beat the Christehurch F.C. by 3 points to 1. Francis kicked a goal from a try for the winners, and it appears to have been a very close thing. The ball struck the post and seemed likely to rebound, into the held of play; but ib dropped on the bar, and then just rolled Over, scoring a goal. It was a very closo shave. , { _, •■ ; ■■■ Mr J. O'Donnell, captain of the Gordon F.C. (Sydney), and a member of the AN ew Zealand Football team of 1884, has been selected as Secretary of the Camngton Athletic Grounds;, out of sixty applicants. The following table shows the positions of the clubs competing for the Second Junior Cup undor the auspices of the Auckland Junior Football Association «i 4* 1

The Rev. J. Hoatson „__* ?UP'; following Canterbury IveS^tj, view of being picked^fr tv a-***-^! North :-W. Allardy™ W &* *^ff! H. Bcswick, BulfeSl^'WM d'Auvergne, E. Dewsb^y n *f*H Donnelly, W. Dow, E _?L. 'J^kl F. and J. Fuller. \VQ_A*h»i L. Harley, G. Harria, Gl h'w V°a*-25 F. Hobbs. H. Hidali?\ mo«.^Q McLean. H. Mathias, <? ]JJ' ?otn*U fort, J. Murray, W. Ri&JJftf R. Scott, W.SutheCd^ 8,?-f«H Turnbull, W. Weeks, ami J r« Practices commenced^,- )__{_ \?S the North Park, at 4.30 p m i°Sui continued every evening a^sU^H time and place. It win -^to amongst the above th m_ are a -'-*< twenty-one forwards, fir o hal'k t^*< three-quarters, and fab inll-hftill S The sub-committee annriin^ , B b,Unic_%^ following programme forty V„ * te^ of the Canterbury tea' ra i^ffi* S on a\ugust9. Plav-^onorAll^ Auckland, on the 17th ]X Sift they are to, if possible, &«„!]» on the 20th; Wairatani, j,f _ a^bst the 24th, and WelhnStfe 1?-J is expected that the matcn^&f|s Sbe?ir? ayed Ih Ch«^^ The followiug description o f. f „ ' ■'"', football match held[at Saturday week, will b_ fo^ ggjj-. —'•* There were hetweon tbittv"Si1 members in the teams', ■ dS3"BS most grotesque of __sfci,m e? , «M S_?** pearance headed by a Chil,i R& the signal for a hearty round '■'.[ _J__ The game was umtnred by 'ladie^ i attentions were diverted" betwAPn u 1 the best-looking males, ofSAf* occasionally bestoW_d much afe^ chastised them playfully with tSrfcWl las or fani as the one ot the oth JuT most handy When the hall w ns )£ off the scene was most atnusuii?. T clown and pantalooh collided witl Irishman or the Chinese vla used their banjoes instead of tteffi Mashers were well represented,, ni £ their brethren, were not lohtr beWik were bespattered 'with n.ud,Mth.rfJ_ track or the ground. Football Wh? entirely ignored. A back would run k£ own goal: a forwardconsidered that to! on the ball was the best wav Of ■'_____*, a rush ; kicking was substituted to _ * throw m,' and the Mine out 'waaiiy a hug of one man with another and XI "ladies" in particular. Kiclririg over £ bar was too easy a way to obtain at.lt the clown and his assistant* tried cllmbtM the standards, a feat in which theyW not at all successful." '•• The New South Wales' Football Assii. tion hold athletic spottsthi. month, iM one of the events which _gure_:oh: the fa gramme is " dribbling the baU."','A toa| paper suggests it would- be as welltenii another for •'potting 4tge_aL": , ''

ATHLETICS. ETC.

I havo received the following letter toa "An Old Ped." Thepi-oposallie(talsj well worthy the consideration of the Ail. tic Club : - "Seeing the AueMandAlMte. Athletic Club are going: to hold dsMefc in October, if would not be asking to) much for. them to insert a Champion M open to all comers, withagoldnyiHi prize, such as the Tradesmen's AiCpn some years ago, distance not,forbears 150 yards, just to see who-, is __ ta man in Auckland. There:arei_ve ma! Could mention would go fot^ifc^ and in ad dition to the Club's own wo should km race worth going; miles to sfee, ;H«(Ai(| you will see your way toi insert M _ your; Athletic column; j and give it lofpit in your well-known style." It is to be holtedfchattfewillbeikip attendance of athletes at the Ham jM Hounds of the Waitemat»:.F;o. :|,$1 Saturday. The coursechosen,-to Otaki is a splendid one, and aUtheriinaeif ijW enjoy: themselves. About the most remarkable match te season in England was that betweeolW ton-cnm -Hardy aiul Whalley Rsngeßssiii played in May. Whalley Range teed were dismissed for .ono too "only-a ta. Both of the Cborltonbowlere-perforaedili hat trick. The analysis is so ertraoftjiiirt that it is quite * worthy'of reproduction., il here it isA-^A'Sroith, 3 ovors,-3iMiiai 0 runs. 3 wickets.' -• Storer } 2oiisrs,'il»Si 2 maidens, 0 Tim's, 6 .iwickets.' >It rrijk mentioned that Chorlton-cntn-HatdJ mi anxious to atrango .\v_thi-Wballey Bap first eleven, but were not con&deraljtK enough. ■'■"■''■' . ': F. T. Cheesemanj an old AticlcWaii the Gordon F.C-: won the drop-He^ at goal at the football' sports in Sydney, -■' All cricketers will :be glad '..to -&* U E., Palmer, the-well-known lAwjaj* cricketer, is recovering from the'eW" his accident. The knee cap, whit*«j broken transversely, has beeh;M«» the complete satisfaction^of-PalinwJ'W cal attendant, and ,_hehbpestofocairt* about as well as evOr again nexfr&s^ On May 18; Surrey defeated _M* seven wickets, scoring 253 tiiid WW *■ Read! 62, and not dut4S rM.'l«Wflw hot out 28;. T. Shuter, 57 ; WaM,a!« 132 and 210 (P. B.lAcsi^mW^ Wvnyard, 75 and 9; Dible,o W£. Mick Moniiock rah second in-'«Mffi race for " non-amateurs" at the W sports last Satm-day week in-SjfdWvJ conceded the winner 6 yards; fnd ws »• by IS inches. ■ '.'" . _ _ • Last Saturday iWki-W'WSj was Jonbe considered-' g^AIS -g Cummings. ran fosSe, di }WW% Stevens;-of SydneyV 19 flmles^ftj'iwp money, at tU Cnrrington OfoUWjJ W He conceded both *fl »cn.^^ Half-wav Livingstone' ca«^»'"|*K Fosse, and shortly but Fosse soon changed f^S inattheendof thenfth^^l finish, winning in 57mifl. rJ^gk stone being 22_sec. nehiM. bteTCtr UPFrom! an exchange I,g^fti Lancaster Park CricketCh* «j» M their endeavours to obtain "JM M.C.C. professional, W»«* ft |B has written to Mr H. Bori«)'asj«fl recommeiid some compell; P will .accept the offered tora* An English paper states thAt^M famous Nottingham*^, »J5« bowler, will be uimbe toss XpM season, or, at any rate, the summer. It appeus-^*" , at Sydney his thuttb w^^pig seriously injured tija" *a^S'l long rest is declftred to ue B recovery. '$& ~ ■'jM''-%G_\\t In a cricket match J ]k]%fM between the fi^t^e^X^™ field United and Hanson, for Golcar, totrtf WJfjgjH United innings, and JJJj^i.7;i_MH analysis :-9.1 overs,4m-»», ■ wickets. , ; ai..ibng#l^M Joe Scott has *&*^M Cotton to walk a t^nW^^B the Captain to receive tt» » • J| the first match. . .tfUiftfffl I havo it on very spite of what the Englfell&« contrary and what «^ff*i« would like. no. **$$£,##__ Eleven "will visit En^ D,r _M jolly good job tW.^Ljwseli-'^S.B Thl annual- Harrow ended in flfi-- efflCß M the former. . .. , ffricft jSJH The Inter-Univefty % m j Oxford v. Cambridge, *» • Jj by seven wickets- , - *<jstfi!slfi| ■C; J. Pontics. played for the Au^& ; :||« Academicals, in -f's Sin^jffl runs;oneof^^'{^^ffl| ground Ib-?s-fsi_ijo 'I for Raeburn place »■«*»•'•■ j word a" bac« B"®°'

THE AUOKLAND EVENING STAB, SATURDAY, JULY 23, 1887.



st lb

st lb

vloody ... 12 " 7 Jorderman... 12 1 )rient ... 12 1 raugh-a-bal'ghll 13 dangaohane 11 11 "Jhance ... 11 5 lecretary .. 114 Cing Arthur 11 3

Linwood ... Mammoc ... Medico Sultan _,.. BenH. ... Romeo Bredonhill... Master Guy

10 9 10 7 10 4 10 2 10 1 10 1 9 12 9 5



Horses. - . I

!|a*

_"S a o

5 _ -.'..I as

■!_? a £ p.

*-*> j

I

!

Nelson .. ,. Stonyhurst .. ■ ' .. Spade Guinea Pasha .. ;. Silver Prince Fusillade Disowned .. Thunderbolt <'.. Artillery .. Silence Tot ford Tigridia . Lochiel Forester .. *. Lady N'orah _. Fair Nell .'. Administrator Turquoise ... Galatea Torrent Hermitage .. Captain Webster.. Itepo .. .. Maxim Sextant .-. ... Niagara .. .. Moana Titbit Torori .. Fardingale .. Captain Cook St. Clair .. Gipsy King.. Rivulet Marion ;. Bangle .. Ruby British Lidn Enfilade .. Spear Louis Too Soon Hiko .. Lady Florin Silver Mark, t\ Rogina Crutchfteld.. Derwenter .. .. Atehduke .. ( , Fonno ... Fairymaid .. ,. Teredo Quconie Engagement Northcote Crator Captain Wheeler.. Bronte .. .. Wakatipu Count d'Orsay .. j St. Swithin.. . ..] Leon .. .. ..] Falconet .. ..I Fihina Sultan Mota -.. .- .. Waterfall ..: .. Lorraine ■ >. - ■•&; Bereaford ... .. Miss Barivuin ..

53 12 34 73 o 12 5 7 12 30 15 15 10 21 13 10 8i 44 13 2 3H 10 3 5 15 5 0 52 3 11 S 6 11 21 43 7 14 18

21 5 12 29 _ 4 2 5 3 8 5 6 2 9 4 I t26 15 6 0 «_ 13 0 3 2 3 2 13 0 2 4 2 4 *8 14 *3 3 *G

12 ■■ 6 18 0 1 0 0 3 10 2 1 0 5 1 li 6 1 1 6 8 I 2 1 2 0 14 0 1 0 (I 1 5 7 I 2 4

c o 5 8 1 _> 1; 0 0 7 3 2 3 1 2 4 9 7 0 0 8 _ 0, 0 0 0 1 8 0 0 1 2 8 5 1 0 1

14 o 11 18 2 4 o _ 6 5 6 5 i 11 2 ■i 35 16 6 1 13 15 2 0 S 0 3 17 3 6 4 3 1 3 17 2 9 7

£7oi6 ; 2254 *_ 3397 3280 317 1448 1461 600 1121 1273 745 1171 1362 1000 1414 341 3156 2343 5i3 17 913 1587 9 814 530 917 167 1475 Nil 201 266 384 834 996 1714 547 519 645

I -

-

-

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-

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1 1 8 6 3 9 35 11 8 o I 6

0 1 3 1 2 2 6 3 1 1 1 2

0 0 2 2 0 I 9 2 3 1 0 0

0 0 0 2 Q 1 7 l 3 0 0 1

1 0 3 1 1 5 13 5 1 0 0 3

Nil 67 474 478 100 435 514 141 137 106 47 IU

4 2

1 0 *6 0 0 0 3 0 8 0 0 1 0 5

0 0

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77 Nil _ Nil Nil: . Nil 24 441 Nil NU ' Nil Nil , 9 ' <*"■(_•.

1 ■_: I 1 I 3 |3 i 20 1 3 *» - c 2 I 2 ':; 7" 28

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3

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1 3 1 2 It 0 3 2 0' 2 3 3 12

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Senior

Cup.

a o Grafton PonBonhy .. North Shore Gordon / Aborts _ •uckland

« . il -tap .. 8 .. 7 .. 8 .. 7 .. 8 8

* m . _ -''-. • § . fj -all- ■§ 1 1 'II III 6 1 °F 71 18 6 1 1 118 7 5 1 2 37 22 4 0 3 74 23 2 2 4 20 39 1 . .1 6 -- 0 ,178



Junior Cup.

3 Ponsonby North Shore Auckland Graf i on Waiteruata United Gordoi.

1*9 a 3* | « 7 7 0 8 5 0 .. 8 5 1 ..- 8 3 2 ..7 a l .. 8 2 1 ..801

*"d *"5'ffi . ag agg •3.'.£« gs 0 49 2 3 18 21 2 19 9 8 24 23 4 13 .,21. 5 16 22 T 0' 41



.____> :-: a. o Se'wyn Rovers',-. University Jtemuera Waverley - Waitomata Gordoa

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J. o - . rt-3 o A3* VF ".. 7 6 .. 7 6 :: M .; 6 i m. 1 I 5 8 2

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