RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.]

! Some write, a neighbour's name to lash; .Souie write—vain thought I—for needful cash; I Some write to please the country clash, : And raise a din. iFor me, an aim I never fash— I write for fun.

JMANisa progressive animal, and for that ■reason he is a very discontented one—th c I only member of the animal creation that ever gets "tired of life" or comes to the 'conclusion that all is vanity and vexation of spirit, or deliberately shuttles off of his own , accord. If the blessed angel of Hope clieers us in our season of adversity, the accursed spirit of Progress—call it Ambition, Aspira tion, Thirst for Knowledge, or what you will—haunts us in our day of prosperity making us miserable by showing us how much better things might be, or we might be ourselves.

; «' Then comes the check, the change, tho fall'

' : r New pains arise, old pleasures palf 'f There is one remedy for all!"

Take the purely material pursuit of money-making. The man who is making a comfortable living is not content until he has secured an independent income, and he whohas amassed a con: petence turns with redoubled energy to the task of making 'himself a millionaire. Or does tho thirst for knowledge afflict us? Each successive hill that is climbed only opens up a wider horizonandconvincesusmore than ever of our own littleness and ignorance. Do we long for praise and immortal fame? The pas sion is an intense one, but it grows by what it feeds on and is as insatiable as the daughter of the horse-leech. Is it tho lust of power that possesses us ? We get more than we ever dreamed of, and yet, like Alexander the Great, or Oliver Twist, we want more ! From the child that tries to catch the moon, or find a pot of gold at tho end of the rainbow, to the hoary sage who dreams of discovering the philosopher's stone or of regenerating the universe, we are all engaged in a wild-goose chase after the Unattainable. And yeb—miserable fools that wo are! —we delude- ourselves with the notion that there is enjoyment in this pursuit of phantoms, and we talk of the pleasures of Hope, of noble aspirations, god-like yearnings, and .so forth. Pope, the little cynic, was pretty near the truth when he wrote—

" Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never is, but always to be. blest!"

In other words, the pleasure of Hope is always followed by the pain of satiety, the craving thirst for a new pleasure, the feverish pursuit, and the final disappoint ment, in most cases, so far as this present life is concerned. It is the old story of Prometheus and the fire of the gods, and many a time and oft I ask with Long fellow : — .

" Shall it then be unavailing, All this toil for human culture I Through the cloud-rack, dark and trailing, i Must they ace about thorn sailing O'er life's barren crags the vulture?" And as often as I ask do I reply with a de cided negative, for " the more noble instinct that aspires " must triumph over tho purely animal instincts, and even when tho vulture of despair swoops down there remains tho last and grandest hopo of all —tho belief in a future life, in which under happier condi tions, wrongs shall be righted, asperities smoothed, inequalities redressed, and per fect knowledge attained.

This train of sober thought, and excursion among the poets, have been suggested by a little note from an anonymous correspon dent who encloses a clipping from an English newspaper, with a request for my " opinion" upon it. Tho extract has reference to a letter received from " a man of unquestionable veracity residing at Auck land, New Zealand," by a friend in the Old Country, and I cannot do better than re produce an extract from that letter. Hero it is :—" Hundreds of fellows like ourselves stone broke. I met a young Liverpool man last night without a cent ; you meet them every day, but the Home papers will not put in anything of a complaining nature sent from the colonies. It is a shame that those agents at Home should be allowed to tell such tales of the ' land of promise, flow ing etc' The land itself is good, but there is no demand, and no money here to work it. You can get any amount of young fellows to work for their food only. Tho place is expressed in ono word, 'rotten. . The land is offered to the people for nix, and then they can't make it pay, and very few try. They know it is no good. But I am verging into a debate. Ileally, I feel so very sorry for tho poor peonlo arriving by every mail and other boats that I am angry when I think of it. Intending emigrants should inquire for themselves of disin terested parties, and not trust to paid ■agents."

■ The English newspaper writer comments on these '-• very disbressing facts," and reads a lecture regarding the folly of sending ne'er-do-wells of au sorts to Australasia, the over - crowded state of the colonial labour market, etc., advising all intending emigrants to follow the advice of the Auckland lefeter writer. The whole thing is senb out bo my anonymous friend for verification, and he in turn sends ib to me for my "opinion." As I don't know anybody on to whom I could shove bhe responsibility, I'll boldly tackle ib. To begin wibh, the " man of un questionable veracity" has mingled truth and fiction in about equal proportions, and I am reminded that "a lie that is half a lie is a difficult matter to fight." There are " hundreds of fellows stone broke " in the colony, undoubtedly, bub through what cause? Ibmaybe possible to come across I* , a young Liverpool man without a cenb;" i-bub you don't meeb them every day ; young I Liverpool men, I fancy, are not all so far [down in bhe social scale. Ib is a bare-faced lie to say that Homo papers will nob pub- Ilish complaints about the colonies. The ipublication of this Auckland grumbler's 'letter proves this ; and do nob some London editors publish all that is sent them against the colonies, and a great deal evolved from their own inner consciousness besides ?

As for this veracious gentlemen's state ments about the want of capital in the colony, and the " any amount" of young fallows who are willing to work for their food only, I fear he has allowed himself to run into unpardonable exaggeration. It is notorious that at the time when the labour market was most congested and Govern ment were providing relief works, the un employed " struck " for six shillings a day, : instead of the five shillings offered them; 'and it is also a universal cause of complaint 'by farmers that they cannot afford to launch out capital, because the high wages de manded by agricultural labourers makes, the result a certain lose. This model of vera city feels that he is "verging into a de bate "when he deals with the question of the land and its cultivation, so it is scarcely 'necessary to refute him. He is sorry and angry at seeing immigrants still pouring into the colony, and I can quite well believe that his veracious epistle was penned more in anger than sorrow. He has evidently been long enough in the colony to have got rid of the taste of limejuice, and to affect a mixture oi pifcy and ( contempt for "new chums," whom he views as interlopers on territory which lie had marked as his " happy hunting ground." Perhaps he has felt the competition of the "new chums" unpleasantly, and in his wrath has deter mined to stem the tide of immigration for all time coming. Perhaps he is only dis contented ab nob finding Auckland's streets paved $£$&s&* P^liP^ 1 *

every back-yard ; and this brings me to the point where I can pick up the thread of my reflections.

The inherent Discontent of the human species is never more conspicuously shown than in the case of people who have left England for the colonies, in order to better their condition. The farm labourer who had been making 12s a week at home lands here, and eagerly jumps ab an offer of 5s a day made to him by some "benevolent" employer, who has a liking for new arrivals. For a while the man is in Paradise ; but a serpent comes along and whispers to him that he ought to get more money; other men are getting more at the same employment, and aro able to live better, and nave more amusements. So the labourer shifts his place and gets 6s a day, and soon, on the strength of his " colonial experience," he is emboldened to demand 8s ; as likely as not, after he has got that, he joins a trades union, tho object of which is to raise tho wages still higher; and because he finds that the supply of " new chums " more than equals the demand he begins to growl at the depressed state_ of the labour market, and ends by declaring that the place is "rotten" and that ho is nothing better than a serf, working for his bare " tucker "! The man is a vast deal better in circumstances than ever he was in his life before ; but he is still far oil' tho at tainment of his ideal—in fact tho ideal re cedes fromhimashc rises towardsit, ;uul he is in danger of being afflicted with chronic dis content.

Trade and commerce are undoubtedly dull in the colonies at present, and no one should come here who has not money or i friends to maintain him for a month or two until he drops into employment; but does any sane colonist believe that things are nearly as bad as they arc in England ? Those who have lately returned from a visit to the Old Country state that colonists have no truo conception of what is meant by hard times. By good chance I have been able to lay my hands upon an extract from an English newspaper that may be taken as a set-off to tho growl of the veracious Aucklander. Some months ago, I learn, there was a strike of chain-makers at Cradley Heath, and tho " Liverpool Mercury, ,, in an article headed "Among tho White Slaves at Cradloy Heath," described the experiences of the unfortunate people there. Previous to tho strike the average earnings per week of a competent chain maker were 8s to 10:?, and of a woman Is 6d to ss, and to reach these figures it was necessary to work sixty hours a week. One man who was engaged in making shipping chains was compelled to labour six days and work 12cwt. of finch chain for a sum of 10s 10£ d. This is the severest form of chain work, and many week* this sum was not reached. Another worker stated Lluifc ho "put in " 70 hours a week for less than 7a. Ho hail a wife ami five children, and out of this small sum ho had hoiisO runt, coal, and euhool foes to pay before procuring Eood. 11 o had several times worked for two days with out any food.

I don'b think I need say a wor.l more on the subject. Men no more .skilled than those Cradley Heath rhain makon} are getting 10s n day in Auckland at tlie present time, and such being tin , case anybody can judge whether New Zea land or England best deserves to bo called "rotten." I hopo myoonwpoiKienfc Lssatis fied. To my mind this in not a question of "opinion," but of fact, Homo allowance must be mado for the bitter feelings of a man who is " stone broko ": but if tho man of unquestionablcveraeity over "broke stones" ho would know that very good wages can bo made even at that occupation in the vicinity of Auckland, Ho ought in any ease to know that our gumfields give remunerative employment to thousands when other work is Hcaree, and that tho number of enforced Idlers in the colony is very small, in proportion to population, com pared with the hundreds of thousands in England who are now experiencing the keenest distress. Let us all be as contented as possible, and devoutly thankful that things are no worse with us !

Duelling, although unpopular, has not quite gono out of fashion ; but tho method has changed vastly. It ie no longer con sidered necessary to fight to the death over a point of honour, for men as a rule are contout to compoto with each other in lavish expenditure, or to settle their differ ences by a bet. These are all forms of the duello, and that challenge uttered broad cast by Sir Julius Vogel the other day was another form of it. Ho offered to resign his seat in the House, and contest the seat of any of his opponents, in order to test whether he or they possessed the confidence of the country. The gago of battle was not taken up, however, and the country is denied the privilege of witnessing a political duel to tho death.

Considering that the big quarrel of the session is that between Sir Julius and the Speaker, it has occurred to me thab a combat between these two doughty knights might be arranged after the style of a most unique duel that is reported to have taken place lately at Barrieville, Idaho. In thab caee, Colonel Sleeford, editor of the local "Trumpeb" had a literary quarrel wibh a prominent teetotaller named John P. McArdle, and they agreed to " fight it out" by a fasting contest. The two men wore shut up in a room with no other refresh menb than cold waber, and they carried on their trialjof endurance for 42 days, 6 hours and 21 minutes (as the careful chronicler telle), at the end of which time Mr McArdlo was a lifeless skeleton, and the Colonel was very nearly in the same condition. At latest reports he wae likely to die also.

I This sort of thing takes all the gilt and fingerbread off the duelling idea. Imagine ir Juliue Vogel and Sir Maurice O'Rorke agreeing to engage in such a trial of endur ance, and suppose thab the conditions of combat were that each knight was allowed as muoh ardent spirits as he could consume, bub no other form of refreshment, either liquid or solid. How the whole colony would hang upon the issue of the contest, and awaib the news that one or the other of the combatants had succumbed to " the act of the devil! " The Sleeford-McArdle duel had great interest attached to it because of the fact that the Colonel was abonviveur, while his opponent was strictly teetotal, yet the result seems to prove that cold water will agree better with a tippler than with an abstainer. It was decidedly shabby on the part of cold water to desert an ad mirer in his hour of necessity, but "un stable as water " is a faithful saying. I ■wonder, if our two New Zealand knights were to fight such a duel as I have described, and Sir Julius were to die of starvation, whether the coroner's jury would find that he " died by the act of God I"

As the hot weather is approaching, I have hunted up a scrap of information about the mosquito that must prove of. intense interest to the whole community. It has been established on sound scientific authority that it is only the female mosquito that bite 3. Only the lady members of the "culex" family, it appears, are provided with a kit of tools wherewith to operate Upon the human cuticle and feast upon our flesh and blood. This I have on the autho rity of Professor Lint, tho State Entomolo gist of New York, who ought to know all about it. Now, gentle reader, you know how to escape from the mosquito nuisance. Keep a sharp look out for the females—you can easily tell them by their bulky dress improvers and tall hats —avoid them as you would the "strange woman" described by or squeeze them gently between

your finger and thumb, and you are safe ! I urn aware that this advice comes very near being an infringement of a certain rabbit-ex terminating patent, which directs people what to do with all the buck-rabbits in the country; but I don't intend to patent it, bub mako it public property, in the hope that it will alleviate tho sum of human misery.

Whatever has possessed the «'douce" Presbyterian Scots of Auckland for some timo 'back? What with weekly social gatherings, occasional concerts, and very frequent dancing assemblies, they ap pear to have "tint their senses a'the gither." Tho craze for Scottish dancing has in particular boon most violently developed. I read about aged patriarchs performing wonderful evolutions with no other dress than the kilt, and a lady friend says " they don't even wear trunks," though how she came possessed of this in formation I don't pretend to know. And now the latest phase of the Caledonian insanity—l beg pardon, tho perferviduni ingmium Hcolorum — is tho forthcoming production of the national drama of "Rob Roy " by a band of Scottish amateurs, led by that perfcrvid Scot and able actor, Mr Laohlan McGowan. A splendid turn-out of the Clan-na-Gael may be expected at the Opera House next week ; but I would fain hope that the grand climax in this sort of thing has been reached, and that our Auckland Scots will shortly return to porridge meal and the Shorter Catechism, and abjure high jinks and Cutty Sark. Some, I hear, "draw tho lino at play acting," although they do not object to the other forms of jollification. This ia a hope ful symptom, and in futuro I expect to hear about Scottish music and dancing. No doubt there is "a time to dance," but tho Highlander's interpretation is too liberal—

" Tho proper time to danco, I imy. Is when you hear tho bagpipes play!" i:- * # ■:;■ # *

Talking of bagpipes and dancing reminds mo of two lifcfcle incidents that " transpirod " recently—each of which has its comic as pect. At the flower show on Friday last, the Artillery Band was performing somo choice airs when news was received of the sudden dcatli of tho commanding officer of tho district, and out of respect to tho deceased it was resolved to discontinue all music for the day. This did not pleaso ono of the committee and ho insisted on the music being continued. It was paid for, lie .supposed, and ought to bo forthcoming. It was pointed out to him that it would bo cruelty to usk a Volunteer band to play under the circumstances, but ho declared with lordly independence, "If tho band wirma play, I'll got a Hieland piper that'll male inair noise than the hnill dizzen o : them !" Ho departed in httsto to carry out his fearful throat, but fortunately ua.ri not able to carry it into execution.

Ro much for bagpipes ; now for dancing. Tin. , aristocratic, .suburb of Romuera was this week the scene of somo stmngo burial obloquies. It appears that a private eeme t cry had uxiated Lhorc, and jsoino years ago, by inadvertence or something, a recreation hall was erected right over the dear de parted. Whether the unquiet ghosts ob jected to this arrangement or not 1 cannot

say : hut certain it is that thin week a wholesale resurrection took place, and the bones that had been committed to earth till Iho <!rent Day were transported to a more peaceful place of repose. The funny thing is that for several years that hall has been used for dancing parties, and youth and beauty have often chased tho glowing hours with Hying feet, littlo dreaming that they wore dancing over a graveyard ! Talk of a nkcloton at a foast; it is nothing to this burying ground under n ball-room !

SPORTING.

[By Saitxterer.]

RACING FIXTURES.

November 25. — Island Bay-Jockoy Club. Novombcr 26~Ta1-*ttpuna Sprinif M< oiinor November 30 and December].—Weill ugtonlt.C. Spring Mooting December 16.—Tattersall's Club Mooting December 26, January 1 a"cl K. Auckland R.C. Summer Mooting ; Hawke's Bay J.C. Boxing Day Meeting. November 50 and December 3.—Dunedin J.C. Sj>rimc Meeting Deooinboriit).—.South Auckland X.C, Mooting

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

SroriT.— Xo: Torpedo, by Musket—Fanny Fisher, is doing stud duties down the Mana ■ watu and Unntjitikei dintrlots at proucnt. INQUIKKR. —Tho Hon. J. Wliito'a Volley ie a brown lilly by Musket—Lady Vivian (imp.).

TURF GOSSIP.

Auckland Cup, of 750sovs. Two milefi and a quarter. —Nelson, 9st 121b ; Necklace, Bst 101b; Maxim, B=t 71b; Tetford, Bst 61b ; Waibiri, Bst 31b ; Fusilado, Bsb 21b ; Pearl, Bst ; Artillery, Bst ; Foulshot, Bab ; Sextant, 7st 12lb ; Lady Norah, 7sb 121b; Turquoise, 7sb 111b; Victoria, 7sb 101b ; Friendship, 7st 91b ; Clogs, 7sb 81b ; Lorraine, 7sb 81b ; British Lion, 78b s!b; Lady Florin, 7sb 41b; Tamora, 7sb 41b; Bangle, 7st 21b; St. Clair, 7sb 2!b; Balißtft, 6sb 131b; Patrician, 6sb 121b; Wakatipu, 6Bblllb; Mokoia, 6st 101b; Cruchfield, 6;?b 101b; Carbineer, 6st 91b; Fusee, 6sb 91b ; Formo, 6sb 71b; Britannia, 6sb 41b ; Pikau, Bronbo - , W. E. Gladstone, Miss Alice, Cannon, FitzjameS; Memoran dum, Sir Walter, Leorina, and Torori, 6st.

A.R.C. Handicap, of 400sovs. One mile and a quarter.—Nelson, 10st 21b; Necklace, 9sb 31b ; Cinderella, Bst 131b; Totford, Bsb 121b ; Friendship, Bsfc 121b; Pearl, Bsfc 121b ; Fusibulo, 8s b 111b; Wai tivi, Bsb 111b ; Artillery, Bsb 101b; Foulshot, Bsb 91b ; Turquoise, Bst 7lb ; Sextant, Bsb 61b ; Lady Norah, Bsb 61b ; Victoria, Bst 41b; Clogs, Bsb 21b; Lorraine, Bsfc; British Lion, 7st 121b ; Wapiti, 7sb 121b; Tamora, 7eb 101b; St. Glair, 7sb 81b; Antelope, 7sb 71b; Balista, 7sb 71b; Pretender, 7st 61b; Patrician, 7sb 61b; Cruehfield, 7sb 51b ; Mokoia, 7sb 51b; Carbineer, 7et 41b : Wakabipu, 7sb 41b ; Paddy, 7sb 41b; Fusee, 7sb lib ; Formo, 7st; Tennyson, 6st 111b; W. E. Gladstone, 6sb 101b; Bronte, 6st 81b; Gipsy, 6st 51b ; Miss Alice, Torori, Cannon, Memorandum, and Leorina, 6st.

Auckland Steeplechase Handicap, of 300sovs. Three miles and a half.—Faugh a-ballagh, 12st; Owhaoko, list 101b ; Feter Osbeck. list 51b ; Isaac, list; Guy Fawkea, 10sb 101b ; Silvio, lOsb 71b ; Falcon, 10sb 71b ; Magnesia, lOst 31b ; Orangeman, lOsb ; Uranus, lOsb; Huntsman, lOsb; Kanga roo, lOsb ; Allegro, lOsb; Blueboll, 9et 121b ; Manukau, 9st 71b ; Exchange, 9st 71b.

The weights for tho throe principal handicap events of the Auckland R.C. Summer Meeting were telegraphed up last Thursday by Mr Evitt, and I did not have timo to give them any attention, or my readers my opinions thereon, last week. Since the weights made their appearance Necklace, LadyFlorinandPeterOsbeckhave been scratched. Taking theCuptiret, Nelson, as heading the list With 9st 121b, at onco claims attention. All who saw Nelson with 9at 81b up spread eagle his field in this race last year will admit that, on the terms he then met the others, he had close on half a stone the best of them. On his running then and his subsequent performances in Australia, he is fully entitled to the im post ho is asked to carry in the coming Cup, and over two and a quarter miles he holds more than half of his field safe. It is not'every horse than can go the distance, and there are very few indeed in Auckland that can do so in decent com pany. It is said that Nelson is at the present timo a lump off; that may be, but his run ning in tho C.J.C. Spring Meeting does not bear out that supposition. One Canterbury scribe goes so far as to say that though Nelson waa beaten by Maxim

in the Canterbury Cup, he then showed the very best performance he has ever done. Provided he trains on, and with the fast going all in his favour, I expect Nelson to saddle up one of the favourites on the day. Necklace gone, Maxim is next on the list with Bst 71b, and on his performances the son of Musket is not asked to carry a pound too much. Some are inclined to question the justice of giving a throe-year-old such a weight to carry on a long journey, but Mr Evitt having seen Maxim win each of his five races this season is tho best judge of the colt's calibre. I think Tetford has been rather harshly treated, and VYaibin, with Bsb 31b, holds him safe. The mare might have very well been allotted the weight Tetford is given, and vice versa. Taking her past performances into consideration, 1 consider her the most leniently treated in tho race, and if her "leg" does not develop she will see a very short price before the flag drops. Fusilado has been under suspicion for. close on a year, unci has not appeared in public for some con siderable time. Whathecando nowisamere matter of conjecture but I doubt if ho is equal to the task of carrying Bst 21b over two miles and a quarter. I < think the distance will be found a bit too far for Pearl. Artillery's weight in the New Zealand Cup was Bst 41b, and if he had not broken down it is doubtful jf Lochiol would have won. At present he is under a cloud, and will probably not see the post; but if ho does, and is fit and well, there aro few in the race I like better. Foul Shot may bo dismissed without notice, as ho has gone to tho stud. Before Sextant wont "off" good judges of a racehorse would stand him against Maxim for > any money, and it tho son of Robinson Crusoe comes up this far in good fettle he may reverse the result of tho C..1.C. Derby, and if he started in the Cup I doubt Maxim's ability to give himQlb. Lady Norah ran nowhere la.sb year witli 6sb, and I think Air E% r itt has treated her rathor harshly in awarding her 7st 121b. Mr Eyibt lias ovidently a very high opinion of Tur quoise's ability, and he never forgets to stick on tho weight. I doubt if he will see tho post with 7sb 111b. Neither Victoria nor Friendship have, in my opinion, much chance over the distance at the weights. Clogs ran third last year with 6st 121b, and at her present weight appears to have a very good outside show. Lorraine, British Lion, Tamora, and Bangle will be all out-classed if they start. St. Clair, with 7st 21b, will stand some watching, but the other light weights aro, bar Carbineer, Fusee, and Bali ata ,aye ry mcd iocre crowd, and unless one of the three-year-olds develops exceptional powers I expect not one of them will be in it at the finish. Tho half-dozen I consider best in tho Cup aro : Nelson, Maxim, Wai tiri, Sextant, Artillery, and Clogs.

There is almost certain to be a good field start for tho A.B.C. Handicap, though tho 51b penalty incurred by winning may possibly keep out a number of Cup candi dates. Waitiri, Bsb 111b : l'eai-1, Bsfc 121b ; Antelope, 7sb 7lb ; and Fusee, 7st lib, aro this horses I like best in it.

Silvio'slight weight in the Steeplechase is at onco noticeable when we turn to that ovonfc in which ho is bracketed with Guy Fawkes at lO'Jt 101b. Last; year ho won the Qrcab Northern Steeplechase wit!) list 61b, but when ho went to Napier did not run up to form. -Many arc inclined to think there is nothing in ifc but, him, .still id is an open question which h the better at; even weights— Guy Fiiwkcs or Silvio—und knowimr what a grand horse- Guy Fawkea has proved him self to bo, I should noli care to .separate them until I saw how t hey wore progress ing in their preparation. But there are others engaged who may be deemed equally dangerous. If Owhaoko comes up and is fit, list 101b .should not prevent him runninsr up prominently, while Orangeman and Kangaroo, at lO.st, are nob badly treated, and in fact I have a particular liking for the iirst named with his impost. Faujjh-a« bnllajrh, the Grand National winner, Isaac and Uranus, all seora fairly handicapped, Falcon carried lOst 51b to victory last year, and has nothing to complain of in two pounds more this year. The aecond day's racing of the Spring Meeting of the Auckland Kacing Club was not so well attended ns might have been expected, bub I am glad to be able to statp that the Club were able to carry over a very substantial balance from the whole meeting. The racing was on tlio whole very good. The ball was set rolling with tho Spring Handicap, seven furlongs, for which Antelope was greatly fancied, and she justified public confidence by winning easily from Balista and Gipsy. In bho Spring Nursery Handicap, Man Friday had the best of a straggling start, and kept the lead to tho finish, winning easily. The eolb looked very much improved since the first day's racing, though I fancy Braemar would have troubled him if he had gob away on even terms. Peter Osbeck won the Hurdle Knee very easily from Orangeman and Coral, Magnesia running last. Lady Norah was made a warm favourite for 'she City Handicap, but Antelope proved tDO good for her, and after a fine race won rather easily at the finish. Wide awake had no difficulty in disposing of his six opponents in the Selling Hurdles. The Corinthian Stakes fell to British Lion, who was well ridden by Mr W, Hayn

One of the most peculiar and most bare faced swindles ever perpetrated on the Now Zealand turf has been unearthed, and de servedly punished, down South. At the South Canterbury J.C.s Spring Meeting, held on October 25th, a mare named Miss Ariindel was entered by the brothers Hugh and Malcolm Kerr for one of the races. She ran and won, when a protest was lodged against her that she was Princess Royal, by Cassivellaunus, well-known in the district, and formerly owned by Mr G-. Rutherford. An inquiry was held by the stewards of the club, at which Sir Rutherford swore that Miss Arundel was the animal her owner entered as, and that Princess Royal had been dead some time. Several others swore to Miss Arundal being Princess Royal, and a great deal of contradictory evidence was taken, but Mr Quill, owner of Princess Royal before Mr Rutherford was positive that the mare in question was the one formerly in his possession. The inquiry was adjourned three times, the last time in order to allow of two of the stewards viewing the body of Princess Royal, which Mr Ruther ford stated was still lying on his run. When the Committee endeavoured to view the body they could not do bo, owing to Mr G. Rutherford not rendering them assist ance as he had promised, and at the next meeting of the stewards they reported this. Several new pieces of evidence were then brought forward, all pointing to the fact that Mies Arnndel and Princess Royal wero one and the same animal. After con siderable discussion the following resolu tion was unanimously carried,:—" That the stewards having taken all available evidence in the case of the identity of the mare Princess Royal, they (tho stewards) are quite satisfied that the mare which ran at the late meeting of the South Canter bury J.C. as Miss Arundel is Princess Royal, and do hereby disqualify Mr George Rutherfood and the mare Princess Royal for life; and the brothers Kerr during the pleasure of the Club; and, further, that a copy of tho evidence be at once sent to the C.J.C. for their guidance; also that the Press be allowed to publish the evidence." "Seven," in the "Weekly Press," writes : —"I doubt very much whether we did not see tho best three-year-old in Maxim that has ever stepped Now Zealand turf, an Ormonde of the South, and now that Musket has joined tho majority, whero can we look for "such another. In general contour I do not think him so handsome a horso as Trenton was afi the same age, but so massively muscular a colt I have never seen at his age. He is a somewhat low standing horse in front, only measuring 15 hands lj-inches on the wither, but I should think he stood a trifle over that on the croup."

Her owner informs me that Tatnora has been turned out for a spell. A colt foal to The Dauphin, from Sissy, has been appropriately named Egalite. British Lion is to be shipped to Grey mouth next week. He i 3 engaged in the local races there.

Kangaroo, the well-known steeplechaser, arriveff here by the Taraweni last Monday. Kangaroo is engaged in tho Auckland Steeplechase under an impost of lOat. Tho Hon. W. Robinson, Messrs Pilblow, Ray, G. Cutts, and Cochrane, the jockey, returned to New Zealand by the last steamer from Melbourne.

Artillery pulled up very lame after tne Now Zealand Cup, having severely lacerated his injured heel during the race, and will probably not bo seeu out again until the autumn. Allegro, who has been allotted lOst in the Auckland Steeplechase, won the Hurdle Race at the Wunganui Spring Meeting a fortnight back. Hho is a "a well-shaped daughter of Opawa." A movement is on foot in the Wanganui district to get up a Hack Meeting next month if the course can be secured, and the VV.J.C. authorities will pass the pro gramme. Blue 8011, who is, engaged in the Auck land Steeplechase, got a rather nasty cut on one of the forelegs through hitting one of tho hurdles ab the recent Wanganui meeting. It will bo some time before she will again appear on the turf. An English jockey named Sam Shcrley is coming out to Australia, to take up his residence there. Hβ is said to be a good judge of all points appertaining to tho horse and a fine rider, especially clever at schooling young horses over jumps. Up to September 30th C. Wood had won 117 races out of 382 rides. G. Barrett was second with 86 and J. Watts third with 85 respectively to their credit. Then came S. Loatos with 74 and Barrett with 58, while T. Cannon has been successful on 46 oceassions. Mr Allan McLean's General Thornton (Apromont—Nelly Moore), half brother to Lochiel, is on the sale list. It will be re membered that this racehorse met with an accident last year, which it was thought at the time would prevent his ever racing again. Under skilful veterinary treat ment he has, however, recovered, and is now as fit as ever he waa, and ready to go into training. With the declaration of tho weights for the Auckland Summer Meeting, the local pencillers have been kept a wee bit busy during the past week. The following are the quotations in tho Cup :—Maxim, 4 to 1 (taken) ; Waitiri and Nelson, 5 to 1 (wanted); Sextant,B to 1; 10 tol to 20 to 1 any of tho others. On the double, 100 to 8 is wanted on anything, but 10 to 1 is the best oiler on tho doubles wanted.

Mr Gault has nob been long in winning back the purchase money of Victory, as at the Winton Meeting on tho 9th and 10th hist, ho had no didiculty in annexing the two principal handicaps with him. The Winton Cup of 40 soys., two miles, he won from four others with 9st up, while in the Prince of Wales' Handicap of 25 soys., Vj miles, with 121b more, he put down three others. Victory is entered for the Hurdle Kuco at tho Dunodin J.C.s Spring Meeting, i/i which she is allotted lOst.

Some men have made themselves famous by their ability to get away from the post quickly, others have gained great reputa tions for their knowledge of pace, while many have won famo and fortune by their final rush. No man, not even Nafc Flat man or Fred. Archer, ever rode a grander raae than did Ed. Ganison on Swift. Des peration was written all over his face, and there was no effort to gain plaudits from the Grand Stand. He wanted the race, and finally gob it, though ifc was won in tho lasb stride.

The following letter speaks for itself :—. " Dear Saunterer, —Permit me a little space to call attention to the miserable odds that are invariably ottered by Auckland book makers on local races. A friend of mine, a thorough-going sport, asked tho price of tho double, Coral and Victoria, for the first day of tho recent Spring Meeting. The bookmaker, a noted 'dry hash,'offered 10 to 1. My friend struck out for 12 to 1, and no business l-esulted. This was a day or two before the race, mind, with the chances of ' scratching ' or ' stiffening 'in bookie's favour. The backer took his pound out to Ellerslie, and invested it on Coral— £B div. Then he put his net winnings, with the original pound, on Victoria, £4 odd div., and won over £32 —just 200 per cent, better odds than the penciller offered him. Moral: Don't back doubles on local races.—l am, A Backer."

Ganison, the American jockey, is in the first (light of riders in the United States, and lately " The Snapper " did one of the finest pieces of riding ever seen. While riding swift, a well-known racer, one of the other horses ran into him, and literally knocked hiinoutof the saddle,and in trying to prevent his leg from being broken Ganison had to lift his foot on to hio horse's head. In doing this he lost his stirrup, and had to pull up. He leaned over his horse, and got his foot back in the stirrup iron again, but when he got righted he found himself a bad last, and with very little prospect of getting through those in front of him. Instead of getting rattled he set about overtaking those in front of him, but it looked like a forlorn hope even when he was half-way down the home stretch, but using his legs, arms, whip, and spurs he gradually pic\ed up his horses, and in the last few str.ies really carried his horse home to victory.

THE TURF SCANDAL.

LORD AIIiESBUKY " WARNBD-OFF"

FOR LIFE

The Facts of tho Case.

(BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT).

London, October 5. As the Marquis of Ailesbury is about to betake himself. to the Antipodes, and— according to report—means to remain in Australia until "the clouds .roll by" and his latest escapade is forgotten and for given, your readers may perhaps like to know the true story of the rorty peer's mis" doings. Various versions are afloat, but I think I can promise you that fche following is the correct one.

Lord Ailesbury being neither a fool no in want of money, it at first sight seems in credible that he should have consented to one of his horses being " roped." The fact, however, was that in common with other owners his lordship had suffered seriously from the plunging propensities of Mr Ernest Benzon, and constant association with some of the lowest blackguards on the turf hav ing sapped his sense of honour and weak ened his judgment, it is supposed that he joined only too readily in a plot to " let down " that, young gentleman. The raco chosen for the '' plant" was tho Harewood Plate at York on the last day of the meeting. Benzon, besides losing over £10,000 at baccarat the previous evening, had been very unlucky in his plunges on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 'twas rightly conjectured he would make a desperate effort to recoup his losses on the winding up afternoon. For the Harewood Plate Lord Ailesbury's Everitt looked a real "good thing." The ring, however, were for once generously disposed, and instead of even money, which would have been a fair price under tho circumstances, laid 4 to 1. To inspire Benzon with confidence, 'tis alleged, Lord Ailesbury asked the plunger to get on £300 for him, and it was this fact that told more against him with the Jookey Club than any thing else. Bonzon fell into the trap like a lamb. Certain bookmakers laid him levia than bets, and in an incredibly short time

he stood to win about £30,000 and to lose £10,000. The more money, however, he pub, on the worse [favourite the horse be came.

The public by this time were on the gui vive, and long before Martin left the pad dock on Everitt, his mind misgave him as to the possibility of stopping the horse. The reality proved even worse than the pre vision. Half way up the straight Lord Ailesbury's colb had everything beaten, and nothing short of the most flagrant "roping" could prevent its winning. In this quan dary Martin lost his head. First, he de cided to win, and secondly, he resolved to lose, the resulb being that, to the horror of all concerned, he did neither, but made a dead heat of it.

The scene that followed I described to you ab the time. But for Jem Mace, Martin would have certainly been lynched and Lord Ailesbury have fared badly. The bookmakers were furious. Here was a case of the " biters' bib " with a vengeance. The whole "plant" had been exposed, and would probably lead to half-a-dozen of them being warned off the turf; and yet the race had not been lost. The ringleaders on the " in for a penny in for a pound" principle would have had Everitb roped a°"ain in the run - off, but here little Martin (frightened into fits by the execrations of the crowd) "struck," and another complaisant jockey could not for the moment be found.

Everitfc won the run-off bymany lengths, odds of 6 to 1 being offered in vain on him before the start.

So the " plant " on Mr Benzon failed, and instead of losing £10,000 he won £30,000. Since then he has, however, left other people's horses alone. The Jockey Club inquiry into the affair was long and exhaustive, almost every person of note in the paddock at York being examined. At length Martin (seeing the truth must out) turned Queen's evi dence to save his own skin. Worse than this, he confessed to having " pulled " horses on other occasions for Lord Ailesbury. To most men in Lord Ailesbury's position the disgrace of being warned off the turf would be worse than death. To him it may not mean much.

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Action.)

SENIOR CUP.

November 26 and December 3.—Auckland Ay. Parnell; Auckland By. United; Gordon v, Holland.

FIRST JUNIOR CUP.

November 26—Auckland v. National; Gordon v. Alpha; Holland v. United; Onehunga v. Waitemata; Auckland v. Waitemata; Gor don v. United; Holland v. Alpha; Na tional v. Onehunga.

SECOND JUNIOR CUP.

November 26 and December 3.— A..0 and G.S v. Standard ; Gordon v. Hollands; Wanderors v. Onehunga United.

AQUATICS

November 26.—Sculling championship of the world, Beach, v. Hanlan, on tho Ncpean River. November 26.—St. George's R.C. Trial Fives. November 29.—Intercolonial oight-oared race at Adelaide.

ATHLETICS.

November—Pickering v. GoodlifFe (sprint) for the Championship of Auckland. January 4.—Ma'thowsv. Laing (boxing) for the Wanganui Championship and bcit.

ATHLETICS.

The Amateur Athletic Club have every reason to feel satisfied that their gatherings are losing nothing of their popularity if las** Saturday's meeting is any criterion. The attendance might be almost termed bril liant, though, unfortunately, the Club will not benefit as much, as they deserved to, for about one hundred yards of the fencing had been removed near the Hospital end of the ground, and this was nob noticed until several hundred people had made their way in, and then it was almost useless to try and stop them. The racing was not all that could be desired. Three of the events fell to H. E. Harrison, a comparative stranger, who was " chucked " into them owing to the handi cappers having no gauge of his abilities. There was considerable talk after the meeting about Harrison, and it was openly stated that he could not have given his correct performances, but on a telegram being sent to Dunedin for his records everything proved to be quite right, much to the relief of nearly ev3ry member of the Club. Even though Harri son did get ••chucked in," he deserved success, for he ran like an athlete, and in each case did all he knew until lie breasted the tape. He has a very peculiar style, and to look at him you would not think he could go. When he ran the 100 yards he seemed to be run right out, but he got 200 yards and everyone thought he could not go any further, but he got .home first in the quarter-mile from the eighteen yard nmrk in 52& seconds. Major, the limit man, succeeded in placing himself in these three races, third each time, and certainly it is time he had a deal, for to run unplaced sixteen times in the Club speaks of hard lines or interior powers. Uplill won the Maiden splendidly, and ran a great race in the 200 yards, in which race Owen also showed up well, as he did in the 100 yards, though he was not given a place in the final heat, to the amazement of the majority of those round the tape. Winks had the hardest luck of anyone in the meet ing, and the accident in the 600 yards not only spoiled his chance in that event, but also handicapped him considerably in the. 1,000 yards. Much as i I sympathise with Winks, he has only himself to blame for the accident, for not only was he not a clear yard in front of Poulsen when he crossed him, but at the time they had entered the straight and were not fifty yards from the tape, and by crossing he lost rather than gained ground. lam certain that but for the accident lie must have won, while in all probability Poulsen would have run into a place—poor consolation for both of them. Stone is a very consistent runner, and with all sympathy for the losers no one be grudged him his win in the 600 yards. Baxter did another bolt in the 1,000 yards, but if Ifwerson had only kept his spurt back for some fifty yards J. N. B. would have been beaten by a few yards. As it was the, race gave one of the best finishes of the day. Owen won the Hurdles with ridiculous ease, walking the last ten yards, but it is only fair to him to say that when Lusk saw he was beaten he did not try to. catch Owen. The best and most interest ing finish of the meeting was that in the walking race, and Makgill certainly de served first prize. A fairer walker never footed it on the Cricket Ground, ana from the way he stuck to Burton ho muse have a heart as big as a pumpkin, tor Uβ fairly walked himself to a standstill. it> was a surprise to me, for I had seen him ao a trial in BSmin, and I reckoned his pros pects were not very brilliant. Mactarlane disappointed me in this race also, as his walking was not a patch on tue form he displayed on the trai "j n g track. I was glad to see ; the Club adopt the suggestion to run their sprint races between tapes, and, as I though id would, it gave universal satisfaction, ana in future the Club will always continue the practice. The board for the result of the races was another innovation that workea well, and the Committee might improve on it at the nexb meeting by adding the time of each race; Taken all round, the meeting was a very successful and enjoyable one, and lyfi^t^M^m^M^m^M future. ' . : / '■ ■■ -•'• *

zeroised in a di"nifiS afc - <W 2? of the Club be called r»«'♦V^* B '*** ' allow the matter s≤ annual general meeto WmZ?f and then bring the mattS "g* , dared at this meeting that S'as "^ of the Auckland Amateur AtUetb aft , compete in any class or club iSJr which professionals are then of course only for a troT'JS pun .of being declared .*H£ for evermore, and thus debarrAffi part in amateur contests. All mustS the justxce of removmg any athletes who have broken thffWTi not the spirit of amateur rules, Mkm are surely clever enough heads nJi amateur athletes of this city.S up sufficiently comprehensive rttlegijjjle lines I have indicated. - ■. ,

CYCLING.

The cyclists of the .city-represented k the Waitemata Bicycle Club-talk of fcvine a special meeting early next year, at Act Fred Wood, the English cyclist, will ride. '■ If this come*off, to« hope they have a decent track toridik ! " Sporting Life " lays ifc ie tmrimi that Furnival intends retiring::, from M racing path. . He. will long be remejkaej as the finest finisher the path hissv&te while the records he has teade ettojiiij as the possessor, of tremendous ?pead. Pmj him or wait on him, hia wheel was atajj \ in first at the finish. , A. G. Buchanan, undaunted by. Mm has determined not to turn it up, ife getting left last Saturday, he is do the leavingiparb-of the. businessi& next season, and next mail aii-otiiepj Home for a racer. Never say die, ; "i J. A.'Stewart feels In the ; again, aiid be has : orderedttrafeteweat in timo for the next sports, while Sefffi ii bringing a third one out on '.'siped" Dtfli all speak'at once. r ",' It is to be hoped that the City. Council will not press their prbposedteioncyblisii/ for, to say the least of it; innovations I altogether'fail ■to fie Were the benefit of it will come in, for'ittM prevent the little path-riding_ that is frac-| tised now. The plan was fried in iftttta: in England once, , but the autlifttitiSs give, the idea up, as they found they woiild tort to get a special Act of Parliament order to enforce ib. .In almost all thecifa of the United States cyclfetsaitSSilloWedte ride on the footpaths before a certainlwj in the morning—six o'clock, I think, ii tte hour—and a by-law.bo thab effect wotildW a very good one toreplaoe theSiiiie theuw Council propose.: < The bicycle races at 1 the were, as usual, a. great r afctraStioii, w some excellenb racing was sho*. A. Howard was the hero time, appropriating the ChlM ,«} the Ladies' Bracelet in; splendid etyifc Howard's riding has improved very Wμ since last meeting, and he now m his head as much side showed up well, winning thePP Race from scratch in 3min., and nnaffl| second to Howard in hisj two* -M only fair to this . rider ,to jk state W throughout the races he was riding %m roadster, otherwise the results might M, been different. '' t '<«&a i-Mlm The Consolation Race showed a finish between Huutahd a deadheat, whichLecky w6nby-fIgMJ in the run off. Mr J. Copper *to big gratulatedupon theresult of hisggj ping. In every race ! the perfectly satisfied with their starts, and to races ended in good finisWs. The A. A. C. have, during thisiwkm done to the ground pression on it. ■

LAWN T ENNIS.

the auspices of the ents :rf Tennis Association. The even Champion Cup of . fc h6 fight ti -M»

AQUATICS.

oigbteen-footersg^W'* 1

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAE, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1887.

2