RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.]

Some write, a nciprhbouv's namo to lash: Some write—vain thought '.-tor needful cash, Some write to please the country clash, And raise a dm. For me, an aim I never fash— I write for fun.

While the erudite Dr. Laishley and his CO-workers are hard ab work conscientiously

endeavouring to pick out two thousand good books, which tho good people of Auck land may road without having their good moral:, corrupted, I may be allowed to point out a way in which their arduous labour would bo very much simplified ; and as retrenchment is the order of bhe day, the adoption of this plan, I might add, would also result in a saving to bhe public purse. The wise king declared that "of tho making of books there is no end," bub a Melbourne gentleman has bib upon an ex pedient for limiting tho number of books, which is as commendable as ib is original. He proposes to start a "Federation of the World Library," which is to be at once cheap, comprehen sive and concise. It is to contain only one book on each subject of human knowledge, and bo make the library answer to " bhe three C's :' mentioned, he will limib human knowledgo to 100 branches. That is very kind of him, and this gentleman is confident of his ability to carry out the job on hand, "easily and perfectly." A hundred volumes of 600 pages each, ho computes, can be made to contain all the knowledge, wit, and wisdom that human research and ingenuity have yet evolved, and this com plete library ho" undertakes to supply for a paltry ten-pound note ! Why should the City Council go to the expense of buying two thousand books, and put the immaculate and erudite Richard to such an infinity of labour, when a " tenner " could procure all that is wanted from Mr E. W. Cole, of Melbourne Book Arcade ?

Yes ; Cole is the gentleman's name who has evolved bhe Federated Library idea, and jocular readers will at once remomber that " Old King Cole was a merry old .soul," aud may rush to tho hasty conclusion that this scion of the royal line is " poking borax "ab the reading community. No such thing, however. Mr Cole has started his library of bhe hundred " Besb Books in the World." In a prospecbus now before me ho stabes:—"l havo published two one enbibled ' Cole's Funny Picture Book,' of which I have sold 50,000, ib is the best child's book in the world; and tho "Fun Doctor,' of which I havo also sold 50,000, it is the best fun book in bhe world. And I am jusb about to publish three others— namely, 'Tho Thousand Besb Songs in the World,' 'The Thousand Best Poems in tho World,' and ' Tho Fivo Thousand Wisest Sayings in tho World.' " Ib is, perhaps, gross pnilistinism on my part, bub I must confess that I never boforo heard of Cole's Fun Doctor and Funny Picture Book, of which conjoinbly 100,000 copies havo been circulated ; but now that I have pointed out whoro collections of the best fun in the world are to bo procured, I trust bhab our free lending library will bo fattened by a few copies of theso laughter producing volumes.

* ■;; ;:■ But, I forgot! (And to forget,cven for an instant, thab notable letter of the delight ful young doctor's, is as great a crime as never to have known of tho funny Cole books). I fear that such frivolous literature will not como within the scope of a library founded on those lofty and lucid principles so dogmatically and dryasdustically laid down by our local LL.D. All those two thousand books must be sober and moral in their tone, colourless in their philosophy, accurate in their statis tical information,and embellished with care ful annotabions and references, so that the poor folks who use the lending library may be properly instructed, and not spoilt by too much enjoyment! As a pro tesb againsb tins narrow view of popular literature, I quote the following from a letter written by Mr John Buskin to an English editor who wished to know what books were Ruskin's favourites and had most influenced his stylo. Ruskin wrote :—" Every book that I like iniluenccs my stylo, aud 50 years of constant reading have carried me through more pleasant books than I can remember. Bub whab I suppose bo be best in my own manner of writing has been learned chiefly from Byron and Scott. Of favourite books I have—none; every book on my library shelves is a favourite in its own way and time. Some aro the guides of life, others its solaces, others its food and strength ; nor can I say whether I like best to be taught or amused. The book oftcnest in' my hand of late years is certainly Carlyle's'Frederick.' Ib is one of the griefs of my old ago that I know Scotb by heart, bub still, if I bako np a volume of him, ib is nob laid down again for the next hour; and lam always ex tremely grateful to any friend who will toll me of a cheerful French novel or a prebty French play. There is little difference, as far as I can see, between me and any other ■well-trained scholar in the liking of books of high caste and cheerful tone. But I imagine few people suffer as I do from any chance entanglement in a foolish or dismal fiction."

New South Wales wants a new name, though it strikes most people bbabbhe "new" is bhe most objectionable part of the present cognomen. All sorts and conditions of men /have made a variety of suggestions, and abundant reasons have been given why the colony should not infringe the patent rights of the conbinenb in the title of " Australia." Bnt a local pabenbagenb has found a way to evade the Patents Act. Mr Green shields, wribing to the papers, points out that "Austral" is parb of " Ausbralia," New South Wales is also parb of Ausbralia, ergo " Ausbral" is the Correct name for New South Wales and one bo which nobody could object. Lest the man of "suspen ders " should claim a patent right in this discovery, I hasten to give the following quotation from the " Sydney Morning Herald" culled from a column of sugges tions on tho subject of a new name for the colony :—Mr G. N. Griffiths says : —" Our neighbours in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia rightly object to New South Wales ' jumping' bhe name of 'Aus tralia,' bub could hardly sustain any valid reasons against' Ausbral. " This coincidence is bub anobher proof of bhe similarity of the ■working of greab minds. Among other sUggesbiotis for a new name to the mother colony are : —" Old Australia," "Orianstra lia," " Australania," " Eastralia" and " Australia-Ma_-ona." How would "Lar rikinasia" do, for a change ?

The people of the marine suburb are sore distressed—ab leasb some of them are, and all oughb bo be—over the licensing ques tion. The borough of Devonport boasts of two pubs., fronting the two ferry wharves, and because of those two pubs, the Licens ing Committee is in a quandary, and the soul of bhe local "foorce"—(it has only ono "soul" ab mosb)—is distressed. One of bhe publicans has applied for ppermission bo keep open bill midnight, while the obher is conbent to close at eleven and feel thankful thab he is not forced to shut up at ten. Nay, ib is whis pered that the "noon of night" man has got a majoriby of the commibtee pledged to granb his request, and that they mean to do ib—the fortnighb's respite being allowed in order to get the Mother hotel-keeper brought .■ y. y___y ■y^:«_,_._'__:_^7tu

to the same wav of thinking. Bub if the other fellow thinks sixteen hours a-day quite sufficient work for himself and bar maid, why should he be compelled to lengthen his days by stealing another hour from the night? And, above all, why should tho local policeman be forced to do double duty, and why should the residents be pestered with nightly visits of " jolly clogs " from town, declaring in boisterous style that " they won't go home till morning ?"

What a sweet spirit of self-denial our school teachers exhibit ? Take, for instance, the recent discussions ab the meeting of the Auckland branch of the Educational Insti tute. The business under consideration was the proposals of tho Government with reward to tho anticipated retrenchment. Nearly all prosent agreed that retrench ment was urgently needed, but with great self-abnegation each appeared willing to allow tlie other to have bhe honour of being sacrificed for the good of the country. Still there was one amongst the numbc who with unblushing effrontery thought that the present system should nob be interfered with, as it was tho only return poor pooplo got for the heavy taxation w^hioli they had to sustain. This was cortainly saying very little for tho other departments maintained by tho State. In the course of the discus sion the various speakers showed groat eagerness to retrench. For instance, town teachers woro willing that, the school age should be advanced from sto 6. Ims caused a howl from country touchers, who with their small numbers must suffer heavily in tho matter of capitation. One head teacher of a country school next tried to open firo on another department—the Training College. He thought that might be abolished--ami, by the way. the Go vernment seems to have adopted the sug gestion. Of cburso, the Principal of the Training Collngo was necessitated to make a speech proving that wherever else bhe pruning-knifo was oppliod ib must not touch his particular department,, as it was absolutely indispensable. And so tho game of " beggar my neighbour " went on. In the wholo body there appeared to be bubonedisintorestedman,whosuidthathe would suffer a diminution of salary rather than risk denominationalism boing intro duced into tho State schools.

I see that tho matter was further dis cussed at the Board of Education. There, the members had something more tangiblo to go upon, as the Government had kindly telegraphed that the gran b for tho training of teachers would not bo continued after this year. Tho Chairman considered that the closing of the collego would be a "national calamity." No doubt it would, to those whose children were trained in the institution at the public expense As ono member said, it is simply paying people to learn their profession. Many an instance has occurred whero ladies trained for teachers have simply left tho institution to be married. Of course thoy cannot bo blamed for that-it's only natural for young people to pair off: nt the same time, it is little gain to the country to educate teachers to marry as soon as their term is finished. Tho management tried to grapple with this question, and stipulated that students should teach for two years after leaving college. But evon this did not avail much, for as soon ns a lady teacher wished to retire, somo medical gentlemen would provide a certificate that her health required a change. Thus the time in Collego wns wasted, as far as the public were concerned, in many cases. I agree with tho member of tho Board who said that if retrenchment must come the Govern ment had commenced at tho mosb suitablo place ; but, at. tho same time, I don't relish having another chapter added to "Gullivor's Travels."

A fair correspondent, signing herself " Gladys," calls attention to an improved method of treating meat which has become fashionable. I may say that I havo seen a butchor do as "Gladys" describes, and suppose that the process adds to tho ten derness and flavour of the meat; but thero is only ono butcher in tho street named by my correspondent, and as ho doesn't supply me, I decline to givo him a free advertisement by indicating tho locality. Horo is tho letter :— " Dear Mr Zondek —Thero have been high jinks at eomo of tho suburban dinner tables of late, owing to tho doings of a certain butcher not a hundred miles from street. It is all through the way he has adopted of dressing his lamb and veal. Ho provides himself with a pitcher of water, and after filling his mouth with tho wator, ho syringes ib out over tho meat beforo dredging ib with flour. Dear Mr Zamiel, I could tell you a great deal, only I have got tho jim-jams in a vory bad way evor sinco I heard about that butcher. Don't tell Mrs Z. thab I have written to you.—•Gladys." Now tlio secret is out, and every butcher in town will bo adopting tho now "patent" I suppose. By the way, I wonder what " Gladys" means by addressing mo as "doar," and adding thab significant sen tence enjoining me not to tell Mrs Z. ? Can it be that in this note about meat there is a hidden messngo that tho fair stranger (I protest I never heard from her beforo) wishes to " meat me by moonlight alone ?" Knowing tho jealous disposition of my better half, I tremble for tho consequences if any one should go and " tell Mrs Z."

Thero are many persons who think that the Grand Jury is a useless piece of machinery. Others, however, appreciate it at its proper value. For instanco, a young man was sentenced tho other day ab the Police Court to six months' imprisonment for larceny. Jusb the day befoio tho Grand Jury had returned no bill against him in a cerbain case, and his remark, on hearing bhe sentence, was : "S'help me, Bob! Six months for this, and just let off at bhe Supreme Courb for worse. That'll tell you aoout a jury. S'help me ! Caught red-handed in the ——■ place and they brought in no bill. If I had been sent into Court I'd have gob threo years."

The . crimping " of seamen on Now Zea land bound vessels, concerning which the " Pall Mall Gazette" made a recent sensation, does not appear to affect this port much, so far as I can ascertain from enquiry amongst sea faring acquaintances. One old salt told me that tho practice was quite common whenever there was a strike amongst sailors at home. He had known of "runners" being engaged to take vessels down the English Channel, and a crew of foreigners which would not havo been passed by the authorities come on board and take their places to work tho vessel to her destination. He even gave ib as his opinion thab some owners expected their captains to pursue this course, but he did nob believe that the shipping companies' regular traders practised any tricks of this kind. He looks, however, with suspicion on the foreign ships which come to New Zealand ports, and regards them as the cause of tho colony being flooded with cheap and comparatively useless foreign seamen. The abuse is a serious one and should draw down upon the perpetrator, wherever discovered, the most severe punishment that can«be inflicted. The risk to human life in volved in the employment of incompetent seamen is by no, means trifling, and bhe authorities will do well bo, ascertain in every instance whether the, seamen discharged here are all tho same who were shipped at London, and whether bhey aro the same persons whose names appear as having shipped at tho qomwence .ienfc of the :^ a^ c" MsP^^^^^^^. .. -

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

December 16-Manaia Race Club (Whangarei). December 22-M.iknran gi Jpokey^Olub. December 26. January 2, 3-Auckland Ractag Club Summer Mccting.-Gonoral entries,, Uc- Dcccmber26 and 27.~N0r the™> Jockey-Club. December 26-Hawk e'B Bay Jockey Clubs Box

jSa?y^anfeury Jockey Club's Summer FebrSr/2,4- Wellington Racing Club's Sum- FetoSfi 25-Dunedin Autumn Meeting.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By Hippoha.] This week lias been an exceedingly dull one in local sporting circles, despite the fact that the A.R.C. Summer Meeting is so close at hand. Nelson's arrival on Monday has been the only occurrence to even re. mind us of the gathering, but. with tho ex pected arrival of Sextant and one or two othor animals next week, matters may bo expected to brighten up. The acceptances for tho Auckland Cup, Bacing Club Handi cap and Steoplochaso clearly point to tho fact that tho holds in each will bo small, but I have hopes of the minor evonts filling up well. General entries are due next Fri day. ''"%

Mr Evctt has a much better opinion of Tetforcl than 1 have judging by tho way tho horse is treated in tlio Wellington Cup. It is too much of a good thing to call upon him to meet. Waitiri on oven terms, to say nothing of his having to givo weight to Pearl and Beresford. The last named I consider tho best handicapped horse in the raco. In connection with tho weights, it seems to me a greac mistake to issue them till the Christmas und New Year Meetings arc things of tho past. In thoso days of the totalisator I'm sure thero is no need for it. Perhaps at one of the numerous race gather ings at tho festive period some lightly weighted animal engaged in tho Wellington Cup will show a wonderful change of form, consequently ho is voted a certainty, and speculation and intorest in tho race becomes practically nil. We havo had several practical illustrations of this during tho past couple of seasons in both Now Zealand and Australia. Mr J. B. Williamson luis thrown his mare Gipsy out of work, and sho was shippod to Taranaki this week on a visit to The Dauphin. Tho police in Sydney are taking action to put down consultations. Since the Melbourne authorities set thoir face against sweeps, tlio conductors havo settled in Sydnoy, and on tho Molbourno Cup they did a roaring business. Mr George Adams, tho landlord "of Tattoraall's Hotel, has been fined .£25 for conducting a sweep on tho Melbourne Cup. Ho bus given notico of appeal. Musket's son, Snapshot, who has beon showing such good form down South this season, having shown signs of unsoundness, his ownor has eased him off. It is expected that his next appearance will bo at tho Dunedin Cup meeting. I notico by Sydnoy papers to hand this week that Mr _t. Lyons » lilly Qtteonio made her debut at tho Campbolltown and Camden races, hold on tho 25th inst. Tho iilly only started in ono race, but failed to run into a place Tho hurdlo race Azira, who is well-known to Auckland raco-goors, was sold in Chriat church a fow days back for 36 guineas. Tho buyer was a patron of T. Shecnun _ stables.

Mr (i. 0. Stead has takon occasion to defend himself in ono of the Christchurch papers against tho assertions that his horsos in the past havo been treated too leniently by tho C.J.C. Handicapping Committeo. Ho points out that sinco ISB2 up to, and including April 1887, ho made 227 entries for 100 diffcronb handicaps, and during tho wholo of that period ho only won 13 small races, not ono of which was worth 150sova. Ho considors that most of his wins at the late mooting wcro duo to his trainer, Mason. Mr D. O'Brien's marc Rubina dropped a colt foal to Tasman tho othor weok, but the youngster since died from lockjaw. This is bad luck for Mr O'Brien in more ways than one, for tho foal was tho first of Tasman's progeny. According to " Asmodcus," the most formidable team of two-year-olds in train ing ab Flemington is that of Mr F. F. Dakin, which includes full sisters to thoso celebrities, Martini Henry and Nordenfeldt, an own brother to Matchlock, and two othor Muskets, ono a son of Leila and the othor a daughter of Maid of Honour; a chestnut colt by Aprcmont from Watersprito, and a colt by St. Albans from Royal Maid, for whom Mr Pearson gave 1,325 guineas as a yearling. Circumstances have so for pre vented any of the foregoing from making their debut in public, bub with ordinary luck some of them should make thoir mark towards the autumn.

JOTTINGS ON SPORT IN AUSTRALIA.

[By Huto. a.]

It is an acknowledged fact thab in no part of tho civilised world is sport of all kinds so perfectly carried out as in Mel. bourne and Sydney. Therefore, it is scarcely fair for me to institute a compari son between New Zealand and thoso two great cities regarding tho arrangement, and conducb of race meetings. Wo cannot hope to have an elaborate course like that of the Victoria Racing Club simply becauso wo have not bhe population, or the means of acquiring tho great revenue, but speak ing particularly of thoA.R.C. meetings, there are a number of innovations that could be introduced at. Ellerslie to the,advantage of both the Club and all concerned, while bhe expense would be almosb nil. There was one thing I was greatly pleased with ab the several gatherings I abbended. The races wore starbed ab tho time set down to tlie minute, and vexabious delays in waiting for indolent trainers and jockeys to weigh out aro unknown. Tho wholes of the officials of the Clubs, from tho highest individual to bhe lowesb, are always to be found a,t their posts ; consequenbly bhe whole proceedings progress like a piece of machinery. Everything is carried oub on a " system," and hence, I think, is to bo attributed a lot of tho success that attends Australian race meetings. One thing that strikes the attention of the stranger, too, is the manner in which public convenience is studied* At Flemington, particularly, everything that the human mind can suggest is provided to promote the comfort of both sexes. This is not only noticeable at tho head-quarters of the turf, but at such gatherings as.Elsternwick, near Melbourne, and those of the Rosehill and Canterbury Park Racing Clubs, in Sydney. Theso fayours, mind you, are nob altogether bestowed on the autocrat in the grand stand enclosure, but his less favoured brother outside has a, share also. Tho scratching board at Flemington, which is known as " Gaunt's Electric Patent," should be in troduced at Ellorslie if only in a much moro modified form. Thero is one in the betting ring, oh the lawn, and on the hill, and by the simple means of pushing a button, a horse's scratching }s simultaneously notified at each place. The numbers arc so large that you can see them at a very, great dis tance from the scratching board, sp thab there is no occasion for the multitude to crowd round a miniature boajvcl in the way Auckland yace-gbevs are compelled t»»

In addition, ten minutes before tho horses n-o to the post, the starters and their re spective jockeys arc posted in large letters on an immense board over the weighing-room, and this can almo3b be deciphered on bhe distant " hill." The bird cage, I may men tion, is merely a portion of bhe enclosure divided from the bobbing ring by a neab cor rugated railing. It is a thoroughly pleasant spot, though, for you can sibcomfortably under tho shade of the trees and watch the equine competitors parade round. It is made con pulsory on Australian race-courses that the horses must bo paraded in the pal dock before thoy are sent on the course, and until tlio notification " go to the post is hoistod, they aro compelled bo keep in the enclosure. This enables the lover of the thoroughbred to scan the points, etc., of the severafstarters, whieli I maintain is part and parcoloftheday'spleasure. Flemington and surroundings cover an area of 340 acres, so an idea of the size of the place can be formed. Unlike New Zealand racecourses, tho training tracks ab both Flemington and Randwick arc nob inside the course proper, bub are laid down on another portion of bhe grounds, nnd arc altogether separate and distinct.

While so highly sounding the praises of everything Australian, I must confess that, so far as location and picturesque surround ings are concerned, I saw nothing in my travels to compare with Ellerslio. lb is far beforo either Flemington, Randwick. Caulfield, or Roschill in this respect, while the circumference of our racing brack is much moro to my liking than tho first named. Tho course proper at Flemington is B0 yards short of 1_ miles, nnd the conse quence is that unless you have a good race glass, ib is impossible to distinguish the horses ab certain parts of tho eomv, .. At the present timo the Australian .Jockey Club aro busy improving the Randwick racing track by having certain portions ex cavated and filled in, and in addition are laying down a straight six furlongs. The course proper, whon completed, will bo 1 mile 3 furlongs in circumference. Abtho bime'of my visit I saw Randwick at its worst, owing to the improvements in pro gress, but ii; doos not compare with Flom itigton. Tho members' stand, however, surpasses anything of tho kind in Victoria, and is a vory fino structure.

Racing horses " dead " appears to be tho genoral rule, not tho exception, judging from what came under my notice. You see a field of 15 start, and probably nob more than five of the number aro backed. When a good horso is friendless at the post bins ia generally a guide thab he is nob a goer. Tho stewards and public seldom tako notice of a horse running indifferently whon lie goes out unbacked, and the latter appear to bo quite satisfied to tako very short prices from the cash bookmakers whon thoy know tho sbablo money is on. Of course horses run "dead" aro not pulled in a glaring manner, but the whole thing is done in a way thab it takes the shrewdest turfite all his timo to detect it. Tho fact of tho matter is thab racing in Victoria and New South Wales is carried on an a business by a groat number, and to them it is a matter of £s d. Conversing with ono trainer about " waiters," he told mo that ho kept a certain animal for the last Newmarket Handicap for bwo years, bub about six weeks beforo tho race bhe horse fell a victim to some ailment, and alas! he had to bo scratched. The most wonderful owners to make a " red-hob " favourito in Australia is tho Kingston stable, where Meteor and Mozart aro located. What bhe peculiar charm is about backing horses brained ab Kingston I was unable to find oub, but nevertheless the public have only to hear that such and such a horso trained there is backed, thenbhov tumble over one another to be in "tho good thing." There was. an instanco of this over tho Molbourno Cup, and I really do think that tho public had moro to do with making Meteor a favourite at tho post than tho stable did.

From conversations I had with prominent racing men, thero appeared to be no two opinions that there is a particularly good lot of three-year-olds in Australia this season. Personally, I think that The Australian Peer is tho best of tho lot who figured at the V.R.C. Meeting, but after nil there is not much to choose between him and Niagara. The majority, however, opine thab tho Auckland-bred colt is tho better of the two, because he waa not thoroughly wound-up, whilo Tho Aus tralian Peer was ehcrry-ripc. I have a great opinion of Carlyon,' for he can both stay and go fast, which was fully proved by "tho way ho won the V.R.C. Handi cap. Lonsdale, I think, was tho best two yen, old that, ran ab the meeting, and he is .just tho. sotb to develop into a Dorby winner. He ran very green in bhe Maribyr nong Plate, and was also once disappointed in fetting through his field, but despito this o won easily from his opponents. Venture is a strong-built colfc., and has a deal of pace, but of the two I prefer Lonsdale for next year's Derbies.

Tho horses that I saw run in the Steeple chase and tho Hurdle Races ab Flemington woro a very fine lot, and I feel certain that Volcano or Silvio, for instance, would never compete successfully with them over th. big cross country they have to negotiate. The pace at which the stiff obstacles in the steeplechase course aro negotiated is enough to strike terror into the stranger, and. I may mention that the jumps are taken in the stride. In front of tho main grand stand thero are three jumps about 100 yards apart, viz., a number of logs firmly lashed together, a post-and-rail, and a stone wall, on tho top of which there is a log rounded off and painted black. These jumps aro each about 5 feet high. At tho suburban meetings like Rosehill of course the jumpers who compete are moderates, and at gatherings of this de scription I know of more than one New Zealand-Owned animal who would pay his way well. Julia Ann annexed the Steoplo chase on the occasion of my visit to Rose hill, and as she left the paddock I remarked to M. Carmody, the erst Auckland trainer, bhat "she would win if the rest of the field fell down." Strange to say, every horse that started, with the exception of Julia,, mob with.some mishap or other, and she was consequently declared the winner. The mare is as slow as ever, but sho pre sents a better appearance than when in Auckland.

Tho besb horseman on bhe flat thab I saw riding was undoubtedly Hales, who is justly dubbed the "Archer of Australia." He is a wonderful judge of paco, and the way he finished ou Cranbrook in bhe V.R.C. Sires' Produce Stakes was a treat to witness. Young Gorry is a clover rider, and when his youth is considered, his suc cess in the saddle has been but littlo short of phenomenal. Tho boy, howover, is not generally popular owing to an oflensivo style ho has. Both E. Rower and M. O'Brien arc fine resolute riders, with })1 enty of nerve, and among others I iked bhe riding of young Fielder and Sanders. Over tho jumps, Corrig-an, Scobie and Fergusson sband out most pro minently, . and from the way they pub their horses ab tho fences, one comes to tho conclusion that thoy don't know what fear is. The whole body of jockeys are noticeable for tho way they make up, each being a picture of cleanliness and neatness.

The friends of Mr W. Lyons will be glad to learn that ho is gradually pushing himself to the front, and ab tho Canterbury Park Meeting (Sydnoy) I saw him busily engaged cash betting. In tho course of a conversation I had with Mr Lyons he in formed mo that Too Soon and Queenio were located ab Campbcllbown, which is about thirty - four miles from Sydney. Tho pair both contracted very bad colds on the passage from Auckland to. Sydney and lost their condition, bub they have now recovered. Too Soon was so bad that ib was foated ho would, nob geb over it. I saw Figtiep ran. at Roaehill in tho principal

c\'cnt, and ho was one of tho best-looking of the 25 who went to tho post.

Tho Victorian Club, which is situated in Boni'ke-strect, Melbourne, is one of the "sights" of the city. During the Cup woelt, bhe scene inside tho monsber room whore bhe wagering is transacted is one of wonderful animation, and the babel of the bookmakers' tongue on the eve of tho Derby and Cup is almost deafening. Another great occasion ab bhe Club is settling day. All wagers losb and won aro paid in either gold or bank notes, and to see the precious article piled up in front of the respective owners is something astonishing to a New Zealander. The rooms in the Club are each luxuriantly furnished, and there is a nice billiard-room, bar, lavatories, etc. Mr Thomas Haydon is the secretary, and a deservedly popular man he is.. One thing that mado me feel somewhat ashamed of hailing from Maoriland was the fact, that cub of nine names who nro posted on the defaulters' board, no less than three arc New Zea- Uuiders, and one of the number, 1 regret to say, is a well-known figure in Auckland sporting circles. Tabtersall's Club premises in Pitt-street, Sydney, are unpretentious, but very comfortable. The members have a big balance to their credit at bhe bank, and I understand bhab when somo mabber is setbled allowing bhe committee to deal with the funds, new premises .will be erected. 'Mr James Peri the secretary of tho Club, is well liked and I havo bo thank him for several "'irtesies he ex bonded towards me.

In Sydney I made tho acquaintance of Mr E. L. Myers, the world's champion quarbor-of-a-miler. Myers is a very intelli gent man, aud he can discourse "horso" bettor than the majority of people. A good judge he is, too, and ab backing his fancy he moro than holds his own. So far, Myers's trip to Australia has nob been a success simply beeau.se he has been unable to make a match over his favourito distance. Ab " sprinting " Myers does not fancy him self. There was some talk of Samuels tack ling him over the quarter of a mile, but nothing definite had been arranged when I lefb, Myers is loud in his praise of Australia, and declared to me that Sydney was the greatest place in the world for running. For every one man training in England and America there were at least six in New_ South Wales. By winning a Botany' Handicap, a man can not a nice sum, for nearly all of bhe metullicians have £200 and .i'3oo books on tho final, and jointly fully £12.000 or £15,000 can be obtained from them. In addition, Adams's £5,000 swoops on tho event are quickly filled_ up, and it is quito common for the lucky indi viduals to lay the men they have drawn £100 to nothing. Tho entries for the Bobany Handicap now in progress beat the record. I was present one night ab the Carrington grounds, and witnessed some excellent contests. Seventeen heats were run off from 8 o'clock up to 9.56, there being four competitors in each. The tracks were very fino, and the arrangements throughout could not have been betber. Mr J. Kean, brother to bhe well-known Auckland trainer, ably fills tho position of starter at these gatherings, whilo Mr T. Kelly, known to fain, as trainer of Beach in his lirst matches, is timo - keeper. On the ground, I dropped across Frank Hewitt, who has put on a bit of ago sinco ho was last in New Zealand, the erst Aucklandor Mick Monnock, and Ellis, who was a leading athlete here in tho old days. Among ether things I saw in the way of athletics was the Graeco-Roman wrestling match between Connors and Cannon, at Foley's Athletic Hall, Sydney, and the cricket match at Melbourne cricket ground, when tho Victorians wero badly thrashed by Vernon's team. Thero ia every con venience and appointment on the ground that could bo wished for, and the turf is particularly good.

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Act.eo.;)

FIRST JUNIOR CUP.

December 10 -Auckland v. United; Gordon v. Waitemata; Holland v. National; Onchuaga v. Alpha.

SECOND JUNIOR CUP.

December 10-A.Cand G.S v. Gordon; Holland v. Wanderers; Onehunga United v. Standard.

AQUATICS. December 10~Auckland Rowing Association Regatta.

ATHLETICS.

Decomber 24--Pickering v. Goodliffe (sprint) for the Championship of Auckland. January 5—Ma1 thews v. Laing (boxing) for tho Wanganui Championship and belt.

CRICKET.

The Auckland cricketers are in for hard lines properly this season, and already two days of their programme have been spoiled by wet weather. No answer has been received so far by the secretary of the Association to the invitation sont to Otago, Nelson, and Napier, to send elevens to Auckland this season. A screw loose somewhere.

Ib is rumored bhab the Secretary of the Hokitika Union Cricket Club has i-eccived a challenge from a team of ladies to play a match on Cass Square in costume in aid of the funds of the Benevolenb Socieby. Tho beam to be 11 of tho club against 22 ladies, the formor to bat with round sticks, whilst tennis balls aro to be used. Rather a novel form of cricket.

Apropos of the Sixth Australian Eleven, I notice that "Felix" states:-— "It is quite certain thab H. Moses will nob accompany any beam to England. Palmer will not go, nor will Spofforth, and it is very doubtful if Garrett or G. Gifi'en will obtain the necessary leave ; still a sbrong beam could be made up, bub it would certainly not be the full, strength of Australia."

Rather a surprise last Friday to see the Parnell Cricket Club put the Auckland A. team through so easily. Gardiner played a splendid innings, making several big hits, including four fives. Auckland's bowling was very weak. Arneil was away, and Morrison, tho only one that shaped well, was takon oft', as ho failed to get wickets. I fancy this bowler would do better if he pitched his balls further up, and if he bowled rather more for catchers. Although they did not show up well lasb Friday in their fielding, Auckland A. as a rule, leave little to bo desired in then* fielding, and Morrison might put a little confidence in them. Bowlers will bo rejoiced to hear that the Cricket Council of England has taken the " leg beforo wicket " question up with the intention of framing a now law in favour of the bowlors. No doubt as the law at pre sent stands a break bowder is placed at a great disadvantage boforo a batsman who knows how to use his legs. I may observe that the Cricket Council cannot legislate in cricket matters, that power being confined bo the Marylebono Club, but the Cricket Council, which is but a newly established institution, has great power and was estab lished with the sanction of the M.C.C. for the purpose; of furthering the interests of cricket, so any recommendation the Council make will carry greatweightwibhbheM.C.C. According bo a Sydney paper " ib is the opinion of tho English cricketers that Turner has no equal as a bowler in the world, especially when the turf is wet. Even when the turf is sound and hard he can do more with the ball than any other bowler. Ho is what is called a medium spaco bowler, bub ab times he sends down an astonishingly fast ball wdbhoub bhe extra speed robbing ib of tho break. The change of paco he conceals in the most artistic maimer, aud tho batsman ■ is bhoroughly deceived by his manipulation of the leabher. In addition to being the premier bowler of Australia, ho is a piost

dashing batsmafi, and a fairly eiire l run getter. Both on and off the field Turner is always a gentleman, and his quiet and unassuming demeanour are traits of char acter which all successful athletes would do well to imitate."

FOOTBALL.

All my readers will be interested with the following description of tho American game of football which 1 have condensed from an article in the "Century Magazine " for October : " In tho American game the sides consist of eleven men, and they are placed one full-back, two half-backs, and one quarter-back, whilo tho other seven act as 'rushers' answering to our forwards. The field of play is of the same extent as in Rugby, but across the field at intervals of five yards, aro drawn white lines parallel with tlio goal lines. These are meant to guide tho umpire in the imposi tion 'of penalties for fouls, off; side playing, or delaying the game, the penalty being commonly a loss of five, yards by tho side wdiich is in feult. The goal posts are placed 18£ feet apart as in our game, with a cross bar ten feet from the ground, and a goal must be scored in precisely the same manner as in the Rugby game. A touch-down counts four, a goal from £> try six, and a goal from the field five, while a safety touch - down (our force-down) counts two points against the side making it. The off-side rales are the same as in the English game. "Any player may run with the b all. While lie is doing so, any opponent may seize him and cry ' Held.!' or throw him and hold him until ho cries ' Down !' If the tackle is made by seizing the runner above the shoulders or below the hips, it is a 'foul tackle,' and penalties aro imposed for it." I would like to see the Yankee player thab would go for Whibeside or Elliott above the shoulders, or who, after one or two experiences of their fending powers, would not take particular care to "go low." But if the player is held fairly, a scrimmage is formed and in it we find the most peculiar feature of the Ameri can game. This is what the writer of the article says abpubit: "In the English game the scrimmage consists in placing the ball on tlie ground, after which both sides crowd around ib and kick indiscriminately and furiously until the ball emerges and is carried off by oneof the players. The game had hardly been introduced into America when the new players saw that the English scrimmage was altogether illogical; it was ceitain that one or more of the players would be offside during the progress. A new form of the .scrimmage was developed at once. The enforcement of the rule against offside play, together with the natural desire of the players to get as near as possible to the opposite goal, led to the arrangement of the,two sides in parallel lines, neither being ahead of bhe ball and this was the origin of ' lining up' at the beginning of the American scrimmage. The ball is placed on the ground, side A, which has the ball, forms in a line, no player being allowed to get ahead of the ball, that is, offside; side B forms in a parallel line as near as convenient to the line of side A ; the player in the centre of A's line, tho ' centre rush ' kicksthe ball backward or ' snaps it back' to the quarterback, who f passes' it to another, and the ball is ' in play ' again ; side B try ing to break through in pursuit of it, and side A trying to prevent this by getting in the way, any holding or striking being absolutely forbidden. . . . tV hen the ball goes outside of the side lines, it is put into play again in much the same way as in the scrimmage. The two sides ' line-up' at right angles with the side line; a member of side A, which has the ball, standing astride the side line, either throws the ball straight in, over tho heads of the players, or, more commonly, bounds it backward to one of his own side, and the ball is in play." The writer of the article waxes enthusiastic over the scientific development of the game and sagely likens it to a " miniature game o! strategy " as if only the American game was deserving of the remark. The quarter back answers to our centre half and acts the same part, as he feeds the half backs who do the running. These halyes are in exactly the same position as our three-quarters and dq the same work. They are allowed to fend, but as the. exact rules of the game are not given in the article, it is hard to say what limitations are put on them. From what I can make out of the paper, it would 6eem that the average American student (it appears that the college students are the principal, if not the sole, football players in the States) takes a very long time to get into condition to play bhe game. Comparing what I have gleaned about tho game from the article with what I know of our own Rugby, I should say that the Rugby game is a long way ahead of tbe younger game. The Yankee game seems very inconsistent in several places. I will mention one. They seem so very anxious about offside play, and develope a new scrimmage to escape from it, and yet by all reasonable laws when the " ceatrerush " " snaps the ball back,''surely lie puts all his fellow "rushers" offside, thoy are then loafing and have no business to try and prevent the other side from getting at the ball by blocking them. A Rugby player ■■■would say so, I am sure. I would recommend the article, however, to the perusal of any Rugrbeian who is ab all curious on the subject, and the Magazine containing the article will be found in the Free Library.

CYCLING.

It is proposed to send Standyside to Christchurch to represent the W.B.C. Stewart will be unable to get away. Should Standyside go, he will have the good wishes of. all sporting and athletic men here. He is a real good man, and let us hopo will make it warm for the Southerners. _

Road racing has been carried on to such a great extent in England lately that it is feared that the press and the authorities will advocate its suppression, and a motion has been pub on the agenda paper for the next council meeting of bhe National Cy clists' Union to the effect thab any cyclist competing in a road race over a less distance than 100 miles will forfeit his amateur status.

An indignant writer in the "Northern Advocate " takes umbrage at my remarks re all the old bone shakers and antiquated machines going North. He declares that the roads are better for cycling in that locality than they are anywhere round Auckland. Glad to hear it, old man, very glad to hear it, and so will the W.B.C. be, as they intend to travel north during the summer holidays. The W.B.C. has sent a letter to the Council re the taxation of cyclists, urgmg them not to pass such a by-law. Ib is a most ridiculous proposal, and would cost about a hundred pounds to collect thirty shillings. Tho wheelmen hero are a mere handful compared to other towns, Christ cliurch having about 2,000, Sydney about 7,000, and other colonial towns large num bers also, and yet thoso towns have not found it necessary to register wheelmen. It is the first time in the history of cycling in New Zealand that such a by-law has been proposed. Perhaps our city fathers wish, to hold a record, as they certainly would if such a law were passed.

AQUATICS.

Mr L. Bloomfield, the owner of the Arawa, is back from his European tour, and is going to have his yacht done up. She is ab present hauled up on Bailey's ship. - Those mean skunks who daubed the yacht Petrel all over with finger marks of blue and yellow paint, will hear of some thing to their disadvantage by calling on the owners ab Parnell. . ■'"■'» Mr Garnaut, of St. George's Bay* has launched the yacht he has been building m the winter. She is a neat looking craft, has plenty.,of beam».apd is verysftiffina

anyone & Wb WN*32S boat, cod dtffcll^^oi^'^! Aether he hjj&W^Uit'i i go stiff i n any ofS** 6B»edT_V. prize, but Iw£ T lB °% ff e7 eQts, no one uJj™* m Sgg I smce, though _wW#^tt_fifl I hinted at."g ,° nQe W,**** iffi»jW [ A number Ff^u'"'- ' Whitaker'ff yacht J emm a , iff Panels illustratedSv^^*_m ' and the gl*s?^^:fi lM coloured bird* £ .?J^4fi done in the earna™!",. 4^i!^<a fcS?' to be deeSrSSo^lff __>!* good and adds to CtaS2ft*B of tho cabins, WwisfiaP.*ttl2i

ATHLETICS.

. -a. a. Burton,hasdonttfc ■ but little s^uK? tt PSt' ,«SS but Goodliffe seems to£rlfeso^ nurers. , Ho mtist be' ? r S yI%WI beats Jack over 100 y^SSio?^ be remarkably shafp S«S_f pistolfires. ' dipon^m^tflfo|J

DRAUGHTS.

TO CORRlisipoinJlKiß I PROBLEM NO. 16. -CtrrrpM __*>. __ I they are perfecUy^^? sot;f^l.i | PiloblemNo. 19. ,'' 1 ByMvJ.Nelso^VT'kHw. I ' BliAC!__- ■■! 1

Wains. , ■ Black to play and jdn. Solution |o Problem fori^ ! ! Black:jpen oh-21,22,25,26,& 0 n 29. j White #h,0n.24.30, Kia^ffiSXp 1

DRAUGETS ITEMS.

Mr J, Wylie ib on a visit '•tpOrajfajj! fulfil a w ; **hdm>, 29 games, winning them all y &«g; to Duriedin before pmcesdinff to imh _hurc_. A better record[hasiheen »ad , New Zealand against; tfy.gflJgJSj there was in Australia.: he played .^ games, the remainder were Wins, In .gjMg .with 30* less'^mf pkyedjhe B(SWg Wylie win? 1465, loses 3 and 90 fMf says be is I^JJjJ * New zSnd i fe f m J£*. «| he is enjoying ■•^&*&J.£Jss hoped that the fraught plfcjjj ** land will practise up make things M*^.J^_l^ \ irhen he pa.s Auckland a^« fc.- Mr A. Craighead fc *S§fs*fy Zealand player, is at F^n^ in' Scotland, and e^Mgi' Glasgow to have the _f_P*sS&* ■•■ i tw?U some of their The «»To**" DRAtTGffIS WftWW, *" ■. York ««Tar6>t^«:^«rg-ih*. year "During Sf^SftSw' « Elmira Tidings«,»•• it has never i in its course of <lV AJthough there a ?^y c^ JF ments conducted by c«K & is n(M>4 parts of the countiy, st^J eg fa perhaps that has don*^^SW a _.J i Dunlap m the• ■ ™gJ2to •** J3 We cordially •n^Jft|s»ft_ 85 aninstance we nay af d Sraayef Bft Dunlap,.neithet W£no^ Donlap •«*■ commenced i*j4»^gS?>«o« *S charge of Mr ApK H^S^^ m -,4^ players will U^LW^S yeaisugothe "WSjgt W*4 the best columnsmthftogj u) d Certain that the worthy successor to, the .w^ every success. . . .._

Close of a Sad Life.

on record,some »7| e Sfc;^^S some pitiful" »v! 'LhK^ she died, «ow * K^tMWL^

; THE "AUCKLAND ' EVENING* STAB,"* SATURDAY, DECEMBER : 10, - 188 T.

2



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