DISCURSIVE DIALOGUES.

SATURDAY EVENING TALKS ON CURRENT TOPICS.

NO. 2.

Women's Rights — Local Candidates Dis cussed — Equality ov the Sexes—Mr , altken connell's meeting—benefits of '. Bad Language — Eloquent Irishmen — I Sir George Grey, Etc. r* .'•■'.' . [Scene—A mansion house. Mrs Member, Mrs Opposition, and Miss Bluestocking dis covered in conversation, over a cup of tea.} Mrs o.—No; ibs no uso talking! The electors -will have to go our Avay, or no wcy ab all. Mrs M.—And of course my husband ' means to stand again, and is sure to go in. Mrs o.—With all respect to you, Mrs M., your husband Avas no man at all in tne last •Parliament not to get up and say a ivord in favour of Avomen's rights. He may be on the right side of the House; but he's no ' bebter than a dummy ! Miss B.—" The fool, Avhen he holdeth his peace, is accounted aAvisemac." Perhaps Mr Member thinks that a close mouth makes a Avise head. I Mrs M.—You're quite mistaken. My husband ain'b no fool, though he's no female • suffrager, and I knoAV lie's do somo good speechificabion in next Padyment Mrs o.—lf ever he gets there. I hate dummies, but I do lile a man bhab can speak fiuenbly— Miss B.—Like dea." old Mr Dargavillo. He can speak so nicely, and ahvays bakes the part of tho ladies. Mrs o.—Well, if there's anything I hate more than dummies it's Irishmen. And haven't I read soreeAvhore about Mr D. :— He comes from near Killarney, Ho dearlyiovcs tho blarney; He'd malvQ a Rood atlarnoy— Puff, puff, puff! Mrs M.—o . that's so funny ; it reminds me of a little " puffing billy " of an engine going up tho Kaihu Railway. But I rather like Irishmen, Mrs 0. ; perhaps it's because one of the finest Irishmen iv the colony is godfather to my baby. Mrs O—Well, as I said before, I hate them, and I hate puffing billies and all such vermin. Don't you agree with my vieAVS, Miss Bluestocking . Miss B.—l'm afraid I don't quite grasp your opinions. It/seems to me your politi cal creed is like Joseph's coat, of many colours. For instance, you aro in favour of female suffrage, and yot you are opposed to the present GoA-ernment, Avhich tried to confer the suffrage upon us; you liko eloquent men, and yet you bate Irishmen, who aro the most eloquenb of all men on earth. , . . -i ,_ Mrs O.—Yes, Miss Bluesbockmg ; didn b you geb a nice sample of Irish eloquence ab Mr Aibken Connell's meeting on Monday nighb? . Miss B.— Bub Mr Connell isn'b an Irish man. Mrs O.—How dense you can be when it Buibs you, my dear. The Irish orators I refer to were in the audience — those *' lambs " Avho cried " boo " the Avhole night long, and ratbled on the floor Avith their heavy cudgels. I hoard that you Avere at the meeting with your pa, avlio is one of the influential electors of Eden, and of course you were delighted with the Hibernian eloquence that you heard. Miss B.—That meeting Avas a diserace to Auckland. I had no idea there were such a number of horribly depraved men in Auck land Avho Avould behave themselves like so many Avild animals in the presence of ladies. I was terribly frightened, especially when they yelled and clenched bbeir fists Avhen religion was mentioned., Jhey were .worse than wild beasts . Mr 3 M.-^-Yes ;• for IVe heard say that a lion will sbop his growling ab bhe sighb of female beauty I Mrs o.—Present company is ahvays ex cepted, of course ; but I'm sure had I been there, no bad language Avould have been used. . Miss B.—Bub even Mr Connell said some naughty words, with a big big "d" in them, and stamped his foot, and SAWing his arms about like a windmill! I really thought I Avould have fainted. Mrs o.—Take another cup of tea, Miss B. There noAV; you will feel better. Be lieve me, when you're married you'll geb used with that sorb of thing. Why, even my dear Joseph sometimes indulges in strong language, and you have no idea Avhat a Telief it is to him. Miss B.—l have read about a Quaker who said bo a rough man bhab ib did him good bo hear him SAvear at something bhab wenb Avrong, and mosb good men do their SAvearing by proxy. A poet of the seven teenth century has written :—

As moody Job, in shirtless case, • With colly flowers all o'er his face. Did on the dunghill languish, His spouse thus Avhispcrs in his ear, "Swear, husband, as you lovo me, swear ; 'Twill ease you of your anguish.

MrsO. BubJobdidn'bcurseandsAvear,and so he broke out in boils instead ! Oh, it's a treat relief, I can assure you ; but a candi abe for Parliamenb Avould need to have tho patience of Job ; he must nob swear ab all, and bhe only "shouting" he should do oughb bo be in bhe public-house. Mrs M.—l'm surprised ab you, Mrs 0. ■; which I bhoughb you Avas a Blue Ribboner ! .Mrs o.—Oh, I'm only speaking in bhe ab stract just now ; but you'll always have ib in the concrete. ■ Mrs M.—Well, you shouldn't geb mbo a, fibofhabsbracbion, and if my house is con crete bhab's,nobhing bo nobody if ibs paid for, and I'd like bo know . .Miss B. (inberrupbing)—Let us keep to bhe absbracb view of bhings, ladies, and con eider bhe ennobling effecb of raising women to a level of equaliby Avibh the sterner sex. Mrs O.— Well, I believe in eleA-ating. women, but as for placing them on an .quality with men, the result would be dis astrous, if the feat Avere at all possible. Miss B.—Oh dear ! I see thab, like all married ladies, you have been coerced inbo believing in bhe superiority of your hus band.. , ■ . Mrs O.—Not at all: as Ccesar's Avife ruled the world by ruling Csesar, so the wife of the politician rules her husband, and her curtain lecture is a bigger power in the State than all the Demosthenian thunders of the demagogue on the electioneering *'stump." Mrs M.—Why, Mrs 0., you geb quibe elly quent: are you sure there's no trace of Irish blood aboub you ? Miss B.—Concrebe again. Leb us stick to bhe absbracb. Ib seems bo me, Mrs 0., that you have gob hold of a bib of Mi' .Connell's speech bhab he didn't geb firing off the other nighb. Bub I don'b see your argu ment against bhe equality of the sexes. Mrs O.— Equality ! Who Avants.it Avheh we are superior ? See, here is what I read the other day aboub a young Avoman who works in bhe coal mines in Belgium—on a perfecb equality wibh bhe men,* mind you ! •She said :—" My Avork begins ab five o'clock ,in the.morning, and ends between nine and ' eleven at nighb. I load from sixby bo seventy cars every day, and I earn bwo francs (Is Bd)a day. I went regularly to school from my eighth to my tAvelfth year. I could read once, hub I have forgobben ib all now." Do you bhink a clirby vote at an election, the price of which is a quart of nasby colonial beer, would compensate for being degraded to such an equality as that? '

Miss B. —Bub I can'b make out your views at all, Mrs 0. ; you seem bo be dead againsb women's righbs, after you working so hard for the petition and hobnobbing wibh Hodge .over it.; . .-; .. ~

"? s P.— My dear, I can sea you are no tactician. Don't you know tha .tha. female wffrage cry was a little trap to get the Go

vera ment launched out. on an impracticable and Quixotic piece of legislation,, instead of keeping their minds fixed on retrenchment ? See what a splendid howl Aye can raise againsb them now for neglecting! the'solid interests of the country and tickling the graining taxpayers Avith the Aveak straw of women's rights. Ancl of course people are always learning. I believe jusb as much as eA'er I did in women having votes. bub I can'b see bhe force of giving bhem training in bhe industrial arts - such as coal-loading and potato-planting, or even in the much - A-aunted sphere of higher education. Miss B.— You shock me indeed! What possible objection can there be to higher education ? Mrs o.—The besb of all objections. Ib uniibsjaAvoman for matrimony. Why, out of 700 girl graduates turned out by an American college, only 200 got married, ancl the other 500 had to work for a; liAdng as farmers, book-keopors, teachers, in surance agents, lady doctors, and so forth. Look at yourself now ; you Avere at the Girls' High School till you wero 20, a,nd| where are you? :• Miss B.—l'm afraid you'ro getting into the concrete ; Mx. M.—.'Not! a bit. The Girls' High School is brick, Miss B. Go ahead, Mrs 0. and pitch ib strong. Mrs o.— And as to'woman suffrage, ib is open to doubt whether it Avould produco good results, for bhe leading Opposition paper—our paper, you know—says about the female a-otein bhe United States that it was exercised " in the direction of the choico of bad men of the wdrsb party." I Miss B.—Meaning I suppose, political Irishmen, of the red hot Radical partly, from all Avhich good Lord deliver us ! Mrs o.—Well, I don't know if I can quite say ''Amen "to that. My mind isn't quite mado up yet about Sir George Grey. I believe he is a sort of an Irishman and a rather reddish Rad ! Miss B.—Of course Aye must all join in admiration of the old man eloquent, for his noblo words, and nobler deeds ; but I don't like his turning his back on Moss and Tolo. Mrs 0.-—They turned their backs on him, and noAV Mr Moss has got a Thornein his sido, and little Tole, like Adam, is driven out of Eden. Mrs M.—Well, he's had the apple any way—a big salary as parson of bhe Crown ; ancl you can't both, havo your cake and eat it, can you ? Miss B.—To mako the parallel complete, there must be a woman in the question— that's the Female Suffrage Bill. Mrs O.—And there must be a serpent too. I suppose tbe "subtile beast" Avas that creeping thing who called on Mr Con nell to sell him a Fob of Eden Arotes. And you, Miss 8., should be the poet to sing of " Paradise Lost." Miss B.—Ha, ha! That's rathor a neat compliment. I must go now, dear. Mrs M.—And I'll go Avith you . our road is tho same for somo distance. Both.—Good-day, Mra 0. Mrs O : Good-day, dears. (They kiss and part).

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

July 28 — Grand National Steeplechases.— Entries. June 2{l; Avoights, July 8; accept ances, July 18.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

D.T.—The followinpr are tho names of the handi capping committee who framed tho welghtsfor tho New Zealand Cup :—Messrs J. Braba.on, P. Campbell, J.B. Gresson, and G.P. Williams.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By HirroNA.]

'The timo that these nobes are required bo go bo press prevented mo from giving my impressions of theNeAv Zealand Cup handi cap lasb Aveek. This circumstance, lioav ever, has given me plenty of time to care fully look OA rer tho compilation, ancl I have come to the conclusion that it is a great many removes from being a good one. Take Mr E. Mitchelson's filly Torori for instance. Now, on what grounds or performances could bhey ask her to concede Aveighb nobably bo Gipsy King, Bangle, and Lady Florin. ? Torori is cerbainly a year older, bub Avibh any weights up I am certain the trio mentioned could beat Torori from half-a-mile bo bAVO miles, and concede her aboub 281b. Then again, anyone bhab looks inbo bhe handicap will agree bhab Tobford is very harshly dealb Avibh. His public perform, ances do nob warranb him 'giving away Aveighb to Lochiel, and several horses beloAV him.- Silver Prince in my opinion is also badly used. The handicappers may have some reason for awarding this half, brother to Martini-Henry _st 81b (61b under his Aveighb-for-age) bub I don'b bhink bhab he is enbiblcd to such an impost. In bhe Forbury Handicap 1^ mile,' on bhe lasb day of the D. J.C' Autumn Meeting, he carried 6st 13_lb, and in bhe Flying Stakes, 1 mile, run on the same afternoon^ ho had 7st 91b in bhe saddle. From all accounbs he certainly Avon both races in a ridiculously easy fashion, but what Avas behind him ? Anobhei. thing is it fair thab Silver Prince should give Aveighb bo Disowned. Sboneyhurst is simply crushed in being placed next bo Nelson at a difference of 81b, and in giving the last-named 9sb 101b the handicappers have evidently made a bid .to keep him in Noav Zealand this spring. Ib is always a pity bo see a good horse crushed out of a handicap for the sake of a lot of third-raters, but eA-en bearing this in mind I don't think that the framers of the Aveights Avould have erred, bad they asked the son of King Cole to carry at least 21b more. Anobher very Avell-treated horse is Lochiel, who, on bheir lasb NeAv Zealand Cup running, meets Nelson, on 4lb bobber terms. Those Avho haA-e seen Silence race Ayill ab once pounce on him as one of bhe good things of bhe handicap, and I prophecy that if all goes Avell Avibh this Napier-owned one he , Avill see a shorb price before the eventful day. In the Easter Handicap ab bhe A.R.C. Aubumn Meeting when he acted as winner up to Spade Guinea, it Avill be remembered he was carrying Bst 131b—or 101b less than he has in the , Ncav Zealand Cup. I look upon Silence as the. besb horse Aye haA'e at present locabed in bhe Norbh Island. The crack youngsbers, Sexbanb, Maxim and Niagara, wieh 7sb 61b each are fairly handicapped, bub if Gipsy King wibh 71b less, is as good as I am told, and improves in the meantime, he musb bake spmo beating. ,Bobh Bangle] and Lady -florin are decidedly Avel in wibh 6sb 121b and 6sb 91b respectively, but there are a lot of promising and well bred horses bhrown in wibh equally light Aveights, and fib may be thab the Avinner will come from one of this dark division. This the handicappers have in their favour. To pick three out of the lot, at the present bime bo supply bhe winner, my choice falls on Silence, Nelson and Lochiel. , ,-.

Scot Free, Avho put his hip out while baking parb in bhe Napier Park Meeting lasb March, was bought back in company with Silvio on Monday _a'sb. Those who Saw Scot Ffeo tell, me that he would scarcely .be recognised mow, randis ft per fect wreck in appearance,

Fusillade, bhe New Zealand Cup winner of 1885, is being exercised regularly, ab Ellerslie, and is now almosb as good as new. Ib will be remembered bhab he was broughb up here from Christchureh bo bake part in bhe A.R.C. Summer Meeting, bub going amiss before bhe gabhering he was nob seen out. He underwent a course of blistering and was turned out, but some weeks,back was taken up again and is in George Wright's hands. His impost in the New Zealand Cup is Bst 71b, exactly the same Aveight as he was asked to carry last year.

Excepting Petroleum, who is turned out at Mr D. McKinnon's farm at Rangiriri, Messrs Lyons and Blaikie have now dis posed of their horses. Pipi has passed into the hands of one Of the local cash bettors at L2o, and a well-known trades man has purchased Woodpecker for LlO. Catesby, Avho is now in Harry Harrison's hands, was bought by Mr T. Henwood, of Mangare, for LIOO.

Since the appearance of bhe NeAV Zealand Cup a. eights, local backers have indulged in a bit of speculation. Silence is greatly in favour, and B's to 1 have been booked against him, Avhile both Nelson and Lochiel have met with support at 10 to 1. Maxim has found a taker avlio accepted 100 to 8 about him, and 100 to 6 has been taken about Lady Florin. For the Melbourne Cup, the best price on offer against Trident is 100 to 5, Awhile Thunderbolt, Pasha, and Spade Guinea have each met Avith support ab 100 bo 2. Among the Australian division. Matador nnd 'Frisco are in the greatest: favour among backers, and have also been coupled in various doubles on Derby and Cup.

I think Mangahaone and Owhaoko are tho two best treated in the handicap for tho Grand National Steeplechase.

" Mazeppa" has compiled the folloAving interesting table, which shoAvs at a glance how backers haA'e fared during tho season in the 2. leading races enumerated :—

-• j OOOffIOOOOOOOOOOOtOOOOOOOOO _ . NOtOOXO<DOOO>OMQO . HO> .. NWHWIOOO (_ UoMocoffiio>-<^i»e__iN_(N_!.:_ _j---(cq—'roc-i sh • . a. '•.•'•'••'•'..'.'.'. a '• '• '• : • •' •cs « fi- - -9 (3 w •. _i _i » . _ 'a 8 _•. . _. ~C_ . a fci S- " c—' ■_ CS.S «._,_.-« o oCS i^aSilt . ats-sSe.Mt._j- .ort-e . -_<Scj Z— _ c_3- J _ 3Js » c>—■_. 03k. rf p.._:^__ d—* Pc. p. _ X .-KO . owe.—!-. <ooo««>•-cstaco^~t-t-oo■^4F-©l -03 g: • : ::: •■:: •■: •':: :gg :g ::: :g I •'SS'g .8 ..■% ■ .3-c .| .I ■_ > fi "I S«.S§ d 8 S § B__ <3_3 «*__ i! 3 OpH-3 fi.OO r - . t_ ■* m" H _ -** Se.._J.-^U-«SJ» h—< tf i>aQ_.Q^H<.g^:ap-&<t>&i_c-a2toOHxao'(g :.::::: tp,::::::.:.:: ?: ::: : .a ws'g . . .g. p, W rt l3M_ "o ' ft _ n ft£ 9 W; p.::::|.-I:: :_ : : :8 : : :||§l ■:? lift o|i " 1 isla . So.-0 >-&<*s hOo _ P i_c=. •T_ac _ 3"W •s al sal ail s IM.l M.^ a |si 3^--< w i

All the New Zealand horses in training at Flemingbon are reported to be getting on as Avell as the sloppy state of the bracks will permib bhem. Nothing bub good is heard of Niagara, ancl Trenton is said to be once more shoAving a bit of that form he exhibited previously.

From an account of a Adsit bo Mr G. G. Stead's stables, at Yaldhurst, which appears in the '' Canterbury Times" I condense the folloAving items of in terest :—We found Maxim looking bright and Avell, and a good deal bigger than Avhen he cantered away from a couple of our best two-year-olds in the Champagne lasb April. Under cover bhe colb strikes one as having groAvn a bit, ancl certainly has lost nobhing of his good looks. Should he prove bo bo a stayer and keep sound— two " if's" Avhich involvo issues of con siderable interest to others than Mr Stead —he is bound to have a great say in more than one rich prize next season ; but still, Aye should like to have more information with regard to the movements of one or tAvo of- his possible opponents before supporting tbe colt at his present prices. HoAvever.his backers, may draAv some satis faction from the knowledge that the colb is sound and Avinbering well, and ib is likely bhab more than one formidable rival will be remoA .d from his path before the spring. " May he be as sound next November as he is now," is Mr Stead's expressed wish as Mason closes the box. The appearance of Beresford, Avho has .re ceived substantial support for the Noav Zealand Cup during the past.few weeks, should satisfy his mosb infatuabed backer, and with the additional adA'antage of being able to gauge his handicap weight Avithin a couple of pounds, his friends have ,np pre sent cause for alarm. Lochiel, who just noAV is taking his ease in a paddock adjoin ing the stables, Avas brought in as Aye moved bOAvards his box. Patched Avith mud, and somewhat low in condition, it Avould have been difficult bo recognise a less distinguished gentleman than the NeAV market Handicap winner ; but his size and aristocratic appearance are not every-day gifts, and are not easily mistaken. The son of Prince Charlie has been lightly blistered in front, but will be pub bo Avork again immediately bhe Aveabher permits, and, Avibh his conquerors of lasb year oub of the Avay, may after all, not be a bad investment for the next Ncav Zealand Cup. Russley, too, has been on the sick list since the Dunedin Autumn Meeting, a bad cold being the origin of the trouble. We could never discover much likeness between Russley and his sire, Doncaster, while the former was in training; but Mr Stead's horse has tilled out a lot during his rest. Marion, Avho'at last has succeeded in get ting the stable into some trouble, is ab grass preparatory to the commencement Of her stud duties, and Sierra, who has groAvn into a really nice-looking mara, is keeping the daughter of Peeress coinjiany.'

It is said that, financially, there will be but little if any profit'over the recent HaAvke's Bay Steeplechase Meeting, Avhile lasb year bhe Club cleared nearly L3OO, and in 1885 ib was upwards of LBOO bo bhe good OA fer bhe meeting.. The increase in stakes has not paid the Club. :'

The nominations for the Grand National (writes " Sir Lauhcelob ")" are remarkable for the number of members of the Ruther ford family whose names figure as nomina tors. -Thus Mr JV-.S. Rutherford is respon sible; for Canard, Me 11. Ru.her_.rd for Faugh-a-Ballagh,; andr...Seoretary, Mr-G. JiutßvTforcl iw. Bredonbill, and Mr W,

O. Rutherford for Mainboom, Avhile Mr D. Rutherford has entered Irish King in the Maiden Plate and Tally-ho Handicap. And what is more, all the members of bhe family love bo race againsb one anobher, and bhe mosb perfect spirit of rivalry in racing matters between them exists. This is as it should be. Would that we had a feAV more of their stamp sporting their .colours on our racecourses ! Then the turf would be in a healthier state.

Referring to the Marion disqualification case, " Senex" Avrites :—On Monday last I was fortunate enough to see Mr Moss, the Southern bookmaker, Avho was passing through Christchureh, en route for Mel bourne. I Avas anxious to see him, as I had been informed that he Avas the bookmaker at the late Dunedin races Avho had been " raked doAvn" by the Marion stable for " some hundreds of pounds" over the Birth day Handicap, and 1 wanted to hear Avhat he had to say about it. He told me that there Avas nothing at all in it, that certainly he had losb Ll7O over bhe race, but all that he had laid the stable Avas L 5 to the jockey Jackson and L 2 to Mason. He further told me that Snider had backed the mare with him for LlO, and that five other persons un connected with the stable had taken a pound's Avorbh each Avibh him. This cor roborates what I Avrote as to. the amount invested by the stable on Marion.

The London "Sporting Times" com ments on Bendigo's win in the rich Jubilee Stakes at Sandown Park in the folloAving glowing terms : — " It Avas a truly run race, for right from its commencement thelightly-weighted di vision cameaAvay from their more heavily-burdened and distin guished rivals, and as the fateful bend Avas neared it became a question of moment amongst the cognoscenti whether the ' class ' horses would OA'er be able to get on terms Avith their more leniently treated opponents. Ab bhe bend bhe sighb was more bhan prebby, as bhe splendid cavalcade com menced bhe burn in singularly compact order, and until ' heads' Avere fairly burned for home none bub bhe mosb discerning eye could discover Avhich animal still held the lead. When fairly set for home, Tyrone and Martley, bhough on opposite sides of the course, led bhe van, Avhilsb even noAV bhe colours of Bendigo, Annamite, Violoncello, St Mirin, and Fulerton began to assert themselves distinctly in front of bhe others. Thedistancewasreached.andTyrone and Marbley were fighting out the battle of supremacy, but ere it Avas passed Watts steadied the great horse he bestrode, and getting him fairly 'balanced,'he set Ben digo going like the giant he undoubtedly is. Horso and man, moving in perfect unison, fairly swooped doAvn upon the leaders, and in another instant the ' hero Of many fight 3' had strode past the post again victorious, and the name of Bendigo Avas wafted on the winds to tho farthest end of the course as tho Avinner of the Jubi lee Stakes. It Avas in truth a great vic tory, in which horse and jockey claimed a nob unequal share, whilst bhe trainer, C. Jousiffe, Avas not forgotten, to be sure, in the general jubilation. Bendigo's return to the paddock Avas a veritable triumphal procession, and Watts, usually tho most imperturbable of jockeys, could not restrain a smile of satisfaction as he dismounted, and returned to Aveigh in. Lamblike ancl cool, as if at home in his box, Bendigo submitted to the frequent patting to which he Avas subjected, and alto gether unknowingly comported himself like a hero in the hour of victory." Bendigo Avas bred in Ireland, and as a tAvo year-old Avas sold to Mr T. Connolly for 70gs, boing the following year disposed of for 850gs to his present owner. The races bhab have fallen tp his share are the Cam bridgeshire of 1883 (value L 1.672). Lincoln shire Handicap (L 1,724 los), and Hard- Avicke Stakes (L 2,727) at Ascob in 1885, tbe Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park (L 10.000) in 1886, and the Jubilee Stakes (L 2.850). This gives an aggregate of L 18,973 15s.

It Avas thought (says an English writer) that after Fred. Archer's deabh bhe owners cum-jockeys ring Avould have been broken up, and bhe English burf purged of one of ibs greabesb scandals. Nob so, however, sad to say, for the proceedings at recent meet ings have shown thab ib sbill lives and flourishes like a green bay tree. At Epsom I witnessed some sbrange contradictions of form ; bub bhab was as nobbing Avibh what occurred at Newmarket lasb woek. The law of libel prevents me from giving any special instances in point ; for one dare not print what one hears, or record what one sees. Anyone who noAvadays atbempbs bo back a horse by bhe look or relies upon recent form is only fib bo become an inmate of a lunatic asylum. The proper thing to do—and hundreds make a good thing by doing it; —is to discard " form" altogether, not to Took at the board at all to see Avhat jockey is up on a particular horse, but to Avatch carefully what is doing in the ring, and when the "right peopie" put the money down simply folloAV suit. Of course sometimes the best-laid schemes "gang aglee:" and Tom Cannon or some other honest jockey Avill upset the good thing. But, as a rule, it comes ofi' all right. To look for the greater sinners we must not go very low down the social scale; for it is the " savclls " who are most barefaced in Avorking these SAvindles, and Avho do not hesitate to suborn and corrupt jockeys for the purpose of fleecing the public, Avho are induced to back false favourites, and thus supply the perennial , fund out of which the bookmakers aro able to pay their losses to the clever division Avithoub Avincing. If the outsiders Avere to cease to bleed the game Avould soon be' up, for your book maker is no fool, and Avhile he is willing enough to pay out of his left-hand pockeb ben shillings, Avhile putting a sove reign inbo bhe righb, bhe momonb bhe golden bide ceases to Aoav he Avill close hia book and say to his "cleA-er" friends,; "No, thanks ! Not to-day, baker." Thesje bare faced SAvindles —for that is the only term for them-are perpetrated Avith impunity at the Mecca of racing, under the very eyes of the steAvarcls of the Jockey, Club. Yet not a voice is raised against bhem, though no one doubts their existence. Busybodies and fossils are ready enough to vote for any absurd proposal to shut out the competition of Irish or French horses. But when ib comes to a question of sweeping !a.vay a gross scandal, they are both blind and dumb. But as long, as the publije bears with it, as long as bhe Jockey Club is managed as ib is, bhe state of things will continue bo exisb, to the serious detriment of the best interests of the turf. ~..".

Quite a scare took place all over English sporting circles on the morning of May 17, Avhen the telegraph conveyed the neAvs thab Enberprise had met Avibh an accident ■'while ab exercise, some reporbs: going so far as bo say bhab the Derby faA rourite had broken down. That this Was: believed to be the case Avas to some extent confirmed by the markeb operations at the London clubs, as much as 6 to 1 being offered against the Tavo Thousand Guineas Avinner for the Derby. As the day Avore on, however,'the neAvs from NeAvmarket proved of a more hopeful character for the son of Sterling, and at the close of business offers .vere plentiful to take 4 tol. That the followers of Enterprise have no great occasion for alarm, said the "Sportsman," may be gleaned from the folloAving telegram re ceived from our NeAvmarket correspondent, which states: the full facts of thej case :— " When starting this morning to gallop Avith Bird Of Freedom on the Limekilns, Enterprise, who Was very fresh, Avas fright ened by somebhing, and swerved bo thelefb across the Norwich road into a field on bhe obher side. He Avas immediabely. brought back by Warne, and complebedjbhe mile and a half with Bird of Freedom. ; On land ingacross'-'the-road, however, he slightly Wrenched himself, but I have authority for saying thattf&'mes Ryan has every oonfid.nco that the injnry to the Derby dandidate is of a trivial nature only."

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Act-eon.)

FIXTURES, FOOTBALL.

Senior Cup.

July9.—Albert v. North Shore; Auckland v. Grafton. July 16.—Auckland v. Albert; Gordon v. Graf ton : Ponsonby wNorth Shore. July 23.-Auckland v.iNorth.Shore; Albert v. Gordon; Grafton v. Ponsonby. July3o.—North Shore v. Gordon; Albert v. Grafton ; Auckland v. Ponsonby. August 6.-North Shore v. Grafton; Albert v Ponsonby; Auckland, v. Gordon. August.—Auckland v. Otago. August.—Auckland v. Canterbury. Junior Cup. July 9.—North Shore v. Ponsonby; Waite mata v. United; Auckland v. Grafton. July 16.—Auckland v. Gordon,- Grafton v. Uni ted; Ponsonby v. North Shore. ;.''", July 23.—Waitemata v. North Shore; Auckland A-. United; Gordon v. Ponsonby.: July 30.—Waitemata v. Gordoni; United v. Ponsonby; Grafton V. Nortli Shore. Second Junior Cup. July 10.—Solwyn v. Remuera;, Waverleyv. Gordon ; Rovers v. Waitemata; . July 23.-Selwyn v. Rovers; Waverley v. Wai temata ; University v. Gordon, j July 30.—Selwyn v. Gordon; University v. Remuera; Waverley v. Royers^

AQUATICS.

July, 1887.-Hanlan v. Toemcr. United States. October _.—"Thistle" races for pie Americas Cup. i ' Nov. 26.-Beach v. Hanlan tor the Champion ship of the world on the Nepean.

FOOTBALL.

The matches last Saturday were of an un important character.. Ponsctaby had a picnic with the Auckland Ist, while Gordon beat Alberts rather easily by IJ4 points to 4. In the Junior Cup matches, ponsonby 2nd made a show of the Auckland 2nd, beating them by 7 points to nil, whiloj Grafton just managed to do the trick with Waitemata, scoring a try. United scored their first win this season against Gordon 2nd. As the first round for the cups has now been finished, my readers will be; interested in the following tables showing; the positions of the various clubs :

The Selection Committee have made an early start in picking the thirty odd men from whom the fifteen to play against Can terbury will be chosen. I would strongly advise each man to do his best to make him self as fit as possible against the picking. With the constant influx; of new blood, there is no telling who will be in the team, but let everyone try his utmost to deserve the honour, even if there is not room for him when the final selection is made. The Committee should arrange to have a couple of nights' dribbling practice in the Metro politan before dark every week. If properly arranged, it should answer, but strict measures will have to be taken to enforce the attendance of all those wishing to be picked.: Against a fast dribbling team, such asffihe City of the Plains is_ likely to send to ;try conclusions with usj this branch of the game cannot have too much attention paid to it. In the match against Taranaki it was very apparent that, though we possessed splendid individual dribblers, the forwards were lacking in the essential that makes dribbling so effective, namely, com bination. ;'

I am glad to welcome bb.ck to the foot ball field the old veteran, T. O'Connor, Avho donned his jersey for bhe first time this season against Ponsonby lasb week. I notice his name among the thirty-three players chosen by the Selection Committee. Billy _v.cConri.ll has decided to giA-e the game best, and Ponsonby lose one of their best forwards. -

North Shore found the goldminers boo good for bhe team they sent doAvn lasb Aveek. They reporb that the men of Quartzopolis had several "demons .among them.

Geelong, the crack Victorian Club, Avas beaten by the Carlton Club ab Melbourne on* June 11. This is bhe first defeab bhe Geelong Club has suffered since 1885. The scores Avere :—Carlton!, 9 goals and 12 be hinds : Geelong, 5 goals and 1 behind. " Three-quarter Rack," Avriting in the Canterbury "Weekly Press," has a A rery favourable review of the Auckland Foot ball Annual, and, in criticising the remarksr about Aving forwards, says .- —" Wing men in any shape or form I regard as football superfluities. By-the-bye, how far did the Aving men help the Aucklanders to lose their match against the powerful Taranaki forwards ?" Ij on my part, might ask Avhat avo Avould have-done without them- against the peculiar forward game of the Taranaki forwards ? ATHLETICS. ETC. A team of American amateur athletes will visit England 'this summer. The visitors aa'ill be E. D. Lang (champion walker),1 H. S. Your.g (hurdle racer), and W. B. Page (champion- jumper). Young and I,ang Avere to make 'their, first appear ance in London on June' 6th, in the Civil Service Association Athletic Games, at the Stamfprd Bridge Grounds. During their stay in England they will compete as indi a'iduals, and will not engage in any money making enterprises." A peculiar match Avas played ab Tufiiell Park, Kenb, on May 7- between Lyndhurst and Camden Clubs. The latber wenb in firsb, and were disposed of for 2 runs, these being obtained frolh the first bAvo balls delivered. ' y-''. ' ,: The 100 Yards Swimming Championship of England was decided on May 7th betAveen Beaumonb and Haggerty. The latter Avon by 7 yards in lmin 8 and a-half sec, Avhich equals bhe besb public record, made by Jones. Forty yards was done in 2 .see, and 80 yards in olsec, bobh besb on record. The following table shows the positions of bhe blubs,! competing for. the Second Junior Cup under the auspices of the Auck land Junior Football Association :— : '*'-. ~'■. >ot ..-' ■ m. «i 0)'_) +i' . -t*. '. .i.;..',',; A 9 d _ _ __ _. 3 S& a . V .2§.„-2 ' O ||| g « H & Q "-fc &« Solwyn r ..' ■__ 5.1 0 63 Rovors .. ... ... ■' ,5 . 4 1 0 .6 UniA-ersity .... G 3 1 2 13 Remuera .. .. _ 10 3 37 ' Waverley '.. ..■'■ 5 11 3 _. Waitemata :_.' 'i .. 5 --1- o'. = 4 Gordon .. _~.,. <lr ,10.3 6 W. H. Dudney, the ex-Canberbury Mid lander, has been scoring largely so far bhis season. On May 9 and 10, Avhen phtyirig for Sussex Club and Ground,against 18 young players wibh A. ShaAV as eapbain, he made 90.' In bhe second innings of bhe colbs, Dudney kepb Avickebs and Stumped bhree men and caughb bwo. Playing for his club, Brighbon-BrunsAvick, against a sbrong eleven chosen by the Earl of Sheffield on May _2,Dudn_y was caughb out for "a single" but a few days later—May" 17—when repre" senting his club against Preston, on the Sussex County Ground,'he was __Sb gob rid of iirltil ho had tbtalled:"ls4; He is reported to have hit'totfaulbiess'style. and his innings' • u cl.uded three 6'e, two s's and eleven _'5.

THE GARDEN.

Calendar of Garden Operations, July 9.

[By Hortus.]

. .Hortus is willing to answer any queries. _ Cor respondents must give their full names ana ad dresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Book on Gardening, etc (G. McC.).-(l) There has not as yet been any book on general gai dening published in New Zealand dealing with the subjects you mention.. One or tne best English works for amateurs is a unon b Book on Gardening," which you could order from any bookseller. (2) I like to see some turf Avalks in certain designs, but it taK.es too much labo .r and trouble to keep them in goou order, and if not kept in good order, they Boon get unsightly. You can easily keep weeds on walks under by occasionally giving a strong dose of coarse salt. (3) Your queiy about pure liquid manure for caD^, a Ses> celery, etc.. I hardly understand. One ounce of pure guano Avill be sufficiently strong ior Avatering the above plants, or take a barrel or tub half full of cow or horso manure; mi up Avith water, let it stand for a feAV days, strain off. One pint of this to two pints or clear Avater is a safe and useful mixture.

Gooseberry Varieties (Amateur).— There are a good number of varietiesof the above which succeed very Avell in some situations, mo names of the best A-arieties you avill be able to obtain from the nurserymen. I nave never groAvn them myself in this part of the colony. You had better purchase one-year, or, at most, iavo-year-old plants. Moat of the leading Auckland nurseries have been keeping a, goon stock of plants for some years back ; you nave no need, therefore, to send to Canterbury lot them. Auckland-groAvn plants will suit your purpose better. Don't prune your roses ior some time yet-not till the buds begin to buis. in the spring; then they should be cut back only leaving about two or three buds on last season's wood.

Pru.vixg Old Trees (Amateur) .-Without seeing your trees it a\-ould be impossible lor me to give you any definite rules tor pruning the trees you name, further than to say that if the heads have become croAvdcd you sUoulo. thin out the branches, and if too open, cut back some of tho leading shoots, so that from the stumps neAV shoots lower doAvn may be formed. Sometimes pruning aAvay a part ot the branches from old stunted trees is benefi cial; but, in aU cases, a man should have some deflnitc object in a.cay beforo attempt ing to prune fruit trees. Employ some gardener for a day to prune your trees; it Avill pay better in the end.

The Horticultural Society.

At a meeting of bhe Commibbee of bhe Royal Horticultural Society of Auckland held this Aveek in Newmarket, it Avas decided to hold the annual spring shOAV on the 11th and 12th November next. Rose-giwers, etc., Avho intend competing should take nobe of the above. The usual camellia shoAV, under the auspices of the above Society,, is bo be held in bhe Market on tbe 23rd July, a fortnight from to-night. A grand display of Avinter flo Avers is expected, if genial Aveather preA-ails for a ; week before the slioav. It is said that a large number of growers and others interested in the groAvth of lemons, oranges, &c, are doing their best bo bring aboub a fine display of those fruits. It is only to be hoped the Wel lington AA-eather prophet will give th e Socieby a good day, so bhab visitors may be enabled bo abbend with'greater pleasure than ab lasb camellia show. The Society's Secrebary should belegraph the important day to the gallant Captain. It is expected that the Avhole of Auckland Avill attend, and bring their sisters, cousins, and aunts. In this Avay a few debts'will' be liquidated, Mnlberry. This valuable but mucb-neglecbed bree (a native of Persia) comes inbo_ bearing quite young, and if the right kind is planted will.prove to be a useful fruit tree. Ib Ayill nob be besb to plant it by the acre, however,, as Aye do apples, plums and peaches for the fruit is tender, -when, fully ripe," and if packed in boxes for shipment it would crush and melt like an ice-cream. Down : ing's Everbearing, which is highly recom-' mended in the Easbern Sbabes, proves r bo be useless here for fruib, bearing seldom-and. very sparingly; and bhe whibe mulberry is not good to eat, .except for birds, being small and too sweet and insipid, yeb like bhe other' mulberries, the bree is good for shade and ornameub. There are some fine brees 'of' bhe large English mulberry growing,in Sonoma county, and'they are heavily laden' for"two months 'with ripe' * and' ripeningf berries, Avhich surpass any blackberries in quality and size. The besb varieties re semble large LaAvton blackberries, aboub an . inch and a half "- long; and nearly' an inch in diameter—black, succulent,' sugary and rich/ A few' mulberry brees Avill add bo the valua and:. beauty of any place, and aa.ll be a source of deligb'b bo bhe children. The older mem bers of bhe family Avill nob fail bo' appreciabe the delicious fruib when bhe trees commence bearing, and will thank us for calling their attention to it.—" Cloverdale Pacific Sen tinel." .'"'..'_ : . .. ....','i, '.' Lifting Trees. - In lifting any kind of tree,, especially Avhen the leaA-es are on it, the roots should never be divested of soil; oh the contrary, as good a ball as possible should beretained. When trees are treated as in properly: con ducted nurseries, the roots can always be had in a compact ball; being often lifted and transplanted Avhen young, ~bhe i roobs become mabbed in a very confined space, and planbs of bhis kind may , ahvays be moved Avibh safeby. Crowding' tiie roots into' a small hole is a great mistake.. This may not kill the plant outright, bub ib will check ib for years bo come. When lifted, the roots should never be long exposed- to the influence of sun or Avind. This is one of the A-ery Avorst bhings' bhab can happen bo bhem, and should be sbricbly aA'oided. When planbs are brought in. from , a nursery, it is, of course, impossible to planb them all at once ; but the first attem tion they require is to Sover tip the roobs wibh damp moss, sbraAV, or soil. '■" As bo pruning and cubtihg generally, the period named in Avhich planting, niay bedone also: ansAvers for these operations. We begin cutting our bushes about this time, and go on from time to time as the 'weather-and other work AviHalkrw until March.- That this time is right Aye have annually ample proof in the luxuriant manner in Avhich bhe tree, growr afterwards, lb is only hedges, laurel banks, and upright growing bushes near the edges of Avalksron- avMcli Aye use the shears, the knife or bill hook being the favoiirite for all natural-growing bushes. Notes. Black mucky soil is usually the best for onions. " " • - i . ;: . - ..-' Milcbing potatoes where; the land is good, Avarm and moist naturally will nob benefib, bub Avill riitKer deteriorate them. , ~ Never be.Avithout a kitchen garden; It saA^es time and money, preserves good health and keeps aAyay the doctor.. , -, .;; Unless a proper system of manuring be employed, the besb result, in farming, of no matter Avhatbranch, cannot be obtained. Seedlings i are apt to succeed best1 where they originate, hence the many disappoint ments when the varieties are transferred to other sections.'"" ■ ' ";' '-''■' ! " Useonly those manures you are thoroughly . conversant •Avith. Adapt your products to i your land. Raise only;the best and most • salable varieties 1 Of'anything, and cultivate I thab Avhich you are acquainted Avith. .A Wisconsin farmer claims to have found , a sure care for potato bugs. ' His plan is tb plant one' or tAvo flax-seeds in each hill of pobaboes. Afber ben years of success he ■ says bhe bugs will shun the potato patch i thus treated every time.''' ' ' "'■--:'' '"'. J The improvement' of such soils as, are of ! an inferior'character may be effected in the , following manner: Clay soil, by the addi-1 I tion of linie, gyp&um;' or 'sand V "sandy; Soil I uiay-'-be improved by the a:ddition_of_ clay, j lime or gypsnm ; calcareous soil by the ad- I dition of clay and vegetable mould.

STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By-~Eutee_ c ,)

Mrs Dr. Pom is stilling ni v./ ~ Grosvenor private Aiew^'^^; attention to herselfby eo __ tC: '^# M ?™s;a^»» % ' "Longman's"; and " Judi^ »-bbatl. . powerful little'tale, 'by£wi* Btbn & the " Gentleman's." 7 ™aS-W^n_a_^ "Joyce," the new serf. _a_.' "' ' « Blackwood's » for £{ffi^k Mrs Watford, autfi_fegWj etc. «The Frozen ___Jl mith>' 4 ghosb sbory by. the ever __}„._ _ "^ Russell will run threuK!&« tween June and December. '^1.;- & The Academy this v__ v-■ _~ > may be termed 'popuW r,^ ln %' quires but little art'SKf*'?lt * bheexquisibe delicacy and coW. 1"*?* ; P. Leighbon's "mUSS#: lovely woman gazing AvitH'a-hfe^' 4' apprehensive heart dub onS^ or the pitiful tale .suggXfe* son's "First Quarrel "^P-M^- World Wanderer "a Greekfe i]i eyes burn Avith.th. fire'odS^ ing in the rocky bavof an ,?_.^, 1* z_ Nesfc" W^iJSi The. second gallery at' tte Acadeinv _' dominated almost 'enthelyhy'^vif Waterhouse's immense.anvas repr4e_i!" Marianne the wife of HerrfS; going forth to execution.-'' ' ■ "' ™ Mr G. A., Storey's-"'Youn^'P^,^ deserves special mention, if 4lyM:! ato shall certainly see i.engravedereS A merry party in'the costumes offe'S century have b.enr;_rij.yi ng an^'ftS feast outside a country inn.: -Th* landn. now presents his bill to the K'osfc, |_ 0 "£' he has nob money enough to" settle it' W young prodigal's face of di.may, hi. gg jeers, and the landlord's perplexity _S admirably pourtrayed. "Jotn' Pettie's 'C Strings to Her Boav " is,another w..lr„ similar character. A coquette walking fc tAveen tAvo gallants gives an arm to eai"; '. At the Grosvenor, Mr'BiirneJoSe.<__.' again stands facile priihps. :.."TKe'B_leM Head " represents Perseus' sitisfyih* i dromeda's curiosity...with regard to%: Medusa. It isa .vohd_Mpic_'_,'*'': . Equally .fine, in a different way,'isi_.f Richmond's " Icarus' Preparingriifot:.jflj Flight," Avhich dominates the end ft_\ western gallery - :ir ;"'': ''.'";'■ ■'■'■" '-:> .-. : Mr Calderon's "In Forest Deeps" defies description, much as his" "Ariadne"di_ A lovely maiden, witha sweet; pensive is, and rich golden' tre'sses,",has' hb..£b_tJ_a t . on a hot afternoon in' a.'tjuiet pool in tin lonely depbhs of a deliciou_y'gMiior_t, She has seated herself, still _n_e^" on till niOssy bank and fallen mtd.a!__.erie,%M judging by the tende'rh^h-'iHhereyes,l^! something to do Avith love. •'"''.-' a' '■■-~\ . ■ I "can also recommend Pffiice 3__JMti__. lorig-promiseddescription .flWrfeMeiiai in French .and Russian: prisons,'and'an'eii-r thralling book of anecdotes .dn'"Duell_ti' Days in the Army:" BotHafepubli__l.; Ward and Downey, at 6s. "i Miss Genevieve Ward, and Mr W,: 11,1 Vernon' returned to -Eriglan3:on'April26, after a seven months';td_r:'bf'theUiiitel States.,' ' They: intend'lconhnencing-lai! autumn tour of the Englisli; provinces to August 15.' ' '. A motett society has just been'formed in Christchureh, and: at iw firsticoncert Mr Milligari Hogg (fprmgrly pf Apck|and)'__| the "Young Recruit Wf'.r-f.p&if the concert' consist.-' of'*1 ScntunamirS! "Requiem. ' . " Harry Rickards is in England_rmiiig- ; variety company for the purpose of ,viat_g the colonies about' Christmas time, aa \ . "'Madame Madeline Schiller, the pianiite, is about to revisit the colonies, alb _ absence of something.likels'ye_iJ- The liberal support giyen in.thisxoloßTta, _he'C.-_i-;OpW-Cor_^ our shores' is said to be likely'to resulc in the Aisib of two'or thred. other''large '«.; panics,; the managers 'of -AvludKha^ta communicating-with Mr ;&' S/Smytifc! j The. musical amateurs of iChristchnrcb. have just produced " The Sorcerer,' fl| good financial results. . ~•'.. ■ About ' 130 guineas ..have ! heea: coD* among the pr6fessib'n!for'Mr:Geo'rge;.l)jM whb'-is'just''re'eovenng'tforii Hi lopgnw! serious .illness..., A benefit performance w given in Sydney on June IL , j Mr "Alfred Wyb'ufd. t_eatoal n«Sj ahd'a^ent; Avhb lefbNewZc^Md forSrteji three Aveeks ago, (intends retunm.!' *uji Avith' a really good Christy jjfiffljjgw variety company, '..''. "'"..';^',,. f .-,." a; Mr Woodroffe'aiidhis company of etoj blowers lefb for Sydney pK^'Mß mosb, successful bour through' New;» during which, it is said, tho propnetffl to made oar £2,000 ' ' , . jt . Madame Valeria, suppoi-t-dbpomeP leading artistes in London;-intends m the colonies a visit during fl»,o?«^Jj the Adelaide Exhibitibnnow: open^aw. is fal-o:e:vewprob%baif«^g New Zealand.1 Mr Eadchfie (tbe ito"M Avill accompany them." ''"-;' _, ,_; The lasb literary '»*Mb*J{J pleted was a short story fcMg low" called -"SUent.'forJvAr.. M laid down the pen she^arbedfog "My work is almost done.,, Itujfig I shall never write much more. >-«> wrote another line. :; ,'!',. .^..i^-iijb' •Of' herTe-appeai-ance;m.Mdtafflg Amy Sherwin is entitled to ( us UJ laconic 'aescripUyov P |Ta|,^^ vici."''- She'Avas'received with »i| K tion, the press. critics.axe^amg fo praise, and she is'now m .r» U&y' popularity.:: The "Age, .gS^jft'sftj now returned Avith fully'matured, a perfect'miste^ of vocalisation, and havi^ngac|S|'| self in Eiu-opeuniyef#topffi&r,,)I|.1 |. ceptance as an'artist of th. Sherwin's Voice is of the'n^ Wgi. I p'^ecblyWenpoughotoW^^l m^dic^>,.the/.i^g^tel upper notes-a rare attnbuteAvnu ■ having so-extensive - y ii: cution of florid passages ■■■f I M<So_\ in the powerof representmge^J ;s!s | expression her singing *^%_WIM I mLa is pa^icuW^^Wlii no'simulabed .sound, but thei crae^^ | duedatthewiUof the vocal. ,hj j t . same-sweet-penetratmg_ quality . used in full volume." i^.L^f : ' remarks : " Whether i»»^J^fc or in forituri,, she; sangTj» finish and'refinement,andw.|. 2 J|r {aJ ftl of contrblbver bh. voice,-j fa^oMM resources of her < art, and |SttA*| feehngsas to place her u.^^. f front rank among tJe^iV! vocalists of the day.-T^*tt| that '"Miss Sherwin has I#DoJ.|,.| purity and, sweetness.of„W?^|t| always the disbinguishing \jg?o M her voice. She has gai^d » ■ arbisbic control of the tones .«■ The same paper.;, g^ r^B Johann Rhodes, solo.i^fj^'l pany " as aybungma^;W«rp^|l easy master'of the ff.^gft^l in violin playing." pany also comprises^ f\^ .■•■.mM_)__ ' ftenor). Mr Arthur >- S^A^SfJgl accompanist);' Signor J^g^mm buWol'.HerMelbourneseasbnci^^jUl day last, and she how go& ' S|^ei»i|| two or three Aveeks, '«d'.&*'iß(M« to, this colony," starting at From New Zealand South Wales-ted Q^ffS^W open in Melbourne ab the ena , |

the; Auckland evening star/ Saturday, july 9, 1887,

2



In estimating the totalisator dividend £1 is taken all through as tho value' of the ticket.where it was £2 tho dividend has been halved ; and it may be further explained that the figures represent the average divi- dend where separate machines were run in- dependently of each other. This is the best way to calculate the dividend. The out- come is, that if a man had put a sovereign on the first favourite in each of the above races he would : Mave received' £%i Is Bd, and, deducting his £24 invested, would have come out a winner of £10 Is 6d. Tho moral is—back first favourites. This has been an exceptionalyearfor favourites—they nearly swept theboard until the autumn,but I think we may take it as a general proposi- tion that it is more profitable for a poor man to follow the judgment of the exports than to prospect for outsiders on the off chance of a big dividend."



Senior Cnp.

i to . « . m _, ; •2 ■§f , -^A e s c "a 5 S-9 ° 2 g 08 org | Grafton !.. .. 6 5 10 43 11 North Shofe .. 6 5 01 3i 12 Ponsonby... .. D ill 108 7 Gordon !.. .. 6 3 0 3 67 23 Alberts •-. .. C 2 0 4 20 39 Auckland .. (3 1 0 o 0 1/ Waiteuiata .. 6 0 0 B 2 18

Junior CopJi

3"B ' £3 I *"0 "'Sm ,<5- -a u ." 5 . rt 2 a 2 3

Ponsonby i .. 6 6 0 0 40 2 North Shore .. 6 4 0 2 16 12 Grafton 0 3 2 1 24 7 Auckland .. 6 3 1 2 2 9 Waitcraata .. 6 1 1 4 11 ■ Q United A. .. 0 114 2 18 Gordon .. • .. C 0 1 , o 0 , di