RANDOM SHOTS.

Tby zamiel;]

Homo writo. a neighbour's ift.mc To'lash, , Some writo-vain thounht-fiVnccdfi'.: dash,; Some write to plcaso t*o country clash. } And raiso a am, Cor me an aim i eovcr fash— 1 I write for fun. /

HJjfK Holy War in Tonga o^ors such a tempting field for remark: rtiat I cannot re-, jrain rora "'iovproving tho occasion," iapvopos of the recent attompteil assassina vtion of tia Promior of that most Chrietien «nd enlightened kingdom. Tho text of my •di?coureo might bo—"Behold how thoso Christiana love each othor!" But in my •discursive stylo I prefor not to bo bound down to a eot subject, or branch of 9 s'ib ijecl. It is inotmctrvo to contctrciilato how •thoroughly nud completely iho Tongans 4inve boon taiipht the fcssona of intolerance, malice, hatred, persecution, and tnurdor, which hay« 'accompanied the progress of Wirirtinnily in all agos. Of course ihoso «4iiii£B nre not part of tho gospel of thePrincD of Peace. Paul, I admit, saya so'ftr?,thtng •equivalent to coneigning to perdition tho ■toaohera of falso doctrine} b-Jt Iho Bpirit of genuine Christianity 13 marked by a broad love and toleration atfi non-resistance'to persecutors. Strife aad onvyings are the •devii'-F tores among tho good seed, in which ■caeo it csinn-ot Jail to strike one that tho Old ■Gentleman is a better agriculturist than the ■exponoota of Christianity. But how, in the naoio of wonder, came the Arc'a Enemy to got such an entrance into Tonga? There was a special field, a? it were, set apart for tho holy Wssleyans to cultivate: tho good seed was scattered broadcast, and great ■sroro the rejoicings over thousands reclaimed from heathendom and added 10 tho 'Church. Tonga was "saved;" its people wore noted for thoir seal, piety, aod good works ; they were not debased by whisky-drinking or other European vices ; yot it 13 plain that the Arch Fiend has found an entrance iuto that paradise of palm branches and dusky eaints. Vicious literature cannot bo blamed, for tho Tongnns have been delicately nur tured on psalmaand i?ytans, with occasional indulgence in shorthand and " quadratic equations!" Vet they havo plainly been contaminated, in s-pite of the fact that tho parsons have had them all to themselves.

What shall we say than ? _A Sp3nish pro verb supplies the answer in the sapient remark that--"It is by the priest's skirts *bat the devil climbs into the belfry 1" That's fiow he got \nto Tongatabu. " Holy Tonga" has had so many parsons that His Satanic Majesty would have no difficulty in getting a hold of a black coat-tiil! In truth, however, "tho root of all evil" is at tho root of tho pocalled religions differences in Tonga. It is not so much zeal for tbe Almighty, as zeal fov the "almighty dollar," that has led to the witbreak of veiled re bellion, which Vros culminated in tbe at tempted nsstnsrnation of the Kov. Shirley Baker. All was peace and love until Mr Baker conceived tbe patriotic plan of form ing a national church and keeping Tongan money in tho country, instead of pending it in contributions to the Sydney AVeeleyan Conference. The applo of discord, as usunl, is a golden ono, and tho goiden rule •of modern Christianity appears, in Tonga as elsewhere, to be—"Grab all you can !"

For tho <ast fix ycore or to, tho Wesleyan Church in Tonga has been preaching sedi tion and resistance to the Jaw ander the name of religious freedom, ant! during the pamo period tho Freo Church has been preaching persecution, cuelty ar.d oppres sion in tho puiso of loyalty and patriotism. Everybody knew a collision vai bound to occur aconer cr later, and not a few foretold that the storm would break on the head of the" Tui Tea" o.- White Kiig. No d^ubt part of the education of the persecuted Wes leyan nativos, who are well read, consisted of interesting historical extracts showing how tyrants had pori-hed by poieon, dagger, or gun • Bhot, and how the aseaetins wero praifed rb tho liberators o f their country. This, of course, is not in tho Wesleyan creed, but tho devil is an adept at- turning all institutions and evils to hia own end. How the Old Identity must enjoy tho Pandemonium which dot exists at Totigatabu !

Another reflection suggested by the

(situation is the ease with which I lie re claimed eavago throws oh" tho veneer of civilisation and reverts to bis natural instincts and habits. Thoso "Friendly lelandorf," as Captain {'cok called them, wero always ferocious, bloodthirsty, and * desperately wicked, but they wero also treacherous ni hill its-tlf. Long years of Christian influences havo not Eradicated those traits, though ibey have doubtlesa had the effect of making thepcople moO con summate hypocrites than they were before. Then one c.imijt htlp thinking of "the engineer hoist uith his own petard," in connection with the recent attempt on tho Premier's life. Ho had instituted a standing army and Tongan Militia ; had given the people fire-arms and taught them how to use them ; and lo ! an ungrateful people turn the weapons against himself! Both Mr Baker and Mr Moulton may ba profoundly thankful that the attempted murder failed ; but tho event will none the less mark an important epoch in Tongan history. It probably means the utter ex tinction of Wesleyanism, after a short but agonising struggle on the part of the op ponents of the clerical Premier. Like the recent volcanic disturbance at theee islands this religious eruption will cause a great smoke and dust; more people will be frightened than hurt probably; and the Autocrat of Tonga may learn moderation from his experience, and all will go on prosperously. There will be no necessity for British annexation to settle matters. The party of sedition used to be identified with British interests as opposed to the Loyalists, who were said to bo in league with Goimany, but the fact of Mr Baker placing himself under Biitieh protection removes all fear of international complications ! " Tonga for the Tongaos " is Mr Baker's motto. I havo no doubt he will give the culprits in tho recent outrage n Emart taste of Tongan law, and then I fancy somehow ho wili have a call to retire into private life, in pursuance of his very excellent motto.

" Never prophesy unless you are certain" is one of those wieo injunctions that are constantly beinjr quoted only to be ignored. If I have offended against the maxim, I have at least sinned in good company. A letter now lies before me from Mr C. J B Goldcr, of Waipawa, in which the King of Prophets says : —" Providing the numerous earthquakes that have been felt lately are those that in 18721 compared to the study of rotten eggs, violent shocks of earthquake may be expected on or about February 14th—15tb, 1887." That is a provisional prophecy, but it has tho merit that we havo not long to wait in order to put it to the teat. If we have violent earth quakes on Monday or Tuesday next, Mr Colder will have made good hia claim to the title " King of the Prophets;" if not, then it will s-imply prove that the recent shocks were not "the study of rotten eggs !' Tho King (of VropbcU> can do no wron™, and his claim to inspiration will in no way bo affected. But i?n't it a measly sort of prophet that cannot be certain whether hit) predictions of 15 years »gf> havo been fulfilled ? I fancy if I predicted " rottnn etrgs " on a piven date, my olfactory organ would lot me know whether thoy had arrived or not. But pro bably prophots "ain't built that way "

I have formally pointed out the infallible lest whii'h 510.!cs p37;i for tiiseriniin.'iting between a truu and a false |iropiiot, viz , to wait and fee whether hia prodic tions were fulfilled. (He was a great man. was Moses, and n knowing coon be=ide<!) Bat what could Moses have made of the King of Prophets? If tho prophet him self cannot decide whether his predictions have come true or not, how are outsiders to settle the question ? Mr GnMer might make a fortune as a pportinp ■• upstnr" if he could always givo as oracular utterances about horee-racing am he has given about earthquakes.

What an ejcciling epieojo wai that re corded the other day of the escape of a long genteßOj convict from Wellington Gaol, bio exploitp, and his ultimata recapture ! I make bold to say tbat the criminal in stinct was so elroDL' iv many readers of tho romantic ntory that they sjmpathieed with Crnbtreo, atid fervently hoped that be would escape (the minions of the land and snjoy the freedom for which: li» iiaJ made such a bold dart. And that

is ndtnattor for wendo'r, for in this case the; Criminal inctin'ot w.as somehow identified, with tlra instinct of liberty—one. of., the; pivilestfeelingß of human nature, and which' has inspired some of the moat horiic deeds on record. Bympathy w'ttri.lawlefsneaa is wrong, provided tha'j bur laws are right; but doubtlefa t. good deal of sympathy with, orimihala is based upon a dooplyrootod con virtton that our laws are many of them wrong and aro very often wrongly ad ministored. Personally I cannot approve of attempts to amend tho laws by violent meana, and I was very glad to learn that Crabtrce \ras once morn in safe keeping, while the craven way in which he cowered before his captor was almost as grand a toslimoni.il to tho majesty of the law as was the helplefsnoss of the Great Barrier Lion in the toils of Constable May of tho Now South Wales police.

la Wellington thero has been openly cx profssd sympathy with Crabtroo, and people havo argued that ho was entitled to his liberty for his clovernees in cheating hie warders. Tho symathy crops out in a tale gram sent by tho Press Association Bince his capture, stating that t>abtree's object was to protest against tho unduly severe sentence passed upon him, and that he meant to "cake it hot "for Judgo Johnston if he Rot the opportunity. Fancy tho horribly lawless instinct that must havo prompted the sending of puch a message broadcast over the colony. Tho Press thereby constitutes itself a Court ot Appeal from tho prieon-house against judges and a medium for the conveyance of threats, of violence by criminals against the repre sensati%'cs 01 law and order! Surely "criminal instincts" could no farther £0 than this !

» » * ft » , The oel as an artiole of diet is rising in public estimation. The oel 13 palatable and nutritious, but it is possible to have too nfveh of a good thing. Eela have their place in the domestic economy ; but they clearly step out of their sphere when they come popping out of tho wator-taps and wrigglo about in our teapots, &c. The en gineers who plannod colonial waterworks appear to have a fondness for eels and hevo madeprbvisionforthe'irfreedistribution that make 3 one think of eelymbsynary mutter*. TWo recent instances nro recorded of Aucklandors getting big eels in their water-tap?, but wo aro well off in com parison with tho people of Welling ton and Wanijnnui. The first named borough has provided waterworks at a cost of £200,000, and tbo water ia by the majority of tho people pronouncod undrinkable. Tho Wanganui "Herald" Fays of the local supply :-'■ Tho water now being supplied to tho burgesses of Wanganui is disgU3tincrly bad ; it ftinke of dead eels as plainly as possible, and will bring about a virulent epidemic if not seen to and remedied at once." Let Auckland folks accept gratefully tho live eels which they got in their water as a welcome addi tion to the food supply in theeo hard times. "Dead eels" they might draw the line at with all propriety !

While trenting of things prophetic, it is fitting that I should notice a most eccentric communication that has been handed to mo. It is docketed—"From Came, the great Re former—for publication ; waste no time," and come 3 from tho district of Matakana. This document is tho most awful farrago of blasphemous nonseneo that it ever fell to tho lot of a sane man to peruse, and if its author is not insane, I should judge him to be on tho dangerous border land. It"does not surprise me to find that he has eovoral grievances. Thus he says :—

"I wrote to editors, prießts, lawmakers, and judges, but they have treated tho most daring warrior ovor been in the world with silent contempt." Again, ho opens fire on the New Zealand Government in these terms ; —

•' Many hive protended to inform respecting the troubles at this time. However, thoir prido ban been fo trreat. the little farmer's wisdom hath been (Implied b? the leinied, and even the Government. u£ New Zealand, so-called, a-e pluonirg and eclieroing to rob me ot my free gratt without I sell mjFClf to their nod, Injus tice Somi-yrarsagoit w<Beaid.'You will not be inteifered with without you etand in tha way in deflanca ot our law.' No one but a mongrel brute or mongrel men would hang or tlo3 an human soul. I am not con c to war against those who never daw life btfore si eing Booh in thii world, but to fight /or them. lam oorne to throw down and to lift up."

If Buch a mighty warrior would condes cend to accept a little plain advice, I would give it in this wise:—Attend to your daily duties and let prophecies and visions severely alone. Do not nurse imaginary grievances. Do not imagine yourself to be " somewhat," lest haply tho world refuses to recognise you na " Camo," and rather pronounces you to he "Gone," and has you "Sont" to tho Whan !

I road the other day that tho only real live champion moan man had been captured in tho mercantilehauntsof an American city, and that ho waa under offer to the great Yankee t\ owraan. Possibly mean eqod have a ereater commercial value in America than el-swhere, and if so, New Zealand has the opportunity of entering upon a profitable export trade. For if all lam told is true, we having living in utter obacurity in Auckland aa individual who would reflect lustra upon the " mean " department of the Barnum show, if euch a department exists. He is a young man of gentle, un fi°suming, and kindly qualities, and is an idol amongst a ?e!ect circle of Sunday school damsels. Fortune recently placed him in possession of two complimentary tickets for a show, and he sallied out in search of one of his fair friends, in the hope that she might be induced to bear him company. She was already buried in the sweet society of a lady friend, to whom our Adonis was introduced. He magnanimously invited the couple to accompany him to the show, and deeply eensible of the honour conferred upon them, thoy fluttered into their Sunday go-tomeetings and tripped along gaily by the side of their entertainer. The door of the show was reached in duo coureo, and the gallant e?c^rt slipping ona of his " passes " into the hand of his "friend," presented the other himself, and the two passed inside to inspect the beauties of the horticultural display, while the guest tf the twain was left abashed on the door-step. Fortunately, she had money in her purse, and paid her way, but the depth of her contempt for the parsi monious escort is unfathomable. The championship is still in doubt, Barnum's most recent acquisition to the contrary notwithstanding.

I am indebted to a correspondent for drawing my attention to a fact which serves as a curious commentary upon the action of the New Zealand Executive in protecting the domestic cat, as a " natural enemy of the rabbit." It appears that, in Australia the cat has been proved to be a very differ ent sort of animal than our rulers in their wisdom have "declared" it to be. In Wimmern district the cats that have been turned out to cope with the rabbits, have, instead, entered into matrimonial relations with them, and the result is an offspring that possesses the worst features of both parent!". The cat-rabbit or rabbit-cat of the Wimmera eats grass and every green thing in the fields, and it can also catch mice and run up trees after birds- The Wim mera "Star" Fays that " The head, fore feet and hnlf-the bodies of each animal partake of the nature of the cat, while theofherquarters resemble tho rabbit, even to the fur." Two of those monsters have been caught and placed on exhibition in the sister colony. This cught to bolvb the dilemma in which my Mount Albert correspondent found himself; he has only to make-believe that the broods of young ones are cat rabbits, and he will have full license to destroy their, It is a curious coincidence that the place in Wjmmora where the cat rabbits were caught ii called Salt Lakp. Evidently the buck-rabbits of that district aro Mormonistic in their tendencies !

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

March 5 Onohutntaßaoi-K Club Mooting Marsh 17-Henderaon-s Milt Turf Club Anm.'il

Mooting?. . ■■ February 23,21. 2li. — Dnnolln Jockey Club Autumn Meeting. ! MarohßandD-Wanganui Jook y Club's Antumi Meeting. March 8 ond 10—Nnpier Park Boeing Chilj'a Autumn Me tirfr. 1 March 15, lfl. 17—H.iwko'a Bay Jockoy Clulj'd Autumn Moeiing. March 31 and April 1 -Tarnnakl Jockey Club's Anniversary Meeting. Apil 11 and 12 — Canterbury Jockey Clubs Autumn Meeting. April 11 and 12 — Auckland Kacing Clubs AulUnm Meeting. Oatos of Australian Races. F( bruary 20 Newmarket Handicap. March 3 A.ustrnlian &ip March 5 Champion ltuuo.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A Constant HE\dk« —Rublna bai never wjn a owo-niWo rat o. OM> SV-'dftT.—My.-rs rodo Cacelln in tho Selling Kaco at Takapuna on tho 29th ot Januaty, A I,ADY.-l>olan. tho jockey, was klllud whilo rldina Libeller in Ull3 Auckland Cup, on Deo. 26, ISSO, won by Foul Play. O.T —When Nooklaco boot Mitrailleuse in tho Newmarket Handini!> r I tho A H.C Summer Meeting, the six furljngs waarun in lmin. Hjsecs. Si'OBT —Silvermlno ■Kaa Bca'chod (or tho Av.s irallan Cup almooi imnmtltnoiy tho wei).-htd wcro coatod. Tills was on trn2lth of Junmir.-, and th<:y wote announced to be doc aioil as or before ttooa on that flay. ttifiScßiiiEß.—(i) Thorpe hRVJ boon four Now Z aland Clips run. tho flrtt content taking pluco in lbS:t, when Tasman won. Vunguaid, Vu-iUade, and Spade Guinea aro tho other winners. \2) Vaniiunrd w.in tho Now 7,3a lanrf ni'd Dunedin Cupsnad tao Great Autumn Handicap.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By HirroNA,]

Duiusc. tho prosent year the progeny of tho New Zealand bred stallion Manuka have been ins king their mark in several of the principal Australian han dicaps, and tho latost of his stock to ecore a success is Maori Chief, who annexod tho Hobart Cup on Wednes day last. At Caulfield on Boxing Day, 'M.inuk.Vs son Kohai proved successful in the Summer Cup, beating a good field, while exactly one week lator, Kitawa, anothor of the progeny of Mie Now Zoaland bred sire,waa triumphant in the Carrington Stakes at Randwick. Since Kohai'a win at Caulfiold, ho has also placed several other races to hi* credit. Manuka is now locatod at Mr John Field's successful brooding establishment at Calstock (Tasmauia), ■where Molua, Stockwell, Xasman and Co. first saw tne light of day, and being got by The Peer from Waimea, thoro could be no thing bettor on breeding grounds ; but it b not until of lato years that ho has had a chance to distinguhh himself, having been buried in obscurity in an up-country Victorian town. Waimea, the dam of Manuka, belongs to tho good old S r Hercules family, which has given us Zoo, Cossack, Tho Barb, Coquette, Yattendon, and so many other good onos, so that It is not surprising to hear cf Manuka getting racehoises when properly mated. Since the above was written, we havo news tliat Tasmania, a daughter of Manuka, won tho Tiroaru Cup on Thursday last. This aftornoon at Caulfiold tho Victoria Amateur Turf Club hold a meeting Two of tho loading events nro the Onkleigh Handicap, 5J furlonos, and tbo Criterion Stakes (for two year-olds), and the results of both events will bo interesting to turfites bore. In the first-named, thero aro a number of tho Newmarket Handicap candidates engaged, whilo for tho juvenile race Mr E. Mitchobon's colt Escutcheon appears in tho list of acceptors, with the impost of Oat 3ib opposite his namo. Hortoose, the champion two year-old of tho season, occupies the post of honour in the race with tho crashing weight of lOst lib.

Disowned and Torront wero withdrawn from all of their engagements at tho Dun edin Autumn Meeting on Wednesday last at 12.45 p.m , 60 that tho Hon. W. Robin son now has only Itopo left in tho Cup to represent hia interests. As the day ap proaches for the raco, everything points to Spade Guinea's chance of annexing the prize being more rosy, nnd the metalli ciuns are now refusing to lay her oxcopt at a very short price. Too following hoisea remain in tho raco up to date, but tho fimil payment,which falls duo on tho 21 at lost, is sure to sco several of tho number drop out: —

Pt. lb st lb Rublna .. ..8 2 I'atrlcian .. .. (i 7 Spado Guincu .. 712 Itarwrntrr .. (i 6 Hermitage ..7 4 Puck .. .. r, 5 1 it-bit .. ..7 1 Apropos .. .. i! 2 Leon .. .. 613 Wild D-uko .. B 2 Itepo .. ..0 12 St. Ives .. -. 6 2 Fair Nell .. .. 6 !) La Roso .. .. II 0 Quibblo .. ..69 Bereatonl .. ..60

Mr Thomas Cbirnsidc ha« arrived in Mel bourno with the youngsters he purchased nt the Stud Company sale. The Onyx filly, Maid of Honour filly, and the brother to Matchlock havo pone into Mr ¥. F Dakio's stable, while tho Sylvia filly and Lure filly go to tha Wcrribeo for a few months The Hod, W. Pearson's colt by Musket from Leiln has also gone into Mr F F. Dakin'a hands, and Mr E. Mitchel son's colt by Musket from Rosette and his filly by Mu'ket from Pulchra havo joined Mr W. E. Dakln's string. The following ore some of tho most recent wagers laid in Sydney on tho two principal handicaps of the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting : NKWMARKBT AMD AUSTRALIAN CUT. 1000 to 10 William Til! Rid s-a-dina 1000 to 10 Lochiel and Sardius 1100 lo 10 Volcano and Trident FOO to 10 Wil.tam Tkli and Trenton 1030 to 10 Lochiel and Nelson 1000 to 10 ' nohiel anrt Loohiel loro to 10 William Trll and i vldent 100' to 10 Mitral louse and Trident 10 0 to 10 MltralUeuv ani Trenton 1001 to 10 WillinTi Tell and Neleon 1000 to 10 Lochiel and Trid-uit 1000 to 8 lochiel and Trident 1000 to 5 Volcano and Graco Dirllng 1000 to S Middlemarch and T.idcut 1000 to 5 Mitraillenseand Nelton 1( 00 to S B ronlo Dron and Trident 1000 to 5 Nesoo and NeJaon

It appears that Mr Stead has pent the two-year old colt Maxim orer to Melbourne principally to take part in tho contest for the V.R.C. Sires' Produce SUko-, which

is run on the second day of the meeting. The first forfeit for the race.which Ml due last week, shows that out of tho 15S ori ginally nominated, 19 remain in. These are Patience, by Glorious— Catherine Peyton ; Lithologist, by Lapidist — Daphne; Branchi opodo, by Angler—My Novel; Nectarine, by So. Albans—Horticulture ; Perfumo, by Newminster—Primrose ; Matador, by New minster—Constellation j Bowmont, by St. Albans—Pardon ; Tabard, by St. Albans— Pilgrimage ; Filly by First King- Marigold ; Abercorn, by Chester— Cinnamon ; Aberdeen, by Cheater- Goldfinch ; Rosewood, by Maribyrnong —Roeedale ; Filly, ly Grand Flaneur— Mona ; Sylvan Queen, by Julian Avenal— Sylvan; Moorhouse, by Moorthorpe (imp.) —Geraldine; Escutcheon, by Musket — Ropette; Maxim, by Musket — Realisa tion ; Lenore, by Musket—Miss Laura; Whistler, by Conrad—Queen o' Scote. The nominator of the sire of the winner, and so is the breeder, to °ach receive lOOsovs, so that the New Zealand Stud Company stand a very fair chance of the cheque falling to their lot. Tho stake of the race will be worth considerably oror £1,000 to the winning horse. The following weights have been declared brtte Napier Cup, 1J mile, run on the Oth March : —

Pa«ha, o<i ; Waliiri, !) ; -Admiuti-trator. 88; Paarl. 8.6; Tigredla. 8.5; Hpado Guino-, 8 1; Quibble, 8.1 ; Silecce X; Apropoe, 7 13; Soudan. 7 9 ; Trickster, 7.6 : Rivulet. 7.1; Waplti,7; Mietery, 7; Pcot Vrer 7; Orwell, 612; Salisbury, fi 12 : Revoke, 6.10 ; Fariiin gale, 09; Kupe, 6.7; Clyde, 6 1.

Mr A. T. Danvers allotted tho weights

for this rape, and ho appears to havo np portioned them pretty evenly. To my mind Feail stands out as tho best treated, and I shall couple her with Pasha to supply the winneri

! A hor^e that ia freely talked of lately in connection with the Dunedin Cup ia Der wenter, and from what I hear tho party behind him are pretty confidont of tho re sult. During the profont season, the colt ha? been showing a good- bit of form at various meetings in and about Cbri?tchurch, and as he has only the exceedingly lenient impost of 6at 61b, he will not bo Btopped on that Ecore. Derwenter is to have the ser-

vicesof young Word-1, whohaa been srecia'lv retained to ride him in the race, and the hone has already been taken to Dunedin from Chrittchurcb. I may mention that Derwenter is a Tasmanian-bred one, being got by Manuka out of Mi?s Jackson, and v/as brought over here about three years aco alo ig with Ferernlother thoroughbrods. Mr J, Pilbrow is bis present owner. Word comes from Melbourne tbat al though Trenton looked somewhat wasted alter his arrival from Sydney the first couple of days, be has improved wonder fully under Ike Foulaham's care, and it? doing good work at CaulCokl,

The clorical ollicials of tho Victoria Kacing Club got terribly " mixed " ovor the ownership of Mitrailleuse, whilo the " Sportsman," not being satisfied with confounding her owner's .name with that of tho lion. \Y. Kobinso:>, gravely informed its roaderß in last week's i-mc "that einco Mitrailleuse was Dominated for Newmarket Handicap fho has bocaino tbo properly of Mr W. KobinEon I" Tho u.-ually well infonnad " Augur," however, pearaed protty cloar that a mistake had bson mndo over the scratching of tho dauahtur of Mu-ket, and in reference thereto I clip tho following explanation frcm !:is notes: — When tho full list of (ho nominations for the Nowmarket Handicap was published, the New Zoalnnd flyer, Mitrailleuse ap peared in Iho namo of tlio lion. \V. Kobin- Ciin. Subsequently I mentioned that thoro might bo flomo mistake, as tlio m:'.ro was running in New Zealand in tho namo of a Mr VV. Robertson, but tho V. li. C. ofTiciala seemed positivo on the point, and when a tolcgram was rocoivctl from !\o\v Zealand to scratch tho whole of Uio II in. W. Kob n eon'a hor?e<>, Mitrailleuso was thought to bo one of them, uiul t-ho was struck out at tho V.X.C. offioo. Still there was a, doubt as to the ownership of tho nviro, and v c-.blo gram was forwarded to Now Zealand asking for information, and a rcp'y cams back to the effect that she was not the property of tho Hon. W. liobioson, and another slat ing that tho owner of tho uiaro had not givon anybody authority to aciatch hor. Mr U. G. Stoad's Dunodin Cup candidate Fair Noll met with a Blight mishap at Kiccarton eomo fow days ago. Whilo doing a gallop eho eplit her hoof, and it has boon tho moans of driving her to im outside prieo in tho betting. Fair Nell ifl a daughter

of Apromont and Idalin, and It will bo ro mombcred eho fitiisho:) third to Disowned and Artillery in the Canterbury Derby, on tho strength of which t'ho h:is boen a bit fancied for tho bit; Foibury race.

I havo to thank Mr Sydney JamoP, tho secretary of tho Dunodin Jockoy Club, for fonding mo a Pross tiukoti for tho forthcom lag Autumn MoeMog. This liKio corapll mont tho gonial secretary of tho 1) J.O. for wards annually to tho" loading soribea in tho colony, and I can vouch that ihoso who put in an appearanco at tho mooting will bo in for a good time generally.

lii Sydney wagering on the next V.lt.C Derby and Melbourne Cup has already a« mimed vast proportions. Iluntingtowcr, Cranbrook, Abercorn, Bedouin, Carlyoii, Bscu'ichoon, Moorhouso, Sum itra, and I'or fumo havo b:en coupled in .loubloa for till tho money available ; and tho namo of llor tonso.who unfortunately ii nut in tho Derby, has boon written for tho Cup with all the abovo Derby Candida'os.

Tho pen has been put through Commo tion's namo for tho Champion Kaco, and it. is fcarod wo havo seen tho la-t ol tho old horse who, for tho pan three yonrn, him certainly been tho nio^t. pnpulur nag in Australia. Tho " Kportfmini " .fays ua ro gard.H sprint raco", William Toll ie nnquoa tionably tho Comnnti'in of tho day, and they look upon Tronton as tho old hui'rfo'd probablo successor, in point of public idolatry, over a distan-jj.

Tbo two Southern knight- of tlio poncil, Meters Woston and Drake, aro noil-known to be at daggers drawn, and a deal <'f foolintr and tpeculution was thrown into tho Uurdlo Race at Wairarnpn, in which only Aroha and I'otcr Ofbock, owned by tho gentry named, compotod. Both wci'O about equal favourites, and tho race re sulted in favour of Mr Western's hnno, who ivaa loooiving -Jib from L's'.cr CVlieck. 1 can wol\ Imagino how " Billy " ecroaiuod as Aroha finished past tho judge's box.

At, tho Ciiloutta Turf Club racon, run on tho 22nd and 21th Pecembor, thioo horsoa woll known iv Amtrulia uud Now Zanlnnd were woll to tho fore in competing for turf honours in tho Indian Empire. Tho lion. J. Whito's ca?t off Despot (now Morcury), won the Viceroy's Cap, (wo miles. Tlio .second place in tlio event mentioned was secured by tho Auckland bred Matchlock. Tho third place was bitterly contested by Sir lirovillo nnd tho Uawlturbury Handicap winner, Bting, and a dead licit resulted. The strain, however, win too fovoro upon tho last tncutionoi!, who soon aftor the con test died from tho efFecti of hia gallant struggle.

I've on idon (writes "Aucrur") that wo ghall havo a groat Derby at Fleminglnn next spring. Hortonfc, it. ip= true, U noi ongnged, but Huntingtowor, Monrhoiuo, Aberdeen, Abercorn, Suir.n'r.i, Bedouin, and Kfcut cheon aro nmnng tho good performers onpjugod, ami mo is tho Now Zealand crack Niagara, who is half-bur hi-r to Trenton i butthoroaro several whi h have not yot appeared from whom it i-« qiito likely tho winner will coma Tho lion. .Ihtilm Wliilo has a couplo of trind col!s in Carlyon nnd Cranbrook, and T. Lamontl hna two cqua'ly protuicing ye (,'sterti iv Bowmont. by St. Albsns from lVdon, «n-l n or.lt by Darobin from Uabenn. Mr \Y. X Uakin, too, has threo t:oii:l cols in Whakawni, Trantor, and Mana, and I t-hould nlmoet

fool di«po.-od to back those who Imvg not performed ngaintt tlio.-o who have,

Tho Coursing Club tit Chrfotchurch seems to bo in quite as bad a financial way as our IMumpton Pa>k Club At tho annual mooting ol tho shareholders of tho Canter-

bury Company hold a few days ngo, the

report upon tho la>t ycor'a working w;ib not of a very pftti-tactory character, hut was adopt.d without. dic?on«ion. Upon Iho roeornmendatiou of tho director? it was

resolved thit Iho unissued capital, consist

ing of 2,200 shares of .U each (out of a total of 4,000 share?, of which 1,800 were previously leaned and havo bcon caid up), should r.osv bo ctljrcd to tho public. In tho last issue of Iho " Roforco " appear somo interesting remarks with roforenco to stock got by colonial bred Ftalllona as com pared with imported entires*. Tho writer cays :—I havo been waiting to poo mmo abler s>cribo than myself tako up tho cudgels on behalf of tho colonial", but nobody appears tc do fo. In tho first place, entires imported from homo arc picked horses of tho best running strains, combined with sym metry and substance, for which, in most ca°e», Ion;: prices have boon paid. Onthoir arrival in tho colonies all tho bos-t im ported and colanial roaron are put to them, and it is only natural that their stock should be superior to tho'o got by colonial stallions out of second class mares ; but still tho rule does not hold good in all ca?es. Wo will take For instance tho soapon that Mr H. Redwood was supposed to be foolish in putting somo of his bent mares to Dead Shot. What waa the' rosult? Out of seven marcs ha reared livo foals, amongst whinh was Mata, tho champion horse of Now Zortland, and, I might say, Australia, for t,Aro years; Pin fire, a horto that, I think, started at Auck land by winning a Maiden, and won several races right off the reel ; Chokoborn, who, 1 consider, was rqually as good as either of tho above named, and f;jr bettor looking, but who unfortunately met with un acci dent in his first season after winning ono or two races; and Orango Lightning, after wards IJogardus, who never ran up to ex pectations, ereat things being several limes expected of him by different stabloa, but lia public form never appeared to havo been up to his privato trials. Tho fifth font was nover trained Dead Shot was afterwards n legated to this coast, whoro ho got no'hing but Maori and half-bred mares, but oven thon ho got fomo foals

thatcriuld hold thoir own and give lump 3 of weight to stock by imported horsoe out of tho samo class of mares. An other horso, Manuka, although now in his 20th year, in making n naino for

himself at last, having got a few good mares lat.torly in Tasmania after

having been buriod noarly nil his lifo in some obfeuro up-country district in Vic toria, nnd if wo s_'n bao'.t a. fow years, what

horro have wo had to surpa-s, or I miijht Fay equal, old Sir Hiroulo?, ovoryono of

whose etock could race, and nino tenths wore up to carryinji .'i Hat man a yrood joiirnoy. In fact, soruo of Uio ho.jf, linisen now r'unninu' are descendants of tho old hon-o, notably Trenton, wlio.^o jjroTSt (,'rand ilnm, 10, waß by Sir Horcnle?, a-ir many othorp, thus Bhowing that tho coloniui bred mares aro not to bo disparaged either as ftud matrons. I might naino many others b?lh hero and in Australia, but I think it would bo Bupui(luoii!>. But what I contend is that (h^ra aro colonial brod stallionp, equally "ell .■'.da|>teil for getting; racehorcsos as nine tenths of tho imported ones — pi-nvided they get equally (jood moroa. Undoubtedly tlioro is a lot of colonial trash at the stud throughout tho colony that oujrht to kayo had tho eearing irons u?ed on them in thoir foallnod.

From English papers I loom thnt tho following wero the amounts of thomostvalu able stakos decided in England durioc last eeaeon : -Eclipr-o Shakes- £10,000, Epsom and Darby £4700, St. Leger £44~>0, Two Thoufand Guineas £-1000, Oaks £.'!250, Ono Thousand Guineas £2050, Kpsom Grand Prize £2827, Prince of Wales Stakes, Good wood, £'2u"00, Coronation Stakes, Ascot-, £2450, Hardwicke Stakes, Ascot, £2488, Prince of Wales Stakes, Ascot, £2-123, Middle Park Plate £2383, and Manchester Gup £2201. These wore Ihuv each worth more than i'L'ooo to the wiuner, and in ad dition there were twenty fix other ovont-i each worth hetween £1000 and £2000 to the victor.

Colonial jickoya (says a Cliristchnrch, writor), almost without exception, com' pletoly ignoro tlio fact that thoy aro re quired by tho rulos of racing to weigh in afror a raco, whatsver may bo their position: at the linish. Thin o"il in on tho increase," and, unlo.'a the ollicials of our Metropolitan Clubs iiii'i-t upin Iho rule being observed, eomo axiious dilHnulty will toor.or or lutor ariso. I'ln.co batting ia not yot a popular form of wagering hew, and tho general run of backers probably do not attach much im pDioanco to the matter ; but the neglect to weigh in, in accordance with tlio lules, opens tho road to all ports of frauds. How vory eas.y it would bo for a favourite to put up n stono or more ovor-weight, and, as a consequonce, bo boaten altogether out of placo. The rider would never bo rcquirod to weigh, and none but fchoao immodiatoly connected with tho horso would bs OliO whit tho wiser. In this country clerks of ecales can hardly compbin that they havo not sullicicnt timo between tho racos to weigh tlio wholo of tho jockeys engaged in a raco b >th out and in ; tho intervals aro long onough to allow of tho riders being weighed half c-iczon timoa.

Victorian sporting authorities (says a Melbourne writer) aro just now much troublod ovor the proper course to pursue in a caso which Mr M. Loughli'i complained to tho stewards against M. O'Brien for striking Britisher on tho head «t the lini.-h of tho raco for tho Victorian Club Cup. In many quarters Mr Loughltn has been taken to task for having adopted tho court c ho did in tho hour of victory, but it ia on tho'mat. ter of principle that ho lodge] tho otn plaint, and from tho divided opinijns ox prosscd on tho subject it is protty clear that a rulo should bo introduced on Purfl an im portant matter. Whon investigating tho oa.Qo tho stewards nccoptod O'Brion'e ox p'anation that it waa an "accidont," but as O'Brien was tho enuso of a similar " acci dont" in tho Mc'.bourno Cup,won by Shoot Anchor, a stroke acro?s tho hoad lie gavo draco Darling preventing bur, ho it la said, from winning, it i*i cloar that tho introduction of a rulo ia nocosKiry to nicot futuro casos. Could it bo proved tint Graco Darling wan wilfully interfered with by O'Brien,tho committee would,in all pro bability, have impo?od n heavy disqualifica tion on him, find as tho rulo with regard to josil.ng makes no distinction botivcon in torferenco by design or accident, one similar in its bearings is required with what appon-rt now to havo beoomo a fie (juont occurrence. In ca =0i such as that vihioh Mr Loughlia complained of U is im paesibio to toll whether it was ' y accident or othonviso, consequently a h ird and fast law is necessary to moot it. Lord Wilton i.i said to havo ero.-s?d Cainorino in tho (;oitoi.g Handicap and interfered to such an extent as to prevent hor winning, but because Mr Davis refused to protest it doosn't niter tho necessity for such a rule ns that proposed.

CONDENSED ITEMS.

Nominations for tho Sydney Cup clo^o on till) llth February. Tlio Kelip-o Stakes (England) has clo?od with no fowor than .'!o.'i entries.

Mcvre Lyons and Boko, tho local book makers, leave on a vi.^it to Mulbourno no> week.

AdmlnUtrator collapsed in tho Wollington ('ui> when a milo and throe-iiuartora had been travereod.

Chrietchurch papers xtalo that Silvor I'rinco ia doing iisjful wurk, but still ap A cablegram received this woek stalo* that Mitraillcu'C, Nelson, and Maxim havo pafcly arrived at Melbourne. Nordonfoldt'e full brother Enlillado, in training at Uiccurton, is reported to bo v torriblo d»s in his work. Tho South Au-tralian trainer, \V. Filgato, has loff that colony fui Victoria, wlioro ho intonda pottling down.

Sar.lius, Trident, nnd \'i)lca-io, moro especially tho colding,havo boon doing good work on tho Flora ing ton training ground.

Tho total amount won by horses running nndor Nowmarkot ruloa during the la-<t IMiL'H.-h raciiiL' Hcn»on was £ 114,221 13s (i I.

Coir, a h.Vf brother to Trident, by Piscator, was found dead in his box at Kintna (N.S.VV ) ono morning rooently.

Mr E. Mitcholson has madoarrangomon with tho Fucces-ful local trainer,.! Koai to lako over bin horsos located at Koh maram'i.

Harvester, who run second to Maori Chief for tl>o llobart Cup on Wednesday last, \vai considoroJ almost a certainty for the

Ttonton Imn boon withdrawn from tho Newmarket Handicnp, ho that, it ie evident ho is to be specially kept for tho Australian Ciiii and Ohumpton Haco.

To members of Iho Victorian Bottinf,' Club havo movod into now promiccn, which aro Rituntn] a low doors above tho old rooms in Uotirko-ftrtol, Melbotirno.

II: is paid that ono of tho very best raeo horses in Tasmania is Vi-ion, by St Alban'a nut of l!:cswing, flo appoars among tho acceptors for the Nowmarkot Hand cap.

Another start hni benn made with the formation of tho tan ealloput Ellursli", and durii.g tho wool; Mr Percival has had a number "f men employed at tho work.

Tho 10-'s sustained by tho Canterbury Jockey Club in connection with their recant Summer Meeting on Boxing nnd New dear's Day is estimated to reach £S2O

Tho name nf tho Musket I'otrtilouso colt was omitted from tho published list of tho Great Northern Derby entrios for IS.S.S SO. It was simply duo to a clerical

Tlioro has boon a lot of growling in the South at Nol'on and L>chit>l no h, being fcratched for tho Dunodi'i Cup till tho last moment before thoir shipmont for Mcl bonrno Tho biggest horso in training in Austra li» at the present time i« said to bo lloynl Oak, a Bteeplochn?or, lately rocoivcd by Mr l'\ F. Dakia. Tlio horso reform! to stands over 17 hand*. Tim Mufkot—Moreoy colt purobosod by Mr D. O'Brien .-it tho Stud I'uinpany salo last month hna been named Mau'or, while tho Hon. W. Kobinson has ntttuod Nook lacu'a full brother Chain Shot. Shoot Anchor, tho Melbourne Cup winnor of ISS;">, is roportofl to Imvo pnllod up very ooro after running in tho (leolong Cup. After this season his owner intends ponding him to iho stud Tho Hon. W B. Dalley, of Sydney, always a lovor of hureofiosh, has determined to try his fortuno upon tho tuif O.io or two of tho yearlings disposed of at Iho re cent llobartviHo sale woro purchased for Mr Dalloy. VVillio liutlor, who rode Welcome Jack when ho won tho Now Zealand and Auck land Gups, intends turning bU attention to cross-country riding during tho winter. This has bciM noceiieiiatetl by him putting on too much flesh. Mr J. H Hoggin, tho American broi'i)or and racing man, who purchased Darebin and Sir Modrcd, talks of visiting Australia with a tonm of American horses for the purpose of competing in tho principil handicaps. According to thn alterations in Knlo 13 of tho Australian Jockey Club, a maidon horse is one that has never won an advertised prize on tho flat (matches excepted) at tho timo of runnincr, not at tho time of entrance, as used to bo tho caso. Tho No* York "Sportsman," spoaking of tho lottery of breeding racehorses, in stances tho success of tho Australian t«'o yoarolds Sunshade, Matador, nnd Yotman, mid pays their puecess is a sif.ire upon the pructico of giving extravagant prices for morofa^hionably bred though loescjmpoh nt performnrs. Tho Geelonff Gold Cup was won by Cuoierine, 7st 7M), riddon by M, O'Urien, with Shoot Anchor, flit, (6-;vllon), socond. Sunshado, with Sanders up, linishod third. This is tho second timo that Cainerino ha? won thh moo, tho first occasion being in ISBS. A Uallnrat paper i» rwp-nrible for the following : - " If n bnokmnker started with n capital of £500 in Victoria and plnyod it. up on ;C;")0 books sine!) January 1. ho would yesterday have bean a broker, but if ho h>d taken it to Sydney and played it up tboro hi* ' monkey' would havo increased to a ' monagorio ' ' Air Geortre Watson, the veteran startor, h-is been gfltling in troulile lately for in dulging: in tho prnctice of riospatching his fields whilo fitting in the saddlo in front of them Tho cnnsoqiiorci is that some of the horses are badly interfered with, and there is groat erowliog on all hands at the lie'" innovation. First Prince, who was only a short timo ago an inmate of Mr James Wilson's ?t,-iblo, and Telephone ran their two mile match at Forth (Western Australia), fchfl former carry ing fist and the latter 7st 31b, for A stake of £200 a side First Prince waa a decided favourite at 2 to 1 on him, and he won onsily by a couple of lengths in 3min. 43yef U'riti'B " Ausur " : " There was a goodly number of owners find trainers of horses around the V X C. board on whitjh tho WQijiUts for the Newmarket Handicap and Austrnlian Cup wero placed, and a wail of anguish wr.nt, up eimultanoouely from all when the handicaps wero posted. ' He's given tho blooming race to William Tell !' cried one, and there wa^ a general ohorua of assent."

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By AcT.iiON.)

FIXTURES.

SENIOR GD«»,

Feb. 12 and 1!) Auckland v.Hollands, United v,

Keb. 28 itud Mitrch 3 -Auckland v. United. Hoi-

March 12 und 19 -Gordon T. Auckland, Hollunds

v. Ui ittd. March 2(i and Anril 2—Hollands v. Auckland Gordon v. United. JUNIOR CUP.

BYb. 12 and ID-l'arnoll v. Gordon 2nd. Waite maia v. Natl na', Onehun«a v. Auckland 2:id United '2nd v. Ilollund 2nd. SECOND JUNIOR CUP.

Fob 5 fivl 12—Domain G.B. v. Gordon 3rd. A.C. and G.S. v. Kdon. Kcsebofry v. Alpha,

Klctiniond v. Albany. Fob. )Hand2C-DomninG.S. v. Kdefl, A.C und G S. v. Albany, ItOßeberryv. Auckland 3rd, Richmond v. Alpha.

AQUATICS.

FohruniT 12-Mercor Uegatto. lfobrnary l!)-Jiidi?e'8]Uy Regatta. March 12-A.K.A. Ke«ntta. July. ISS7-lliiiilan v. I'ccinor, UDitod fatatoo.

ATHLETICS.

BVbru irv 15 -St. Jlonodic.'s Foto und Athletic Tournarnoiit, Uilworth'a PncMook. March 5 — A..\ A.C. Sports, Domain Cricket Ground.

CRICKET.

Thk Sonior Cup matches aro now getting, to Eay tho least of it, exciting, and there promisos to bo a closo finish for first place botweon tho Auckland C.C. and Holland.

Gordon eeoms to bo in for hard linos this

ssaaon ; it xeoma only juet after tho " ever lasting " luck of last year, but though thoy aro at prcsont out of couut they havo not lost heart, but intend to make tho most of their outeido show. Hollands gavo tho United a good afternoon's leather-hunting, and though sevon bowlers wore tried it was not, till tl;o dcoro nheot showed 114 that tho lost wicket foil. In ppito of pluck and good Holding tho bluo find goldd could not pro vent tlio Auckland from socuring the 27 thoy wanted to win. \V. \V. Robinson wae fairly on tho job with 40, and tho old"veteran atill shows himself a safo bat. Gardner (35) and Hawkins (20) also scored well. Parnoll boat Auckland II last Saturday. Thoy nra now loading for tho cup, and unless they fall to pieces or have very bad luck, should win it hands down.

Tho match botwoon the Waitomataa and National proved very oxefting. Tho formor mado Ull i" their first, and ")0 in th(;ir pouond inninK J, while tho National had 04 In Ihoir iir.«t and 73 for 6 wicketa in their Hocond. Thoy had (liub'2o to f^ot for four wickotn when tbo bell rang. Thoy com plain, nthor justly, of tho boll being rung a quarter of an hour Fooner. This was of course agreod upon when tho programmes were drawn out, but tho Committoo nhould havo romombcrcd that thcro w»i soma noino last eoaeon about n similar occurrence, when it was decided that it would not hap pen again. tjleorgo IJiffon has boon oblitjod to undergo another oporation for his injured log, and ho i?, I rogrot to etato, likoly to be con fined to his bed for somo tiino. It is problematical wholhor ho will bo ablo to pay for hia colony (8. A.) against V:ctorii this month.

A meeting of tho representatives cf tho Cricket Associations, of Victoria, Now South Walop, and South Australia, takes placo this month to tako into consideration tho |iropo.-al to altor tho " leg before '' rule, and to incroano tho number of balls in tho over in intercolonial nnd international matches.

Tliofollowing iiguros epoak for thomsolvos in respect to tho bowling of Ferris nnd Turner in tho return match betn-oon New South NValos and Victoria : First innings : Tumor-80 ballH, 10 maidenp, 24 runs, i wickots. Ferris - ,'ili balls, 2 maidens, 17 runs, 1 wickets. Second Innings : Turner, SI balls, 25 riinp, 10 maidens, t wickots ; Ferris, 9G balls, i!S runs, 12 maidons, 5 wickets.

Speaking of Turner, \V, L. Murdoch pays : _" Ue was a bit of a toaraway bowlor in those! day?, but now ho usoa his head, varies hi^ paco, keepj a good longth, and on a wicltot that suits him I fancy ho baa no superior. Ho comes back at such a pace, you know."

ATHLETICS.

After nil, tim challenge* tn'Myor?, Maldno has p-iiil forfeit in his mutch for a quarter of a milo.

On January 2!Hh Kolfo, tho Australian bicyclo champion, an<) .Imuo*, tho TCnelieh professional, mot at Non-castlo in a match for i'loo ieldo ami the Champion ship of Australia Throo distances woro riddon. H'jlfo g< t tie best of tho start in tho milo race and won clovorly by livo yards in L'miri sojsec, Kolfo alJo won tho three milo?. Jauio-) led till tho last lap, when Kolfo coll.irod him and won by 12yards Omin 51 7-lOth see.

Tho year ISS7 will ever remain as a land mark in tho history of athlotic, ;md especi

ally so in Australian annals. Evovy day one picks up tho papor quito prepared for almost any startling piece- of athletic in formation. At present thoro ivre in Australia, W. G. Occrge, L. Myers, Jt. Hutchcms, T. Malono, C. Fnmuolp, \V. Clarko, F. Wo>:d, K. James, Con Dwyer, C. Woods, F. Bennott and llolfo, all champions in their linos, and thoy havu been astonishing us ovory day. Kocorda havo been broken and marvellous porformmcen done F. Wood boat Kolfo for livo milos, nnd finished tho last qunrtor in tho fastest timo over dono. Thon Rolfe has boaton James for ono and throo mils*, and in tho tost bicycle races F. Wood has won tho oro mile and Con Dwyor the fivo miles. Tnko, again, tho running. Hutchoros, tho English wonder, eupposod to bo in vincible, runs Charley Samuels, tho Queens land flarkoy, 150 yard?, and is done in tho fnst timo, II il-lOtili sec. The samo week Hutehrni puts Malono, tho Australian champion, through for tho same distaDco in 14 (i 10th sees, tho faetoet oi rocord, although it is not likoly to rank as such, as thero was a strong wind bo hind tho men Two days atter Malono ia again boaton by Hulchcne, this timo at 230 yards, in tho rocord timo of 25.1: bocf, tho previous boet being 2ti sees. Malono is then beaton by Samuels for tho samo dis'anco, and tli3 darkoy again beat Hutchens, this time making l/»{ eocs. But now comes the most wondor ful of tho lot,. Hutchens journoy to Melbourne where ho mot W. Clark, who laloly beat Malono, ovor 100 yards Clark got away quickest] but Hutchens collared him on tho Inpo, and the judges could not soparato thoni. 80 tho result was given " a dead hoat in '.!;,' eoc->."—a world record. Tho men ran tho tio oil', and Clark " won nil tho way," finishing a yard to the good in 10 sees. Two days aftorwards they met again in a ISO yards match, when Hutchens put his man through in 12;, sees ,—undorcven timo again. Tho third distance run was 50 yards, and though both got away well together, Clark romp3d homo two yards in front in tho fastest timo on record for the distance —5J- sees All this takes away one's breath, and we con only wait in wondoring expecta tion Tor the next.

Tin programme for the fifteenth meeting of tho Auckland Amateur Athletic Club has been published, and iho entries close next Friday. A vory good programme has been proparod and cotnpriaea 120 Yards Handicap, 220 Yards Handicap, 300 Yards Lndie^' Bracelet;. Mile Club Chnmpion ehip. J Mi!o Handicap, 1 Mile Handicap, 2 Milo Handicap (Walkinc) 20:) Yards llurdlo Race, (iOO Yards Handicap. Bicycle Haces: — 1 Milo Novel Handicap,

1 Milo Open Handicap, 2 Milo Club Handi cap, 3 Mile Club Handicap, 5 Milo Bicyclo lloeo tor Championship of N. Z. Tho moot ing is cortain to attract a great deal of attention, and with good entries somo sport will bo scon on the sth of next month, when tho races Qventuato. Most of tho runnors and bicyclists a^o in training already.

Mick' Monuock left for Sydney on Thursday to tiy bU luck in the Shellields thero.

rottingell, the middle we'ght champion of Now Zealand, had a rough time of it at Sydney on last Wednesday week, when he undertook bj fight tho champion atnateur of Australia, George Searl% to n finish Murphy seconded PoMinpell, f arry Foley acting in the samo capacity for ths amateur. Attor tho lirst round G. S. played up rough, and landod tho Maorilander somo hard cracks on the jaw. At tho third round ho was almost prostrate, and came up to time in tho fourth quito "groggy." Georgo then bptjan to play up old Harry with the professional, driving in his right and left in a ding-donu fashion. Pettingell was thoroughly dons as he left h>B crner for the fifth round, but though requested to throw

up the sponge, persisted, nnd tho amateur crawled all over him, and in the next round fjuve him q blow that sent hira to sleep, and failing to cime up to timoG. S. was declared the winner.

AQUATICS.

Tbofe who aro acquainted with Mick Keefe, tbe lake popular oarsman of Auck land, who stroked the Waitemata Whaloboat Crow to victory on eoveral occasions, will be

glad to hear that bo ia coming out as a Pcullor on tho other Mo. In a four oared race on Anniversary Day in Sydney M.cks crow won, and on tho same day iWW. Floyd, who ia not unknown hero, anct raicit | wero only just beaten aftef a Rplondui »co ; in a pair-bar l'aoe, Ho .intends t<>. 8t«* single eculliofj shortly. "Tndent in the "Sydney Mail," soys :-" Mick vi a Una typo of a man, and should make a great MOn ßeof the 1 0 t races at the Sydney Anni versary Regatta waa that botweon tho Waitaogi, Janet, and Magic. Allthrooatarted from scratch, and the raco proved very exciting, as tho Waitangi and Janet wero leading no loss than three sevoral times each during the course of tho race, and at no timo till tho linish did more than a couple of minutes separate them. Tho Waitangi evontually won by flightly over 2 minutes. The committee of' tho Luke Bathuret Rowing Club has disqualified Peter Kemp on the ground tliut ho wilfully fouled Nod Mattorson in tho final for the Outrigger Handicap Race, rowed on tho 1»KO on January 131 h, Tho caso ia to come into tho law courts. , , ~ The annual regatta of tho Judge a Biy Amateur Ilegatta Club is already attract ing a largo amount of attention, and trotn tho oxcellent prograramo prepared an on ioyablo afternoon should bo spent next Saturday. Ono of tho Matures of tho after noon will be tho ladiod' race. I hoar that two crews from Pontonby will contest this. Tho open event,-! comprise a skill' raeo, Rob Roy canoo raco, 18 feet, open eailinjx boats 4 ton yachts, and yachts'ding'oi. I would remind intending competitors in this last that by " bona lido yachts dingiou' id meant round-bottomed boats, not punts. Tho Auckland Rowing Association hold thoir second regatta on March 12th.

STAGE AND STUDIO.

(Ul- EUTKKIE.)

It i* mat tor for sincoro regret that tho Auchl >nd Orcheetral Soeioly has boen con-

strained by want of popular support to die band. Their conco.ts were always of a high class character, popular and classical music being nicoly balanced on their programme, und the performora, both vocal and instru mental, were invariably moet capablo ; a high standard of mueical oxcollonco was therefore maintained. 1 hopo Auckland will not permit itself to looso the onviablo distinction of being the only cily in the Australasian colonios that poMCSeoa an Orchestral Society, and thortfore I venture to BUggoat that stop? should be taken to ar range a subscription .season, which would pruvont tho disbandinont and furnieh v modus vaxndi to tho Society.

Mr A. A Whitohorne'e " Hurry Scurry ' polka, published somo time since in Auck land, forms part of tho Christmas supple mont of tho " Musical Maga/.iiiD.

The coining scionco—or nuieanco- h said to be cheiiosophy, or cheirognomy, or cheiromancy. You learn everything that you don't want to know by studying tho lines on pooplo's left hands.

Mr John Morley'a woll-known soiion of "KngHrh Mon of ustter.i" will now reach oven n wider public, Mosera 9J Hcmillan and Co. being übaut to issue a shilling edi tion.

Wo eolUom hear of Mra Henry Trvin K but it in now announced that that lady with her aoim, Honry and Ijiwrence, vvil givo an ontcrtaininentat Cboltonham.

Tho junior pi'izo in a de^criplivo letter competition for children 8 years and ni'.Jer has just boon awarded by the Otngo " Wit ness" to Mies (Icrtrndo I'rovo, diui'litcr of a well-Uiiowa ar.d ro.s[.o;tccl former resident of Auckland.

Three foreigners aro exhibiting a per forming hoar throughout Canterbury. The atjitnal's progranimo includes handling n polo as a soldior handles a riflu, dancing, tumbling head over heels, fhaking hands with and licking nh master's faco. Dioro is al^o a wrestling bout between tho bear and bear-master.

Mr Anton, a memborof the Iloyal Comedy Company, had a very narrow escapo from drowning at Christchurch recently. Jfo was one of a boating party, consisting of most of tho members of tho company, him er-lf occupying a canoo. Whon about oppo sito to tho hospital, tho sanoo capsized, and ho w.is thrown into the water. Thoiißh able to swim, ho bocauie culanglod in tho weodt>, and waß rapidly becoming ex hausted, acluilly sinking twice, when two gentlemen of tho party managed to givo ii'm aHHiotnnco, and licopiug him all >at by tho aid of paddlon, ultimately roscued him.

A rccont jtlctiiiicite taken among kul> cribold of Ul3 " l'all Mall (Jn;-.jtlo" on Iho journals of tlio day resulted an follows:— Tlio beat Engli^ll ami bts<t daily nowe papor, "Tiince;" bept weekly, "Specta tor ;" best Liberal, " Daily News;" best Cuneervativo, "Standard!" best comic, " I'unch ;" best " Society,'- "Truth ;" beet roligious, "Chii-tian World;" worf-t Eng lish newspaper, "I'olice Now." " Lloyd's" ran tho " Hpeotntor" very clo?e, and the " Saturday Review," " Graphic," nnr! " Illustnited London News" were closo on its heels " Truth " was a long way ahead of the " World," and tho " Evening News" had a clofo run with tho " I'alico News " Tho "Pall Mall Cazetto'1 and "Budget" wcro of courfo barred.

Miss Jeffrojs-Lcwis writes in tho "San Francisco Chronicle :"-- "I just want to record my sotamn warning rieht hero to all American actors and actrorscs not to ko to Australia. It is simply awful. In tho first pi see the people are not arti-tic. Thoy don't care fir art, and don't know what art is if thoy did care. No American over did receive justice thero, nor cm ono ever do so. Tho pcoplo arc prejudiced against Americans, and if they want to con sign an actress to tho dcoposb abyss of con demnation all they havo to say it, ' She's an American,' and that eottles hor ! Tho company I played with wcro a crow of persons utterly, completely, undeniably, and irrotriovably incompetont. I opened. Tho audienco hissod my leading lady in tho fi^t act. In tho second act tho play became such an unutterable farco in itself nnd tho lady so abominably ridiculous that I had to appear to quell tho turmoil."

| Simonaon's Italian Opora Company has won gohion opinions in Melbourne Tho "Australasian" says "Un Ballo in Mas ehera," 'Faust,' "Lucia do Lummor raoor," and "Norma." Those may be dis missed in a few Hues. Thoy havo all been rendered in such a faultless fashion as would havo won tho high approval of any well-informed audionco in Europe Tho ono performances which created row ell'ect was that of tho tonor rule Edgardo, on Saturday night), by Signor Lazzarini. He moved his audienco as no tenor singer has over dono boforo in this, city. ... In tho scone of tho exposure of poor Lucii's perfidy - tho discovery of her signature to tho contract of marriago with Arturo— Siijnor Lazzarini rose to such a height of histrionic forvour as raiuht fairly suggost comparison with Mario in his great bcooo in "I a Fav.irita." Tha audienco hn<-enor, ao f-ir, found the limit of this gentleman's capability. Tho sprout range of his voice has bcon fully equal to tho highest call yet mado upon it, and as an actor in this part ho shows depth of ieolins and breadth of manner, which, in eliect, completely surpass all his other performance?."

Melbourne, February I,ISSV. At HorMnjoaty'e, BrOUßri and Bouoicault Compiny nro ftill playing " Little Jack Sr.oppard." Tho next piece, uoaio told, will bo tho burlesquo of tlio " Forty Thievos." Hnrry Hinknrdß Icavos by tho It M.S. Mevia, for London,- (Ilia week, accompanied by his wife (Kite Leere), two chUrlrtn, and Ada Juneon. Tho royal pantomime of " Robinson Crusoo" will only bo played for a. fow nights longer, Friday bolnjr announced as thofurowoll por formanco. Both tho Mulbourne and East Melbourne criokot grounds have been occupied during tho week by Brook and Pain for their fireworks display, and have attracted thousands of spoctators. /it the Theatre Uoyal next Pa'urday even ing George Rignnld and Kate Bishop rmko their reuppearancn in Bart ley Campbell'* play of "Siberia." Tho peaca deals with incidents that occurred during tho fearful massacre of Jewish peoplo poitio years ago. "Patience" was revived a 1; tho Princcfs Theatre last Saturday with Nellio Stewart in the title role. This will be tho last opera but one tint Nellie Stewart will appear in for some tiino, as very shoitly our popular favourite leaves for London to take a well - earned rest of twolvo months. Italian Opora still reigns supreme at tho Alexandra Thoatro -" Un Ballo in Mas chera," " Lucia de Lammermoor" last, Friday and Saturday, and the bill for tho present weok will bo " Norma," "Un Ballo," and " Tho Barber of Seville." Tho management have in rohoirsal, and will shortly produce, a new opora by Amelcavo Ponchilli, entitled "I Promessi Sposo" ("The Betrothed.") Clifton.

THE GARDEN.

o [By. Honcos.], , , Calendar f<Sr week onctlng Fobruary 12;

tlioKTUSlfl willing to answer any queries. Cor respondents must Kivn their full namoa and ttddrnasea, thoughnot for publication.!

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Noni'ouc Pink (J. C si-itwoud bo'loicossl- Vofor-notnt llTruwhiitis tho ir.af.cr with v iup treo without s K-i-'K it but from, jour ac- Hoiption I should thm't thi.t through some causa or other, perhaps Insects are breaking off some of the Bpinea. from which we nap e\-ndo», thus causing tho littlo knobs of white mattor.wblrh in timohardon. Iftho branches ri--nino3 aro b.okun off bnforo they become ripe, b'o'-dlne w 11 tako place from n»n jureii Pirt. X yiu o'o3ely exiLimn* anj li ge •'o foiK vinr>, you will sco tho eamo matt?r o-nniog from wounis Wl^ro the matter la in a liquid stito tho wjunda have be n rc contly iliado; where In a thick Rummr or dry aiaLo the wounds are of some wje. °omo H mw I have fcon youn« trees ot tne auovc almost Btand dorma-t for a year or bo after Planting, thoa make a s tart hue trees. I have teen fine trwwin m c sa no little manure to each. Th's will help them. - I EAoniNO Salt (11.C.)-Recently I reprintrd a ..aragMPh from an American paper abojt a frult-growol uslnn salt for a dresainu about , lit trooi. The salti Wi■ Bprlnklod on the Bu.facc of tho "round and allowsd tol'Wji thil i 3. tho rflins were allowed to wasn no In nalnc it b?o -t care must oo taken not to U39 tco much, a. it will destroy veg.t.blo lue as

ii urn ro^eum u-radly carrie-, but this, eea-on i\ ?b was #o&n °a ?£' I"SSSff «Sf tha? fc ,.(ilr"ia eni«;a would Cirry rtn^nllß m tho iua™ty of the bulb and Ihe r^n'nt, t rce"ivS«hi!o gro^inK, Do r>Ot lift your hulba till after the (Iwcrata knpn Th.-n yon may pot thorn. lillinK cp tno pot hiif full of cooS, rich soil givini? rtsnty o£ rtriindt-c Placa thn bulb o: (ulbion toj of hi,lbs start to grow in the pj.nnß. Alte' '"."• 11l up tho pot with cow manure, mixed vtitn ttbout onc-t»,ir<l Rood soil. Kivlni? plenty pf wat r "onintie a■< inir, ato .t once a.week alltt'o liquid manure. To make a «ood effect pi id about 0 or 8 bulbs in a 12-inch pot.

Spent Baric lor Mulching

Tins material haa been extensively used in somo places for many yeara past. It is invaluable to those whose gardons aro liable to ai-ir-jr from drought. 1 havo a border undor a .vail, tlio soil of which is light and uandy, naA vvhoro during tho hot days wo havo boon obliged to . water P*anU and vonnz trees sometimes twice a day to kcop them alive. Lately I had nearly the whole of it first well watered, and then covered with about 3 inches of wel-rotted spent bark. After about throe or four weeks almost daily cxposuro to a burning eun,, i found the soil wiiich had been covered quite moiats, though no rain had fallen, nor had it been onco watered. Af:or a freo use of it, for same time I am convinced that about three fourths of tho labour Is saved by tho mulching, and tho appearance of tho be! ll improved I would strongly recommend (where it can bo obtained) two inches at least being used, as it not only keeps tho ground moist, but provonta weeds to a groat extent from growing. The birk should bo well rotted boforo aelng, and if usod in tho (spring, the ground to bo covorcl should ho nlloweii to get fairly warm — C F., in " Harden lliuatratod."

The Codlin Moth. Tho orchnrdista of Now Zealaud for several voars past havo realised that they havo a "hard and unceasing fight on tnoir hands in combating the dilferent in sect nests that thro-ten tho lives of their trees a.« well a? tho almoet total ioatruotion of tlio fruit. Tho Codlin moth is now all most a universal post in Now Zealand, and, 03 most apple growers are now awaro, when it oiioa invade? an orchard it is exceedingly difficult to get rid of. It is only a few yeara a«-o that its ravages wore folt here t) any extent, but now more than two-thirds of the crop h fuoiled every season. From every fruirgrower around Auckland the question is continually asked, " What is to be done so as to check tho ravages of this pernicious insect? Nothing effectual can be done till our" nrchardiats wake up to thu fact that only by organising strong local associations who wiK take steps to see that earnest, pcr rijtent, and united work U cirried on, can iti ravages bo reduced to a minimum. Those associations should moit from time to timo co as to diecuss the moat effectual re monies (or thia and other orchard peste, and when and where necessary tlio Covernment should giva them tho power to feo that corlain remedies are e:i forcod, as it is of little use a fow growers trying to keep this pest under if one or two orchards in tho same district aro allowed to carry on in tho present haphazard raanarr. For the last two years I havo given thi-> peat a little attention. For the mest part tho euros that are recommended are what might bo called summer ones, s«ch as traps, etc., foe catching the grub when it issues from tlio fruit. In nearly all these cases tho in fected fruit must fall to tho gioand with the insect stiil in it, euch itii-oct to ba caught in travelling up the trunks of tho trees. Now, from frequent tcaU of infected app'.os which I have ofencd a-t tukea from the troes. I have found nearly half of them without any grub. Tho grub has evidently loft tho fruit and taken up its quarters unoa the limbs of ths tree, whore in i-omo crevioo it would ?pin its cocoon, from which it would bo ready to issue in the form of a moth in the spring and begin to lay it? eggs in tho next season'" fruit. Somo of the traps for caching the grubs which do not leave the fruit till it falls are very good, but something must bo done to citch or ttap those which leavo the fruit while on the Ireo. Picking off and destroying all in fected fruit before tho insect attains anything like- maturity will, iv a measure, help in s>me cases ; but this can not bo dono in all cases. To meet tbo diffi culty there must be same fystem of poison ing in the spring. In a former issue I gavo an extract from an American paper, where for a year or two past experiments with solutions of Paris green and London purplo have beou trieJ with considerable success. The trees aro sprayed (syriDgcd) two or throe times in the oarly spring with these poisons, while the moth is flying about looking for ftuit to dep^it its epga in. Tho poisan has tho effect of driving off tho moth or killing tho newly-laid egg. Care ful observation has proved that whoro tho poison has boon thus applioi there is not the slightest danger to bo apprehended by tho consumers ot fruit whon it has rcichod maturity, the materials all being absorbed by the atmosphere or washei oft. Anyone who has infcotoJ trees should try a number of tho apples which are beginning to arrive at maturity, and ho will soon bo able to satisfy himself that a considerable number of the grubs leave tho fruit before falling. To reach thoso spring applications will nood to bo resorted to. Thia year tho ravages of the insect have been severely felt in somo of our local orchards, and unle--a strong preventativo measures aro taken the depredations are sure to incie»=o instead of decreaso. The oll'ect of this has bwn discouraging on fmit growcrp, and on tho?o contsmpliting tho planting of now orc'iarde. This is not. a bright lookout for our fruit interest?, but I think that some are gotting discouraged too soon, aa thoy have the remedy in their own hands if thoy will only use it, and that is, tho formiug of association?, and making it compulsory for all ownors of fruit trees to talio stops to keep pests under. To somo of my correspondents that occasionally ask mo how the Codliu moth can bo got rid of entirely, I cat only say that there is but one method, and that ia, nil fruit must bo en tirely destroyed all over tho country for ono year. It would be impossible for tbo moth to propagate if all fruit won dc-trnyod. Tlio moth only luy* its ogga in tho young fruit. As tho fruit growa tho egg devoiops into a grub, and fe-sda on tho growing fruit till it bocomos a full-grown insect, when it oaves the fruit, and in some convenient >lnco it woavos a cocoon, from which it oniorges in tlio spring in tho shape of a moth, and ogiiiu hr-s eggs which will pro duce the grub. flow, if all fruit wore pulled off tho trees in a young Htate and destroyed, the fool FUpply baitig cut off ths grub must die. Though such is the case, I do not, beliovo that if tha above- wa* tried it would bo possible to got ril of all the fruit in every orchard, ar.d a few left would be sufficient to brirjg about tho eamo state of _aH'.iirn a few ynars henno. Even if it wore possible to destroy all, we would soon ro ceivo fresh importations from cither America or Auotralia, even though no ira portation of fruit was allowed. It would

only ba necessary for some one ii\ America or A.istta'.ia to placa by accident a basket of fresh-pulled apples from an infected orchard beside 3 rass of gem r.il merchan dise coining to New Zealand. The grubs from the infected applea would be loaving tho fruit, and tho crevices in tho cupel would givo ju^t the proper place 3 for build ing Uieir cocoons. By thi-j means fresh supplies would ba imported, which the Miurpeßt eyes in our Excise would fail to detect.

The Poetry of the Bedouins.

The beginnings of Arabian poetry are l'o«ti*' in the obacuritiea of the desert. Thj' tribea assembled at tho Call of Mohammed wore launched upon the world f reeh froiii ing inspiration of song. A» tho Saracens brought with them their lances and sword? their stesde and their camels and the tenta'; as thi-y brought concentration, energy,' an j the fury of war, so they brought rhyide rhythm raid tho elegant diction. Xha Boiouin of the Arabian sands Geemsto hare been o poet by nature. When and how tho pootic art arose ft not known. The earliest versos which have como down to us with certified text! are not older than the year 500 of tha Christian era -Tho fixation in a definite and permanent form of those effusions which had floated from tent to tont and tribe to tribo, subject to all variations of memory or of individual preference, must necessarily be associated with the art of writing. The art was probably introduced among the Arabians somewhere about the year fiOO. From that date onward, until 1; tho time of Mohammed, appear the groat ij poeta and the great poems which'Sre known to modern history. But we mnSt not profirniq that these more' den*. . nitely moulded production-! celebrate the earliest results ot fancy. Long before'their appearance the passions of the deßert; life expressed themselves in measured verse. On the spur of the moment, in tlie flood; tido of feeling, in the heat of love intt of the : fight, or in tho wilderness of grief and mourning, the Bodouin scorns to havo' broken away from the unsatisfying forms of v proFe into improvisations of which the more Btriking were paeeed from mouth to moutb, and of which Bomo are supposed to have' been caught from thoir desert flight and em bodied in those lator and longer poems which have been handed down to üb.

Arabian verse, therefore, was not im- ex ported from foreign eourcea. It was bora out of the coil. It grow up in the desert 1 and was the impassioned embodiment of iU' life The m-st remarkable thing about ib ' is that it attained, beforo the time of Mo- '■ hummed, in tha desert and in the midst of ' tribal ignorance, ita most splendid develop-" ment. Tho old Arabic poetry of the wan-" dering Bedouins is celebrated not onlyffor;rr; its freedom, ita naturalness, the depth and ' intentily of its passion, the boldness and" h!

onergy of its expression, but also for the perfection of its diction and tho purity of 1 its language. The poems of pre-Moham. ffl medan times became the enduring models to which oftor poeta aspired during tha' 3$ whole period of Saracen eupremscy. The ' longungo cf the wandering Bedouin wases- '•'■•'* teemed i-o perfect that compoeors of lator ■'■-'' ages resorted to the wilds and tents of the "' ' heart of Arabia that they might listen to !t,'•' tho nativo speech in its purity and baptize, /■' themeelvea afroth in the scenes and infla-, S enc2s of thit nomadic life which ofton ':' formed tho basis of oven the later compoai- ; 1 ti ons- —" Atlantic Monthly."

The Commander of the Faithful.

Round the Sultan moves a little world of • "'■'• marehal-% chamberlains, secretaries, drago- gfl mana of ounuchß, who interfere in all .a mattera o£ Stato. The principle which ■•■<* guides his Majesty in the selection of these I ofKeia'a may begues'od from the mixture of 3 slavish flattery of his montal abilities and H inpolont trading on his weaknesses, which ' alono enables them to maintain their Wk posts and influence. All of them havfi ''; upi and downs of favouritism; but? }$ among them thero aro invariably two or '"'' three sufficiently f trorg to get the most im-j '- portant measures blocked for weeks if it '"" suits their pjrpoee, and not unfrequsntly ■'•'? rejected entirely, even though unanimously SB recommended by tho Cabinet, the members of which have sunk into mere heads of de ■'•''* partraontf. Witness tho recall of the .'''■; Ambassidor from Romo without the know- '"' lodge of either the Grand Vizier or Foreign I'1 Minister, and an order for torpedo !^i boats kept Eecret from the Admiralty.'', ; Against the power of this inner council it is". {' futile to struggle, and people dealing witH'. .a the Ccvernuient and palace riiuat accept';,"* things aa' they are, ana pay eddrt t3f9 the parn=ites, who rapidly acquire wealtß,/;'| r " by turning their influence to the worst ac- jßj count. Of the Sultan's riervouaness, that S r tremendous lover in designing handd,'"" j* enough haa been written to the Engliiß 9H journal?, where overj body has read of (48 ?: fortified eoraglio, ami the mosque built at its ''"* gate* ; of tho elaborate precautions against '"»J| imaginary conspiracies, and of the ioet of $ unscrupulous spies. To his fears and indill- gonce in costly follies Abdul Hamld bwe« '■;"" the loss of hia people'^ respect, and irtuclldf ' S the bad luck which is dogging bis foot- -■ step 3. At hoart he means well, and U : probably unconscious that his selflth ' whima and fancies aro alwaya allowod to outweigh tho good of the nation, : ; but tho effect ia nevertheless deplorable. : He erroneously believes himself to ba; a reformer, though he may fairly claim".; to be considered on innovator. Pious " ho is, and sober, uxorious also, and squeani' ■ ifhly merciful toward non-political offen-. dera. lie will not enaction tho death of the ''■■' vilest murderer, quite forgetting that ( especially in Turkey, leniency to criminals ' entails misery on tho law-abiding. Muslo is his trreatost pleasure, though he does V not do?piso conjuring tricks and puppet:, dancing, But, to do him jußtics, these ','' are the relaxations, uot the Hmeinoaß of lifo, which is to plob and tcheino and labour to restore tho Caliphate to its •>' ancient splendour, and the Ottoman Em- -r piro to tho ratika of the leading Powers. . Ever dreaming, never noting. Abdul Hamid - / loiters in his Chateaux en JUxppagnc, hog. , ging himeolf in the illusion that he iaa ' mighty monarch, and spinning, with the ;,;■ aid of soothsayers and toadies, innumerable ;,_j cobn-eba of future triumphs, while the . country over which lie yet rules is reeling ! /'' to its foundations, and threatening to over- ..." whelm him and hiE projects in a common ■ ruin.—" Fortnightly Review."

The Humours of the Divorce Court.

Sik Churlea Eusaall's speech to the jury to . " the Campbell case was remarkable among ■,:,;;? othor thinga for containing excellent V adaptations both of an old joke and a happy -... quotation. Hero is the joke :— My learned friend ea>e that the desire of :.- Iho Blood family for aa alliance with tho ; Campbells cf Argyll was the motive operat-, ; ,- r i ing upon Mrs Blood. Ido not beliave«ny ,;. c'e?ire to that effect existed. The Duke of ;C: Argyll holds an oxalted_ position, not merely, .;; s l by his rank, but what is much more worthy ', ■:,.;. of consideration, by his own character and ... attainments. Mr Finlay I know to be a..',| '.]. distinguished Scotchman, and it may bo '•■> that it is only in recent years that he has- j,,,. become acquainted with that effeminate;-' garment which Highlanders dispense with. ; ,r. ( Laughter.) But from the way in which ho , talks of this alliaDco with the Campbell^, .^. one would think that ho was a descendant ;/ of that distinguished Highlander whom'/f^ " Punch " has rendered immortal, and who, . jj,, upon tho occasion of a certain alliance »iK ~,-: another mombar of tho Campbell family, ,4 said, " Eh, non, but the Queen maun be a i^i prood leddy this day." ( Laughter.) ", |>( gf And here i* tlie quotation. '■■;>{{ I do not know whether you rotnensbef gnj reading a passage wbich has always struck , mo as one of tho most remarkable in any ,^ language, and which I have tried, as best I, .. could, to present. It is from that welK ~j known work, " Tho Barber of Seville," and „ it brings to my mind with filings and with.;, vividness of perception how easy, onceft ~-■ slander ia fot-going, to predispose the,;;1 minds of others to boliove it possesses,.^jjjji' thoir minds; and once poasefs their minds .; j they view things with a distorted vision. J4i Tho "writer saya :— " Calumny, Eir f You ... V:i s hardly know what you are despising. * .;i havo focn tho most retractable people „- almost overwhelmed by it. Believe me.:,: thoro ie no sott of wickedness, no horror,.. M no absurd talk that you cannot make tha' idlers of a village believe in if you set the

right way about it. Firet a little humming sound, skimming the ground Hkeaßwallow • boforo the etorm ; pianissimo, pianissimo ~ t murmurinfr and buzzinc, and spreading th 9

poisoo .18 it goes. A breath catches it «Pi ■ v piano, piano, it clirjes into your ear adroitly., .^if Tho harm is dont-, it takes root, it oUmbß>..,|j| it travel?, and ruebinjj frnw mouth to t mouth, it travels like tho devil. Therji, ... , nil at onro, you hardly know how, you, .■ see it rabinw its head, swelliog itself out,.. ■ iJ J_. growing monstrous under your very eyes, M «, It rise?, takes its flight, whirls round you, clutches ynu, drags you along, burstaforth, . j and thunder*, and becomes, Heaven help j us ! a general shriek, crescendo, a univeresl : ; ; .|ic chorus of hatred and proscription. Who the devil can withstand it?'1

The "New York Critic " hears that the -'• " World "o fl-red Mr L-.w. 1 l.OOOdol. fof a few lines on tho oolos»al Statue of Liberty, . and that the offer was accepted, It wasv-^j the publication of the Hawthorne interview ■■ g to which he objected that put a stop to tha ■ composition, of tho poem. ' i

Til AUCKLAND EVENING STAR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1887.



Post Card Proof. n ~o , Salibhury. Tbnn.. April 1, 1884 Gents :-I was Hffiicred wdh sariou* Eidnw and Urinary trouble for twelve years. Artor trying nil tho d iciors and patent medicines 1 could hoar nf. I uaid two bciUes of Hop Bitten and am pertootlj cured. B. F. BOOTH. Washington, D.C., April 3,1883. To the Hop Bitters Co.: Sihs:—l write this as a token of ths great aporoolation I have for your Bitters I was afflicted with Inflammatory Rheumatism seTel years, and no roedJclno seemed to do mo am good until I tried three bottles of your Hob Bittercandtomyßnrpriflelam as well to-daj as ever I was. J hope you may have great ml cess in this Rrreat anS valuable medlolne?^ pee wishing to know more about my cure, cob learn by addressing me. K. M. WILLIAMS. Ho3,lßth St. Prosecute tho Swindlers!l If when you call for American Hop Bitters see green twig of Hops on the white label and Dr. Soviets name Metro in the bottle), the ven lor hands out anything bat American Hop Bittors, refuse it and shun that vendor as you would a vlpor: and if he has taken your money for anything else, Indict him for the fraud and rae him for damages for the swlndU. and we WUI pay you Überallz lot the oonrloUon.