RANDOM SHOTS.

[BY ZAMIEL.]

dome write, a neighbour's name to lash. Some write—vain thought—for needful cash, Somo write to please the country clash, And raise a din, For me an aim I never fash— I write for fun.

Tow/ours Jubilee ! The confounded thing is as catching as measles, and everything is "Jubilee," from prize poems to twopenny medals — from Industrial Exhibitions to nigger minstrel shows—from the Imperial Institute and Queen's Fund down to drapers' advertisements and word competitions ! In spite of my utmost endeavours to keep from being infected by the prevailing epidemic, I have " got it" to some extent; but I pro mise that I shall not bite anybody and afflict them with Jubilophobia. Poor old Lord Tennyson, I grieve to hear, lias been eick since he wroto his Jubilee Ode, and lias in conse(jnencs declined to

write o- uoern. ibir the opening of the Imperial Institute. Somebody has been un generous .enough to say that he must have °een siok when he wrote his Jubilee effu sion ; but the fervent spirit of loyalty pervading that poem proves that the Laureate had all his faculties right at the time he penned it, and was not suffering from.a bilious attack. In the list stanza there avo premonitory symptoms of his ill ness when ho pointedly asks— "Are there thunders moaning in tho distance? Arc there spectres moving in the darkness?" but on the whole the ode is in the true style of the Court poet, with an undue prepondcr anqc of the poujrely over tho poetic clement. Had Tennyson been really sick when he wrote tho Jubilee ode, he would have pro duced a very diSerent effusion —something in tho stylo of die following, which I may call an ■ ODIOUS JUBILEE ODE.

~ ■ (PARODY,) I. ■ Fifty times John Bull has paid-his taxes, Fifty times three hundred thousand sterling Wrung from Toil to lili the Koyal coffora, 11. Since yon, renowned for economy r> Rare in annals of Royalty, Woro orownod as Queen to reign over us; Thorefqro it comes, as a matter of Course, through nofaultof Your Majesty, v ■" • ThaSyou have reached to the glorious, Bounteous year of your Jubilee 1 111. jSTothins: of the Prodigal or Spendthrift Hitherto has marked the Royal actions; Now wo hope to see a new departure ! IV. Yon,so famed for cloae-flstedncss. You, the saving, the niggardly. Hoard no more for Posterity : Open your heart and bo bountiful— Blessing the poor and the needy ones In this year of your Jubileo! V. • Fifty yeai'3 of growth in Civilisation— Fifty years of ric.li men growing richer- Fifty years of poor men growing poorer! VI. You, our pattern and paragon. You, tho flattered and fawned upon, Quit you nobly and royally ; Give your Parks and your Palaces Up, /or the use of the people, now; Turn your Mansions to Hospitals — Feed the poor and tho fatherless Iv this year of your Jubileo! VII. • For the air is thick with socialspectrcs: Comes Starvation, grim and gaunt and threaten ing, JTollowed by tho ghosts of Revolution, Irish discontent and separation, Tiil tho sounds of .Tubileeseem drowned in Jarring Anarchy and crash of Kuipire ! Any thoughtful person reading the Laureate's ode " between the lines " must have reflections similar to the above sug gested to him, from which I deduce the conclusion that. Baron Tennyson was, at the time of writing it, feeling , the approach of the sickness from which he now unfor tunately suffers. In all seriousness, the Jubilee business seems sadly out of joint. Early Royal Jubilees were distinguished by the free distribution of royal bounty; but in this degenerate day tho people are expected to do all the giving and tho Jubilator do nothing but receive. No doubt this is the result of the growth of Democratic doctrines, when the peoplo are endowed with so many privileges, including the experience that "it is more blessod to give than to receive !"

To show that this aspect of the question has not escaped notice in " Merrie Eng land," I quote the following motion, which was made by. Mr Robert Mitchell, share broker, at a meeting. held at Cockermouth, in connection with the Jubilee celebration :

—'-"That we, your loyal subjects in the ancient borough of Cockermouth, do }3ray your Majesty (but not humbly) that in con sideration of our having, during a period of fifty years, contributed our quota of L 385,000 annually paid to your Majesty, as well as having also provided for your off spring in a lavish manner, amounting in the fifty years, at compound interest, to no less than L 54,000,000 sterling, in addition to which we have, at your Majesty's wish, provided lucrative and almost nothing-to-do situations for many of your German rela tives and others, we therefore, in common reason, ask your Majesty to hand over one year's income (viz., L 385,000) to erect some useful and lasting memorial from a grateful Queen to her loving subjects for having during so long a period, and under many trying circumstances, contributed so liberally towards the support of yourself, family, arfd friends." The chairman of the meeting was too loyal to allow this to be put to the vote, but Mr Mitchell doubtless secured all that he wanted in getting wide publicity to his original and not unreason able idea.

The proposal of Lady Jervois in con nection with-the Queen's Fund has not been so enthusiastically received as might have been expected; in some places it has been positively-rejected; and I fear one reason for its cold reception is to be found in a little-' mistake committed by Lady Jervois in sending out circulars. It appears that in addressing printed notes to the leading ladies, in different districts, our worthy Governess (how is that for grammar ?) simply' wrote the prefix ."Mrs" to each name, '-par exempla : '-'Mrs Gubbins," Mrs McSnuffie," "Mrs OTlaherty," or "Mrs Ap Shenkin Ap Taffy." The -result, ■as might have, been expected, has been a good deal of confusion, and .not : a little feminine jealousy. There are, let us say, three Mrs Gubbinses in Auckland ;*but instead of each of them get ting a jubilee letter the three are all delivered to the one who ocoupies the best social iposition—who is, perhaps in the " wholesale" line while the others are in the '* retail" business. Or there are two Mrs McSnufiles—mother and daughter-in-law— occupying the one house; and when ono letter, addressed "Mrs McSnuffle" is .de livered, the elder it by right of precedence, and the younger ..one, in high dudgeon,, refuses to have .anything to do with the Queen's Fund. In like manner Mrs o'Maherty7;o3i mere collars the whole batch of letters bearing her name, and her daughters-in-law consider themselves " in spolted, intoirely " at being left out in the ©old. Thus is it that the loyal- aspirations of the feminine community have been crushed,-, and their j\jbJLle.e turned.' tQ gall and bitternesa.

A paragraph has been going the round of the papers to the effect that Mr Justice Richmond is to all appearance a believer in phrenology. It is stated that, in the course of the examination of an illiterate debtor.in the Bankruptcy Court at Wellington the other clay, His Honor cast an admiring glance at the man's apparently well-devel oped cranium, and observed that it was an odd thing that a man with a head such as his should not be able to read and write. Later on, when tho debtor was unable to tax his memory as to certain payments, His Honor remarked that he generally found that people who did not trust to memoranda were able to recollect facts very readily, and as the debtor in .question appeared to liavo a good " knowledge box," it was rather sur prising that his memory should fail him. This is fitted to remind one that many years ago tho witty W. S. Gilbert cleverly sati rised the science of phrenology as applied to crime. The author of the" Bab Ballads narrated how Sir Herbert White was at tacked by a garotter, but on Policeman 32 appearing on the scene, he insisted on ex amining the " blimps " of the accused before ho took him into custody. Taking the cap from the head of the alleged bad man, the " peeler " remarked to the astonished baro net :— " Obsorvo his various bumps, His head as I uncover it; His morals lie in bum ps All round about aud over it. " Just horc tho bump appears Of Innocent Hilarity,. And just behind his cars Are Faith and Hope and Charity!" After hearing a lot of this jargon, with the policoman's conclusion that tho charge of garotte robbery was quite groundless tho baronet submitted his own head to the Phrenologist in blue for examination. "That Oriishor looked, and said, With unimpaired urbanity— 'Sir Herbert, you've a head . That teems with Inhumanity I Hern's Murder, Envy, Strifo (Propensity to kill any)' And Lies as largo as life. And hciiDs of Social Villainy!" Tho conclusion to which tho bewildered baronet was driven is o;ie which Judge Richmond should ponder well before lie takes a furthor excursion into tho realm of Criminal Phrenology. " Stop!' paid Ihc Bart. "my cup Is full—l'm worso than him in all; .Policeman, take mo up— No doubt I am some criminal 1" I am not personally acquainted with the "phiz" or "bumps of Mr Justice Rich mond, but it is quite possible that he lias not such a "well-developed cranium" as tho'majority of prisoners who appear before him, and he must take caro lest he finds himself somo day "hoist with his own petard."

Guarding the Czar.

Great precautions aro taken in St. Petersburg every timo the Czar drives out. Before the carriage or tho sledgo loaves the Anifcchkoff Palace tho poJico aro in formed by telephone as tv the direction in which the Czar contemplates driving. Tho ordinary police . force is immediately doubled all along the way, and the especial corps of scouLs aro stationed on each footway.

Those scouts are mostly privates or sub-officers who have served their time. They form a brigade of several hundred men, who wear civilian dress and receive rather higher wages. They follow the Czar as his shadow. They went with him to Skiernievice, Kremsier, Finland and to tho Crimea. At Gntschino and.

Peterhof they form the inner circle of the guards "surrounding the palace. One sees them there concealing themselves to the best of their ability behind trees, shrubs and bushes.

The Czar is quite against these strict precautions, but the police assert that it is impossible to act otherwise.

A Novel Military Machine.

The "Daily News" of April 20 says:— "People in many London thoroughfares must have been considerably astonished yesterday by the appearance of a strange looking vehicle speeding swiftly along pro pelled by 10 riders, who sat all in a row like the crew of an elongated University rowing boat. This novelty in means of locomotion was on its way to Aldorshot, where, by authority of the. War Office, it would be soverely tosted with a view to its adoption for military operations. It is Messrs Singer and Co.'s latest adaptation of their ' Victoria ' or ' Four-in-hand ' quadricycle, and it is intended for the rapid transport of infantry from one point to another. When fully manned it carries 12 men, who can take with them, if ordered, a light baggage or ammuni tion waggon. The advantages of mount ing men thus in single file instead of two or four abreast are, first of all, that the machine is more manageable, and, second, that power for power it presents lees surface to a strong head wind, one of the obstacles most difficult for cyclists to overcome. The speed that can be got out of such a machine by ten or twelve moderate riders is quite surprising. Ten miles an hour would be considered a low average rate, and sixteen have been easily accomplished. It ie said to be affected less than any other velocipede by any roughness in the thoroughfares, and it passes over newly-metalled bits of roa.l with comparative ease. All the tires are wired on the O'*;o principle, so that they cannot be greatly damaged by cuts from sharp stones. For men mounted thus there is of course a considerable saving in labour, and probably other advantages might be claimed from a military point of view. .These, however, are points that will be fully tested at Alderehot during the next week or so. Yesterday a machine manned by 10 riders, who did not take their baggage van -with them, set out from Messrs Singer's warehouse, on Holborn Viaduct, at 1 o'clock, when the cm-rents of traffic were running strong in opposite directions. The whole control and steering of the machine is in the hands of one man" and he yesterday had no apparent difficulty in managing it even when the thoroughfare was most densely crowded. Itturned easily enough in less space than a hansom would have needed, and threaded its way among numberless vehicles without mishap' though the drivers of cabs and omnibuses neglected their own business to gaze at the strange apparition as it sped past them. The 'crew' in charge of the multicycle are all trained volunteers, who will be able to exe cute .any military .evolution that may be de manded of them with intelligence, and al together the experiment is .one in .which military men take aliyely interest. Messrs Singer have lately supplied large numbers of tricycles for use in the German army, but this latest novelty in velocipedes has not yet been submitted to the gents of any Continental Power, and will be subjected to the-first practical trial for military purposes at Aldershot."

Good Templary in England.

The following is from the "Pall Mall Gazette":—"lf the temperance cause ad vances, Good Templary seems to be pro gressing backward. According tp the statistics of the order given at the eighteenth annual session, held at the Memorial Hall, the adult Good Templars numbered 72,12G on November 1,1885, whereas on November 1, 1886, they had fallen off to 66,268 -a loss of 5,855, or about 8 per cent. If this rate is kept up, the order, which is only eighteen years old, will foecome ©xijiacb in a dozen years. ' ..,

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

June 21.—Onohunga Winter Meeting Juno 21—Hawke's Bay Steeplechase Meeting. Juno 28--Napier Park Winter.—Nominations, JVTay 20 and Juno 14; weights, Juno 21; acceptances June 23. July 9.—Wellington R.C. Steeplechase Meet ing.—Nominations, June 17; weights, Juno 29; acceptances, July i. July 28 —Grand National Steeplechases.— Entries. Juno 23; weights, July 5; accept ances, July IS.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By HirpoNA.] The cable announcement from England on Monday last stating that Ormonde " the horse of a century," had added one more victory to his long list, in the shape of the rich Hardwicke Stakes ab Ascot, came with the very greatest surprise. Personally, I don't over remember tho re sult of an English event claiming more general attention at the hands of Auclc landers—not in tho way of speculation I may remark, but in controversy. This of courso has been led to by the fact Of it being taken for granted that Ormonde

having turned " roarer," his racing career, against tho best horses at any rate, would have been at an end. It would appear, though, not to be tho case. To put down two such great giants of the turf as Minting and Bendigo, plainly shows that Ormonde must have made a speedy recovery under tho system of galvanic shocks that were given him. It may bo interesting to note that the modo of applying this treatment was that every morning a battery was ap plied to Ormonde, one point to his chest, and the other to his throat. At the time the cure was taken in hand by Professor Fleming, he had every confidence that he would eli'eet it, and so far as we can at pre sent judge, so it has turned out. It is worthy of passing remark that in Australia and New Zealand we rarely —if ever — see horses of the calibre of Ormonde, Bendigo, and Minting

saddled up to oppose each other, due of course to the want of wealthy owners ; but we can easily imagine fcho excitbmont over such a meeting , , and the great roar that would go up from tho British throats as Ormonde passed tho winning post for the second year ip succession, as lie also proved victorious in the same race last year. Ormonde's carceron the burf may be summed up as one long series of triumphs, thorc nofc being one single blot to mark his es cutcheon, and all English writers agreo that there never was n horso over whoso success ful career tho indolinablc clement of " luck" had less influence. Ormonde is a bay colt got by Bend Or out of Lily Agnes, and was bred by his present owner, tho Duke of Westminster. His record of performances and the amount he has won I give below, and they will no doubt be perused with in terest :—IBSS. Newmarket Second October Meeting: Tost Sweepstakes, for two-year olds, LSOO. Newmarket Houghton Meet ing : Criterion Stakes, for two-yeiir-olds, L 906 ; Dowhuret Plato, for two-year-olds, L 1,602. 18S6. Newmarket.First Spring Meeting : Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, for three-year-olds, L-1,000, Epsom Summer Meeting : Derby Stakes, for three-year olds, L 4.700. Ascot Meeting : St. James's Palace Stakes, for three-year-olds, L 1,500 ; Hnrdwicko Stakes, for three - year - olds, L 2.438. Doneastcr September Meeting : St. Leger Stakes, for three - year - olds, L 4,475. Newmarket First October Meet ing: Eight Great Foal Stakes, for three year-olds, LI, 140; Newmarket St. Loger, for three - year - olds, L 475. Nowmarket Second October Meeting: Champion Stakee, for threo-year-olds and upwards, L 1.212 JOs. Newmarket Houghton Meeting: Free Handicap, for three-year-olds, Lo'o'O; Private Sweepstakes, LI,OOO. Total, L 24,598 10s. Ormondo was ridden in all the above races, except tho Two Thousand Guineas and the Hardwicko Stakes at Ascot, by the late Fred Archer. Added to theseraces is the Hardwicko Stakes of 2,000 sovereigns, which makes up a wonderful record. An inspection of Ormonde's pedigree shows that the New Zealand Stud Company possess four animals very closoly related to him. Rouge Roso (dam of Bend Or) is tho dam of Rosette, and tho stallion St. Legor claims being got by Doncaster (the sire of Bend Or). Lilly Agnes, the dam of Ormonde, was sired by Macaroni, and two of his daughters are at Sylvia Park in the shape of Florence McCarthy and Lovebird.

With a fine day, the Onehunga Racing Club Meeting on Tuesday next (Jubilee Day) should attract a big attendance of spectators. The programme is a well arranged and liberal one, and if the officials of the Club conduct the meeting well, a successful day's sport should be the result. The acceptances and general entries for the meeting will be the heading of " Late Sporting." • Tuesday next is also set down for the de cision of the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase. The final payment, which falls due to-

night, will see at least Huntsman missing from the list, but altogether the field will bo a most select one. I expressed the opinion last week that Silvio found most

favour in my eyes for the race, and I see no reason to alter it.

It has been decided to ship Too Soon and Queenie over to Sydney by the next steamer, which leaves in a fortnight's time. The pair, I understand, are to bo trained in a well-known stable there. Mr W.

Lyons _ accompanies the pair, so that no doubt it will be some time before he is seen in Auckland again.

Mr J. Lennard tells me that he has had his yearling filly by Leolinus out of Moon light (Tamora's dam) broken in, and she is now being ridden daily. Like all of Leolinus's progeny, this young lady is one of the big sort, and stands fully sixteen hands- She was one of the youngsters sold, at Sylvia Park last January.

Looking over the entries for the big handicaps to be fought out in Australia next spring, I find the Hon. W. Robinson has only entered his string for the Mel bourne Cup. Enfilade (the full brother to , Nordenfeldt), however, figures in the nominations for the Champion Race. It would appear from this that if the Canter bury sportsman intends vieiting Fleming ton this forthcoming season, he solely intends having a cub in for the V.R.C Derby and Melbourne Cup.

The fact that Loehiel has not been nominated for any of the Australian spring events has led to Mr Stead's horse beinS made first favourite for the New Zealand Cup, and he is now quoted at 100 to 7, Maxim, whose name is also conspicuous by its absence from the'V.R.C. nominations, has hardened for the Canterbury Derby and is no\y firm at 2 to 1, while 100 to 5 would be taken about his chances for the Cup Silence has met with support for the New Zealand Cup in both Christchurch and Duneain. . , ,

t *x£?* ICe , by S y dne y papers that the Hon. J. White has made an addition to his stable in the .purchase of a rising two-year-old colt by Robinson Crusoe out of Walruk, by King of the Ring from Lady Pantaloon, by ™ Kin S from Marchioness (imp.) by Melbourne. He has been named Tryon, in honour of the last admiral of the Australian wayal station. Tryon was placed first in his class at the recent Sydney Agricultural society s show. The numerous string has been further increased by the addition of fchrfievearlmg fillies. Two are by .Chester ™ Jewel and Kaipaxa, the tliirci being by Gloucester frora XJltima, ' ' " Yfi?\

Considering the form lately shown by Honeydew, one would think it a certainty that his name appeared in the Melbourne Cup entries. Such is not the case, how ever, although the son of Goldsbrough figures among those nominated for the Caulfield Cup. For the first time in the annals of a Melbourne Cup, an English-bred horse has been entered. It will be remem bered that this horse distinguished himself in India by winning a Viceroy's Cup, and it is whispered he is already on his way to Australia. ' The nomination reads : " His Highness the Rajah of Durbhumgah's bay horse Metal (imp.), by Sterling—Fair Vestal." Metal is by the same sire as Paradox and Enterprise, who each won the Two Thousand Guineas. Formerly the pro perty of the Duke of Westminster, Metal, as a three-year-old, and ridden by Fred Archer, carried off the Dee Stakes at Chester, and the Goodwood Stakes at Good wood, but he was subsequently beaten very badly by second-raters in England. The same gentlemen that acted as the handicapping committee last season have been appointed to frame the weights for the New Zealand Cup, viz., Messrs J. Bra bazon, P. Campbell, J. B. Grefison, and G. P. Williams. The handicap appears on the Ist July. From Australian papers I gather that fox the V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, Abercorn and Abercorn, Abercorn and Trident, the two Niagaras, the two Cr&n brooks, and two Manas have been backed, while 1,000 to 10 has been accepted about Tranter and Mana winning the double. Tlie" Sportsman" states that Mr J. H. Giles has laid L 5,000 to L 25 about some eighty combinations of Derby and Cup horses, Abercorn, Niagara, Sumatra, Tranter and Aberdeen, being the prin cipal picks for the Derby, coupled with a host of Cup horses. Mr J. I. Saqui, amongst other wagers, has laid L 2,000 to LBO Trident, straight out: L 2,000 to L6O Niagara,and Ll,ooo to L2o Fernandez, each, for the Melbourne Cup. There is a very strong- tendency evinced to back Trident, about whom the best price forthcoming is LI,OOO to LSO. Writes the Wanganui scribe " Flaneur" : —" There are a lot of good jumping horses in the district. Could not the schooling steeplechases of former days bo resusci tated '! The stakes need not bo large, as owners would be glad to get their novices brought out and inado known to fame, in the expectation of finding purchasers for them. All those which were brought out at these (schooling meetings formerly were sold to Auckland owners, and all of them paid their way up North." It has beon pointed out by a Sydney scribe that there is a flaw in the Melbourne Cup conditions which ought to be rectified before the weights are declared. One of the clauses in the conditions sets forth that " the handicap weight of the winner of the A.J.C. or V.R.C, Derby of 1887 to bo not less than 7st 51b." Suppose a colt and filly were to run a dead heat in either of tho Derbies, and tho owners agreed to divide, both animals would be returned as winners, and both would be liable to the same penaicy. For example, if handi capped below 7st 51b in the Clip, both horses would have to carry that weight, which would give the colt a 51b advantage. No allowanco has been made for fillios in the conditions, which is manifestly unfair. The clause ought to read—" Tho winner of tho A.J.C. Derby or the V.R.C. Derby of 1887 to carry —if a fillj', 7efc; if a colt, 7st 51b, if handicapped below that weight;" or which is simpler—"The winner of the A. J.C. Derby or tho V.R.C. Derby to carry weight for age." That would obviate matters, and do away with what seems an anomaly. I clip tho following* from " Augurs notes :—"While strolling round Flemington a fow days ago, I saw Mr A. Blackwood'a yearling colt by Apremont from Water sprite, who was purchased a short time ago in Now Zealand. With the exception of being a triflo plain in front, like many great performers I could mention, he is as good-looking a youngster as one need wish to see. Judging from the manner in which ho is ribbed up, I should fancy him to bo a raro stayer, and up to any weight. He shows inoro bone than do the yearlings by Musket, some of whom were in his com pany, tho most improved, to my fancy, being tho Leila colt and tho Onyx filly, now named Beryl. Tho Watersprite colt descends from successful fahiilies on both sides, his sire, Apremont, being brother to Chamant, who won the Two Thousand Guineas; and his dam, Watersprite, is closely related to Lurline, being by Tra ducerfrom Waterwitch, by Camden from Mermaid, the dam of Lurline. In a pad dock I saw old Commotion enjoying him self, and all lovers of a good horse will be pleased to hoar that he is improving every week." Lovers of pedigree lore will no doubt be interested to know something of the " lines " on which tho English Derby win ner's (Merry Hampton's) genealogical tree is made up, and a glance at it reveals a combination of the most fashionable strains told of in the studbook. His sire, Hampton, was got by Lord Clifden, grandson of Touchstone and Melbourne, out of Lady Langden, and her sire, Kettle drum, was a son of Stockwell's brother, Rataplan. Doll Tearsheet, the dam of Merry Hampton, is oven better bred, being a granddaughter of Stockwell's, out of Miss Quigley, and she goes back on one side through Ithuriel to Touchstone, and on the other through Venus to Whalebone and Emilius

The Christchurch correspondent of the " Otago Witness " thus refers to the horses in training at Riccarton:—l have not spent a morning at the racecourse for some time, and on going out this morning Avas fortunate enough to find almost the whole equine population at exercise, more or less easy. G. Cutts had out the Hon. W. Robin son's team, including "Vanguard. E. Cutts had Stonyhurst at easy work, but I doubt his standing a preparation, also Fair Nell, who looks a picture, but thero are fears of her developing a curby hock Butler's Musket — Tres Deuce colt Manton, O'Brien's Musket—Mersey colt Carbine, arid Ray's Anteros—Vivandiere colt Son of a Gun are none of them progressino as woll as could be wished. Northcote also moves lame at times, though there is no out ward and visible sign of the cause. Artillery is apparently all right, bub is being treated very gently. Rocket and Pasha cantered together, behaving very unlike two such distinguished performers. Vinaigrette shot' off her boy—a very usual performance of hers—but was caught without getting hurt. IVloanais a greatly imprdyedhorsel Itepo is furnishing out well. Alpine Rose is still on the sick list, but Hawkins hopes to bririf him to the post yet. His broken-down fetlock is all right, but hehasbeen suffering from eating that fearful pest ergot in his grass. Patrician has just ffeen taken up after being turned out for" two months. :Sam Higgott is great on the success of Patrician's grandsire's grandson and grand daughter in the Derby and Oaks. Mr Stead's horses were not put; they are in course of removal to' Yaldhursb.

For a long time past letters have appeared in London papers relative to the largest sum ever paid for a racehorse, arid it has '* fc tysPh keen generally conceded that the St. Leger winner, Petrarch, is entitled to any honour; attaching to the position. Altogether it is shown that the price which changed hands for the son of Lord Clifden was £14,125, but only £11,000 was paid when the sale was effected, the remainder following in the shape. of contingencies «or winning such races as the Two Thousand, St. Leger, and Prince of Wales Stakes, and as there is no reason to doubt the figures Petrarch claims to have realised a com paratively modest' £125 more than did Doncaster. Larger sums have, however, been offered for the contents of a hide, as witness. £20,000 having been refused each for Maiid §~ Kinpsem and Buccaneer. .'

CONDENSED ITEMS.

i Peter Osbeck has been blistered and turned out. The Hon. Jas. White has named his Martini-Henri—Rusk colt Rudolph. The Caulfield Grand National Steeple chase this year will be enriched by 500 soys. added money. A few days back* Spade. Guinea had a rather severe attack of gripes, bub she is now perfectly well again. The two Lapidist colts recently pur chased by Messrs Stephenson and Hazlett have arrived safely in Dunedin. At the Inangahua Queen's Birthday races, a local jockey named Williams piloted every winner during the day's sport. Mr A. Drake has made arrangements to ship his team of horses to Sydney during the first or second week in July. During the two days of the Queensland Turf Club Autumn Meeting for the sum of £11,610 10s went through the totalisator. The entries for the great Metropolitan Stakes, County Pui-se, and the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap, shofr a great falling off this year. Mr W. Gannon's yearling colt, by Golds borough out of Melody, a full brother to the unfortunate Broker, has been named Ndos.

C. Rudings, who took Lochiel to Mel bourne, has left Mr Stead's employ. It is likely that he will re : visit Australia

shortly. An English bookmaker had quite a jubilee over the Liverpool Grand National Steeple chase, having made his book for the winner Gamecock, and netted £20,000. Mr M. FenneUy, who has beep in ill-

health fora long time past, is now much better than ho was, and talks of seeking a change of air and scene by a visit to Mel bourne. The fancy wagers of Ll,ooo to half-a crown (cash) and LI,OOO to 2s (also " ready ") were recently laid against Fair Saxon for the Melbourne Cup, the taker in each case being the owner. Mr John Mayo has disposed of Stanley, winner of the Hawkesbury Handicap, for 400 guineas, but the buyer's name has not transpired. It is said, however, that Stanley is destined for India. The celebrated English horse Buccaneei died in Austria on April 17. He was 30 years old at the time of his death. Bucca neer was the sire of Kisber, See-Saw, For mosa, Brigftntine, and others. Batty, the Victorian jockey, is reported to have recovered from the effects of the accident which cost him an eye, and to be once more pursuing his ordinary avocation at Cauliield. There is a project on foot in Melbourne to form two companies having for their ob ject the holding of race meetings, after the style of Kimpton Park and >3andown Park in England. Thomas Powdrell, sorir., an old Hawke's Bay supporter of the turf, has just passed away at the patriarchal age of 81. Mr Powdrell was tho breeder of many well known animals, including Hailstorm. The Tasinanian steeplechaser Beadsman, by Perfection — Beeswing, hae been pur chased by Mr Charles Krushka for LIOO, and a contingency of another century if he wins a jumping race of L4OO iir Victoria. Tho old racehorse Terminus, upon who.se life a dastardly attempt was mado in New South Wales some years ago, has been distinguishing himself lately at several country meetings by -winning the leading events. ; Mr D. Cooper hoc sustained a very serious loss by the death of Huntingtowor, which occurred at Zetland Lodge. He was being treated to an application of the knife when he injured himself to such an extent as to necessitate his destruction. The time in which Enteqorise covered the Rowley mile at Newmarket in the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes is the fastest on record for that event. According to Ben son's chronograph the distance was put pn.«t in 1 minute 45 3-sth seconds. • Happy Land is the inme given by the Hon. E. Mitchelson to his brown filly by Musket from Atlantis. The young ster's A.J.C. engagements include the First Foal Stakes, Derby, and Second Foa Stakes of ISSS, and the St. Letrer o 18S9

Advices from Melbourne state that the Christchurch-bred colt Navy Blue is under going a course of schooling over hurdles, and that he is taking kindly to the new line of business. During the season of ISS6, the son of Hornb}' and Malvina scored a -couple of victories on the fiat. That hero of many a hard-fought battle, Tom Brown, pulled up so lame after run ning oil" the dead heat with Invader at the recent Newcastle meeting that it is more than probable he will never race again. At any rate his appearance on the busy scene need not be expected for some considerable time. ".

Among thenext consignment of thorough breds for India is Discord, «i son of Tim Whiffler and Constantine. He was par chased in Melbourne for 28J guineas. Golden Gate, a two-year-old, brother' to Frisco, has also been purchased for the Indian market by Mr E. Weekes, for 190 guineas. A Napier scribe says that the scratching of Volcano for the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase was not due to dissatisfaction at the weights, for it is a long while since Mr Evett has turned out a handicap that has been so well received as this one ; but the horse has gone wrong. As proof of the enormous expenses at taching to extensive racing stables in Eng land, it is worthy of notice that the forfeits of Mr Manton (Duchess of Montrose) on the Two Thousand and One Thousand Guineas races amounted to no less a sum than L 750. ■ Compilers of " winning " sta tistics should make a note of this. • . Mr T. Chirnside has named the yearling brother to Matchlock, by Musket out Yatterina — Firelock ; and the sister to Nordenfeldt, by Musket out of Onyx— Belle. The filly, by Musket out of Maid of Honor, has been named Precedence. These three youngsters were purchased here in January last.

Mr P. Harm's bay mare Impulse, who, among others, received some injuries at the Caulfield accident, seems to have resumed her old racingform again. She has been treated to a long spell, and her first appear ance since the Caulfield escapade was •at Wagga Wagga, on Queen's Birthday, when she won the Winter Handicap, and ran second to Genoe in the Birthday Cup. The ; following brood mares, the i last of the once, famous Terrara stud of Mr E. De Mestre, have been purchased by Mr W. A. iLo.ng :— Olga, by Piscator—Beatrice ; Squib, by Piscator—Cracker ; Telescope, by Piscator—Lady Spec ; Ultopia, by Robinson Crusoe—Radiance ; ■ and The Palm. \, ri,.-. ~-:.:■,! , . !;,..,,? , ~,.-? , ;1 . '

_ A race for Chinamen's horses, Chinese riders, was included in, the programme of the last meeting■ of the Vegetable.Creek Jockey Club, and the novelty caused no end, of amusement. There were three starters, and Ah Chow's Jim: won after his rider had treated the spectators to a very peculiar exhibition of horsemanship. Flemington is certainly not a lucky course for the Hon.-. W, Pearson. Some years ago a steeplechaser of his named Sailor was killed there; and during the past three years Magnet broke his leg, and had to be de stroyed ; Gasalier shared a similar fate; Commotion had his shoulder put out; and lastly, Lady Ashton broke both forelegs and had to be destroyed. \ Referring to the - capability of some horses to compass long distances while o.theis.can only negotiate short courses, the '■London Referee" says:—" Many horses, like many nien, have their exact distances, which may be fixed, almost to a yard. Say that they are three-quarter-of-a-rnilers. Up: to 1320 yards they are first-raters ; at 1,500 they; are second:classers; and.,quite out eiders at 1,760." • .!, ;; 'L

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Action.)

FI XTURES.

FOOTBAIiL. Senior , Cup. June 21.—Auckland Representatives v. TS.s mont. f, June 25.—Albert v. North Shore; Grafton v. Ponsonby; Auckl&nd v. Waitemata. July 2.-Gordon v. Albert; Auckland v. Pon sonby; Waitemata v. Grafton. July.—Auckland v. Otago. August.—Auckland v. Canterbury. Junior Cup. Juno 25.-United v. North Shore; Grafton v. Ponsonby; Auckland v. Waitemata July 2.—Gordon v. United; Auckland v. Pon ■ sonby; Waitemata v. Grafton. Second Junior Cup. June 18.—Remuera v. Waverley; Rovers v University; Selwynv. Waitemata. June _25.-Selwyn v. Waverly; Remuera v. Gordon; University v. Waitemata...

AQUATICS.

Juno 21.—Five-mile Amateur Race from One hunga. July. 1887.—Hanlan v. Teemer. United States October i.— "Thistle" races for the America' Cup. Nov. 26.—Beach v. Hanlan for the Champion snip of the world on the Nepean.

At tli3 start of the season I expressed the opinion that Grafton were out of the run ning for the Cup, but it has turned out otherwise, and as yet their matches have been an unbroken series of victories. They were blessed with a couple of comparatively soft matches at the start, and thin gave them time to pull themselves together, and they are now almost as strong as ever they were ; at least a great many think so. They did the Gordons properly last week. lam afraid that the blacks are very deficient in pluck when it comes to playing an uphill game ; nothing like what they were once. In the second spell the maroons held them penned the ; whole .time, and they were thoroughly beaten, although the score, when analysed, does not show to much advantage. George Johnston and Brown were both successful in potting goals, while Gardiner obtained a rather doubtful try. The Grafton forwards played a fine game, and Binney was the only one of the other side who seemed to have savee enough to fall on the ball to stop the rushes. As usual, Gordon's passing did not come off, doing more harm than good. The match next Saturday between the Grafton and Ponsonby is attracting a great deal of attention, and is bound to attract a large crowd. Ponsonby went through the Waitematas to the tune of 37, points, as one of the losing side aptly put it, " a grand practice for kicking goals." The Ponsonby 11. were also victorious, and after a very tough game beat the Waitemata 11. by G points to 2. : . *7\\

Graf ton 11. beat the Gordon by 16 points to nil. J'

In reading the reports of the matches on a Monday one feature of the,,, play is very noticeable now, namely, the number of goals kicked from the field. At least. 9 were kicked in the various matches, and that o» a greasy groimd. 1 can commend the suggestion re a Foot ballers' Insurance Fund to the hearty sup-* port of all local kickists. It is what has been wanted for a long time, for there is no, telling when a serious accident might hap pen. Luckily, they have been few and far between as yet. Six matches are played under the auspices of the Union every Saturday, and if a subscription of 6d was levied each week from every player, at leasj>, £4 10s could.be raised, and, this.isutjsidised from the funds of the Union, would soon form a fund sufficient to stand any calls likely to be made oh it for some time.

A great many of our local, players feel" themselves aggrieved because they do not get a " show ". in this column,, and are rather apt at times to call " Action" hard names. lean, however, assure them that they have no one but themselves to blame. I cannot be everywhere iat the same> time, nor can I possibly expect to get in a great amount of original news unless the sporting , public will assist. If Tom makes a good run, or Dick has something of especial im-, portance to the sporting fraternity on his mind, or Harry has done something.very smart, let them send it before Wednesday to "Aetceon," and' then they,will have no cause to growl. Verbum sap. There's a chance of the Gordon F. 0., Sydney, paying New Zealand a,, visit; ,this season. Pretty plucky if they do.j

ATHLETICS, ETC.

According to the .New York "Sun," the champion slogger, J. L. Sullivan,, will leave San Francisco for Australia on, Oc tober Ist. He must be hard up for some thing to do.

The Clyde-built yacht, Thistle, which is to represent Britain in the Inter-national race for the America's cup in October, was launched in April 26th,: and towed to Greenock to be rigged and fitted out. * Ned Tricketthas started, training once more. He s.ays he wants something softer \ than Beach, and has had,two boats shipped to him from Clasper. '■", Beach has not been idle during the past few months, and in company with Clifford, has been doing a little training to keep himself right for the big matches. _ p The" Newcastle Call" has the following:; "If Beach can beat Gaudaur when he' (Beach) is stale and over-trained, and Gaudaur can beat Hanlan', when Hanlan is in the pink of condition, what would Beach do with; Hanlan when he (Beach) is freshj and properly woundup and warranted to go—Beach, would row rings rqund Hanlan.:", A Sydney paper had the other day;a; re ference to " Libeau, our'champion.• walking man." I fancied he hailed .from Maori-; land. .. .....';'.""," ;

The five-mile race from Onehunga will come off next Tuesday, the first man smart ing from the Post Ofljce,. Onehunga,, at 10 o'clock. The finishing post will be opposite the Lawn Tennis; Qrouud, Para ell. A, very 'good .-.race, is expected. Competitors'/can go out by the train, and be iti plenty of; time. ■'.: ~,;.,; ;. ;;",.". .. - : ".'..'. ■ • j.'.-"'

Story of a Doctor and a Monkey.

The wife of a celebrated Western' divine has such a fancy for Aiigora cats that she has a room devoted to them, leading out of Avhich a"gallery is built, so that the ani mals can have exercise; and 1 fresh air with out wandering away. ' / ; ; ■": An old college friend niet the dobtor on the street lately, and, not hayiiVgseen each other for some'yearsrthe meeting was most pleasant. At last he said': ".George, what are y'pu.doing now ?" " Well,'"-said ."I am married, am pastor of a fine chiirch and get a : go6d salary? 5 " : " And your'; wife?" "My wife ! my wife ! Oh ! she' iS;iii;j;h'e cat-rising business. '*' '' ■ ; • ■'■ ': • " ■ ]'• In addition to the cat craze a monkey was added to fch,e household menagerie/ and all went pleasantly "until one' day, :: as the doc tor stepped into his ;bath,, the 1 monkey; jumped in with him. Then there was wrath in the old man's eye, and, after a''brief struggle, he left the bath tub, holdirig'the monkey by th« neck, both dripping with water, and marched into the:pres.ence of his good lady, saying :, "Madam ! this monkey business has gone too far; you must decide betvveen me and the monkey." She looked placidly up from a cat.she was petting, say ing : ."Doctor, will you give me twenty four hours to decide ?" The monkey is still a member of the household. ;; , :: ■ '' : i;

THE GARDEN.

*««*« Operations, Jurn dresses, though nof, for mffi&FW •

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

vines not Fruiting (E a » A , „ - ijf.weU: the MotsStbvSaSESSK PpSSSySt , ing the ground .would not SSM remedy matters*'remove evSMS'' within twelve feet of,the front «*§**£ wovk/Wer'tlic Surface ln?iil%S vrongh bones so as to make the ffiLW" Value of Wood Ashes MimaSS splona 1 d for dusting'over Sfir plants or vegetables, as slugs and snails; but. to use ' -they must be kepMa arperfectlH^ ; ; Wood ashes also.aot as a powerfti»' to the roots 'of '■any crops ■'li% ri sown in the dr.Us with the seeds, or £$* over the surface of the beds , .' ' Tfi?W?W ■less, and may be safely applied-t6 th»- haiE tender plants Iα all stages of their Lily of (B.)l'-I agrtt If -f that the above Is one of the Si l " prettiest of flowers,■■but it around Auckland, and that is the M® you never tee.it. AfewgentleinenS^ l .it fame after timc.buVthe results bS^ l wiU never make" it a 1 general I think it is to be obtained'XromSft nurserymen here. ...... , : metl| % Gkowikg 'Watkrcress (Cress) -vS?'" ~ easily get, watercress to grow in aivS* stream or where there is plentybfilS snmmer. In such places you ; ; obtimafew cuttiogs anddibb'ettenK* soil j ust under apath the. water. .They«S e grow and spread all iibout. > 'WM

The Best Method of Using Manurs.

rJarnyard manure being our chief reii. : j for a fertiliser, it is of 'the utmost && ance.that we should use.it [ as: to obtain tlw greatest .possible , j from it.- In estimating rived from manure used in r any shouldhear in mind .that..only ' tion of the nutriment in it, one-fourth to one-third-; is used by'fchfSsS I crop grown upori.it, the thirds 1 or , three-quarters' remaining InK i soil for the benefit; of future' crojs?|t & the manure* should;be applied in'suctffe ■fliafe'iiot only the' first' crop; ing crops may receive the. greatest/i«| good from , it. ' "'■ ' ; ■ ■• '■■■'- '^r.:; I have for some time been of the tipicioa that,manure"should be '■ spread biM&jli , over the land as evenly as possibles not applied:'in 'the , hill perience , and, that of' others; , ' .that; belief .every year.. ;By ■ ■ '■jap 'hill the manure is , brought in .''immediate •contacti with the young roots as boou uj they begin , to start, and, the crop gets njJS ja .start in , the first part ;oi the .as soon as: the roots begin tosprea&ay ifrom the small spot covered by ; the!fßjj they begin to .languish for the .war.t of its and the crop doe's noi make the desired growth in th</ l| |! | r.ri of the season. ~i3y ! applying ■ every .part of the ground ;of. the manure, 'and;when the roots bfgia to;spread they are'sure'to come inconfact 1 with'it, and receive'all , possible'llS! during the whole.season. , , ; _" .'£ . But it is claimed-that manure'BifwM: |used in the"'hill in order that the crop 5; :get*a'good. start early in the ' ithe roots have' made "growth .enqWS; reach from'ilwlH. Tills , is Very true, Hut I clauh r th'at iti'te to used'no barnyard manure in the -lull; ap^ , plying instead.some artificial ferlaßsitits superphosphate or a Ho®Slf article with hen , ' manure for -a basis. : *,"By (this method the young plant gets flu n iquiSed. ! stSi*t early in the season, and tto spreadjinanure. furnishes the needed sjisfaK ance later, after Begin topuslioot aM r ay "from the influence of the feftiliieW■■ the -hill , .' , •' One grea^'-objection.' , thafc-I 'Eve to the use of manure in hill is on accountbf ;thejafter crops,of grain.,and .grass. |fe crops will never receive the >' full 'benefit of •manure in the hill, for after, cultivatkm wil| never spread it to any-great',estenk. A jportion of the crop makes a good grosti, while other portions suffer from' the iwantof. :the nutriment whiph.it should xfiqeijeffni wpuld.if the ; manure }iad.be'en spread. Every-. one will admit that"for.these crops manure ishbuld be spread over v the whole ground. i Every drought teaches.the manure" should not be used Jull-in-ft.« Very', dry, season, and the'long-continued find severe dry spell, of th'e'presenfcs§HQ!|k 'has only added gne |o the lessons,that they. have received in the past. It. is, a.ffell - . known fact that, crops, especially:;corn,, will not,"when manured, in the drought as w'ell'as those"v/here" 'the .was spread. "A, friend of mine Has'.'fiadja : 'seyer.e,lesson of this kind this year.', <tw6.|pipces* of .corii,. one of 'manured on the hill, while on the'otSie'f; place the manure was spread, and a .com-. mercia! .fertiliser, in the hill. \ Both,; of grpund.were dry, , and differed'but littje. in that respect. The: drought injured 'tto first piece seyerelyj while on the other'the corn made a good growth, and yield ,#3| an average" one.:,-. .The result,is,tHa|.tt.^ ; farmer no longer 'believes in usiiig in the hill. ■ ', ■■. ■ ,• .■-'■-^■ l > VWifh , .' manure in , r the pretty sure\to' : m'a|b:e'';them grow' scurfy, and; pronged, and it" there is any ;teiidep,cy.JOj rot, this method is sure to develop it to the fullest extent. ' ; All of the reasons already. ; given in favour of spreading manure, and, against''using ! in,;the : hill, (apply.; much force in the case of potatoes .as 'witQ. anybther crop;"" '"' • ' ',' *■■'■'■ ! r point; is in regard :tp , \ manure"sh'aii be incorporated , with ;the Pikr. '. after it is spread, on the'- surface.. ■ 'My tMW is that it should be spread upon'the • and harrowed in Avith a'.spike t -ifco6th harrow,, and .my reasons are these: Ist., -Slaflurtj should "be''mixed. , with- tlie soil in ordertaa|, it|miiy;3be:.keptAfram;drymg,-a^it , ;d decompose and toirigle,,with' the^'sbU).- * r .j fur'nisli o "'^^;'needed ' sustenance , ™Mi grqwingf plant while in.a dry.;state. :»|n|lv The'nuiiritive properties 5 of /'ffio '^#BS{.. : work'downi into ' r the : ;spil,- cai-ried'. "MWy by the, actiofrol'ifie i'Mns, .an'd;heyey ! woys up tp-any pei-ceptibleiextenc; { .These ,sftQWi uS'thatthemanure ! 'shbiild;be'mixfed the soil, and yet left as.near the silM:' ! 'Tfus'is'Sccomplished by the: mmA s have spokon'of. By the use of a :caltavaM|j portion 'ofthe manure is carried t OO unless the >; labd be very hard; im vtacfejpf it may .be necessary to use Ploughing in'the manure is a r u W s ]pS|j . tice, for,il-carries it down so far from -WK surface'that'tlie'benent derived f r %SJs much less than when it.is trpted ■in,.fi ia manner I have spoken of. .'' .'■.••., it,:,■. Ih:c6nclusion, Iwillsay article is" largely theoretical,' gnnng.-jD 4 little practice, the theories, , those which;lput% practice; and ? : theywork exactly asl have indicated.., W, :.•■.-. experiehee'bf othersabd proves'them Moulton, in. •• Home Farff^,.;.| ' ' Clipping': ~ ; - The best quince to plant apple. It is a anclseils more readily and ,at better, prices than most any other variety. ■ ~ ; ; In purchasing fruit trees; select; ol Kv best varieties ,of.'the. mosb desjr^le -g" ■;■ andMsute.qf & the-in^g«ty f ' man from whom you buy, r <••-'■■•' •

THE AUCISLANP gVpiNU- STAB, SATURDAY, < JUNE 18, 1887:

2



£100 Reward; -They cure all diseases of the stomach, bowels, blood, liver, nerves, and Kidneys, and £100 will be paid for a case they, wi'lflot cure or help, or tor anything impure or mi uriotus found in'them-r-Hop BitterSi Genuine