RANDOM SHOTS.

[BY ZAMIEL.]

Borne write, a neighbour's name to lash, Foinc write—vain thought—for needful cash, Souio write to please the country claao, Aud raise a dm.

yor me an aim I never fash— I writu (or fun,

1 Where will it all end ?" is the question

ihat many psoplo ars asking, as they gazs ipon the latest atop in tho political develop ■nerit of the Eight Hon. W. E. Gladstone,

fltnoog thosa who ropsat tho rjuary with a oomical eort of doepair ara many (>l tho ■>taunchost adhorocta of the granci old mao, who at luet arc beKioning to foar tb/it thoir idol will bo thatterod boforo thoir cyos. Cominoncinc public life as a ttautjuh Con "arvotive, ho bsa proijroesod thrjuj^h tho iitfaront etajies of Whig, Liboral, Advanced Liberal, and Radical, till he haa now burst on the astonished gaze of tho world as a iulMladged Home Kulor. Ho has do noiiDCcd English oppression in "good tet termsj" has eapoueed *jhe cause of tha deppised Irish, and h.'is emphasisod his opinions by marching out of the House cf Commons in company with tho Home Kule members as a pro'xst against the application of the cloturo rales, from Tory to Home Rulor ! Nover, surely, » as tbero a more improbable instance of dilution »d ---liuced by the most ardf;Dt Darwinian ; and it is no wonder that mon, beholding this ttupondoua fact, ana viewing the unim paired activity and vitality of tho veteran ftateemaD, should be anxiously inquiring— " What next ?" Is it not within the bounds of probability that tbfi next turn of the wheel of evolution will, display Mr Gladstooo in tho character o,f a Nationalist " patriot 1! going cheerfully to gaol to vindicate his i ij»ht. to abusn tho " bloated Saxon ;" yet auothor ehovviDg him, ehillelah in Hit, con ducting a Home Rule **argument" in a vory striking iashion ; with a vista opening up of him inking the character of " Aumbor One," and helping in tha dissemination oi dynamite among tha unimpressiblo EnglUh

Between Tory and Homo Ruler thoro 19 a much greater gulf fixed than between Home Ruler and Dynamiter, and fcboro is, thoreforo, gooU rea;on to anticipate tho realisation of the worst ioars. Facili<t (kmu*m Anvnit somo people will say, and othera will aver that- Mr Gladstono betrays symptom 3of that madness with which tho gods smite those whoso destruction is near ; but thoee who h/ive a keen eonse of injustice, and a lively faith in the robust good sense and correct feeling of the groat Liberal leader, will only see iv his newdepnrturea furtherproof of the wonderful oponnessof his mind toconviction, the fervour and sincerity of his soul, and the generous impulses that rule his heart. Eng land, Scotland and Wales have already con tended for tho honour of being tho birth place of Mr Gladstone, but henceforth Ireland will join in the contest, with every p.-ospect of boing able to cswblish her claim that tho O'Gladstono is a " son of the owld cod!"

In sober earnest, I firmly believe that the most wooden - headed Tory in England would beco.no a Home Kuler it ho were but opon to receive tho truth regarding tho condition of affairs in Ireland. But, ia point of fact, they close their eyes and ears to all Ireland's complaints, and when harrowing tsles are forced upon their at tention, as they frequently are, they de nounce them as newspaper inventions got up to create a sensation. Every •prig "wno- TTSa Investigated, Iho. matto1 ia agreed that rack-renting is the root of aIL Irish ..troubles ; yot -the-cure pre scribed is* eviction, carried out with every accotnpaninent of unfeeling barbarity, in presence of soldiers and constabulary, fimid wild winter weathdr, I wonder if a'jy of my readers have porused the details ot the evictions a few months ngoat Glonheigh, in County Kerry, where tho scenes of distress were so harrowing that even some of the policemen got up a subscription for tho re lief of the poor victims.

I am tempted to give the following extract from a report in an EDglish newa uspsr. After describing hovv some pre viously evicted tenants had formed a curap in which th6y lived, huddled together, during the bitterly inclement weather, tho writer proceeds:—" At cna huaso the tenant's infant child was dying, but tho agent refused to allow her to remain, and nailed up the door. The poor woman, cry ing piteoualy, laid the dying child in the pigsty in the yard, acd procured some straw for a bed there. Whilo the baliff was nailing up tho door, the young woman ruahed from the angry crowd of specta tors and struck him with a ehovel. She was at once an'eated, but when being escorted to the main body of police by ten constable:), a wild rush was made by the people, who rescued her, carrying her up the mountain cheering and shouting. Any further collision between the poiico and the people wa9, however, averted by the efforts of Mr HarriDgton, M.P. In another houeo t.ho bailiiis found the tenant, an old woman, lying on a bundle oc straw in a dying con- JitioD, and surrounded by her children." Whose bloor! does not boil as ho reads of such " atrocities " being perpetrated in the name of English justice, aud under the pro tection of British soldiers? Anddocsnot Eng lish apathy in respect to euch a condition of thiDgs fully justify tho cry that in raised for full powers of self-government for Ire land, aa the only means of securing some email share of attention to the crying evila of the country ?

Tbe Faith Healer haa arrived in our midst, and opsna his mission in the Choral Hall to-morrow. A Presbyterian clorgy man haa, I observe, gone out of hiß way to give Mr Dowio a gratis "puff" frcm tho pulpit, by declaring that diseases may be cured by faith in the present day, just as well as in the days of Christ. He does not vouch for Mr Dowie'a ability to heal, but Eays that he may prove to ba po3seased of some particular power in that direction; although almost in the same breath he re peats the stereotyped phrase that tho age of miracles is. past. Now, thore is here considerable confusion of ideas (supposing tho reverend gentleman to bo correctly reported). It ia commonly as sumed that tho cures worked by Christ ■were effected by supernatural power—faith in the person to he healed being only an ad junct, as it were, and not always a necessary one, as in" the case of the centurion's daughter. On that assumption the cures were what ia called "miraculous;" but if faith on the part of the patient was the active agent, then miracle is eliminated, and the imagination may be credited with doing the work. If, in the first century of the Christian era, diseases were "cured by faith," as Mr Dowie'a friend puts it, then there was no miracle, and no need for the declaration that the ago of miracles is past. But if the euros wero effected by means of some special power vested in tho Healer, it was a miraculous agency, because inexplicable by human science; and if it ia possible for Mr Dowie to have such special power, then he may be a miracle - worker, and the age of miracles is not past. But as the oracular orator said —" that remains to be seen," and 1 will not pretend to judge of Mr Dowie'a pretensjons until I have had an opportunity of seeing them put to the test.

The Bombre atmosphere of the Supreme Court Civil Sessions has been enlivened during the week by some bright bub uore

ported coruscations of wit, and at !ea»t j ono ciraaimic incident. Tho latter took the form oi an unwitting net of coin tempt of Court, which camo near having a eerious ending. A purveyor, liavina to | producs a certnin plan In ovidoace, went to the Snrvcy Oiiice and borrowed tho plan for tho purpose. As ha hud guaranteed to re turn it, he took tho precaution of writing j acro.-s tho top—"Not to by impounded by tho Court I" ' Upon this legend tho cnj'.ci | oyo of Mr .inatico Wnrd rested. He (aw i' i bntn momaut,eotoHpaak, butthitmoinont i wiV3 suC.icicnt to arous-o his ire. v itli Jovian j thunders in hi? look. In damamlsd of tho | witnesa what ho u:or.nt by tliis imperti visi.oo to tho Court, and proceeded to mud , kirn a sovore lecturo, Tha crojtfjllcn imrvavJr rn'iukly tp'ilogieeci, faiii he mo.int | auEbing uilcnfivo, fitt had only douo what ho v.tui col-"! by » psr^oi! in thy. Survoy Oil'm I His Honor r.llovcd him wit U> b<i onUiflcl by tho caotrito naped; cf iho I oltoi.-ier : but for some tinio ho was observed jto bo castinc inquiring ylaneos nt that -ur veyor, a« though tfjin'^ t<i dtcido whothor that "ellhhua ofi?hul" in tho Survey Otfica was> the real cil-nder, or whothcr tho | witness, being dotccfed in a fiiuit, luul "made it two" by trying t0 Li'i;i tho blauio on to othor shouHoM. Tho COfUSOatIOD? cf wit to which I ro fcrred wore uot partionlarlybrilliaat. They aro,-o in tho course of that ta'i bronßht by n Maori womnn, who claimod C2CII ,1 iuanpea j from Morcer Head Board for trospn«». The plaintifl' in her avidenco <jot cows, foncf", &0., mixed up so hopelessly thr.t .hii;r> Ward declared it would ho a " fnrco " to go | on with tho caee. But. counsel had taken n comical fit, find would not Ftop jn«t | yet. Tho lawyer for dcfendnr.ta ~•■; j ho would put n for/ q\n'-'.ions to plaintiff which would-"Make her con I tradict overy word cho has paid,'' inter] polated the judge, Crun?cl prinncl nni ' went on to elicit from thn pluintilf that j pnme of tho cow? she had refurrc.il to 1.:. ---lonecd to the Ro&dßoard. "Oh, noiuoase !' ■ cried tho couu<scl for tho dcfcrjcc, " tho j only cow the Road Bnnrd owns is the tonvn pump !" After this effort the penllcmmi of iho wig and gown felt v.iHicr "pimip'.rj out -i ar.d the farcical cute ha\r.% lau:;l:od uui ot Court, tho sober business a! tho bdiitcu-i I was p;oceciiod with. i « . < « 'i •

•Two other incident?, not forensic, thong"] they occurred within the i"harlow 0! tho Court, nro also worth recording. " Tho ehadea of night wans fallint; fast," when o certain laanied lawyer, after 11 hard day*

work, left tho Supro:no Conrs library, little hoodinc apparently tho mir.ur thinijs of this earth, iinrl in dcrply moditativo mocd. ThoughtlesEiicss had laid o hvddor across tho doorway, find the learned counsel's ri;»ht too ramo forcibly against it. Sid ia it to relate, but 'ti? all too true, in n moment tho hold that fans co often been the light ol hopo to tho fnilinji hearts of publicans accused of broach of certiUcate, was level with tho ground. " Hopo you haven't hurt your«c!f over "the ladder,". eanjj out. a friend be hind. Wuh tho giant intello:t that scorned t'jo idea of judpee or brother-counsol iutor feting wit;i tho course ho had mapped out to bo interfered with by rv inHiicr? >..>! n thou>and times no! " What ladder?" replied the learned counsel ; " wo havo received no notico of any ladder, I submit,'' and then after a socond'.» pause ho added: —"I was just ponderiDg over a cues of default coning on in tho lowur court. Shall ilcmulfcls the oviilonco for the defence ut onct- ; the proeo-

nutor'd wounds wero indicted r.ccident.-il!y. I was just rehearsing ie to myself before doing it in Court."

The halls of jiisdca waro also tho ecene.of tho other incident, tho actors in which wero an insurance Agent and a " mimber ov tho foorca," It bappenod that Polfcemnn X. was left in choree of tho Court during tho retirement of the j;iry — only a few loafers and a press reprasontutivo roraaininginthejudpmerit!i:ill. \\ ho has not read of tho cruel anftbo that fmcloates thn tromblinjj bird ? It wiia with recollections of such tales that ray informant vatchsd the form of him who shall bo namtlesa glido through tho ewintnog doors of tho (Jourt, and Ex his glittering life-assurance agent eyes upoa bid victim. Policeman X. felt bia time had oomo ; tho agent bold him with his glittering oye, as tho ancioat mariner did tho wedding guest, am! tron b ling be awaited the end. it was wonderful to Bee bow the " little man drotwoJ in grey 1: conld twirl tho mighty const«bio round hi-i linger. In loss tiuio than it takes to write this, the victim had given up his liberty, and bacorae an insured man. How ii it, I ask.thatan unprotected "bobby" i-3 !e;t thn^ alone, to bocomo the victim of a "kil!ii!i; " agent anxious to "take n Hfo"—iu tho very dread H:UI of Justica too 'I

Frae the Far North.

" Donald, man," eaid a Highlander to a friend, "is a bumble-bee it beast or a bird 7" "Hoot, Sondy," was the rsply, " don't disturb me wi' reloegious questions when I'm lakin' a dram."

A USE FOR EVERYTHING.

A Border farmer, whoto practical mind scared above a tasto for things beautiful, had the good or bad fortune to marry a wife who brought with her a wood en sub stitute for one of her nether iicibs. On being remonstrated with on tho exerci.-e of his choice, John answered hU questionor in a manner that showed ho hud tuo ehrewd utilitarian character of a Scotchman, " Hech, sire," saya ho, "it maybo no n vera bonuia thing: to marry a waaac wi' a wooden leg, but, man, eho'll bo awfu' ueofu at eett:n' time when I'm puttin' cloon my cabbages, ueeps, or tatties. She cac gQDg in front an' dibble the hole wi' her atump, while I come ahint an' put in tho s^ei."

A STRANGE DEVICE.

It is related 0* a successful Glasgow r.ior char.t that, sight-seeing in l'aris, unco he lest his way, and wandered about for a con siderable time trying to find iiii- way bade. Ho could speak no Preach, and his Glaffiovr- Englieh only brought a smita and a shako of the head. At langth came a happy thought. By signs he bought the baskot, measure and berries of a trim frenchwoman, and shouldering the stock-in-trade, wont along the streets, yelling—" i'ine grossets a bawbee the chappin; a halfpenny tho chappin." The crowd laughed, but the familiar cry coon brought Borne Scotchmen on tbo scene, and tho merchant, was able to retire from business, and smoke his pipe in the bosom of hi--, family, thankful that he had found !oal countrymen in hia hour of need.

"DO AS YOUR AUNT DOES"

Uncle .Teems says .—Of couree_ y6'll hae a bit tiff no lang after yore mairrit, as every young couple generally hae-jiet for tho purpose, I thick, 0' findin 'oot wha's to be the first to gie in ; or to put in a mair pr>pn lar style, to see wha's to " wear the breeta." Gey stinjin' words are often ueed on baith eides, an' as I ken wimen folk hae aye the beat o't when it cornea to tongues, I wad advi3b ye no to be hard on him. Although he'll maybe say that hs could get fifty o' your kind ony day, an' 'ill wteh ho hr.d never seen yer faco, dinna believe » word o't, for depend on't ho diana believe it him3el'. Show the least sign o1 In, an he'll clasp ye in his anne, an' gio yo sic a kissin' that'll mak' yo think a quarrel is a gude thing, if that is to De tho end on't. An argument is generally the fore runner 0' a' quarrels, so therefore yo'll dp.o weol to steer clear 0' them. Do as yor aunt does w' mo, when there's ony thing comes op that wo difl'er abort. "Weel, Jeems," sho'U fay. "I maybe wrang, but it diana maitter muckle," an' wi' this she starts unither subject.

SPORTING.

3KACIKG FISTa3I.ES April 11 -in 1 1J — Auckland i!;irii:K Clnh'ii j April II iiini i.'.-C ntorbury Joekoy C:l ■!>'.), Apm ,„ -;-.,!; j, lmi J;ekoy C:uo Autumn April L'J - li'i.-r. v. l!n"Tur." U u.i MonlinK Dates c- Australian il-icc-. Api',l 11.-S'dniy liiil'l <'->v. Ttr X P Go S 3 I P. IBV WUTOW ] TiiKitis will bo l'ir u?ni', number r.'f roco meclii'jiH (larjjn -T"! snv>.l>) throughout tho colony on Eustor Mu'ulay. Tir.r. of moit interest to Auclctandcra will naturally bo that of tho Auckland llaciHß Club, and I havo no doubt, it' no have Favourable weather, that iho-o will bo a good nUon d'inco of spectators and excellent racing. My ;nuc:p;iiioiis of tho prnbib'e rosnUa and lato items will bo found i:i another portion nf thi.-> iwur. Tho folloivi.".(.; ore tho nftuioa of thn«n who havo i ad up for the tiictit Autumn Mundi cap : — ft !h Ft 11) Rnbina .. .. X 7 JlVi in .. .. fl n !!--rmimiro .. 7 1 ! I.iii- N-'U .. .. fi !i ■I'iiblc .. .. 7 Jd I'arrtcriE .. .. f, 7 Mn-rm .. ..7 7 lisoa .. .. n fi UuilsMe .. .. 7 IS 1.-.: <; 0 I;uby .. .. II 11 Uircatord .. .. G D My fancy for tMa ovant is O'Biion'a boC (Kubinuor HormitnE«j). /(■ n Ontmni+lec mootSn"; o[ tho Htiwfce's Ray Jockey Club In-t u-c-'-k, (lio nccniiriti Fm-'tlicvfc. nf Autumn A.< e'.ii:jr wito laid on C 'liO. Tho : ■ N-ipicr To'.Pirrnph " nvs that i' ifhs ivili boonf.oivrf for tho :■.. ■' M L !!)ft:vr.o Cm, ~,-,,! „■::; Ijc «...,>( ovor lv Vii»rri-> wno tinw inMtifii ut'Ciiiiiilulioich. For -i repiikr '■(Vw hnrc) " (nril p " M^ii[ip.i")!O!ums! 'I i:'.o t*liltlaLiMlrr. ono of tho MnaWi- iiTid :•■»- :'--'- hni^fn >r t . over h.td in fir c-^i.ny. fosii-ii hi IST", hn won li'f Mr.i !i i !'•■.- mi ro th-in nine years nirn, I >^ '.n'.h i-i nil !•!■■ pnn-

f.iirc Bill'iif,";.'.^*-, I'i^M-in ■. >, sin \)\t, Hntrnyor. H«tnhy, >'«•-r<-:'., R nd Volunteer; I'loie v.-oro all !S7«'> y-iiirtir-toM - mil ;i riivKl' hf.-i: with Ci'cinnrnn for tho UrnricrfianVAiill ('up Oi-a.of th« tfjll-xnt \'ii^ tU(f'y n i A-:, I'ii'r'rl •.((i.ji|.l,.lnn in tho Auckland l*i;>ti>, :i two milo v.ice it \v(»«h1 Ihroe-year-olrf. Torjfirinl, tha Wansntiui Derby winner, is now conjointly PMnii'l by .'; 'i\'a;i;;.i:iui Fporitm.iii ii-yi. tho j.ie'ov, .!. R>l«!ier. It i- stutei thii". iliy pricii pi'i" for thu cji. . by "vs now ownurj ivn-" ..'.'l-"> Woniit, t.'io wall known io::koy, was united in ihu bc:m"» of l.oly nia'.riiiu.ny to Miss l{in:e.J.u'o,at St. "'o'.ovV C mreli.Caver i-lnui, (Diiiiedin), 0:1 !l .1 i" h nit. A brenkfast. pirtywiid MtOfwu-lx '"!■!, »f|ot which tho l:n>K<mein waa piKonU'd with n tiuuibcv of pieces of nkitu by .-cverul ad mirers. Triuinnti, tho colt by llus-kot—Mervoy, purchased hero by Mr P. O'Brion in J inaary last, U being brnkon-in. A ( hrist church writer says the colt liiw done re inarkabiy well iluriug hi. j sojourn nt Riccir ton, and promises to develop into ntrrup ping great horso of niuro than ordiriiiry quality. Mr Bowman's boxes ftt Cr:»n Lino nrc to lot or for (jvlo. A cittapo und live aero? of land nro attnehed to tho etnblce.

Mefsra Whoth'.m and Co., tho compilers of tho "Nov.- Zrtlini Tuif Kcconl," in

answer to nn inquiry whether thoy htivo received eulii :ionc proini'Oii of pnbfcrip'iona from iha v«ri mi Ni w /^nldiid .Toclcny Clubs to warrant their c«ina to the expenso of brint;iii!r pi:) n " T Ucnord ' \'.'" «..>.-.»on, r.:ply as foil m-e: ~-.\\..-<,■? or t t fow inoni h« j back nirnalnra tn over two hundred (iOO) non-aub?c,ribins; Cluba a-l;in^ if they ooul-1 givo ua a ?:i!:>ll amount of enpport : but "f. hovo roccivisd only three (."!) rcplios. O; thoeo one was fnvourablo, thu oilier two ■.vero miKvoiiv.i'.'lo. \Vo tiiko it for {jr.inted thsst the fo«- Clubs thit Imvo hithorto sup ported ip will cheerfully continue to do co ; but unf.irtnr.ntoly tli-.-'r Rub.oriptioni .to not cuftisiont 'o pay more lh;<;i .". third of the cost of tho work. ThiM is disofinriiEtirp;: but wo do r.nft euro to !at tha p.'blio>it ion of tho "Tuif Racorrt " cc.i>o, and wo nra now

.'cr.air.jj out another and v ih,c.\ circular, a'kiDE that the Clubs will porion=ly con.-; !er nho quoftion of whether it i* urivi«nb!e that the work piu uid 5)3 difOjiHinnod, If we receive anything Uko a, re»ROnablo rosponpa vol. iii. ofth-i "Tiuf Record " v/ill appear nt tho due dtto-tiio c'.ofo o! tlrj ino.-ont racing sesison. liather a peculiar ca"?o of mistnlcen identity (sayi n Sydney n'ipor) has come to Hu'ht in eonnprtion with tho recent niuua! rHstribution of thn llobarlvillo stud, At that salo vioro «pvarnl " ffwign " buyers, inchulinjr M r Kfthlo, of Queensland, r>nd

Mr A. Atsdoreon, of \Vni'ii:ihoi, X 7, , and it wa* between tham tbnS tlio mi-fako oc curred. Bovoral days aflrr thg pnlo their purchases wpva sent to Sydney .to bo in ruddiness for thcltrpfcor.rjroii-;! -traraor, and whi'o iv cov.rfo of I ranrit both buyors r.ppcvr to have becomo ft trifln mixed. Amain; Mr Anderson's cintin.'rsnt vv.tm a col" by Olon cestor out cf Solondor.i, and MrKtblo'fl in clnoecS a coir hv I'-nswocth from Mv.-ie if apper. yot, tho latter vrat qcito certain "thai he had purchased tho Sptaodova cnlt, and Mr Andwon vr»s equally positive (hut tho ntlior was !;noekcd down to him. Mr Clibborn attempted to rectify tho matter, but the parties interested would not be told, and mutually agrcfici to ta'co (heir nfr'o;i'v"ds ~'.v.rn up. nnrt ti)i:s Mr Kaiile tonk ths youngster Mr Ano'-crs-ii: pp.id for, and Mr Anderson beesmo tho owner of tho othor. Fall particulars have boon forwarded to each ovrner, ro ih-At notMn;; in tho rhnpo rf trouble may cctno about hereafter by rei?un of tho colts being entered under incorrect peckjreea.

An Austmlifvu eporbamn named Mr James Price has sfcnili d bin intention of giving a fjnld trophy value £100 to thu next Caulfield Gup.

Boyeo and Kosjers, tho famous pnddlsrs of Kowmsrket, have achieved a triumph in tho completion of .1 racing P.ir]ulo v-'hich, with irons', girth*, and surcinglo compltite, weighs only lib soz.

■ S-iys a writer in tlio " Taßtn.ininn Mail " : —Although it. takes foino "hKlcnaators a lifetime to birred a good racohorne, it is a great eati?fr.eiion '.o know that you havo running blood at command pending For tune'n smiles. There is scarcely a stud in Amtrtttaeia but wouldn't make room for any of the mighty Nel3on's progenitor?, and proud, indeed, must Mr John Carr Lord bo, who is tho only posees.-Br of tho crack Now Zealander's ancestral line in tho colony. Mr Lord has three mares connected with his stud of <he Nelson fami'y, viz , Volloy, by Velocity, from Modesty, by PoterWilUinp, from Lady bird, by Boiardo (imp ), from Mirror (imp ) : Madeat Li;;ht, byTorcbliifbt.froin Modesty, by Potcr Wilkimi, ore. ; and Mi^fro, by Manuka, from Volley, cic. A« is pretty generally known, thu Ladybird mentioned was tho mother of My Ideu, Nelmn'a dam, ant' Mirror wbb imported by tho Hon, John Lord, President of tho Tnsmani<in Racing Club, Another muro of tho sumo linua^o — f-ii-tor to Vanish, by Horatio—unfortunately diod a short timo njsfo, but Mr J. C. Lcrd has a colfc by The Assyrian, frnm tho dafuncfc dam, and a colt by Tho Assyrian— Vollay. It may bo that ono of thia pair is destined to become- the Tasmanian Nelson.

! AnoLhor Hquftbbla haa nrison about Now- IsU-iid, tha i-ivtwblla Mavibyrnon- l-'lato iviiiiior uud V. R.C. Derby favouiito of I unntvoury roputo. Tho trouble tlii*. time j i^ about Induing fee?, Mr McDonald having j 1 nuod hin owner fur non-payment and I Mciirod /. verdict for £04. The Viurorion h«rdlo-raoEr,BonnieLa3,is Idoiid; the injuries ho guslnino-'J rocuntly \ ! having necass'itatad liii destruction. ! An attempt will shortly bo maia in j A'iulaido to revive racing, and it is probaMo , tliiit a meoting will bu hold (it Morpoth -1 vil'o in Jutiu at tho tims of tho exliibi -1 tion.

: Daring tho past fn-o years on tho English ! tuil' tbo Duka of Wostminator won no Ices In -mi than £73,277 10s in slakes alono. Of this magnificent total £2-1,430 was won lia ISSfI. : Tooso who backed Abnor for tho Now markot Handicap may find same consolation frnn :■ story told by ••Rapier" in Ihfl " London Sporting and DramalinNow?": — " l'luuip'.on," hn eaya, " in ouo of tha many ooursos whore tlio judgo knows what haa v.-o;j, but it ia not easy for' anyone 01-o to guoes In ono of the stcoplocha-'OS Rosobul r.-.n. My frioad Mr Arthur Yates, nndur u-liopo ciiiirgo s!id in, told mo ho rathor fnnolod hor, but s!io had not turned out so well us l:o hoped, and ho ehouW not invest tho two eovoroH;iis which conatituto his 1 iiFunl commission. Tho raoawasrun, Koso bud \\m behind a coupla of other animals at I tho last jump, and, so fur as wo could S6B, : linitlipd shird, about a lonfsth behind Ur. j Fri.rtUlyn tho favourite. Mr Vale? smiled ! cheerily- ,v he always rioes whethor ho wins jor lose?, for ho loves paying tha game, np-wt from roenltß—anil said, 'Wall, Tjn ; ,:'i,i,! yon didn't bark hor ! Kho wnsn't far | hohinii thont;b !' ' Bcnteri about a length, I v,-.i*n'c bIjoJ" I observed. 'About thur, I «u|ip ieo.' ho answered, when - up wont No, I S ; liombud 'mil won :" 1 Th"rp him bean a jjood deal of clinngina ■fif in.-mv mnoue tho loading KagH-li i ivUuyo \W.;s hui transferred ''U alleei- LU-'dio M- iisit-,1. I-'. Barrett will bo first i ■■!. v i.- i'r Loopoki Kothfchil'J, vico Tom .iv.nira, who will bo it free lnnco l-ittlo . l\i|ih i-'uriin will lidu for Lord Zetland ; ; UMoJburn will do duly For Matlh-jiv |j>w«>ii'« "Inbio. U. Bmou romaius truo fn Kiii<rsc!orc, but Webb, whcs-i increasing j w«lpht rtcprlvta hin\ of many a hospitable mouiit, has not a retainer.

UNKNOWN

! [N|.-nintATioN from I'ortoNovo, aplacaundor

j tho l'Yoni-h II i s ', reports scma to:rib!o cases ■ r>! atrecily, The ruling King i; Tcf.j, and n L'ri'ico and hi? son, whoso names vvcro not ' insnliorcd i:i tho despatch, wore alleged to pos.vsd medicines with which to kill the \:\vj. in c.-n^qnenco of this charge the1 unfortunate Prince mid his son had tho'.r 'mver jiiws broken anil their tongue.3 torn nut by ibo roots, Tli'i tongues wore after i A-nrds fctiui)}; ap befura tho eyes of the I unio.-rutvila victim*. Tho Princo and liis 1 !■-." woro nflorwardn hancoc! rind (hair bodies ■ •, v i K c-lloii." Two r.f I'rinco Tojjbe'a fo.i.-, I iii'.!.-i or cipht and twelve years of asre ro 9f .ectiv.:ly. wt>r« fiub*cquontly murdered i» tho presence of their- mother and M.nor. Liutli of the latror are statod to bo now in p-,:'.m. Uotore tho nbovo outrage took j jiliico another ec. jo of torriblo atrocity wa* ! (■■ -iv.v.iiitc 1 on two other subject* <>t tho ! j'lincp—a man undo woman. Tho torturo ! v,! Nt on Mr four days, durioß which tima Ciieh bad «n evo put out., tho woman boing ! ►p;i![ic(i and tho miin othorv.ie ill-treated. i They -.vcro nfterwar.ls cut with knives, cult ! bein'jt r">' i" tho wcimdii. Ta iini^h up ' their tuH'orings, Hio poor cro.it ires hnd dry grnss tioJ owr (hem, which wai oiled and ihon sot tiro to. ! It wa« also reported that whon tho news of rhu riosith of otio cf tho Liirps Govern-1 ■ uionl Cominiesioners reochod King Tofn, tho Kirn; urdciod puns to bo tired to colo ' brato tbo ilonth. King Toftt wan at one I tima a (Joininiisioner's eervant.

The Highland Crofters

A iin;ii.,ASDC3rrcspondontwrit<B :--" Rory Run MacLeod, Frco Church oldor, Uie I'ojij Lewis, hr.s boor. Invifcjd up to London by tho Highland Land Lav/ Koforra Associ ation for tho purpose of bcins; interviewed

upon tho croftcrt' agitation, its cau^e, and remedy. Kory wants to call upon Mc.=sr3

(i!ad?tono, Morloy, Parooll, CH.Woerhln, tic, and axp'tvn tho whole history of rhrir grievances. Kory Han ia a direct lineal do ecundent ft tho chisffl of tho on'ja jo'vcrinl Lewis branoh o: tho Clan Manlood. Ho advocates (ho cause of tho diiinhorUcd nbtldrcn of Clan-naGao!, winch oiuaea him to undertake the jaurnoy to London. Kory has been unwell during tho winter month*, and wns visited reponiolly in his cabin by lady >f athioson, th'n Queen of the Hebrides tie i-i all alive again, although bordering upon eighty yc-ar*, and ia aa straight as a lamrod and aa lively us » young man of five and twenty, l'.ory holds mora iniluonce throughout Lov;i<-, with it.l iiopul.iUon of 30,000 sjuU, than onyono olsD. He pro posofi that Iho Crofters' Act, r-haH l>o amonrii ti in fuch o munner an shall includo tho cotters r>nd crofter leaseholders and farmeia; that £25 rontal bo tho highest limit for deer forests, ferine, orehcop runs throughout tho Highlands; t.Nil the cotters and Crof tora of congested dial riots may bo permitted to pottle upon the lands of n-l joining Bitators — in fact, the pnoplo of tho highlands and islands may ho permitted upon cqultablo conditions to live upon tho land. Kory ie well vailed in tho entire history of the mi;- firtunoj which overtook Clan-na^Oael, im<{ his present mission to the metropolis is undertaken in tho fuil bopo thufc justice will bo done bofore the proront Jubilee year

A Horse Trade.

Tub following story was told to a clerical friond in tho West of this county by a countryman named Dinny Cooly:—"Good morning, Dinny: whero did jon goS the horse*'" "Well, I'll tell your reverenco. Some timo ago I went to tho fair of "Ross, not with this horse, but v.ith another liurso. Well, sorra a wan said to mo, ' Dinny, do

you como from tho Aist, or do you corao from tho Wosth?' and when I loft the fair thcro wasn't vran to say, ' Dinny, are you going to tho Aist, or nro you going fo tho WesthV Woll- your roveronce, I rodo homo, and was near KilnnKiwa when I met a man riding along tho road forninst me. 'Gocd evening, friend,'- boss ho. 'Good evening?, friend,'sen I- ' Were you at tho fair of Rosa ?' sez ho. ' I was,' a<« I, ' Did you sell ?' pcz hn. 'No,1 seal. ' Would you sell?' sez he. 1 Would you buy ?' sez I. ' Would you make a clano »wop,' aez he, ' horse, bridle, and saddle and all?' sez ho. ' Done,' sez I, We'l, your reverence, I got down off ay my horse, not this horeo, but the other horso, and the maj got down off ay hi 3 horse, that* this horse, not tho otbor horse, and wo ewoppsd, and rodo away. But when ho had gone about) twenty yards ho turnocl rouwri and called aftor mo. ' There r.cvor was a man from Rosa,' sez ho, ' but he could put his ringer in the eye ay a man from Kil negroes,' sez ho, 'and that horsa,' sez he, 1 that I swopped with you ia blind ay ono eye,' sez ho. Well then, your reverence, I turned upon him, and I called out to him, 'There nivor was a man from Kilnagross,' sez I, ' but could put his tv7o fingers in both tho eyes ay a man from Koss/eoj I, 'and that horse that I swopped with yon,' sez I, 'is blind ay both hia oyes,' sez I,

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(Us AOt.kon

FIXTURES.

CRICKET.

April 12 and la-Aucklnad v. Wcllinp;ton.

AQUATICS

April 111 NVHsr.n v (3. Jlalturson, i.v.v a siuo, Jlny KU. iSSi' — Iliuilim'v. Gaadnur, United July, l.'-sr- Ui'.nl'm v. Teenier. United States. N'ui- 21) -KiMt-li V. Ilnnian for" thn Clliimpion ahlii of tho worl'l on tho Paramatia.

ATHLETICS.

ADril2l-MyorsuiiiiO(!urK.ii.23o>-clB. Ap:>i;:j-Bicycle ro;ul raco from Unohunga to i'arnoll.

CORRESPONDENCE

KKQUIBEn— W, (I. Gcorge'j tiino for th 3 mils rcujviU- lailnlS3aeop.

CRICKET.

The Holland captain tnado a great mistake last Saturday when ho sent Auckland to tho wickets after winning tho toss. At first things were going tfio right way for tho fieldars, for Tomlir. succumbed first ball and O'Brien poked his leg ia front to one from E. Mills, and G. Mills beat Barton all the

way with n boauty. Throa wickote wore down for ucder tl)e twenty, but things wore entirely nlterod when tbo t!io Roy. I. Richards and .Jack Arnoi.l got together. Bath playod vory steadily at first, and tho score slowly mounted, 'fuck played tho damo p.iino ho played in tho last match botue.'n Uiopo two club*, when ho saved tho <'!imo for tho bluos. Kicharda made ,"il) by nterling crickot before E. Mills eeattersd dig etumpa. C P. Moid partnered Arnoil, und another stand was mudo, the now man making -JO, and Avnoil was caught by Bsnrd after mnking 105. tbofirat oontury "cored in Auckland this fo.'ci-on. Gardner (M) shaped well, and as the game etandH Auckland havu 7 wickets down for 107. I don't think I will ho far wrong in saj ing that it ti n hopole-H task fur Jiolland to make tho 200 want.' 1 next Saturday, besides not ling tho remaining tlirco Auckland wiofeote; but there is w good chmico of tho match boiny made a draw, which will bo just as lu\d us ii lo?a to tlio Auckland.

United kept the Gordon men in the field tho whole afternoon whilo they made 105. They havo time sot flordon what fhould not baa very hard in>k next week. W.Moldrum was in lino form with tho ball, as hU anulyeis showed :!:{ men, 12 mr.idcr.R, -IS runs, 9 v/icket*. Things looiied very dicltoy for tho Unitud at tho Bturt., a« tha wickets fell vary fast ii'id tho bluo and gold looked like re ;ieatii!;.v ihsir parformanca of tlio previous S;ituni;'y, for no "tarid waa made until C. MacCnrmick ftarfeii hiiting, and ho soon had '2) runs to his croiiit. and then tho la?t wii-kot put in a like numbor, Stemson mak illLT 1!).

Shrowcbury oays: " Anyono can play on afood wicket; lr.it n muti has to know a Int. about cricket before ho does anything ilia bad one." Cuncorninn the team ho will brine out next year, lio hold? forth: " Wu shnll havo a very strong eleven- Better than thiu-and tlii-3 if the bast which ha-> evor bocn in Australia, far and away.'1

Mr V. Styles, playing at Wellingboroutsh on Sept. -I, striking at tho ball, brought hi* bit with groat ioroo on to tho wickets, chiving ono in :i fuil inch, but not romoving cither bail. Hr.rd lines for tho bcwlcr !

Tho Auckland v. Wellington ropre;onta tivo Crickot Match will bo played next Tuesday and Wednesday, when it is to bo hoped thoro will bo a largo attend nnco.

Jack Arneil was in r.ire form against Holland, and though bsftten by lioird sovoral time.", ho only gnvd one chance whilo rompiliiur hip Kir,. May ho bs in m K-Tid form agains"t Wellington nnd ropoat )ii-< psrformnnce of threo yoira back ngainst Canterbury.

Auckland 11. g.»vo the National a leather hunt last Saturday, when they male 129 : for !i wickots. L'plill (33), Martin (2J), Courtayno ('-S), • Ifwerson (•-'()) wore tho j double Gguro scorers, extras bting 10. | Tho National havo four wickots down for I!), not an altogether bright look oat. Mr C. I Thornton, at Scarborough, for! Gentleman of England v. I Hingori, August! 111, midu 107 out of 133 while at the uicltot, carrying out hi? bat. His runo wore made in" seventy minutes off twonty nino stroke?. Hopcired eight sixos, seven of thorn cloin out of tho ground, one of the hit* sending tho bill over a houso into an adjoining eqnnro. K. \V. Markham (an old Wellington blue), in n mitch played on August IS liotwosn the otlicinls at Stavn'ey Works, bowled four over.*, in which he took eight wickc-t". In the first over ho took four wickets in four ball", tho fifth ball popped just over Iho bail?, and tho sixth bowled another. J-!o then changed ends, and took two wickets with tho first two balls in tho next o vor. FOOTBALL. A cniplo of scratch practice mitchso wcro played last Saturday, and tho eea«on ha.s now biion fairly started. Tho first Club mutch will most probably bo playod on tho pucond Satuiday in May. All tho Senior Clubi aro arranging for practice matches for Saturday weok. Nothing has been fottlorl about a ground yet, I would adviso tho Union to strengthen tho hands of tho Athlotic fjround Company, and co | mnfee euro of a ground fcr three matches at leapt. Thif? will bo ample for the coniors, an there will not bo more than seven Senior Clubs, and one mutch will bo playod at tho North Sboro on Saturday, so one junior match couli bo playod at Newmarket, ono in tho Metropolitan and the remainder in the Domain.

T. O'Connor hns decided not to play foot ball rhia season.

J. Fisher, tho captain of the Nelson F.C, left to day for Wangnnui. I hear, howover, that tiioro i- ovory probability of his return ing before tho season has fi\r advanced.

Tho Ponsonby F.C. havo started a second liftcen ; already a number of players have been enrolled, and it promises weli. Tho Club ho!:l a half-miln handicap race for trophies on the last Saturday in tho month. All menibors competo, thore being' no en trance foe. I hear t>ovoral of tha othor clubs intend having something similar.

Jack Taiaroi, who at. ono timo was said to be tho crack footbu lar of the colony, is fit present in iNnpicr, not JjnneGin^ us tins boon stated. There is somo talk of Taiaroa proing to Wellington and playing for tho Poncko Club, but I also hear that h» apd .Too Warbrick nro getting up a Club at Kapior.

Napior footballers lost a good player a week or two back owing to tho death of Wallace, a Maori. He died very suddonly. Tha lirat club match of the season was played at Wellington on last Saturday woek, when tho Ponokes beat the Union by two tries to nothing. Johnston, who played for the Nelson Football Club hero last year, played woll for the lo;ers. Hardwick and J. Cosson were also on tho same Eide, but thoy did not show to advantage. Dave Gnpo played threo quartors back for the Ponokes.

Thore is some talk at present of tho pro posed New Zealand team for England, and much interest ia taken in tha project. I Mncercly trust; it will ba carried out. There should be no fear of the trip not paying ex penses, for football is very well patronised in tho old country ; 7,000 not being con sidered much of an attendance for ono of the recent International matches, and a team of mitipodoans would bo sure to draw well. What teams they would play it, is hard to say, for wo have nothing to go by which we might g'uago the respective merits of the play. Undoubtedly in England the

came is played for rougher, and no doubt more scientifically, but a good team of Maorilandera would soon got into their ways. It is rathor the fashion to laugh when it is mentioned that a new man "played in England, you know," Tjut no player with a real reputation has ever come out hero. To give my readers a faint idea of bow the game is played in tho old coumfcry, I will quotea fowßantonce9 from the report of the last Ireland-England Match, in which the former were victorious by two goals to none, and in which one man was hurt. Mo- I.au ß hlin'B charging and tackling wore terrible. . . .. Scott paaaed to Fagnn, but Warren was on hire like a shot and flung both him and ball into touch. . . . McLaughlin overtook Rotherham and gave him a regular crusher of a fall. . ■ ■ • A fierce net to near the English goal was only terminated by tho retirement of Lock; wood, who was hurt in tho scrummage. These few linoa will give but a faint idea of the fierceness of the game played. In ono match recently four men had to retire hurt. That a row there would be here if that Ecrt of thing occurred, but it is a more matter of course in England, 80 if our.tnen go Home they must prepare for rough play, though always friendly. Davy Jonea has joinod the Ponsonby F. U This gives the blue and blacks three fast men behind the ecrum. There is a chance of the Gordon 1. U not having the services of Monty Wobßter this Beason, a 9 he may not be in Auckland. Mouinie, tho well known Auckland repre sentative, and late a member of the Auckland F. C, has thrown in his lot with tho Gordons. A. G. Grant- fisher, the celebrated boot tish and tx-Oxford University footballer, was playing for East v. West Scotland on Jan. 20ch, when he broke his left leg and bad to be carried off tho field. In the same mutch X, H. Morrison had tT retire torn porarily owing to rough usage, while Wood row was thrown, and had to aeek n short rest. McEwun got hi.-! eye cut, and Simpson had sevoral times to got His log attended to during tho jirogrosa of the game, A Maori Football Club haa beon^ formed ovor in Sydney. It is composed of New Zoa landors, and they havo adopted tho colours of tho New Zealand Uopresontativea. \V. G. Henderson is captain (if I mistake not, ho ie an old lJori3oaby player), Dawar, vice captain, and tho committee Messrs Stirl ing, Garrefct, CooUe, Ooanell, Speight, Mon bv'ue, Mulharc, and Jones. Mr J, Bennett id President and Mr J. M. Milthorpo Vice- President.

ATHLETICS.

The meeting of the proposed Athletic Com pany last Tuesday waa not at all satisfac tory. lam eorrv tor this, for we solely noed a good ground for athletic* here, and tho Company promised to till the blank. Now, unless thero is unity the project may fall through. I would impress on all lovers of eport tho necoseity of giving their earnest support to the Company. Jf they cannot tako shares, give interest. We have a good Amateur AthieticUlub here, but professional running has sadly degenerated since the old dayß. If the ground was got up the Com pany would in all probability promote Sheffield Handicaps forsubstantial pri/.es. A wiod ground has been promisod near Mount Jiobsoo, and the provisional directors are only waiting to make cure of support to clme with tho offer. From the account of the Murphy-Mit chell match that I gave my readers the other week, it would appear that the Aucklander had tho worst of it", bu» I find now that such was not the case. Tho Sydney "Daily Telegraph " stales that as far as the hitting went, the odds were 3 to 1 on Murphy and ho did all the fighting, and if his seconds had been well up in ring tactica he would havo won with ease. Foley had no business in stopping the fight. Mitchell is expected over hore soon, when he and Murphy will put on tho mittena. I have peon it stated in some of theTJapers that Mick Monnock was not placed in any of the heata in the CarriDgton Handicap. Ho cortaioly was not, for he did not start; his acceptance arrived too late. Ho carried a lot of monoy, being heavily hacked, and ho is ontored for tho next Blectric Handi cap, to bo run next week. J. M. Malone, brother to the well-known ex-champion, T. M. Malone, won the last Harrington Electric Handicap from the 15 yards mark, A. F. Brown (17 yards) second, and C. Somuels, the darkie, after winning throe hoats from the 0 yards mark ran third

From Sydney files it appears that Myers won hi 3 1,000 yards match with George aa ho liked, iio had him beaten 200 yards from homo. The race was run on a cloao clipped, well-rolled grass track, but was novertholesa slow, the time being 2 miti. 18 4-sth sees.

Hu'chens boat Trinder in his 130 yards race at Newcastle last week. Hutchens conceded Trinder 4J yards, but won as ho liked in 13 l-10th seca. As Hutchena can go under even a long way, and Trinder ia reckoned to do near five yards under even, tho race appears to havo been " not quite tho thing."' Wonders will never ceaße. I wrote the other weokabout the Victorian CyclistUmon disqualifying Coa Dwyer for riding in the recant test bicycle races. Now they have dieqialitied Bennett, the New South Wales champion, for making the pace for Con Dwyer when he attempted to break the grass rocord for a mile, the report of which was published last week. Such a thing is ■jnhenrd of before. The Union, after giving out that their track waa correct, havo now rcmoaaured it, and poor Con's record will not stand, as the track is some 37 yards short.

The Auckland Yacht Club were very cuccosaful in inaugurating the new existence of tho Club, and I trust that the interest which has been awakened will not die out, »nd though too lats to do anything thia season, next year will see the Club influenc ing aquatics for tho better. I wae disap pointed in not noticing the Muritai out. Why was sho not out?

The following comprises the programme gone through by Signor Sali.the well-known ] lalian Gnvco-Koman wrestler and weight- Hftov.at a bonefit tondered to him in Sydney. The eignor may be described as " as broad as ho ia long " and has the muscle regularly piled on. " After some preliminary boxing bouts, the signor appeared on the stage with tho usual appurtenances for weight-lifting. He commenced by swinging in one hand a large spiked Indian club, weighing 361b. Ho next to?sed from hand to hand a number of weights, ranging fn?m 2S to 501b. each. Having finished with these, he took in liia teeth a chain, to which hung two weights of 351b. each, and he tossed thorn to and fro botween his legs, and over his head. He then increased the weight to about 1271b., and again lifting the chain with his teeth swung the mass of metal over his head. Discarding these weights, he amused himself by playing cup and ball with a 451b. weight, and followed this up by tossing about a steel btr 901b. weight and six feet long. This lecreation was oucccoded by some gentle exercise with a dumb-bell weighing 1251b., and when that was concluded he lifted above his head, from the shoulder, with his left hand, a ISOIb. dumb-bell. A cask weighing 551b. was then brought in, and, two lads having seated themselves upon it, tho athlete lilted tho lot off a table while holding a 371b. weight in each hand. His next feat was a groat test of Btrength. He placed across his shoulders a bar of steel, and various weights wore hung about it. A young man then climbed on to hia shoulders, another hung on to each end o! tho bar, and away tho little Italian went, carrying altogether SOOlb. woight. At the conclusion he held in his teeth a chain, and, three young men taking hold of the other end, he pulled them after him. Altogether tho exhibition was a very clover one, and showed unusual strength on the part of the performer."— " Sydney Mail,"

STAGE AND STUDIO.

(By EUTEBPE.)

The exhibition of the Canterbury Society of Arts, which has just closed, has been, from a financial point af view, the most succe-nful yet held by the Society. The total receipts have been about £000. Eighty pictures have been sold, realising £i(jo, about £120 more than last year.

Mr Edwin Hodder iB engaged on a life of Mr Samuel Morloy.

" A Look Pound Literature." is Mr Robert Buohanan's new book.

Mr Shaw Lefevre iB said to have com pleted his book on the Irish question, " Peel and O'Connell."

The publishers of the American "autho rised " edition of Mr Gladstone's pamphlet on the Irish Question (Messrs Bcribner), sold nearly 40,000 copies in a month. Messrs Brough and Boucicault, are likely to bring "Little Jack Sheppard" and "The Forty Thieves" through New Zea land. In this case there is unquestionably a treat in store.

Souvenirs in tho shape of gold and silver medals ara to be proeented to all who took part in the " Pinafore " performances at Dunedin. By the way,what has become of the Auckland Opsra Compiny? Is it dead or merely sleeping? It is said " Chilperic '■' was cast aside at being too expensive to produco. The New York "Dramatic News says that Mrs Langtry has filed her answer to the euit of the lato Morris Greenwall, in the United States Circuit Court. She admits making the contract to go to Australia, but claims that ho violated its terms by assign ing it to Williamson, Garner, and Mus grovo, of Sydney, nnder whose mangement she was unwilling to act. Miss Julia Simmons, the Ariel of The Tempoet " at tbo Melbourne Theatre Royal, mot with an unpleasant accident recently. Her singing of " Where the bee sucke, during which she reclines upon the tra ditional bat, was sufficiently satisfactory to induce an encore, and, while being drawn on again, one of the suspending wirea broke, and she fell on the stago, a dis tance of Bft or 9ft. Boyond a ebakmg, no aerious injury was done, and she was soon able to go on with her PB Mr Simonson'B Italian Opera Company i* renewing at Sydney its Melbourne suc cesses. The orchestra is said to be of itself a groat iroat, far surpassing any which has been available in Sydney since the visit of the Austrian Band. There are four first violins including Herr Dierich and tne veteran Mr Kice ; three second vioiins, two viole, two violoncelli, two contra-baesi— one of whom is Signor Ceechino, whose per formances a few years ago revealod new powers of his instrument to Australians two flutes, one oboe, one bassoon. The brass instruments are two horns, two cor nets, three trombones, and tbera are also tympani and brass drums. Australia and New Zealand are to be honoured with an early vieit from a great and woll-Eno an cantatrice. viz , Miss Amy Sherwin. The New York " Musical Courier," in its issue of January 5, gives the lady's portrait, and also furnishes a oufolistic notice upon her career, remark ing vi pasmmt that her "return to America in the early spring, will bo re ceived with pleasure, and, we trust, with a rekindling of the enthusiasm she evoked a few eeasons since in this city, the South and West, in many New England citios." Mis? Sherwin was born in Austra lia of English parents.and she was induced to join an Italian opera company at an age when most young ladies are just emerging from tbe ptnsion. She made her HiSbut as Xoxina in Don Pasquale." Encouraged by a pronounced success therein, she soon mastered the rolos of Lucia, Martha, Amina and Leonora. In January, ISSO, directly sbe reached New York, Miss Sherwin made her American debut with the Oratorio Society. Sbe had the good fortune to Epore such an instantaneous success in tbe initial performance of " The Damnation of Faust1' (with tho Symphony Society) as to aseign her a lasting place among artists, and sbe appeared in nine successive renderings of this great work. In the following May abe led at the Cincinnati Festival. In May, iSSI, went to Europe, where she re mained for two years, studying oratorio and German opera with Stockbausen, in Frank fort ; opera and deportment with Eustache, in Paris, and Mrs Filippi, in Milan, After appearing in London in opera under Carl Roßa, Miss Sherwin returned to AmeHca to siog at the Worcas ter Festival in 18S3. Oa her return to Europe in ISS4 Miss Sherwin obtained an engagement at Covent Garden, where sbe has sung with over<increasinp success. She has taken a prominent part in the Kichter concert:, London, for two seasons, also with Joachim in the Bach Choir con certs. Miss Sherwin was to arrive in America on March 15, but her stay there would only be a short one, as she is undlwr engagement to come on to Australasia, where she earned her first laurels.

AUSTRALIAN STAGE NOTES.

Melbourne, March 2S,

Tho "Tempest," after proving anything but a success, we are sorry to say, has been withdrawn from the boards of the Theatre Royal, and was succeeded last Saturday by a revival of "Called Back," with George Rigaold and Kate Bishop in their original characters of Paolo Macari and Pauline. Bland Holt makes his reappearance in Aus tralia at the Theatre Royal next Satur day week in the Drory Lnno . enc ceee, called " A Run o£ Luck." Broujrh and BoucicauK a Oornpany do not pay New Zealand a visit for the present, but the burlesque portion of them open at the Theatre Royal in Adelaide at no dis tant date, whilst the remainder stay here, and on next Saturday night appear in a farcical comedy called " The Pickpocket." The greatest performance that has ever taken place will come off next Saturday afternoon at the Princess Theatre. We refer to the ma+inee benefit tendered to the widow and orphan of the late William Hoskins. There are upwards of one hun dred artists Roing to assist. The Alexandra Theatre will be re-opened to nieht by Madam Joran and her three talented daughters, assisted by Mdlle, Aldine, Minnie Lewis, Gladstone Wright, and others. Clifton; Sydney, March 2S. " Un Ballo," " Rofeorto Devereux," and " Faust" have been the productions at the Theatre Royal for the past weak. By de grees the Italian Opera Company are gain ing in popularity, and last Saturday, when •'Faußt" was produced, there was not standing room in any portion of the Royal. So fnr, "Un Ballo in Maschera" and " Faust" have been their most successful operas, both, financially and artistically. Martin Simonsen has yet another eight or nine weeks to run, ao during that time we ex pect he will produce threeor four nowoporas. Tho members of Signor Agrati's Acromate Combination are gradually seceding from the show, and vending their way back to London, no doubt disgusted and sickened with Australia and its people, and wishing, perhaps, they had never left their native land for a place that has failed to appreciate them ; but such is the case, and it would be a difficult matter for the most experienced theatrical managerto tellwhat would satisfy the people of Sydney at tho present time. W.A.R.

THE GARDEN.

[By Hortus.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Pansy Flower Seeds. Etc. (Amateur) —in You will etill ba in time, but it wouid have been better if you had sowed yonr seed earl? last month. (2,. There are so many kinds of flower seeds, and there are so many diirerent methods of dealing with them, tbat it would be Impossible to deeoriba, in detail, in a short paragraph, the entire process 01 dea'.ir g with all It you simply pica off the seed pods when thai show signs at ripeness, expose to the sun till dry enough to clean out; after, put them up in little piper baga with their names written oa them, vis essential thai all should be pro. perly ripened and dried before being nut away lor the winter. *ul

Horticultural Society.

TirE Committee of the Auckland Gardeners' Horticultural Society met last Monday evening in Newmarket. A gocd deal of routine business was transacted. ,A full statement of the accounts of last show was not rendered, as all the items had not come to band. It isi expected that there will only be a small deficiency. The hon. hoc. Mr Aitkon, placed on the table a diploma and medal received last mail from the managers of the Colonial Exhibition. Thes'^ wore received for fruit exhibited under tltt auspices of the Society. The Secretary was instructed to have thorn framed in New Zaaland wood. The Committee also decided to hold a camellia enow about the end of July. It is expected that all growers will stage winter {lowers and fruit. The exact dato of the show will be1 determined at a future meeting. Special exertions should be made by all orange growers in the northern districts to place well ripened fruit on tho table. Year after, year w hear about the splendid fruit grown in the north part of this province. A friend will give special prizes for the best flavoured oranges. Xho conditions will be submitted to tho committee at their next monthly meeting. One of thorn, I may add, will be that imported fruit will be allowed to com pete with the local, so as to get a compari son of the merits of the local article. Insects Pests. I haee received the following communlca. tion from Mr W. Mclndoe, St. Stephen'j Hoad, Parnell. in reference to insect pesti: He extracted the foliowing receipt from the "Journal of Horticulture," about three yaars a«o, ÜBiDg it ever since, and thinks that it might be of vast benefit to all nor ticulturiets. The mixture is as follows : — "Black oreoftgoap, 2oz : 1 pint of boiling water ; mix together until the soap ie tho?: oughly dissolved ; after this add dee wine glass full of keroaine ; then boil for three minutes." For syringing plants in foliage, the above mixture should be put Into two gallons of rain water, and stirred till it is thoroughly mixed. Th6n thoroughly drench with tha syringe plants affected with the following insects :—Smut on catnelias, citrus family, &c.; all the different species of white bug, thrips, leach on pear and plum trees, etc.; green and black fiy on cucumbers, melons, roses, etc. In fact, all classes of insect life seem to disappear be fore it at once, and do not appear tor some time afterwards ; and in the case of smut, 1b disappears altogether from the affected plants. For winter dressing of fruit trees it is unsurpiis-iod, and as it is then used on de ciduous trees while the foliage is off, it, ccn be ueed much stronger. It should then be ueed at the rate of one part of the mixture to four psrts of water, applied with a brush to the affected part and well rubbei in. Pear ecale, American blight on apples, and white scale an roses are destroyed at once. I may add that on ail classes of insects, with the exception of the codlin ■ moth,'; have had great success, never having a failure; ana I even believe that if apple trees were syringed with this mixture several times after the frnit is set, it would keep the moth from depositing its eggs thereon. I mean to try it ■'• next season Where quantities of the above mixture are required, they can be made at onco, bottling it and corking it tight. When wanted for use slightly heat the > water it is to be mixed with. -: • ' Autumnal Growth of Fruit Trees. " Last week I gave an extract from, as English horticultural paper, dealing with tho advantages of root-pruning in,t&elt climate. In this paper I will now try.and show that in some cases here root-pruning is almost imperative on the pear and plum trees. In meat oi the orchards imme diately around Auckland we year after year see trees burst out into full 'flower. Now in this process the tree has expended a certa.n portion o! its strength, which it bad s.ored np for the following season's fruit production. The trees at this period should mill be advancing towards a com plete ripening of their wood, and buds so as to consolidate the sap in the wood";and flower buds, and get a rest for the next eeason's growth. Tho flower bud thus be ing burat out at the wrong season, and tha tree not then having the force to produce new ones during • the winter causes the failure of the crop in the following year. Now the question is how to pnt a atop to the loss of the flower buds in the autumn. Cutting or Pruning tne Boots In tho Antumn. . ■ ■■ Whenever the tree shows the slightest tendency to swell tbo buds, at once give a thorough check to the whole ttee. Instead of the esp going upwards and forcing oat the buds, the action is at once reversed. The whole forces of the tree are sent down wards to repaii- damage to the roots. The flower buds, instead of being forced into premature activity, are drained of 4)1 "DDffr iluoue sap, and ripened off at onco. j Woe leaves will at the same time feel the chock, and begin to ripen off and fall, thus bring ing the f.reo into a stata of complete rest much earlier in the season than when left to nature. In some cases giving from one to two mouths more rest, and getting the wood and buds thoroughly ripened before the spring weather sets them inta a state of activity again. The roots.are also greatly benefited by the pruning in the autumn. It reduces the number of long, deep, stragly timber producing roots, and assists in increasing the number of small, line filrous ones which greatly help tho fertility of the tree. The down comming sap soon causes the wounds made on the roots to heal quickly, and push out numer ous fibres long before the cold wot weather of waiter sets in, and in the early spring those fibre are ready to collect and send up the tree food of the highest quality suited for producing fine crops of fruit. Bow much to prune must be a question determined by the circumstance connected by each individual tree, according to the habit of growth trree. I have rootrpruned trees which had been planted for over ten years and bad attained a good size, Some of those I cut the roots back to within three feet of the bole of the tree ; others more or less according to the strength or otherwise of the tree. The best time to root-prune is during April, or early in Maxtor ordinary purposes; but for extraordinary circumstances I havo root-pruned and lifted pear trees during the early part of February t but would not advise it unless under pres sure, and then the trees must be watered so, as to keep the roots moist. While per forming the operation, do not disturb the, soil immediately near the bole of the tree, leaving a large -ball of earth. Or, rather say, cut a trench round the tree about 3 or 4 feet from the stem, according to the, age or vigour, and cutting off all the roots that extend beyond that'distance, and such as are going down into the sub-soil. This can be easily managed by. excavating.under one side first, then gently healing the tree over on one side, thus cutting all roots penetrating straight down into the sub soil. Before covering up the ball of e»rth see that all jagged or broken pieces of roots are cut back to a sound part with a sharf knife. Clean cut wounds will heal much faster than rough wounds. Theeloaa ones will almost heal at once, and toon push out a multitude of email fibres. ■■ "■■

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAB, SATURDAY, APRIL 9 3 1887.

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