RANDOM SHOTS.

[By Zamiel.]

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

The football season is now fast drawing to a close. Generally considered, the results have been satisfactory to the local players. One thing which has amused me has been the amount of interest displayed by the fair Bex in the result of the interprovincial •matches. When the Canterbury players Vere here, " Zamiel " was one day passing up Queen-street when, a tall young lady .stopped a Star runner, and asked him if he Iknew the result of the match. It was then ■just a few minutes after five o'clock, and the lad was in a position to aftord the desired information, to the evident gratifica tion of the lady. Since then, " Zamiel "> has visited the football paddock and has noticed the numbers of fair one i who weekly 'attend to witness the play. So excited dp ■some of them became that they do not hesi tate to encourage their favourite players. 'Last Saturday, for instance, some ladies be came so interested in fcl* t match between >the Saracens and the Links that they might ■fee heard shoutingvigorously"Go it, Muggy! 'Shoot the goal, Muggy," which no doubfc samused " Muggy's " mates more than him jiself. Who the young gentleumn was Ido Lnot know, but from the frequency with [which his name was repeated he appeared to be in great favour.

*#* * * ♦* * * i Leaving the gentleman with the Jubilee ,mug out of the question, there have been iother humorous "features" which have 'somewhat redeemed the brutal game. 'There has, for instance, been the prize fpuzzle of determining which of the teams is the best, judged fhy the season's matches. The argu j'ments on the subject were generally [put in strictly mathematical form, but there was always a screw loose 'when they came to the "Q.E.D." For -example, if A. beats B. and then B. beats C, ! who is in turn beaten by D., and if A. then i'beais D. and is beaten by C, is it perfectly 'clear that A. is the boss team ? And if a fyrue conclusion as to the merits of the contes tants cannot be arrived at, where is the use 'of trying for the victory? There have been lady footballers in the field this season, 'so far as I have heard, and in consequence readers have missed the sensa tional description of the exciting match, i-Milliners v. Barmaids, which they have en joyed in former years. The " depression " (has cast its baleful wings over our sports, land the only ghastly attempt at a match this season was one teams picked from the " un- Femployed" at Napier. Though not likely ['to become a "dull boy" through being j overburdened with work, there was, per haps, still need for Jack to have his i.recreation, so these " depressed" went merrily at it, and forgot [their sorrows in the active pursuit of the ! flying leather. The only difficulty v/as that i when they wished to toss for choice of posi tion, there was not a "copper" could be [raised among the crowd! The heartless •^onlookers laughed consumedly at this; but 'to my mind there is something truly 'pathetic in the record of these poor im ■ipecunious mortals, with pockets as empty !*as their bellies, finding a temporary relief 'from care in kicking each other's shins, 'and blackening each other's eyes, with as abandon and enjoyment as was ever tehown by teams, of well-fed, petted, aud footballers.

It almost reconciles me to the "brutal game " to find, that jt has such a power to [.remove the. depression," even temporarily [Another little humorous idea has struck fme in this connection. The lovers of the ■igame deny that it is brutal, but an. en •■thusiastic reporter in describing the Otago vCanterbury match, and the dinner that ifollowed it* "gave away" the footballers !Jby a couple of cruel inferential statements. ■He placed it on record as "worthy of; note " [that the. game passed off without dispute f and withput any of the players getting. _in | jured, while the symposium in the evening I*' passed off quietly." What els© is implied jjin these naive admissions, if not that [wrangling and bruises are the usual coft fconiitants of the game, v and that a football supper does not usually pass, off quietly ? ■ ♦:.* * * * * ; * «• *

v There has been a little sensation this ! week over the fact of the common jury ex ■ pressing a desire to see the Mammoth Although Judge Ward was in itensely amused at the idea of " the pal j ladium of British liberty" having a taste I'for such a popular form of recreation, I I gee nothing particularly funny in it; and i-I am sure His Honor only requires to visit 'the Opera House to be convinced that the (jurors showed sound sense in prefer ring their request. A queerer story has ■reached me regarding the Grand Jury and 'M\c detective, which. is worth repeating, $fc was while the Anson jewellery robbery case was under consideration, and the ! valuables were spread out in tempting 'array on a table in the Grand Jury room. The Jury, having found a true bill, were 'examining with -some interest the costly -articles, when Detective Tuohy entered the 'croom, and taking in the situation with, a ; lglance of hiV heagle heye, he said—"l i^nust tell you, Mr Foreman, that there is a portion of the jewellery missing !" The fforeman's jaw fell at once; the grand /.jurors,- like guilty things, dropped the fiprecious articles that they had been finger ing, and stared in blank amazement at the ■■■accusing angel who stood before them. "What unheard-of audacity; to accuse them —the Grand Jury, who were the special ! pride of the bench—of tampering with the I valuables, was too horrible! At last one of the jurors found breath enough to gasp ;out—"Does Detective Tuohy wish the fentlemen of the jury to be searched?" 'uohy detected his blunder and politely 'explained—" I beg your pardon, gentle imen ; I intended to say that we had not iyet succeeded in recovering a portion, of : the pearl necklace, bnt we know whereto '-find it now." The Grand Jury breathed i once more, but have scarcely yet got! over L*ths shock to their system. Grand Juries itnay be wiped out of existence by Act of and they will expire without a '^struggle; but to be suspected of theffc is intolerable. Death before Dishonour!

Without doubt, the class of people most to be pitied in Auckland at the pre sent time are the owners of vehicles. Their Jives have long been peaceful, and .they ha,ve not been unduly harassed by the representatives of law and order. But a Hew era has set in. Somebody has set the police ifl motion", and carters and drivers find to their horror that they are surrounded by, and amenable, to a thousand and one rules and regulations, comprised in innumerable sections and subsections, and their lives area misery to them. The unfortunate men know as little about some of these; by-laws as they do about Greek, and one poor fellow, when leaving 'the Court the other day, declared that he *ad been fined 10s and costs for "plying !for hire on an unlicensed stand." Others; jwere fined because they did not feed their >*' mules" out; of horse-bags, as decent animals should be fed. One philosophical individual, in paying his fine* expressed his williflffiraas ttr feed his horse off a plate with spoon alid fort if. the Bench wished it.- This is all . very well, butitiis justr possible for the police to be

too energetic in enforcing these laws. The individuals who are mulcted in penalties are generally those who are least able to pay, and the fines, in many cases, are exor bitant in comparison with the gravity of the offence. Some mystery attaches to the cause of this newly-born energy on the part of the police. There is trouble between the borough and police depart ments on the subject, and a " rod is if pickle" for the naughty policeman who gave the press to understand that the town clerk had set the wheels of justice in motion ; that is, if he is caught. Indeed, the police authorities have taken the matter so much to heart that on the principle of "set a thief to catch a thief" they have told off a detective to sheet the offence home to the constable. Pleasant for the constable, whoever he is!

"Do not believe all you hear or see in print, good people," was the substance of the remarks of the pastor of one of our city churches recently. Just so ! For once "Zamiel" agrees with the clergy, and, what is even more remarkable, is prepared to go further and say " Do not. dear friends, believe all you hear, even from the pulpit." How often in our boyhood's days have our ears been assailed by dogmas which are now considered out of date —such, for instance, as the fire and brimstone theory. A few sage remarks were also made by the pastor with regard to the danger of hard times, causing people to pay more attention than wa3 advisable to other people's business, for lack of being engaged sufficiently with their own. The advice was good, and, perhaps, needed, but we must not forget that—if report speaks truly—even in good times an amount of chattering about other persons' affairs is generally done at what are termed " ladies' sewing circles." Perhaps this particular church is not at present blessed with such an organisation. If such be the case, let me state that other churches in the city are, and the amount of informa tion to be gained at these gather ings would almost run a society journal. Do not take offence, ladies, for "Zamiel" can assure you that business is not the only subject which is discussed at the clubs and other places wheie the gen tlemen do congregate, so that after all the equality of the sexes is nearly balanced in this matter at any rate. From this it would appear that scandalmongering is a vice which the noblest of the animals—man —is somewhat given to. It is this taste that insures the sale of the spiciest society jour nals, and even the godly ones exhibit the same tendency when they nod their ap proval as the pastor pours forth an eloquent tirade against some other abuse from which they themselves happen to be free. Truly, brethren, this is a wicked world.

" Some of the veriest old women I have met with belonged to the opposite sex." This was another remark of the same gentle man, probably said with the intention of pleasing some of the elderly ladies belonging to the congregation. At first glance this seems very good policy, but leadersofthepub lic mind should think of the probable results of their teachings. Consider, my dearsir, what dire consequences may ensue when some mother in Israel settles herself squarely before her other half and coolly informs him that in future he must count as number two, it having been decided upon the highest authority that he was the bigger old woman of the twain. It should also be borne in mind that, although the ladies are always the most devoted workers for the church, it is the other half of the firm that usually votes the supplies, and in these degenerate days the god of Mammon must needs be con sidered to some extent even by churches. Therefore it would be advisable to make those remarks applicable to persona not in fcno church. The power of the press was acknowledged by the same speaker when he said that it wras not necessary for his flock to run to the editor's sanctum when they bad a bit of local gossip. "Therein lies at once our power and our curse, for the people will visit the editorial precincts in spite of all requests to the contrary. As a matter of fact, that is one of the troubles of an editor's life, and for this reason it is that bujl-dogs, spring-guns and man-traps are brought into requisition; therefore if the rev. gentleman's hearers will only fol- Idw out his advice in this matter alone, ff in naught else, the wearied editors will thankfully remember him as a true friend of the " fourth estate."

Sonic people benefit by other people'B misfortunes, and so it is likely to come about that the public will have the oppor tunity of some very cheap excursions about the coast during the approaching holiday season. Indeed, the old times when one could have a trip to Riverhead, and a free luncheon and beer for the pleasure of taking so much trouble, appear likely to be revived in the coming struggle between the Northern Steamship Company and the Federated Seamen's Union. Both sides have hoisted the motto "nd sur render." The Jubilee (Seamen's). Company have announced a big reduction in fares and* freights, and although Cap tain McGregor has not entrusted all his secrets to my sympathetic ear, I can imagine that he will make a somewhat similar move before long. What follows ? The Jubilee manager saya that he will always " cut" below the Northern, and so it may, peradventure, come to pass that we shall come down (or up) to free travel ling. A trip to Whahgarei, Russell, Whan garoa, Mongonui or VVaitara.at the low cost of nothing to the traveller, would no doubt be greatly appreciated by the public, and would be taken advantage of. Of course somebody has to pay for such luxuries, but that is a matter for settlement between the opposing companies. Each now appears ready for the front, and the play should soon begin.

And then we have the Auckland and North Shore Ferry Company putting on another spurt. They have brought out one !of the builders of their two new steamers put together last year, and expect that the end of their trouble is already in view. Their steamers are going to have increased : speed, and as they commence running very soon, the Devon port Ferry Company are going to do—what ? well, thatfs a question which I'll be better able to answer later on. At •all events, it is safe to anticipate some "cutting" here also, and cheap trips to North Shore should be the order of the '. day. I'm not a shareholder in either com pany's interest, and I calmly and coolly, and with the greatest curiosity and interest, await the beginning of the end. If competition is going to cut down the freights and fares by water to s,uch an extent there will be little need, «fter all, to send Mr Samuel Vjiile to Parliament to carry out railway reform. Let us just float ja. Jubilee Railway Company to run in opposition to the Government,, and the object which he has in view will be attained at once;- , . ■

The times are very bad, but so far as I can learn there is no "soup kitchen" ,in operation at present in Auckland. And the absence of th&fr concomitant of hard times renders, very puzzling an incident thafi happened the other afternoon in Wel : lesley-street East. Two young, ladies might ■ ha*ve been seen, in-, the cool of the evening, : coolly but surreptitiously leaving a parcel oii the window sill of an undertaker's establishment opposite the Free .Public Library. Examination revealed the fact that the parcel consisted of a large pickle Bottle filled with soup, which gave forth a delicious scent. Had, there, been a soup kitchen, open,. I should have s,upj)ose:d that bfie recipients of the bounty had wished to scatter it abroad, although the selection of an undertaker .as the medjuni is, a rather

sepulchral joke. The only other solution that suggests itself is that the ladies had baen sent forth by their pious "ma" to carry comfort to some sick bed, but be coming tired with the exertion took the opportunity of dropping the parcel. The pickle bottle and its contents are preserved religiously by the man of coffins, and possiWy when somebody reads this account of the* travels of the soup there will be a ",rod in pickle" for those "tired" girls.

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

September 24-Otahuhu Racing Club Spring September 29 and 30.—Geraldine Racing C"b- Se^ner-über29-Napier Park Racing Clab Sp*-* Meeting , , _, ~ October 3 and 4.—Hawke's Bay Jockjey Club a I*lll ET October 22—Pakuranga Hunt Club Races November 8 9, and 10.-Canterbury Jockey Club's Sprine. . '. ■ '' . _~ ~ November 9 and 12.—Auckland Ractog Club s Spring.

DATES OF PRINCIPAL AUSTRALIAN RACES.

Great Metropolitan Stakes.—Sept. 20. Fina1 payment, Sept. 16. Caulfleid Guineas.-Oct. 8. lunal payment. October 4. „. , Caulfleld Cup.—October 10. Final payment, Victorian Derby.—October29. Final payment, October 28. - _. , Melbourne Cup.—November 1. Final pay ment, October 23.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By Hipfona.]

The second of the big Australian Spring Handicaps is the Metropolitan Stakes, which is run at Ranclwick on Tuesday next. Public form and the betting market—two most reliable 'guides —point to Cardigan or Morok being likeliest to supply the winner. Harry Harrison is once more located in his old quarters at Green Lane, from which, in the colours of the late Mr John Smith, he sent forth Maid of Honour and Tim Whiffler to victory. Harrison has got quite a useful team together, and after the stallion parade on Saturday last I took the opportunity to drop in on him and have a look over his charges. Major George's pair of two-year-olds, Clive, by Cap-a-pie— Florence, ftnd Raglan, by Cap-a-pie— Tenambra," were the first to come under my notice. They are certainly the best looking of Cap-a-pie's progeny that I have seen, and both have size, which is quite an exception in their sire's stock, all being built on the small side. Clive, who has been gelded, stands 15.3, and shows plenty of substance. He has splendid hocks and knees, and legs that should stand a lot of wear and tear. I should take him to be a colt that will require time, and he is not nearly so forward as Raglan, who is now almost ready to race. Raglan'is'built on different lines to his stable companion, being more evenly put together, and he shows more quality. Harrison has, teach ing the rudiments of her education, another two-year-old in the shape of a filly by Leolinus, from Cremorne's dam, Miss Laura. She is a very racy-looking young' lady, and should prove slippery over short courses. Antelope, the daughter of Apre mont and Miss Kate, I found looking healthy and well, and she boro evidence of having done ai good' deal' of work. Cafcesby has only fust been taken in hand, his legs having undergone a blistering. The remain ing members of Harrison's team are Wapiti and Capella. The first-named has been in work some time, but his legs are a bit . dicky - looking, and Capella was in the rough, having been turned out ma paddock at her owner's place since being' disqualified last season. Harrison is a steady painstaking man, and I am glad to see him with such a decent team to train.

Cardigan's victory in the Hawkesbury Handicap brought joy to the hearts of our army of small local punters. He had been a strong " tip ".for sometime past, and one of the local pencillers tells me that the very first wager he laid in his book some two months ago was 33 to 1 against Cardigan.

It is proposed to ship Bangle and Tur quoise to Napier during the forthcoming week to fulfil their engagements there.

Major George expressed the opinion to me this week that it is not unlikely Nelson may never be able to race again. He fancies that the severe fall,the crack son of King Cole got in the last Sydney Cup has a lot tq do with the limping and lameness which he. is exhibiting on the Riccarton training ground. Had Nelson remained sound, it was the intention of Major George to have takien him to Melbourne for the V.R.C. Spring Meeting.

Mr Percivalissued the A.R.C. programmes for the coming season in book form this week.

Inquiries were made from Dunedin this week about Lorraine for the New Zealand Cup. The price wanted was 100 to 8, but 100 to 10 being, the best offer, no business resulted. Lorraine is an inmate of E. Cutts's stable. The only line of import ance done on the Melbourne Cup during the week has been the acceptance by tele graph of 600 to 35 against Silver Prince. The taker was a resident of Timaru.

The stallion parade at Green Lane on Saturday last was a rank failure. Only four thoroughbreds were on the ground, viz., Leolinus, Captivator, and St. Leger, the property of the New Zealand Stud Company, and Mr McCaul's Izaak Walton. Where wasNordenfeldt, King Cole, Ingomar, Brigadier, Billingsgate, Hippocampus, and several other stallions that could be named? Considering that Auckland prides itself on being the head centre of breeding in thJs colony, the parade was a disgrace to the pfece. Such apathy and want of spirit among our local studmasters is greatly to be regretted. The attendance at the parade included the very heart of the farming community, and this was' the only redeeming feature.

Lochiel and. Torrentstillshare favouritism in the New Zealand Cup in Christchurch, but the first-named is in most demand, 100's to 12" being taken that he wins. The same price is on offer against Torrent. Silence is quoted at 100 to 5, and for some unaccountable reason, Maxim has receded to the same price. Anenfc Maxim, tM , " Canterbury Times " says :—" The holder of a big double about the two Maxims- Cup and C.J.O. Derby—who may be sup posed to know something, has shown con siderable anxiety to gob out of the money. Still there is no' disposition to take liberties : with the colt in connection with the Derby, and this may suggest that the stable has ■something in 1 reserve for the big handicap— , possibly the dark Beresford." Among the horses who gathered at the "meet" of the Pa&urariga' Hunt Club on , Saturday lasf I noticed Lone Hand, but he was nob indulged in the joys of the chase. The old fellow is showing signs of his age, and his fore-legs give evidence that the firing iron was used some months back.

The " Australasian" publishes the amounts wort during ,the past season by the repre sentatives of the different sires, and the most important * on the list; is Robinson Crusoe (principally through Trident), £8,38?; Musket, £7,625; Uoldsborough,; £6,445 ; Chester, £5,371; The. Drummer, £4,840-; Gang Forward, £4,831; Man byrnong, £3,989; Grandmaster, £3,683.; King of Clubs., £3,526 ; Newminster, £3,277; King Cole, £3,260; Manuka, £3,H5 ; Grand Flaneur, £2,944 ; Mel bourne, £2,710 ; Slanderer, £2,572 ; The Mute, £2,390 ; Newbdld, £2,264 ; and St. Albans, £2,127. Others met with are Julian;' Avena'ly £2,003 j Epigram, £1,661; and Rapid Bay (dead), £1,596.

A few days previous to the Hawkesbury Handicap being decided, the mysterious Mozart was the cause of deep concern to Sydney turfites. All kinds of rumours were abroad concerning him, one of which was to the effect that he had been trucked from Melbourne some weeks previously with several other horses, and was in a prominent racing stable not many miles out of Sydney. He was consequently pretty extensively backed, but the day after an end was put to the matter by the pen being run through his name. I have to thank Mr Sydney James for copies of the Dunedin Jockey Club pro gramme for the approaching season. . The programme hasalready received attention at my hands.

" Sir Launcelot" has been interviewing Mr Stead's team at Yaldhurst. I condense the following from the account of his visit: After breakfast Mason and I drove along to the track, which is a plough of a little over a mile in circumference fit to work on in all weathers. As soon as we arrived Beresford and Maxim were stripped, the former hav ing his shoes off and a feather weight up, while Maxim was ridden by Huxtable and had his shoes on. The pair did a good working gallop for a couple of miles, all at half pace but the last six furlongs, from which point they came home strongly, and Beresford had a bit the best of it, but then he had all the advantage of weight. I had a look at Maxim as he was being rubbed down.and satisfied myself that he was quite as forward as Sextant, and he moved soundly enough. His opponents in the Hawke's Bay Guineas will have a merry dance with him should he reach there fit and well on the day. Beresford struck me as having thickened out and furnished a bit lately, and. if he if all that the fancy of some enthusiastic backers has painted him, he should be able, with his feather of 6st, to go to the front in the N.Z. Cup almost from the fall of the flag and stay there fill the end. The New Zealand Cup favourite, Lochiel, strode along at a good pace for a couple of rounds of the track, wearing a bandage on his near fore-leg. He moved freely enough, and ap peared to revel in his work, but his leg has given his trainer a deal of trouble. Lochiel looks healthy and well in his coat, but then he always has beon an attractive horse to the eye, and I should advise my readers to leave him severely alone for the New Zealand Cup till they hear how lie progresses in his training during the next six weeks. He is engaged at the H.B.J.C.'s Spring Meeting, and, if the weights suit, will in all probability accompany Maxim to that tryst.

I notice that at the last Moonee Valley Meeting (Melbourne), the Auckland-bred filly Fancy Free, got by Musket—Foul Play's dam Fancy, was served up pretty warm by the clever Kingston stable for the Trial Stakes (for maiden horses), run over a4s furlong course. The daughter of Musket, however, found too formidable an opponent in Mr J. Cohen's Joyful, a daughter of Glorious, who tackled Fancy Free in the run home, and finally disposed of her by a length.

A contributor to the sporting of the " Wellington Post" writes :— A. Lyford arrived at Tauherinikau at the end of last week with Mr Tancred's team, com prising the following horses :—Administra tor, Strenuous, Orator, Forester, Spear (the Ramaßama —Amy colt), and theßundoora — Mireille filly. They are all in splendid fettle. The three first named are said to be in particularly forward condition, I suppose with a view of taking part at the Hawke's Bay Spring Meeting. Orator, who is en gaged in the Hawke's Bay Guineas, I hear has grown into a very handsome colt; irf fact, I have heard more fchan one good judge aver that he has grown too handsome to make a racehorse. The weather having been fine ever since their arrival, they have been putting in some really good work, Administrator going quite in his old form again.

1 With the view of encouraging the impor tation "of Australian and New Zealand bred racing stock to the Pacific Slope, " The Breeder and Sportsman," a sporting journal published in San Francisco, advocates an adjustment 'of the weight-for-age scale, so that horses foaled oh either side of the line would be able to meet on equal terms. In dealing with the question, the paper re ferred to says :—" lar on the other side of the Equator is the great country called Aus tralia. It is springtime and summer there when ife is autumn' and winter with us, and hence there is a change in the time of breeding. August corres ponds to our January in the adjustment of weights, and colts which are foaled at any season of the year rate as yearlings the first day in August after their birth. The antipodean weights are fixed in accordance with that scale, and hence a removal to this country places tlvjm under a disadvantage. There are several Australian-bred colts in California, and these will in all probability be trained and run,, provided a concession from the present scale of weights is made in their favour. Such an alteration is desir able. It would certainly induce Austra lians to name colts in our stakes, provided it was adopted generally and with the chances favourable lor reciprocity on the part of the colonists. It would add greatly to the interest of our meetings to have competitors from that far-away country, and beneficial in another way by adding new and valuable strains of blood. The only objection in America is that parties might claim the same allowance for colts bred! which were foaled after August 1 and before January 1. Such a claim would not have a substantial foundation, as there : are no climatic reasons for late foals. There are.indications that many thorough , breds will be brought to this country from Australia. Should Darebin and Sir Modred prove the success in the stud which it is reasonable to expect, and the youngsters race in accordance with their form and breeding/future. importations are assured."

CONDENSED ITEMS.

The Hon< G. McLean is on a visit to Mcl bourne.

Piscatorious (sire of Kingfish) stands at Wairarapa this season.

At Hastings there are 47' horses in work, belonging to 22 owners. The stallion Ariel has been purchased by Mr G. P. Donnelly, of Napier. Mr .). B. Williamson returned from a visit to Taranaki this w«ek.

The New Zealand Stud Company have fixed Nordenfeldt's fee at 25 guineas this season.

Fryingpan has badly broken down. He haS been scratched tor all his racing en gagements. Sextant and Torrent are both doing good work at Riccarton, and? Fair Nell is pro gressing most satisfactorily. The Victorian An)ateuf Turf Club pro pose to increase the added money of tkieir big Steeplechase to 1,000 soys. Kohai, the w6H-kriowH son of Manuka and Idalia, has been purchased by Mr J. Crdzier of Melbourne; for 185gs.

■Mr W. Cooper has notified the Secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club to scratch Niagara for ail his New Zealand engage ments.

Hexham, one of the most disappointing of Australian thoroughbreds, has been thrown out of work, and will' fee given a lengthy spell _ ~ The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club are en larging their second stand to double its former size. The lawn is also being made

bigger. The Victorian two-year-old colt Alphing ton, by Motea out of Calumny, is spoken of as one lively to ripen into a good Derby horse. . A Dunedin writer says that First Lord is not doing as well as could be wisherf, and it •is an open question whether he will stand another preparation*

Artillery is in work again at Riccarton. He has an ugly scar on his off knee, but otherwise it is said that he seems no worse for His fall.

Christchureh Tattersall's inaugural race meeting takes place on December 16. The plum of the programme is Tattersall's Club Cup of 200sovs. Stoneyhurst has been withdrawn from the turf. He is to commence stud duties at Spring Creek, Blenheim, this season, whither he has already been taken. Mr J. Munn scratched Owhaoko, Pearl, and Rivulet for the Napier Park races soon after the weights appeared. Mr A. T. Danvers is handicapper for the Park Meet ings. The injury to Commotion's shoulder is re ported to have almost disappeared, and the old horse—the most popular horse in Aus tralia—will stand the season at Kihneny, Victoria..

AccordingtoaMelbournescribe.theV.R.C. Derby candidate Bedouin has improved beyond recognition, and promises to be far and away the best of the Victorian three year-olds. Mr G. Hunter, the Hawke's Bay sports man, has named his Auckland-bred pur chases as follows : — Bay colt, 3yrs, by Musket-Fairyland, Wonderland ; brown filly, 2yrs, by Anteros—Yattacy, Yattarine. An American paper says that the race horse Ten Broeck Was buried in a coffin in front of the door of the box he was wont to occupy, and the grave was covered with wreaths of flowers. The Adelaide brood mare Instep, dam of Sandal and Lord Wilton, has again missed, and this makes the second stroke of ill-luck received this season by the Morphettville studmaster.

Mr D. H. Hill, of Lindedow, Gippsland, has purchased the Melbourne Cup winner, Sheet Anchor, and in future the speedy son of St. Albans and Queen Mary will be used for stud purposes. The " Australasian Turf Record" for 1887 has been issued. The work, which has now reached its twenty-second year of publica tion, contains 779 pages, or 60 pages more than last year's issue. The crack English two-year-old Friars Balsam, by Hermit—Flower, has placed another victory to his credit by annexing the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, with 9st 61b in the saddle. He won in a canter

At Moonee Valley races recently, Acolyte, who has been on the shelf lor some time, came out of his shell, and snuffed out two very warmly-supported candidates in Rag man and Hogmanay. He only just managed to beat Ragman, though. A jumper named Eaglet, who won the hurdle race at Moonee Valley recently, has joined Mr S. Miller's team. The son of Wild Eagle has a good record for the past season, during which he started 15 times and won eight events, including flat and hurdle racing. An English paper says: That the pro portion of French racehorses bred from English sires and dams will increase may be gathered from the fact that six sires and fifty-four mares imported from England have been registered in the French Stud Book since the beginning of 1887. ' • Augur " is responsible for the following: —"Spondulix's jump of 6ft. Of in. is now the Australian record. He cleared it with out placing a toe upon it, and so clean and clever was tho performance that I feel satisfied he could have got over three or four inches more."

The Victorian sportsman, Mr L. L. Smith,appears to have something like alien upon the first two-year-old race run at V.A.T.G. meetings. In 1884 he won it with Melodious ; in 1885 he was victorious with Louise Berta ; in 1886 he was second with Epicurean, and in 1887 he won it with Hegira. Louise Berta, Epicurean, and Hegira are all by Darriwell.

The Tasmanian-bred steeplechaser Kan garoo, by Manuka—Kangaroo, who has the topwinningrocordinthe "tightlittle island" for the past racing season, has been purchased on behalf of a Ballarat sportsman. The price paid for Kangaroo was 500 guineas. His winnings in stakes alone amounted to nearly £500 for the past season, so tihafc he has been a profitable investment for his late owner, Mr Ji. Connor, who purchased him for £40.

If Mr Benzon does not drive some of the owners into the Bankruptcy Court he will into the lunatic asylum, by the way he forestalls them in the market (says an English writer). Plunging and scratching seem to be identical. Mr Benzon won £15,000 from aJew moneylender recently at cards nt a well-known West End club. This was not the whole amount that the sheenie lost.

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(By Action.)

FIXTURES.

AQUATICS.

September 27,29. n.na October 3. —Thistle races for the America's Cup. November 5.— Hantan v. Beach for £1000 and the championship of the world, ou the Nepean Biver.

ATHLETICS.

October.—Amateur Athletic Club's Spring Meet

ing. . January 1888.--R Matthews v. Laing for chain pionship of New Zealand.

FOOTBALL.

The principal match last Saturday was that between the Grafton and North Shore clubs, and attracted itafairlylargonumberofspec tators. The play was not particularly ex. citing, the forwards doing nearly all the work. Wynyard scored for the Shore in the first ten minutes, but Grafton had it pretty well their own way after that, and finally won by 9 points to 2. Muir, Elliot and Hill scored, while Lecky converted one of the tries into a goal. The match between Gordon and; Auck land ended in a fizzle, and the Union will have their hands full looking after the blacks' troubles. I find it hard to come to any just conclusion about the matter. The Auckland; players are willing to swear to [ the whistle blowing for a piece of barefaced offside play which enabled Poland to secure' a try. The referee was a Gordon player, so the Auckland men walked off the peld, remarking that theydidnofcmind being beaten by a score of points, but they were riot going to be "had." It is a great pity the disturbance occurred, for the Auck landerg were showing up very well, having the best of the. play and, havinc scored against the. blacks had greal hopes of winning. I noticed that a very , large proportion of the second eleven were playiug in the ranks; of €he Auckland. When the season started I protested in these column, against these players being allowed to play'as juniors when their first eleven required their services, but nothing was done. I trust things will be altered next year for.l am" certain that if the young players had backed up the old cjub its re cord would! not have react so bad as it" doss . now.

The Ponsonby F. C. look like taking the double this year as, if they beat Gordon or draw with them to-day they will have the Senior Cup, and the Junior Cup has already been won by their second fifteen. The match with the Grafton was the decider last week and the blxie and blacks won by 9 points to nothing after having all the best of the game. Looking at the the Junior Football this year in" comparison with last year's I think that the best football shown this year by the juniors is not on a par with that of last year, nor can we well eipeefc that tt would be when we remember that about thirty of last y6ar's juniors are seniors this year and two or three of them have repi-esented the province. The juniors know.almost as much this year, and understand the game as well, but they have not the weight and dash of last year. Next

season they will show fco better advantage, and reinforced from the second juniors, will afford a good recruiting ground for the seniors, and no doubt they will be wanted if a " Rep." team is to go South, and any of our old players give the game bes*. A motion was proposed in the Canterbury Union last week to establish Challenge Cups for the next football season, but no action has been taken as yet. I would strongly advise our Southern friends to adopt the resolution. It is wonderful how the establishment of the cup contests have benefited football here. People may say the growth of our football is due principally to other causes, but I think the main rea son of the increased number of footballers here, and the marked improvement in play, has been the " Cup matches." They have quickened the energy of the clubs, and have been the means of bringing cinvard the junior players and giving them places among the seniors. Club rivalry has in one or two instances resulted in the disbanding of a club, but it has generally been found the better in the long run. I intended the above remarks to apply to the seniors, but they will be found equally true 'in respect to the juniors. I could mention a score—some fast getting into the front rank of footballers—who would never have troubled themselves much about the game were ie not for the rivalry induced by the Cup matches. The example of the Union has been copied by the Auckland Junior Football Association, and the football dis played by these young 'uns is sufficient to justify Cup matches. Many writersdown South have a holy horror of the very idea— they say play for the glory pure and simple. So we do. There is no intrinsic value in the Cup itself, nor in the bits of silk badges an inch square that the winning team re cieves. The name is all in all—the Gup is the emblem of the glory which both we and our Southern friends play for. The following tables show the positions obtained by the different clubs in Cup con tests, together with points scored, etc :—

The annual interprovincial matches be tween New South Wales and Queensland resulted this year in a win for both sides, Queensland securing the first by 9 to 8 and New South Wales the second by 4 points to nil. Jimmy Anderson was among the Bananaland "Reps," and I Bee by ex changes did good work, though he did not score.

ATHLETICS. ETC.

There is some talk in England of the National Cyclists' Union taking the management of professional riding. A 50 mile Bicycle Road Race was held by the Redfern B.C. in Sydney a fortnight back, when out of seven starters three finished, viz., Lumsden (75 minutes) 1; A. Allen (30 minutes) 2; Rugg (30 minutes) 3. The other four gave up. The actual time taken by the men was Lumsden, 4hrs. 29mins. ; Allen, 3hrs. 55J mins. ; Rugg, 4hrs. 28Jmin8. A. Sydney exchange says : "We have every reason to. believe that A. Allen's time is the quickest on record in the Australasian colonies." G.Kistlerliaschailengedßeckwith,Collier, Finney, or any other long-distance swimmer, to swim one mile in thesea, ab Mount's.Bay, Penzance, for the championship of the world. " Lynceus," writing in "Illustrated Sports," after mentioning the "absurdity or giving, a man five yards, start from scratch ij\ a mile (bicycle), has the following: — "Thirteen years' practical experience of .handicapping convinces me that, in cycling, of all things, such short marks are altogether wrong. If a man can give 5 he can give 20 yards. It is far better, .and a greater honour, to place a man upon scratch," from which he will do just as well.. 'In longer starts, say 60, 65, 70, 75, &c, the five yards mark is very useful, but merely to separate the men, and prevent overcrowding of any particular mark, not because the handicapper can guage the merits so close as to know that Brown at scratch can jusb give Smith 125 yards, not 120 or 130. Slavin, the Champion of Queensland, put Costcllo, the Yankee boxer, through his facing, on the Victorian border, the week before last. Slavin had all the best of it, and finally knocked his man out in the 9th round. The same day Mitchell, the Yankee lightweight, met Boland, a second rate, pugilist of Melbourne, and after fighting 4Q rounds, it resulted in a draw. Mitchell had all the worst of it. Another bicycle road race was held by the Sydney Bicycle Club on the same day as the above, the distance being 9 miles 183 yards. Seventeen started, the limit being 10 minutes, and A. Graham, with 6^ minutes came in the winner in 45min sse.es. G. Pearson made the best time;, viz.., 41min 20 sees. Harry Hutchetijfi lias been matched to run J. Jenkins, of Leicester, for £50 a • side. Ned Trickett has declared that he will challenge Hanlan for £500 a-side, for a straightaway race on the Fitzroy River, Rockhampton. The course can be any dis tance from there to five miles, and he is ppen for the match at any time. Ned has not done any pulling since he left Sydney two years back, and he will take some time getting into trim, as he he is fully 3 stone over his rowing condition. The annual meeting of the Parnell Cricket Club will be held on Thursday evening next at 7.30 p.m. in the Glass Barrel Hotel, Parnell. I hear there is some talk of the junior cup winners of last season competing for the senior cup this year. The Parnell Cricket Club intends playing two elevens this season, and all new members are, requested to attend the annual meeting,,or else send their names in to the Secretary, Mr W, Speight, this week. An English writer says :—" X was at the Prince's Cafe, Manchester, the other night, in'cqmpanywith Kniderlen, the Butch champ ion cyclist. Speaking of his native coun try he said men did not eat very much ; in fact, a little bread and butter and a cup of tea satisfied any ordinary Dutchman for breakfast;. As the sturdy representative of Holland had just polished off a supper con sisting of soup, three chops (with vege tables), lobster salad, and sweets, washing the lot down with a couple of pints of ale, we came to the conclusion that the ways of Dutchmen in England and in their own country differed very considerably. Kin derlen, who is very good company and a most genial fellow, remarked that he held several championships. For instance, he said: 'I am the Bicycle, Tricycle, and Safety Champion of Holland at all distances, the Champion Bicyclist of Europe, and the Mile Amateur Tricycle Champion of Eng land.' I understand that the' Dutchman is going to challenge G. Lacy Hillier for the best collection of titles. I think it is a shade of odds on the Dutchman." Peter Jackson, the champion pugilist of Australia, is going to America to meet the heavy weights there. The Yanks will, how : ev&\ get out of it by refusing to fighb a darkie. C. P. Wood has won the Ten Mile Bi cycle Cnampionship of New South Wales; beating six others,, the pick of Australia—in 35 minutea 45 seconds.

THE GARDEN.

[By HoßTca,] Calendar of Gardes on^ a « September l7 tholls<

TO CORRESPONDENTS. Age of Trees (Forestry)-fni" cept2d that the age of Ytr e * 1 * *>• 1 tamed by the number. <rfri n ci? bt<^N have cut down trees that & ?»*. I about sixteen years old, and wh™ T7 • b «* the nngs I have found ove" for?r looted make two or three ringa in "L soil and situation are suitabif^?« the chmstes, where the summer «. cold - Growth is short, treeiwilTliWo4 « ring; but iv genial clCtorL""*? °«8 especially the eucalyptus!£?„*»» trees, I make as many as ton rites ift SK*"* Nearly every person .who Km W nS re4t knowledge in growing aad f&^tical ; trees is, well aware that ths tt 3 jmber especially summer crops. R&trnnrtT-^ bring some of the bottom soil fo tt» o °% and At home it was the practice torn hS? l^ee. • three or four years, a^fte ! from two feet cix to three f eet T mA^ summer .we require to trench as S **** deeper than .in Britain to allow fe^ 01. plants and vegetables to get dSwn JS ?f more moisture during the summw obtma Tomatoes (Amateur J.-.m Tomaw« annuals in some^part? <ffi&*W ' simply cut down the old plants taftoinS? ! and cover the stumps with belJMaZ^ k™* the.frost off them. > the Buffi££3S plants grow faster and give an IS 014 than those which can 'be obteK*Sf $P This season I have here an old n&IH did not get killed last winter. T&rtni' a little unnpe fruit on it. This .pring lint l n J to cut itWk and try if itwiKuit S d - than ths young plants. (2) The 'uro2h£&s of propagating tomatoes is from seed and rat tings. You can easily raise them froS" but as you will only want abouThffi aiS ' it wouM be better to buy estawffijffi Kitchen Garden. Whenever the soil is in a favourable, cqq. dition continue sowing and-.planting b U | the main crop of vegetables. Thin out the earlier - sown . crops as they require it U and earth up those that are advancing in growth. Continue the successional sowW < of peas; earth up and stake the early-sown crops. Make the usual fortnightly sowing of mustard cress and radishes. Lettuce* Prick out another patch ; tie up advanced plants for blanching. Celery: Prepare a bed for pricking out the early sown plants • sow another patch for later pricking oat Give frequent d listings of lime to keep slogs off. Potatoes; Plant out the intermediate crop;' earth up the early crop. Cucum ber, melon, and tomato plants in mb- | Commence to, harden off for planting out»V j I Make hills for plan ting., the same about ifi*e ' or six feet apart; and make a large hole j and mix in it about a barrow-load of manure, thus making a little hill. Whet the plants are ready plant in the centre of the hill. At the present there are made ab j one of our local timber companies nice little square boxes with glass tops; these are: ■"■ the very thing that is wanted for pro tecting young plants of melon, cucum ber, etc., in the early spring. They are obtainable at a very, cheap rate. They are also very handy for raising tender seed* in the open border,, being placed over, them at night and slightly tilted up during ihe day to admit air. Sow a little Cape gopM-,; berry under glass. Dig and maiiuri) all vacant pieces of ground for later crapping; Look after seed coming through tna ■ ground. Lime frequently, or the.sluga wil| make sad havoc with it. \ Flower Garden. Continue sowing hardy annuals;soww patches. Thin out advancing patches, leaving only n few plants in each, I(v& j auired, the thinnings will transplant to an other situation if lifted with a ball of earth attached to their roots. Sow tender annuals in pots or pans under glass. Commencs planting out the different bedding {imiits struck from cuttings last: autumn, amflg* i ing them according to their height, colonp ,of foliage, or flowers, and placing t)iß tallest prowihg varieties at thebrtck of the* border, the smallest to the, front, AH carnations, pinks and picotces ought to be planted out now; ib will soon be too Iste^ as they are starting into growth. E&My spring, flowering bulbs are now shotfing flowering stalks. , Stir the surface soil ; about them, and give a little liquid manure occasionally. Camellias done flowering give a slight pruning bact, sp, as w ~,. keep them in good shape. Fork surface soil and mulch witli manure so as ■ to encourage a Lew thy growth. Azaleas ai-8 now coming into flower. , Give liquid manure ;ic will help them. Lawii: Keep ; grass short, roll, frequently. Give a dust- ■ ing of guano so as to produce a rapid growth and get a good close sward established r before the dry weather sets iv. ■ Gieeanouse. Most plants are now starting into gTdffth- Potting of all' Such as require a change of pot should be proceeded with at once. • Tuberous-rooted begonias, etc., shake oa& of their pots and repot into smaller pots. : Strike another batch of coletiscuttings, and in doinf so recollect that this makes a very effective plant in border if planted outatoutt ' the end of November. Apply liquid B»n«fjj freely to lilinms,: amaryllis,etc. Double pelargoniums, cinerarias, calceolarias etc., ; keep near the, glass. Give plenty of wf durina-fine days. Slightly syringe whefl shutting up the house in- the afternoon. Graf tins (Concluded). Four years ago, I also- grafted fourdtoclj of the Princes! Baccioc&i and I™l»K» camellias onaveryrobu S toneofanofcherlindj which scarcely ever flowered, ««nkntf» . communicate its vigour to .these two jreer flowering kinds.. f his it did but from W date to this neither have flow*ed m better thap the one it was grafterl on. y» course, plenty of its own grow h, j«.kj« the stock, but last spring I cut thejrcater portion of it away, and ffave the BgJJJf ' monopoly of foliage ;«o we shal 1«j J; J , by if they flower better. My woa w " ■ the grafts were rendered barren by superabundant growth P-nnJg*" stock. Again, years ago I fa^ » ,J^ Princegrapeon its own roots and gg a vine of the same on the Black Alica ' of which two limbs were -lcffe «"J ' f Though the Mrs Prince is a on its own roots, the one or' g !est beat it quite, producing by far the n» > bun C hes qand finest frujfc, and|gl^gjj as well a« cveiv Had l^T^- Mrs limbs away, however, and left ™ Prince on the stock- alone, I that long before its date «*jsM no stronger than the one on itewj^ as the Alicante root would have wy , to the growth of th f^ .the general; conchisttns I . these observations are, t«?»JJ^- gro ,vtb'; stock alone, wlten a more.-"gjg^^i in the scinn is desired, is of- ver^ jni( , n thao the way to get the be«n* is to allow a portion at leas', o gcjon . of the stock to grow as well J g and that it would be advan^ ,^ certainly not injurious, A fc j, e n*i 1 varieties with stronger on« !L o fdouble which may be considered a spec htb 4 eraf fcing, but not in the sen*> in w fern /used generally, ?«*£%&*s ing one variety on top of 3noI r is y y , 1 If alfovving the last to f^^fi&t,®* lieve that none of the> d*"?"^^ f\ the quince or paradise for « £ maintain trees, to*& tffs%qvli''s fertility at least, till the few* and have overgrown the f^Wee beroot pruned only n^ '^*hf the crab stock, especially the q produces stronger pear tioW », frj/gt*** disc does apples. This *r o* here in our cool soil and chm« j quince stocks have been J , & \**# over again, and their iog» m i&tt found to be jrisfe in p«portio« » of the alien top they bor& .

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1887.

2



4 o Ponsonby .. Srafton Sorth Shore 3-ordon Alberts _ Auckland

Senior Cup. ..10 8 1 1 156 7 .. 11 8 1 2 91 29 ..11 7 1 3 64 37 ..10 6 0 4 94 34 ..11 2 2 7 18 63 ..11 119 4 209

i 5 Ponsonby Auckland STorth, Shore Srafton vVaitemata Jnited Sordon

Junior Cap. to . «o . <n . «« « g g "58 oS|. .. 12 10 1 1 67 4 ..12 9 1 2 29 9 . 12 8 1 3 26 14 . 12 3 3 6 26 37 .. 12 3 2 7 13 35 .. 12 3 1 8 42 36 ..12 1 1 10 6 64