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 dm. For me, an aim I never fash— I write for fun. . • - ■

Theke is gold-fever in the air, and this most " catching " of diseases is affecting the whole community, as neither quarantine nor disinfectants are of any avail to stay its ravages. A year ago the cry was "To Kiuiberley," and dozens of Auckland's best diggers and thousands of pounds of Auck land capital were allured by the will-o-the wisp to go in pursuit of phantom fortune, only to lose all in the deadly swamps and desert wastes of Western Australia. Now the cry is—"To Waitoa ;' but because Waitoa is at pur very door, well-known, salubrious and easily accessible, the fever is not so furious as before. To parody Tom Campbell :—

" "l'is diatanoe lends enchantment to *he view. And clothes the goldfleld with auriferous hue!" but the glamour is not so strong when .the goldfieldls within a few hundreds of miles ; and when, as in the case of Waitoa, it is just at hand, the contempt which is bred of familiarity takes possession of us, and we all become severely critical and suspicious. Not only arc we Aueklanders very sceptical as to our goldfields, but we are painfully conscientious in communicating y our convic tions to others, and disenchanting them from their pleasant dreams by the applica tion of a wet blanket. Lot me explain what I mean.

There were the people of Christchurcb, just at the proper distance to bolieve that this was a veritable " valley of gold," upon which they had just to swoop down (like $in "bad on his roc into the valley of diamonds) in order to make themselves millionaires in the twinkling of a bed-post; and we must needs go ana organise an Old Honesty As sociation, and spend a lot of money in pros pecting, smelting, washing, assaying, and I know not what else beside, just to dis illusionise the ardent gold-seekers, who were prepared—not to " salt •" the Waltoa Valley, but to " sugar " it well by the ex penditure of thousands of pounds in treat- Ing its clayey and sandy soil ! What a time we have had of suspicious spying and pry ing, of boring and poring, of smelting and melting, of accusations and recriminations, all with the view of discouraging the legiti mate investment of capital in testing the •* payability" of the undoubted auriferous deposits that cover many square miles of country. What fools these mortals be !$W at the same time as they were thus doing their best to convince the Southerners that they need not waste money in looking for gold here, they were howling for a, Govern ment subsidy to help in the development of pur goldn'elds. I never before fully realised the force of the Baying—" The rigid righteous is a fool!" The attempt to rnp goldfield affairs oh the limes of the ten oom mandmeuts, with the golden rule super added, may be v;ery meritorious; "but this wicked world is not yet ripe for such a re solution. Luckily, as Is iappens. the Christchurch people refuse t6 be disen chanted • they still believe that Auckland's golden rule is— "Do others, as you expect them also to do you;" and with a firmer faith in chemical analysis than in huniaß naturD they stick to .their colours-the flirty yellow "colour^ " found in the $;■ svorthjess ■ clay of Waitba !

It must be admitted that the Old Honesty Syndicate had good grounds £oi' taking the Waitoa stories with a grain of salt. The resemblance of the golden jMrfticles to filiiigs of sovereigns was what Sir (»co. Grey would call " curious/ but it stti'ely M sas hot euffieienfc gi-ound upon whieli to condemn oni' Mg golden valley as a "dtifter." The fact that independent tests of stuff taken from different parts of the valley showed the presence of .gold in infinitesimal quan tifcies was proof positive that the land w«s gold-bearing, and it oertainly was net conclusive evidence that those portions of the land which gave splendid returns had keen " salfeetl." It only raieed i'eaeiartable doubt of the game being woi*th the Cfthdle. The whole questionwillaoon be satisfactorily eettled by tests of sufficierib magnitxide, and it is therefore vain to theorise aii to whethw the gold Avas deposited by volcanic or alluvial action, or whether natural gold may not exist in the same state as that issued frbin the English Miilfc " Who Bball dceide when ddetbre disagree?" der tainlynot a poor duffer like "Zaniiel," whose acquaintance with tne preeioufi ine'tatl is precious small. The conflicting statements ot professors, analysts, and experts have their humorous aspect "for the <disinterested observer, who may be supposed to warble as follows on the subject :—

gays Smith to bis friends— ''Here's a story that itsiitW An enchantment that fairly astounds; I've a valley of grold Full of riches untold; You may have it for ten thousand pounds!" ; Says Analyst Pond— "Foolish fancies and fond! That is nothing but mica you see. And my eyes arc at fault , ' If there isn't some halt ;— . Gold! Humph! Tweedle-dum! Tweedle ■ ,;■ - $eal" ■ .' ■ ■ ■ '■-~■■ . ■.■•.-. : . • Pays professor Hutton— " I tflm't caro a button; I've got buttons of gold from the stuff, And you c&fxpot stujf rib— Tweedle-dum! TweGdle-deel I'm professor, and ain't that ehougM" Sa^s Pond—"My dear HufctcttV Jfefciirh to your mutjfcoa: ■ ..-.., I know what I'm talking about; - • ■■:';: A Government Analyst gur^ly can span ti, list; t j My report will convince you you re out V , Says Fraser to Pond— " This Biibjoctf/ve conned, j And my tests have been honestly made; There is something beyond V ' - . So you needn't dcs-Pond, Or of final success be afraid!" Says Pond unto Fraser^ " Take care what you say, sir; Tfte stuff was not doctored by ffift, And atterap'a all wdiua fail To put salt on my tail, . So the joker idea }vo»'fc gee \ . • Sayß Old Honesty "Ass- ' Ocjatioß—" Ala?! fni a donkoy, I fear for my painf; I dissofve liOw to suffer '.' For callitiß a duffer Those richly auriferous plains! " A Government gf ant Fdr a Mk crushing plant Must be got, and that speedily too ; For it's proved beyond doubt That to retell bur golcj. Qfiit . The wet blanket treatnt eri t won't dd!" '! * #■■ * . #* # # * * • ■ - ■ The rumours of " sal tin % " in connection with the'tests from Waitoa thafc have been current during the past week remind ''Zaniiel" of a gooid story onca told him by art astute old mine manager afc the I Thames, and which may be appropriately j repeated at the present time, when all tjie ] ivorld and his wife is gold mftd. .Some where in VisWria in the i( good old times a party of miners had pegged 01^4,. claim. The progpoetfi were very fair, but a new rrish lia<^ jnsb broHen. o,Ut, and every man iaok of them, with true digger like restless iess, was riecietly artscious to pm^e. the oSV, Wm.o^ m, the ;iew El Dorado. E«r>h Mn kept his owii courisel, and with the view pf soiling out to His mates •'aWcir' tho rc."«lt) of a crushing thar •<silffiic>"''* f"s cdnsequenc* was chair the. exceeded the atuoUnti that wteh- man W&

put in, that the intention to get out of the concern wasabandoned* and it was- not till the poorer crushings followed that the truth came out.

The Socialistic spectre .is stalking over England, and it will, I fear, take a very powerful exorcist to '• lay "it. Ominous as ai*e the recent demonstrations of the London " unemployed," and the demand that the State should provide work for those unable to obtain it otherwise, deeper movements are going on of -which these are but the out ward symptoms. The unsettling doctrines of Henry George have taken deep root in the minds of the intelligent artisan class, and the next decade will witness a complete revolution of the land laws of England, or otherwise a. violent and bloody revolution is inevitable. Then, the suppressive legisla tion of Continental countries has flooded England with,political refugees— Socialists, Anarchists, Nihilists, and all the restof them, and these men (like the viper warmed in the bosom of the humane man) are requiting the country that gave them an asylum by fo menting their devilish teachings. The State Socialists are the least harmful of these revolutionaries. Their teaching is that the State ou^ht to widely extend its power in the social sphere, so as to find em ployment for willing workers^ regulate the rate of wages, provide dwelling - houses, give free education, and perform many other functions which are at present considered beyond its scope. It is this form of Socialism —embracing Land Nationalisa tion—which will make its influence felt in England and completely upset the existing order of things. A recent cablegram stated that'the English Miners' Union had resolved to discontinue payment of the two labour members of Parliament, Messrs Burt and J'enwick. This proves to have been the outcome of Socialist intrigue, and is start ling evidence of the increasing power of the Socialists. The reason for this notion is said to be that both Burt and Fenwick are moderate men and that they have not worked on Socialist lines. It is considered probable that the miners will choose Socialist candidates in their place. The miners' wages have lately fallen below the former level, so they have lent ready ears to the Socialist agitators ; and unless means are found for ameliorating the condition of the{ agriculturist and artisan classes they will also speedily adopt Socialistic doctrines.

" Quack ! Quack ! Quack !" There is perhaps not much music in the sound, but it is more cheerful than the continual "Croak! Croak! Croak!" to which we have so long been accustomed. Geese saved Rome, and it will be a sort of historic parallel if clucks prove the saviours of Now Zealand. To all appearance, the latter; useful description of poultry are quite as patriotic as the geese 01 the Roman Capitol, and they don't make snch a tremendous cackle abput it either. Our ducks have taken to laying eggs of tremendous size, and in the face of a falling market the siste keeps increasing, despite the fact that egge are still sold by the dozen instead of by the pound. It ,is » grand triumph for Free trade principles, and as if to protect us' against the evils<>f over-production, (litre is a scientist to the front with a process of preserving eggs for eggsportation. No protective tariff required; no bonus; no notlnng. Gtir diicks don't lay golden oggs, 'tis true ; but they produce good sound marketable articles, and they deserve every encouragement. Mr Wills thinks that New Zealand salvation will come from her poets ', but I prefer to pin my faith to the* ducks. Poetry or poultry—there isn't much difference after all; the patriotic poultry, however, musb be awarded " flux."

As Jf jbhe defeat of the Yacht thistle by its Yankee rival was not a sufficient blow to "pgii" avid Scotland," another keen Jnuiiiili#M)n I|w juijt been heaped upon .that afflicted country's head. Ino $aiva fciou Army in Auckland lias pressed the bogpirjes into its service ! Oh, the pity of. it! That noblest and most ancient of all insstruniont;s -that monfc melodious mid mirth-oompelling mystery-bag •— degraded ig tiie level of the big drum, as an engino of torture in tho hands of hallelujah enthusi asts ! Looal Scots lately heard with a hushscl awe thftfc the Maharajah of Johore had adopted the bagpipes at his court; but thuy foel particularly "little" over this late revelation of what base uses a magnificent instrument may be put to, To complete .Scotia's humiliation, it is only necessary to add that ,'-,' haggis "has been placed on the dietary scale at the Prison oate Home, which is situated—oh horror ;!-r-in Soptja Plane I Another drop ie added to the buckujt of her tears by the fact that the Culcdoninn Ball on Friday next is to take place in "St. Cjeorge's" Hall. Why has not Auckland got a St. AndrewV Hall? The recollection that St. George is ÜBually <i«spoiated with a dragon suggests a morsel of consolation, which I throw out in the shape of a sug gestion that Auckland Caledonians should adopt a banner with <the strange device of '^St." Andrew and the jßagpipes !" Then, despite the jeet-B of scoffers, and the triumph of her foes, ojd Scotland -may have a " merry-andrew Ji to give her amusement.

The undertakers in Kftraneahape Rbad seexn rather pleased than othehvise at Zamiel's strictures oh thel'** Indecent ex hibition of .their1 gruesome waters," that they appeal 1 to consider necessary tri assist them in catrying on theii 1 business. Zamiel has received the following letter from one of the sad-eyed brothei^ood: —

" Sgme write to earn an honest crust, Some write because they fpel they must, Some write—forwhat—they don't Know how; But Zamiel writes for f tfn, you kjiow."

.Thanks very much, dear Zamiel, for that cheap and very opportune advertisement bo cmfcuitously bestowed .upon the under taking fraternity in last Saturday's Shots ; in fact* some of «s have already felt the benefit, of your wdl-meant remarks, and have had quftea demnrid for those packets Which SSamiei'B eye so much 4istrißßfte^. Att4fiej oil Zatrtieli which ydti have beeh sp outrageously vulgar as to term 'wbodeh jackets.' 0% ye ffi^fchebic Aucklaridevs, judge ye whev6 th, fytilgarity lids^-Vvhether ih the exhibition '«jf those" neMfill ortjaniettts, or in the dis6rdewd liver' '61 a man

Who w|th his pen much power possesses to d|» _good or evjl. Btitmv4ol* me «|S»in if 14iger with yoqupoh thg execrable taste of the undei'tu^'-^nd his birth nptice. I certainly fail to see the difference in one man attftchipg hjs calliqg sis an engineer ftnd anotbei? as ap i»}dßrisker, one being isjuiteas legitioifite an 4 necessarya professitin as febo other.' But tfeen, dear Zamiel* I had aimpst forgotten ahout the state of your liver j that the bile risinjg, find as a dls ordcred system makes an unequal plfndj I tnyst, p^rdpn you for trying to see my thoughts through youv own." , Hy eoiTespondent stages that the under talverg haVe already felfctjiP benefit of my reniftrMj ther§ havjng b;eon quite a demand fpr their cofftns. Zamiel infers from this tl\at a oumber of persons have ',' shuffled .off* through reading the .paragraph, and fegret^ that his shot should have proved so fata}* though he has the compensating satis faction; of the knowledge that his seoniingly plurderpuß apt ha£ put a few "bawbees " into the pockets of these enterprising tracjles nien. As to b\\s, other part of the letter, Zamiel assures hU correspondent that Jus jiyer is fts healthy ascoujd be wished, and that his little tilb against a display of bad taste was actuated! py feelings that his cor ; rft«pon(ient is pfpb»bly incapable, of experi encing. ■ , ,„■-■ ''■: : ' ... /,. .-1. ,:;:; ' ■'.'■' ' ;

tifuMzmxnfo cheeks, arid suarfclinK eyes of m worlh, >hilo in poor bMtti, and notb«B Vill Kfvu ■::iw%WPc feJ°°.*t <?c?4 f BTi'crißlh,? aflipc|uty as map 6ifft^» &W. P^can

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

November 8, 9, and 10. -Canterbury Jockey

N?vembe Sr P?and 12-Aucklaud Racing Club's N6vomber 26-Takapuna Sprin|M< e;ing November 30and December 1.-Weliingtonß.C. Spring.

DATES OF PRINCIPAL AUSTRALIAN RACES.

Victorian Derby.-October 29. Final payment °Molbour«e Cup.-November 1. Final pay ment, October 23.

TURF GOSSIP.

[By Hippona.]

Our old friend Mr G. Donne, the erst owner of The Poet, has been appointed Secretary of the nevriy-formed Island Bay Racing Club. The Spring Meeting takes place on Saturday, the 26th of November' the leading event being the Island Bay Handicap of ISOsovs, Ifmile. Inotioethatthe Club have made an innovation in the facfc that the admission to the racecourse will be free. This is a step that has several times been advocated by one or two members of the Auckland Racing Club Committee, and it will be interesting to watch how it succeeds in Wellington.

Rumour says that Artillery's full «r with the top ears, Balista, is the best thing in Wright's stable.

Several well-known local sports here potted nioo little sums over Qakleigh'e win in the Cauliield Cup. One well-known tailor netted over £300.

The win of Antelope in the Onehunga Handicap last week was a great surprise to the etable,as she went out almost unbacked. The owner had one ticket on her, and two of the stable had a ticket between them.

At Sylvia Park, Rosette (the dam of Escutcheon) has produced a colt foal to. St. Le^er, and Atalauta a colt to the same sire. Radiance has dropped a colt to Norden feldt.

Hotohkiss, the giant two-year-old, by Leolinus—Petroleuse, has been turned out at Sylvia Park for * spell. He now stands 17 hands high, and is well built in propor tion, but has grown too fast for the work he would have to do on training.

The suggestion made At the meeting of TattersaH'B on Wednesday night that the <3lub should hold a race meeting is a capital ohe,and all sports will join with me in wish ing it success. The Bookmakers offer to subsidise the meeting to the extent of £100 if the totalisator is not used.

Horsemen are as a rule very superstitious, and it may interest them to note the number of winning horses during the last few meetings who have had eight letters in their name; for instance, Oukleigh, Antelope, two Cardigans. Snapshot)* Tennyson, Haw thorn, and a host of others.

The betting on the Spring Meeting is very slack. Probably backers are holding off till after the Melbourne Cup. Friendship, Antelopo,and British Lion are most inquired after for the handicap and have been backed during the week with Coral and Magnesia to win the double. Coral is being trained up the Waikato,and is reported to be going very well.

With the object of learning the practice in other places, Mr Sydney James recently oommunicated with the National Agricultu ral Society of Victoria, inking for their view on the vexedhueMfcion, " Who is the braedtir of an animal ? A The reply enclosed a book of ililcs, one clause of which says, " The owner of the dam at the time an animal is barn is held to be the breeder." This rule, it was stated, was baited on the practice of the English Society.

Mr A. Drake, the well-known tbefcalli cian, will be back in New Zealand for the New Zealand Uup,«i»lte has a £2,(100 book on that event. It is all bunkum about, him having had such bad luck over, the other fside,as he is crying the odds overtherefthd is well in with the various Btablcs. He backed Abercdrii for the A..J.C). Derby, Cardigan for the Hawkesbury, and Cardigan in con junction with his own maro for the Met'O-, politan, and had a very good innings with Teddy Yuille in tho Free Haudicap of the A.J.C. Spring and alflo with Oakleigh last -week. He Sent over as the latest tip for the C'uulfield : Oakieigh and Spade Guinea, and so, takon all round, he must have had more than an average amount of hSbk £n his rafting Bpeculaticm*.

The disqualifieatidn of the Mai-ante of Ayleebury for life by the English Jockey Club, as cabled, arose out of the proceedings In the race for the H&rewQOfl %t°j *6 t"e York meeting. The Marquis's horss Everitt opened favourite for the Harewood Hate from Sab .Rosa. Before the fall of the Hag Everitt was shaken in the market, and twq-thirdi of the journey 1 • Jigured behind Whittington, Agnostic,-Wishing Well* and Sub Rosa. But at the bend he was pulling double, and seemed capable of winning when and where he Hk»ci j so that few people could, believe ha jiact not done the trick when he passed the post hard. held. All that he had done, however, Was to make a dead heat, and, as mentioned above, a most unpleasant sc«Jne ensued^ Martin being, fol lowed to the weighing-room by a mOb, who might, except) for timely interference, have handled him roughly. He was at once summoned before the stewards, ana his ex planation, we believe, vvas that he. thought he ha 4 won, as he unquestionably should have done by many a length. In the de ciding heat 6 to, I was laid upon Everitt, and though he did wot show Tijs previo.us firej Bo won easily. Martin, was then in formed by the stewards that he had been reported to the stewards of, the Jockey Club, and the result was as already stated.

Referring to tlie prospects "of the New Zealand Cup cancUdates, last week's "Canterbury 'TimeV* has the following:—'•There are only four in it," is what the cdgmscpnU tell us of the 'T^bw Zealand ."Clip, And wheii we press our inquiries further we are assured thatKelsOh, Artillery, Maxim, and Sextant must furnish the winner. We confess ih is difficult, just now, to naime anything that seems likely to upset this powerful'quar tette 5 but for reasons we stated last week, we are by no means satisfied that Maxim \Vili be the chos^D represehfcative Of the Yajdhurst Stable. A fefport is current that Lochiel has bebn' backed in the right quarter, and as Mr Stead is particulit-ly ahxious to-fthnex the Bei^y, he ihay save the colt for that particular mission. O'Brien, tdo, hai3 a seoorid string. in iterniitage, who is looking and going as well as anything at Blceartbn, ohd he may fancy, the double in i6me bthei' way than *'the two Sextants." Nehon i^ still lame, but having watched his Work for a coupl6 of months, we are now inclined to think that he will go to the post and settle the pre tensions of everything that cannot run the distaiice in something like Jimiil 34sec. Artillevy, wo. believe, is a wonderfully im proved horse, and, if not overtaxed diiring tlie nest three or four «eeks, will strip as tit as anything lit the rack. Of the Others Beresioi-d, Fair Hell, Lorraine and Torrent appear about the best. Beresford is a dark hOrße, of whom we know very little, and can only suspect, that he has been kept as a rod iii pickle; tpr^aiue, who, if sound, would Have a very big show, is troubled with one of his hocks ; Fail" Nell Is sound"-, biit 4piftg badly j and torrent, we suspect has lib liking for the distaritie.

NcJw that tho Hon. J. Whito's name ii on the lip of' evevy turfite, tho following, which I clip from a recent Sydney paper,

will prove interesting:—The fact of the team which the Hon. James White baa despatched to Melbourne to representmm at the approaching spring carnival being minus a two-year-old to compete in the Maribyrnong Plate, a race which the squire of Kirkham has hitherto bid largely for, has led to the belief that the blue and white banner will not be very formidable among the three-year-old events of next season, and the question has often been asked, what will its proprietor do for a Derby horse for 1888 ? If the youngsters that have been prepared at Kandwiclc tor some months past represented the strongest hand that could be counted upon, and it is quite probable that they do, then the show of success In next season's Derbys, Legers, &c, may safely be reckoned upon as rather remote ; but on the. °bher lia"d there are reasons for believing that the reserve force includes something not yet broken in which may assist in maintaining the customary heavy claim the "Falmouth of Australia " has held on the plums oi the dishes made up by the A. J. and V.R.C.S. When the present season commenced, the Hon. James White boasted possession of no less than 22 fcwo-year-olds, four of which only bad been put into work, and although some of them had not been bred exactly on the lines whence " classic " winners spring, and making allowance for appearances being all against the four at Rand wick, following in the footsteps of Abercorn, Trident, Nordenfeldt, Martini-Henry, Bargo andCo.^ there are others quite well enough " got to furnish victors of the most aristocratic races. Those which, perhaps, come under the head of " well-bred" ones, and which have not yefc appeared on a racecourse even in private, may be mentioned: —B f, by Chester—Coquette ; Pharaphraee, by Ches ter— Phillina (imp.) (dam of Phil AthoJ); Voliney, by Chester—Vixen, by Brigadier ; br f, by The Pontiff— Gunild; Volley, by Musket—Lady Vivian (imp.); b f. by Ves pasian—Leonie, by Yafctendon; Hex, by Martini-Henry —Lily Hawthorn (imp.); Ensign, by Grandmaster — Formosa ; and Tryon, by Robinson Crusoe — Walruk. Many of them, however, have no engagements, but amongst those which have are Paraphrase, Volley, Ensign, Ilex and Leonie iilly, bub in addition to Escort and Knightsbridge only Ensign and Volley are in the A..J.C. Derby. Paraphrase, Volley, find Ilex, besides .lava, are in The Ouks, and Ensign, Leonie filly, Paraphrase, Volley, und Ilex.are among the number nominated for the Second Foal Stakes. From this it may be gathered that it would be rather premature to consider. the ques tion an good ns settled that the Hon. James White will not be among those disputing possesHion of next year's blue and rod garlands, ladies' ruces, etc. Should* how ever, it cone about that the three-year-olds are not thoroughly representative, there will in all probability be a strong lot of " twos," as the now yearlings total no fewer tlmn 19, of which throe are by PhU Athol from either Midnight, Cameo, or Vanity, eight claim Chester as their sire, the dams being Wichwiug, Goldfinch, Cinnamon, Alpaca, andlolanthe, whileßobiusonCrusoe has two, Grand Prix one, and Martini- Henry is responsible for a quintette from The Solent, Rusk, Malacca, Dixie, and The Wheel of Fortune. The Kirkham stud is, jwhaps, a more pretensious and woll iilled estttblishnitint than mont people are ready to believe; and in addition to the sires there are no less than 49 brood mares, among which are such as Uralla, -Angora, Su perba, Episode, Malacca, Tern pie, lolanthe, Mascotte, Caprft, L» PriliOOTse* Kaipara, PrinoOßd" Maud, Bfcna* Cinnamon, Ultima, Moonstone, Jewel, Cameo* The Alpaca, Kathleen, and last, but by no meana least, Lady Chester. . -

ATHLETIC NOTES.

(8v Aotjkqn.)

AQUATICS

Novcnibor 26,-Sculling championship of tho wdVltl. Beach r. MAttlSji, bit the AcpcaiUtiv^i-. November 29.—Intercolonial eight-oared race at Aiolttide. ~ Jp.nuary, 1888.—World's sculling and double sculling frocca on tho Paramatta.

CKICKET.

The fintt day of the season was not the best for playing crs6ket, but a goodly mitii bar of players and spectators rolled up There were several scratch matches on, but bar the Auckland and Holland inatehe 9 nothing much was done. The Gordon C;C. hed a scratch match, when H. Luftk showed up well, making thirty odd—not a bad performance for tie first day. In the Auckland inafccii Morrison was the centre of attraction, and he shaped very well; a trifle stiff, 1 thought, but very steady, arid with a iiicß defence. His contribution was well scored and much needed, and in spite of three or four lives should get him into the first eleven. Richards had the credit of disposing 6f him by h very neafc Catch. The fielding; oi fclifc, artt eleven was ndt quite up t6 parv but w&s ass good as oh.c could eXpecis For the first day. When #ie seniors went to th© wickets three were *odh got rid Of. VJptfikoft had the bowjiftj* at Ottfc end, aiid though several of his balls wet'e rather short, he seemed to get a great deal of work on the leather. In the Holland match Beard and Thomas did the best batting for the: first eleven, agaii\st the bowling of E. Mills and RoWe. Parnell had a practice, but nothing much was done, while the United players were at the iielk ... , ! . .. ; .' : ;.. . '

AH the clubs Were hard at work during the week practising. Spoff'Orth Will play throughout the season vitiUtao. Blabfeham will not play with J&ast Mel bourne fchl& £ea»6nY Hfe Ms ho intention of leaving" thes Melbourne" Club. B. Whiteside, plaviftg for Trehwibh's last Saturday against the Wanderers, made several big hits. I trust he intends prac tising this year. ' ■ .■ ' : : ';.'. . Abel Rowe, who bowled for the Alpha Cricket Club lftst year, h&s thrown in inn lot with the Holland CO., and will play for them this season. MorHson, who has joined 'the Auckland CO., is an English professional, but is working on the railway here. He has been 11 pro "at Trinity College £tnd a number of other leading1 colleges in England. It is with much satisfaction, says the " Sportsman," that I am able to announce that the champion Australian btitsrriari, W. L. Murdoch, has itlade tip his mind to again don the flannels. He informed me recently that, although he has not promised to play for any club, arid indeed will not take any part in oup contests, he intends to do his best to get into his old formi as he says, with confidence too, "We mil it beat iihOs|i Englishmen this time, JfOii kiibw: 1 would jiißt like the 1882 Australian team to be together once more," said the champion; "then! think we would be pretty right," and I think so too, isj the opinion of your humble servant. I give the names of those players that composed that formidable teafti:—A. C. Bannehiian, W. L. MuldOch, % J. Bonnorj V. Horan, G. 0ifl«n» J- Blaqkharti, T. Garretb, H. F. Boyle, S. P. Jones, W. H. Mdssey, arid F. R. Spofforth. Messrs Brunifitt and Kirby, of Ilkley, England, have been,afc the pains to compile a complete record of all the cricket matches between Eilgllsli aildi Australian elevens, atid havepitolishedit intheshape of avolume pi 3dO pages, ehbifcled t{ Engl^fid \->. A-usCvft lia aiitjft.Wibket;" Only ten years hay 4 passed sine© Australia first contended on eVdn terhis agains* tihe Mother Country, 4uri6g \ybieU period six JSttgliah to4-»M MH visited the 'Antipodes. «?«1 *<"* A«ud»»lwn

teams have displayed their prowess on our soil Altogether 176 eleven-a-side matches have been played. The superior standard of excellence of Australian teams visiting England over that of English counties stands out in this record in a striking Way. Since Stepbenson's team, 26 years ago, was able to play the best 22 that could be re cruited in the colonies, Australia, as these compilers observe, has produced a race of cricketing giants. Her standard is the more remarkable from the fact that the entire popnlation of Australia is only about equal to that of Lancashire or Yorkshire, and not much more than half that of London alone. If the Australians could maintain their recent rate of progress for the next 20 years the " Daily News "thinks we should have Australian elevens challenging the best 15 chat England could produce ; but in the opinion of Messrs Brumfitt and Kirby it is more probable that they will find it difficult to maintain their present standard. With the termination of the matches at Kennington Oval and Maidstone on August 31, first-class county cricket in England for 1887 came to an end. During the four months of the season 58 matches were under taken, arid of this number 44 were brought to a definite issue and 14 left unfinished—a result curiously similar to that of last year, when 59 matches were played and 43 de cided. There can be no hesitation in awarding the first place among the mn& great shires to Surrey. Out of sixteen matches the Surrey men have only lost two, whilst two were drawn, their best remem bered match being the return at the Oval against the laoe county early.in August. The Lancastrians hold second place, and during August the eleven showed better form than ever. They succeeded in bowling over Surrey and Notts very easily, although they found Yorkshire too hard a nut to crack. A severe blow to Lancashire was the loss of the services of A. G. Steel, a Splendid all-round cricketer, who played but on one occasion. There is little to choose between Notts and Middlesex. Thd latter only took the field ton times, but when analysis is made Notts must be awarded the third place. Twice have fche representatives of the Midland county been defeated by Stirrey, and in all probability Yorkshire would have performed the same operation had time permitted. In several instances, however, the Notts men have put together remarkably high scores, their 596 against Middlesex at Nottingham being the best of the season, while in other county matches 570 and 515 have been totalled.

The long-distanco runner, AY. George, arrived safely in England, looking, it is said, in splendid trim.

A raffle of one of Drumnaond's dingies, owned by H. G. Kissling* of Judge's Bay, last week, reeulted in R. Steggall winning it.

Byrd-Page, the American who was credited a few weeks ago in England with clearing 6ft. 3|in. in a running high jump, purposes paying the colonies a visit. Sheffield handioappers recently issued the starts for the Great All England £3100, 205 yds. Doncsaster Handicap, and acewtd ing to their estimate H. Gent is a yard faster runner than Hutchins, their distance being 79& yds. and 80iyds. respectively.

The Rita was out last wesk, and went very well, considering how long she had been without a cleaning. She> has been round at the Wynyard Pier all the week being cleaned and done up.

Oonueff and Carter recently ran foiir miles at Balls' Bridge Grounds, Dablitt, aM so great was the interesb takeii in the match that the gates had to be closed after 15,000 persons admitted. Contten* won the match by 15yds. ; bitt the iiliiietaJt^rs dif fered, one recording 19»titi. 494sfec. and the other 19min. 44 2-ssec. ■ .'/■ '

The St- Cieorpre's Rowing dab have oi'dered fi"O»ri JJi* fei^rards and ? the M'ell-k'nown" boatbliiliiefs, of, Metbovirrie) a* four-oared e-tvinjl test j>i^ and two pair oai-fi from Mr Lo&'ih, of the Korth Shore., The string test is exioected to arrive about the eiidof n©Xfc ihotitn, w|)ile the pair oars, which afb to be, f>i*6vicleu tyith slidiiig seats^ will be in use in aboiit a month. . ■'

In England recently a competitor in closed with his ; esitry form to the handi capper a half-sovereign, which he mentioned was to enable the handicapper to drink his health, and with a hope that the entrant might win the race. The handicapper did not eeem to appreciate it, and sent ib on to the secretary of the tinion, wiflh the resalt that the gentleman will be called upon to explain his little joke.

Upwards of 2,000 persons assembled at the St. James' Hall* Plymouth, to witness a great international wi-estliug match in the Cornish style between Of Garkeelj, cham pion of the worlds and T. Braggj t'ne English cha< pion. The latter weighed 13sfc 10lb. and Carkeek 9st 51b, and the latter held a recoM of 125 victories against one losing match. Bragg is credited with having won "hundreds" of prizes, but he.met his superior in Carkeek, who secured thfe first two 'V backs" and won the match.

Arrangements in connection With the great sculling contest to take place on the 26th Novembei" next are progressing better than was expected. Mr G. Hill; jun., hds been appointed referee^ and both Beach and Hanlan are satisfied with the selection. The railway and tramcar arrangements for conveying the public on thd day haye s during the past few days, been under the Consideration 6i' the Champion Race Com mittee, and have been settled satisfactorily. The boat that Hanlan brought onb with him was not quite finished- The work ot completing the craft hits been eutrusted to Dodds, of Lavender Bay. Beach has s6nt his Clasper built boat to Charlie Messenger to have ncr put in racing triiii* but it is not certain whether he will use her or the one that Donnelly is at present building. : The " Bicyling News " of; August 2001 contains a recognisable lithographic portrait of Mr Duncan, the " New Zealand Demon," as he is Btyled. The " Scottish Umpire/ of August 16th, says, referring to Mr Duncaii: - v The • Zealantlfer^s three firsts were a record. This man wants watching, Nothing seems to bring out all lie has up his sleeve." The, " Scottish Athletic Journal " also says : —■'? Oeoi'ge Dxtnean seenis to be having a 'benefit,' and in the final of each race he swings round the corners in beautiful style, and goes past his,men like a rocket, to the Unbounded delight of the spectrttors." Mr Duncan has, within three niohths of his arrival in Scot; land, woh thirteen prizes amounting in value to close on £60, and has successfully represented the Pioneer B.C. kt each of the great cycling meetings held this year in Scotland , In fact, he has boein: " placed " in every race for which he has started.1 I quote the following from the " Sydney Referee," and it will prove of interest to all who saw the athlete perform heM :— f.'J. B. Bilohanaiij who woh the champirin gold medal from nineteen competitors at the Peterßham Demonstration Sports for throwing thevß6lb weight (24ft 9in) under age of 21, has nob been disqualified, as stated by the daily papers. Buchanan also wishes to inform athletes that he is not a professional ■ weigh-tlifter. He has done no weight-lifting but for his .instructor^ Prosessoi-("arrollo, of Auckland, and for no money prize at all, and is an undoubted amateur. He received a gold medal from the Peuribh1 Progress Committee for the feilt he accomplished, which is an excellent one, and lias never been beaten by any amateur in Australia. Buchanan is a powerful and very youthful-looking young man. He intends to do something big, iri the Weight-lii'tirrg here, and before long will set himself to bust all amateur record lifting. Those who noted Buchanan's physical power :it the .Petsrshnm sports niiist eorichido that ho is a marvellously I built lad, gifted with very large biceps. His throw is otily a few feet behind thd | jctfoJwssional record.:) ' ■■':

THE GARDEN.

<By Hortus.)

Operations for October 22.

["Hortus" is willing to answer any queries. Correspondents must give their real names and addresses, though not for publication.]

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Comparing Climates (Climate).—l will simply reprint an extract taken from an English pub lication :—'' The causes of success in fruit cul ture are not wholly under the direction of human intelligence). The various stocks on which the several vare-iea are grafted, the Various modes in which che trees are planted, pruned, trained, and otherwise tenued, e^ ercine their respective influence on the final result. But the most important matter of all is the influence of climate. Thd best practice posaib c ivill hot suffice to prodiioG luscious peaches in the opea air in the bleak climate of the North Cape, nor sprightly-flavoured apples in the hot and arid atmosphere of Ida mea. It must be granted that to grow fruit well, there must be something known of the best modes of training, pruning, planting arid so forth; but the foundation of suc cess lies in adapting in the flrst instance the kinds of iruit to the climate in which they are to be fciiltivated. If we are wrong in pur modes .of training, we can bo taught better. We may even go «o far as to say that if the soil is unsuitable we can alter it, for in the very worst of caseß we can do something io improve its texture, con dition, and constituents. But what are we j» do if the cliihate is against us ? We are then driven to tho employment of gla^s,pf walls, of apparatus for tho production of artificial heat. Simple fruit culture in the open air is an atfijir of climate chiefly; every other condition of success is secondray to that. Give us a suitable climate and we will somehow or other manage tberest." ■. -.:>■. ■,< '.: -~, ■■ . '■■■', :, vj,y.ij Cobnus Floeida ilnquirer).—This tree is com monly called tho Dogwood of America. It is considered the most jnaudsome species of the genus. In America it is one of the mOBt valuable trees for ornamental planting, rank ing next to the magnotya among flowering trfes, and 6nly second to the Scarlet oak in bii liknee of foliage in the autumn It flowers freely in suitable situations, and grows to about 20 feet in height. It is rather particular as to soil and situation, suceeeuipg, beat m somewhat moist soils. It was introduced hel-e some time back, but one cahnot Bay whether It will succeed hers until tho plattts are a little older.

P«otkctino Stbawberbies (Amateur).—The best way to protect your fruit from getting sp. ashed, by tfie rain is to get short stable Utter just as it comes from the stable, longer short grass, straw, or any other, similar materials. A good thick coating of cither of these materials spread all round the plants will give you clean fl'uit. Th« above bhbuld be obtained and applied at once, so that: the flower stalks as they become withered wiih fruit may rest iipon the in uleh VV here sljlgs are very troublesome, it would be as well to give a'heavy dusting of shell lime before putting mulch materials down. Mulching strawberries has the donble advantage or keeping the fruit clean and the roots moist, and thus giving a better Chance to prolong the cropping period.

Thinning Root Crops.

When sowing seed there is generally far more sown than is really necessary for the crop. The extra quantity feown gives Mote certainty of a good crop. Another advari tage in sowing thickly is that it gives an abundance of plants to choose from. Where in-jury is likely to result from thick sowing is in allo#ittg the plants all to grow torf long without thinning. The most perfect way of thinning either vegetables or flowers is to begin early, removing all the weaker plants first, allowing the strong est to stated for a longer period. In thinning the second time, only leave the best plants at a sufficient distance apart so that they may have plenty 61" room to fully develop in. In growing vegetables i'ecbllect that meresfee is not so much a consideration as quality. Large coarse vegetables are not looked upon with favour by the consumer, but rather the. Reverse) arid this fact should be kept in i^iew'While'iipf)t»rtitihiiig the space for each : plant. About the usual distance apart td j leave calrotS for table use is four inches $ !pursnip% about six, inches j Be«fe, lii^e' inches ; turnips, from six inches fdi* early crop to 12 inches for winter crop. Oniotlrf I may be left at distances varying fro'iii 2 td 16 inches according to the purpose for which i they are required. >

Tomato.

This delicious fruit should be grown by everyone possessing a sniall plot of ground. A few square yards of good ricJi soil is all, that ife necessary for the production of suffix cienfc fruits to supply ithe, wants of a models ate seized family. For culture in theopen air there i«, no crop which willgivesuchiarge returnVas the toniato with moderate atten-; tiom Seed should be sown at once; in the place where the: plant b to grow. If in rowsj the sowing should be about font feefe apart. Only sow a few* seeds M each spot, as the plants will all require to be thinned out to one leaving the strongest plants. As they grow? sfcron^ stakes should be driven into the ground and light battens tiid on these* so as to form -a trellis for training the plants on. Those who have a stock of young plants under cover should harden them off and get them" ready for planting out about the beginning of next month; if to be planted, it is as well to have the trellis up before the plants are out. Alter planting-, the plants will w&nt a little attention, to keep the slugs from attackingthemtill they get properly es-; tablished. Whenever strong growtli sets in attention niust be given to pinching foiick and tying up the roots to ; tiie tiollife. The richer the ground the better :the growth, and if proper attention is given to pinching the crop will be heavier. When j cutting out shoots always try and leave those that show most flowers. During the late summer and autumn months liberal, supplies .of liquid manure should bejfiven to Keep them in a healthy state of activity. For growing for general purposes I have always found that what is called the large! red gives the best returns. , -:-.'■,

London and Paris Climates.

Restricting cbritp&risOn to the respective j climates of liptidon and Paris, it will; Be observed that in Lpiidqn- the extreme cold . in Winter is severer thati in JParisto the.ex- j tent of l-7deg. Fahr. This difference is litei-aliy of no consequence at all ; A few degrees more cold in winter cannot aSect Our fruit prospects seriously: possibly *c have tfie atlvantagd iri the\niatter. But when the summer has commenced the temperature of Paris rises hifichei1 than that of lioiidon. and the maxima vf the tviro cities (iiffei- to the great ox tent of «vßde£, Faht. Now, a difference attlduiiting" t6 within a fraction of 6deg. Falir. is something enormous in. wie cohsJderation of th^ subject before us. Students of olimafolbgy know that adif, ference of only 2c(eg. either wfty in the heat of the summer in Great Britain will riiake a differeiic% to" the extent of a bounti ful harvest and prosperity, or a meagre harvest and stan'-ation. It canncit be wondered at that thfl c'uttivafors ot frint in the fa^jghbotirhobd of Paris dutsfctip tti6 gro\v6rs of ffnit ii« the itei^libdiirhood of London, for they have the advatitagfe t6 the extent oi6d6g., and no Skill df Man cah fiild 6.com pensatory equivalent for so much Solar lieat. arid light as Would plac| the London cultivator on terms of equality with she Parisian. ("The Garden.") This question of summer temperature ought to be the ldading; One Connected with the in troduction of any plants into Ne\V Zealand. How often do we lioar of this colony enter ing irito competition with; other :countries. in the pvbdu^tioh of ailb-tfopjcal indystfip whore #ose oountridß possess frJni 6de^- p isdeg. higher meaii temperature than we do?

<£raiib Allen's riew tioyel tiovr >nt (trtkf through " The People " is an ainplifiisatjon of one of his tnoafe b\o(Jd oufdling ?' Stvan^ Stories " (*' The Givnite of ,-.Qhurnsiaf ) fflie yiUutiutwl hdi!o oE l( The JDevilaDie, howrivor, is v aobbor nob a curata, ana some of his Enosti original Crimea are thwartiaaoy a pious Hindoo. ;

UNKNOWN

ffir «BBsP aB an actress is pOiiar 5 " B Circus Company^sV-arfjSi^H^R ThoLyntih'jFamilfof^^l X | Hnzelmcre *' has prnLM jail German military bftidg^ >::mB necessary chants iil*™(^^^ to be completed by Oclobtti^':~^*H At Dunedin bo fe Ma'"'.' fl short bcasun made tfitt b - i -^ tory one. *" ' £'" J siag^ ■ neck-bi-eaking:' ■ ctaih!''tlr^^HHH According to the London ci \ i ';:'B to lay the sc( no of hia" i -S j>j?£?™J livan'a next comic opera In tiw".Wjj-'\*-B A cheap edition of "Bevi? "'s£' ft Richard Jefferies, is in prtMnlflfHH news -this for <>,„• \,, -yß'jlf|flmH hifcherfen been an impo«fciblelsJ§|§. * '■■ 9 The Italian Opera Coftpfljyft'f.^vß bourne Theatre Royal wMffill Miis FraJMou'&.iub".',.. ...,,, .'^^v^l was to be published effIWUWMI Mr Spencer Blackett, '.who \sk% 4v I to the business.ot.'Qm «Jijtinl.V -•"..*■ tHoress's step-nous, V-->rs' Jo&^Ja a-iB Maxwell. " The title is "iSraH Jii English nßffsnaiier/hi^fflmH on ilk if that ilr l-aboltchers ffiKffififw an evening journal on the plajtjißi)]l j fjjw Mall G-azettSy"^ and caii it :te||t§Hß Nothing further has been; heSrdsl§iM Dilke'g projected venture. I MrT,4. tinm nor will edit the 'CllakfflH j M Mr Bamett, a (:,• - nre! 2t*M author, intends pii i_■ *. mmm pieces, entitled "The'#hli^^rai|3B iiint., at tho Theatre IWab wPffl Miss Polteoiiv Mr? JertnivD) ii^HH Davidson, Arbiickle, inglfflpnvJJfiM I The Mlawiug M\Ms&iaM <Ji. I li/hfed in the ™in^3i|9a: j riittde itsfe of defatnatory 6tetf^ffl| '$$-m ing Mr Harry L\ id! - f'i-.<v^-,J?i|sß apologise for tho sliuie.—Ai^i'ttEß *•'—i-S I — Doncdiu, Sept«"tftb6r 27th1,18^7.^ J ! The '"Vagabond1? agairißb:! the' '■' Weslcyan ■qamßß inspired him toiuakbCftj^TO^^fflffiH adverticed failure. HGAd^BtttrafflH in Melbourne on "On- F,'irrhiti*l)4^-if';.| treating: of " the ti'US Btory'dfßiS:-:-*^.j in the South Seas, of i w realSligpttisa bau, «md of the law of libel in '•! vr'i J ; I A- ilew high claSs ligW^^HMß between 11 and 15-;Vill'tndk^^l^HH this month under the f'iiterftjtfißL'i ! -M I 'iccadilly, and the hSnid "*5?^?J^P venture is ">ir ..** .3JM gard will supply &'*a^r;': . Tale of Three Liojis,' promised '»> Hio odii if >lfe r^M nwd Mrs Goftiyriß'Catrj A ?^|S^™ cover has boen speoislly d«*^oec .? *^. By tho last' Frisco iirst-class pros. Thsf pigeons, and her hußra6d,-0i«8>- > _ liirht gymnast, who are^—j^tgSjSlß tesque coicoriiatts; i M<s *H^ will makea big hit-f;^a^"'^ '^~g a.s the hnnmn serpem; Mw "■ "'^ tortionist; and Rarry Owlraiaa, "Bulletm," continue* ro .^i^^^l fourth old hytciia wltlr a collection that his loss is .p^n Jl, way'« Jmhh Alexander IIW -' • has taken the Surarid Td^^ ;t^gj ;/ level; : ■ t xw^ ''B^^S^a^ The new vci"' ' L. " h coinfl^B^Sl tratcd ■Magazine, corlt3 ioafin " The Story of ae|jj^ The;^l -SSf thirsty Pll^^ 00?!^^'^^1! .JSpfr; scene in' the p»i>'• -jjjrj a y^i^KHi his money. 5° "tjisf^ '^^^^1 been witnesscci,., iA&affl^H^^' i^Koofors '''"mr:'-: a i|^raH'^m^?j ofitaelf*' " .-^^^l

■fflE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1887.

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