NOTES FROM AUCKLAND. (Special to the Post.)

In view of the coining visit of the Auckland team, tho following notes, written by one of the northern city's bestinformed writers, should prove of interest. The cricket scaeon opened in Auckland ahead of tho Mouthezn centres, and two series of" matches have been completed, tho third commencing to-day. Though not of a sensational order, the cricket shown so far has been very fair, and the batting on the whole already shows improvement over last season's form. There aro a few acquisitions, some of whom promise well ; w hile, under the operations of the district scheme, several

players have been transferred to other clubs. Thus, W. Stemson — the Upham of Auckland — who has been connected with the United and Grafton senior elevens for fifteen years, and has represented Auckland for fourteen years, has gone over to Eden, in which district he now resides. Forster, a promising young bat, who hails from 'Melbourne, has transferred from Ponsonby to Grafton, which club* has lost its wicketkeeper, Bowden, who now plays for Parnell. This eleven, last year's champions, has lost Mason, the crack bat, who has now joined Ponsonby. Mason is showing veiy fair form with the bat. The new men include Fewster, & Yorkshire cricketer, a. good bat and a very fair field, who plays for Eden; Rhoddis, another Englishman, a fair bat and a very useful head bowler, who has joined the same team ; Cummings, an exOtago representative, who has joined Ponsonby, and W. Howell, who played for Canterbury last year, and who is now a member of the Parnell eleven. Howell is a good change bowler, with a nice length and a good break, a fair bat, and a first-class field. Sammy Jones, who was brought over from, Sydney last year by Grafton to coach their teams, is now retained by the association, and spends the greater part of his time in the secondary and two or three of .the primary schools, where ho does splendid work. Some of his pupils bat like tradesmen already, and the old sloggery-go-at-the-bowling style is vanishing completely. Jones still plays for Grafton. Sands, the second of the association's coaches, and also an ex-Sydney player, will in all probability play for North Shore, the weakest team in the competition. Haddon, groundsman and coach for tbe North Shore Club, has returned from Sydney to take up his duties of last season, and is showing very fair form indeed. Of those likely_ tor inclusion in the eleven which will invade the south in December and January, none is in better form than Oliff, the Parnell midget, whose five-foot-three contains more allround cricket than any six-foot-two in Auckland. He opened the season with a faultless 42, and bagged six of his opponents' wickets, including Sammy Jones, Sloman, and Callender, all reps, last year, for 32. In the second match he took four for 40, but failed with the bat, being clean-bowled for 4. He took four wickets for 54 in City's second innings. Stemson shows no signs of going off; rather he has improved with tho bat. H. B. Lusk is batting in excellent style, and made the first century of the season, scoring 107 and 64 against North , Shore. Hussey, the ex-Carisbrook batsman and bowler, will probably hold his place in I the reps. "Chummy" Hemus, captain of the City team, is batting steadily,, scoring a consistent 40 or 50, and '.' Dug " Hay, j one of our most solid players, has also shown very fair form. Last year's champions, Parnell, look like holding their place, but Ponsonby and Eden will give them a run for their money, and the finish should be an interesting one. The district scheme has proved a success so far, and there is no suggestion of reversion to club cricket."