FIXTURES. AUCKLAND RUGBY UNION.

SENIOR CUP MATCHES. „ 9. — Grafton v. Gordon, Newton v. Auckland, Ponsonby v. North Shore. „ 1 6. — Grafton t. Albeit, Gordon t . Newton, Auckland v. Ponsonby. „ 23. — North Shore v. Auckland, Albert v. Gordon, Grafton v. Newton. „ 30.— Ponsonby t. Newton, North Shore v. Gordon, Albert v. Auckland. June 6. — Newton v. Albert, Ponsonby v. Gordon, Grafton v. North Shore. „ 13. — Ponsonby v. Graftou, North Shore v. Albert, Auckland v. Gordon. „ 20. — Newton v. North Shore. Ponsonby v. Albert, Grafton v. Auckland. (Eeturn matches in same order). JUNIOR CUP MATCHES. May 9. — Auckland v. Ponsonby, Athletic v. Albert, Home Bay v. Manukau, Newton -v. Arawa, Graf ton v. Gordon, Victoria v. Waitemata. AQUATICS. Matterson v. Messenger, Parramatta Eiver, May 30. THE TRACK. Fifty Mile Walking Match, Ohristchurch, May 16, 18S5. THE RING. Foley v. Farnan (Sydney), June 30. Farnan v. Lees (Sydney), 2 weeks' time. Clare is building an 18ft. pleasure boat for the Islands. Invercargill sends a team to Dunedin on Queen's Birthday to play a match with the Dunedin Football Club. Business is rather dull in the various boat- "• building establishments, so far as racing craft is concerned. Beach, the champion oarsman of the world, and Messenger (his trainer) have been elected members of a Masonic lodge in Sydney. 1 The East Christchurch Football Club intends visiting Wellington early in August, to try conclusions with the Athletic and Poneke clubs. S. J. Henderson, of the Melbourne Bicycle Club, has been astonishing the Vaudemonians. We learn that he is credited with having trundled 100 miles in 9h 24£min. The senior clubs will commence operations this afternoon, the fixtures for the day being Graf ton v. Gordon, Newton v. Auckland, and Ponsonby v. North Shore. Several scratch matches were played on the Surrey Hills on Saturday, and all were well patronised, which, no doubt, is owing to the convenience of the tram-cars. The pugilistic "fraternity" in Auckland intend giving Mr Murphy, the ex-light-weight champion, a benefit in the Theatre Eoyal next Saturday. Alf Foss, and M. McCormick, two Christchurch pedestrians have left for Melbourne. It is the intention of the latter to challenge any body in Melbourne for half-a-mile. Mr W. V. Milton, so well known in connection with football throughout New Zealand, was married on April 23rd. The happy event took place at the Presbyterian Church, Christchurch. Messrs Miller and Foley, the champion pugilists of Australia, were to have held a boxing tournament in connection with Chiarini's Circus on April 30th, and May Ist and 2nd. Flude and Parker, two Napier pedestrians, have arranged a foot race of 300 yards for £25 a-side, to take place in about a month's time on a straight course, either at Hastings or on the Napier Recreation Ground, The Intercolonial Lawn Tennis Tournament between Victoria and New South Wales was commenced on the 30th April, and concluded on Thursday last, May 7th. The event took place on the Association Cricket Ground, Sydney, but the result is not yet to hand. Arrangements have been made for a foot race between Mr Wynn- Williams, of Taupo, and Mr Michael Lyons, of Napier. The race will be for £75 a-side, and will come off .some time in July.. The distances are to be 100, 300, and 450 yards. The match has caused a great amount of interest there. We see the Sydney Association Cricket Ground is not to be used for football purposes this year. The authorities find that, even with players wearing the regulation low-heeled boots, one season's football playing completely spoils the turf, and it takes some considerable time to place it in condition again. The Victoria, the premier junior football club of last season, is again to the fore, and in its matph with the Grafton on Saturday afternoon, inflicted a defeat on the visitors by five points to nil. Wynyard secured the try, and Swinnerton converted it into a goal. In its match with the Victoria last season the grafton (then the Parnell) tied the junior ;*■"*.• ijjps." b£ North Shore, but the Vies, had -* the-best record, and consequently claimed the supremacy.

Two Christchurch men, F. Morshead and G. Muhliesen, are under-going very hard training for the Fifty Mile Walking Championship of New Zealand, to take place on Saturday, May 16th, in which it is expected they will give a good account o£ themselves. Hancock, the English champion, is also doing- very hard training. The Albert second fifteen journeyed to Onehung-a on Saturday and inflicted a defeat on the Manukau by 11 points to nil. Miller, White, and J. and G-. Smart wore the scorers. The Mannkau must certainly be diminishing in strength, or they never would have suffered such a licking. However, the Albert is a very strong team. The match between the Auckland Second and Home Bay clubs, which was arranged | for Saturday, did not take place. The latter, it is said, could not muster a team. A good start, indeed, for the western juniors. The match between the Newton Second and Waitemata clubs also fell through, each club not feeling inclined to patronise the outer Domain. They intended contesting their right with the Ponsonby and Arawa clubs to play on the Metropolitan, but on further reflection deemed it imprudent. The Athletic administered a severe drubbing to the Gordon second fifteen on Saturday afternoon, defeating them by 20 points to nil. Poulson particularly distinguished himself by securing three tries. Meldrum, who also crossed the line once, played remarkably well. The other scorers were Mynard and Morresly, who secured tries each. Both these clubs were only recently formed, and Saturday was the first time they played together. If the Athletics go on in this manner, the destination of the Junior Cup is clearly visible. The formal opening of the football season of 1885 took place on Saturday, and despite the fact that there was a cold southerly wind prevailing the matches for the most part arranged for that afternoon eventuated. They were also numerously attended. In the Domain, the annual fixture, New Zealand v. The World, was to take place, but owing to some cause or other, probably the bad weather, it did not come off. Shortly after 3 o'clock a scratch match was decided upon, and Messrs. Maddigan and Lusk picked sides. The game was very fast, but it was evident from the first some of the phiyers required practice to place them in their old form. Braund was the first to score, successfully potting a goal from the field for Lusk and Co. Tommy Whiteside secured a try, but the kick at goal of Daniels failed to add anything to the score. Marshall and Whiteside • also secured tries, but the kicks at goal were failures. The game resulted in an easy victory for Lusk's side. Brauud, Maddigan, Lusk, Whiteside, and Jordan were the most prominent in the match. The first junior football matches of the season, under the Auckland Rugby Union, took place on Saturday, and each match attracted a considerable number of spectators. The one on the Metropolitan Ground, Ponsonby Juniors versus Arawa, was undoubtedly the one in which the most interest was centred. The - game was started shortly after 3 o'clock. The Arawa having won the toss, elected to defend the eastern goal. The contest was very close for the first 45 minutes, but in the second spell the " blacks" shewed a decided superiority, and once, with a good rush, brought the leather down the incline right into the "blue and blacks' "twenty-five, where McKeown secured the ball, and with a smart run, successfully crossed the line. The Juniors' umpire, however, disputed the point, alleging that the ball was " knocked on" previously to McKeown securing it. He inadvertently forgot to mention the fact until the try was scored. Swanson was entrusted with the kick at goal, and he successfully sent the ball over the bar. There was no further scoring after this, but Ponsonby was repeatedly forced down during the match. For the Arawa, McKeown and Sheddan, for their forward play, and Caradus and Swanson as backs, deserve special mention. For the Juniors, all acquitted themselves creditably, considering it was the first time they had played together in a match, and it would be invidious on my part were I to particularise any of them. An opportunity, says the Referee, will shortly be afforded New Zealand long distance walkers to show what they can really do. Several residents of Christchurch have, lately been canvassing for subscriptions with a view of obtaining a substantial amount to be given in prizes for first, second, and third in a contest to be termed the " 50-Mile Champion Walking Match o£ New Zealand." The gentlemen interesting themselves have taken this action in order to induce many good men at present in New Zealand to compete against Hancock, . the English champion, who is at present in Christchurch, Matters have not been definitely settled, but so far it has been agreed to give a prize of £50, added to which the winner will get about 50 per cent of the " gate money," 30 per cent will go to the second, and 20 to third man, and as the event will take place at the Tuam street Hall, and 2s and Is be charged for admission, it will be seen that the prize money will be worth going for. A committee, composed of influential residents, is in course of formation, while responsible persons will fill the positions of timekeeper and referee respectively. The contftst will take place on May 16th.. Frorr the fact that solely disinterested residents of

Christchurch, who would like to see some of our best men try and wrest the laurels from Hancock, have taken the management of the affair in hand, it may be assumed that the contest will be one of great interest to all lovers of pedestri'anism, and, what is more, fair and square. The 12 hours 1 walking contest between ,T. Rayner and E. McCune, for £50 a-side, took place on Saturday in the Theatre Royal before a large number of spectators, an 1 resulted in an easy win for the local man, Rayner not completing the distance. Rayner retired from the track through indisposition shortly before 10.30. On this occasion the track was fibre matting, which is said to be an improvement on the sawdust one, and measured 36 laps to the mile. Mr Forder was judge referee, and starter, and despatched the men on their journey at 5 minutes past 11 a.m. Both looked in the pink of condition, and each was confident of success. In the first hour, McCune had 9 miles 14 laps to his credit, including the concession of 3k miles ; and Rayner, 6 miles 5 laps. In the second, McCune, 14 miles 35 laps ; Rayner, 11 miles 35 laps. In the 3rd, McCune, 20 miles 12 laps ; Rayner, 17 miles 19 laps. In the 4th, McCune, 25 miles 18 laps ; Rayner, 23miles 1 lap. In the sth, McCune had covered 30 miles 15 laps, and Rayner 28 miles 10 laps — just 2 miles 5 laps behind. 6th hour, 34 miles 33 laps appeared opposite to McCune's, and 33 miles 4 laps to Raj^ner's name. 7th McCune, 39 miles, 29 laps, Rayner, 38 miles 6 laps. Both went off the track again shortly before 7 p.m., and returned in about 5 minutes. Bth, McCune, 44 miles 8 laps ; Rayner, 42 miles 26 laps. 9th, McCune, 49 miles 2 laps ; Rayner, 47 miles 29 laps. At 8.30 p.m they once more retired, and returned shortly afterwards a little refreshed. 10th hour, McCune, 53 miles 25 laps ; Rayner, 52 miles 35 laps. At 9.30 p.m. Rayner again retired, and was away for about 7 minutes. In the 11th hour the score stood — McCune, 57 miles 23 laps ; Rayner, 57 miles 10 laps. Shortly before half-past ten Rayner bid the track adieu, and finally retired, his score standing, 58 miles 18 laps — 10 laps behind his opponent. He was completely " baked." McCune pegged away until the end, and when time was called he had covered 62 miles 10 laps. Both men were brought " before the curtain," and after shaking hands, addressed a few words to the audience. The stakes were £50 a-side, and door money after paying expenses. The defeated man was, in the event of his completing 62 miles, entitled to £5. The following is a description of the Intercolonial 8-oar Race, taken from the Bulletin: — The boats were stationed, Tasmania on the southern buoy, then Victoria, next N.S.W., while the Qneenslanders had inside running on the northern side. Tasmania appeared to get away a shade the best, but before many lengths had been covered the two blues in the centre commenced to draw out, and it was soon seen that the contest would resolve itself: into a fight between the pair. Melbourne then commeuced to draw away, and, notwithstanding Sydney was pulling a shade- the faster stroke, had a slight lead past Uhr's in 1 mm. 3osec, and, getting still further away, had a full half length to the good at the mile beacon, which was shot in smin. 30sec. Melbourne still further increased her advantage, and, before reaching Putney (Brnin. 45sec), ap peare'l from the steamer to have fully a length the better of it ; Queensland and Tasmania, the latter being steered in an execrable manner, toiling along pluckily, but hopelessly in the rear. Melbourne showed fair form, " kick ing " their stretchers in the style peculiar to the Cabbagegardenopolitans, in great contrast to the Welshmen, who sat their boat without a quiver, rowing a long sweeping stroke in admirable form. For some distance it was seen that the space between the boats remained unaltered, but soon a big shout went up as Bros quickened a shade, and his crew responded as one man, the cornstalk boat commenced foot by foot, to pull upon the leader. Gamely the " gumsuckers " responded, but it was to no purpose, as the Welshmen continued to lessen the gap, which they wiped out by the time Tennyson was passed in llmin. 12sec. Sydney then went away from her rival, and after this, the race, s$ far as the two leading boats were concerned, needs no description, as Sydney gradually crept away, and won a grand race by a length and a half. The times for the various points after passing Tennyson were : Cabaritta, 14min. lOsec. ; Gladesville, 15min. 23sec. ; One Man Wharf, 17min. 35sec. and the whole course in 19min. 53sec. Tasmania and Queensland made a great bid for third place, the struggle ending in favour of the Tasmanians, and had the latter not been steered in such a gruelling manner, it was the general opinion that they would not have been far off second place at the finish. After passing Putney they worked tlie southern shore — the correct one for the strong flood tide which was running vp — a course which N.S.W. would no doubt have taken if they could have got clear of the Victorians. On Saturday evening the usual dinmr was given, when the Hon. George Thorntm presented each of the members of the wianing crew with a gold medal. The following are the names of the winners: — Messrs N. Johnson, R. Moppett, G. Scale, E. P. Simpsoi, F. A. Brodie, J. E. H. Kennedy, S. H. Mirlin, and C. A. Bros, who rowed a race to be remembered.