TURF GOSSIP

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 26, 30 December 1908, Page 10

TURF GOSSIP

BY

RACING FIXTURES. Dec. 20 and 28 Taranaki J.*’, Christinas. Dee. 26, 30, Jan. 1 and 2—Auckland K.C. Summer. Dee. 23, 26, 28 — Manawatn R.C. Sumiue* Dec. 2G, 28 — Dunedin J.C. Bnnamci Jan. 1,2 — Hawke's Bay J.C. Simmer January 29, 30, Febiuary 3 — Takapuna JC. Summer Feb. 6. 10, 13 — Otahnhu Trotting Club ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Private Bag. Nelson won three Auckland Cups — 1885, 1886. 1888. F.M., Kingsland, 'this season Royal Soult ran first ami third at Avondale, twice first and an unplaced at Ell6rslie, and a first at Takapuna.

TURF NOTES. On Thursday next, at 11 a.m. sharp, the N.Z.' Loan and Mercantile Co. will hold a Bale of thoroughbred stock at the Harp of Krin stables. I have-to acknowledge receipt of a handBorne card from Moturoa, the Taranaki writer, conveying the season’s greetings, <Thoy are heartily reciprocated. The. Otahuhu Trotting Club are ont with the programme for their suinmer meeting, Which takes place on February 6, 10, and 33. The programme, which appears in our advertising columns, is an especially good one, and the club have hung up a purse of 25sovs for the first horse beating the existing mile record of 2.21 3-5, at present held I’y Specialist. Nominations for all events Close on Friday, January 22, 19(H), at 9 p in. The time record for the Auckland Cup is field by Master Delaval, who registered 3.28 3-5 when he won in 1906. A. Ackroyd, who has been tiding for the Messrs Duder for some time, has severed tiis connection with the North Shore’ sportsmen. The Waikato Trotting Club have postponed the issuing of their handicaps until January 11 th, the acceptances closing on the 13th. Mi Chadwick's adjustments for the Whan. Rare! Racing V.hib’s Annual Meeting are due on or about (lie.3oth inst., acceptances closing on January dfti. The many friends of Mr J. F. Hartland Will v regret to hear that he has been laid up for -nearly a week, being confined to bis bed. The popular secretary of the A.R.C. •s making a good recovery, and should be jibout again in a few days. The highest weight caVriod to victory in the Auckland Cup since it was run over two miles, is the 9.8 which Waiiiki had on *his back in 1993. Nelson won with 9.12 in the saddle in 1888, but the distance was then two miles and a-qnartei. The Auckland Oip has only twice been Won by one of the weaker sex, I/uttie being first to earn distinction in 1894, and Anita winning in the following year, 1895. It is doubtful if the work registered before any previous Auckland (’up ha s been of a lighter description than on the present occasion. With the exception of one or two gallops, not one of the candidates have done a gallop over a mile and a-quarter, an-d so far, some have not even done that distance. The sensation of the week has been the finding of the Avondale J.c committee in connection with their spring meeting. To t*ay that the decisions have caused an uproar xs needless, and already a public meeting has been held, but, as the matter is now iinder consideration of the Metropolitan tamiDHttee, comment on the finding will aland until their decision is given. One case, that against Naumai, has not vet beer de Clded, but It is understood the" parties connected with the horse have been notified to appear before the committee. Willie Sims, a few years back one of the foremost rideis j u America, again eouteinplates riding in Europe. borne of the big guns who own liorseft nave a free leg in the shunting business In g\in ’’ e jigger the K’ln, the bigger the Which of the two should get poleaxed, the owner who gives a good horseman instructions, oa- the rider who is foolish enough to carry the instructions out? The’ English St. Leger winner Wildfowler ((.iillinule Tragedy) W as sold last month to go to France. Ur is a half brother to Birkenhead, who is doing so well nt the stud In New Zealand. What next? The following challenge apjpHfs in itn English paper: “A. 11. Brown will match fils donkey Pansy <o run either Nmlger’s J«4‘git or Sam ix»rd*s Radium, half mile >two laps) or pnv mile, at the Burnley Athletic ({rounds or Rochdale Athletic Rrouiids; or hr will join in a sweepstakes for to or £10; or he will run any British* i>red donkey in England fur from £5 upWards; first come first served.”

Another American racehorse owner, Mr WllHnfh C. ifpyes, has planned to go to France early in the winter with Mr George mid a string of horses belonging tv the proprietor of the Bonnie Brook mable. The horses Mr Hayes and Mr rtaportflß will take abroad nre the Grand National winneV Aifar, Simon Pure (winner of the Beacon aud Inaugural Steeplechase),

WHALEBONE.

and the smartest four-year old developed this year, and a batch of young horses. An operating table, which is said to be a great advance on anything yet designed for horse surgery, lias just been introduced in England, it is a revolving iron frame with a padded rest. The horse is put inside the frame when it is upright, and the animal is secured by straps slings, and chains. Tnc frame is then tilted over until the horse is in the most convenient position for the surgeon. The operating table entirely obviates the dangers of casting the horse. The French flat race season being practically over, the statistics have been published, showing (he amounts won by owners, trainers, etc. Mr W. K. Vanderbilt out-distances all other owners with the sum of £52,728 to his credit. This will probably be increased before the actual end <>f the season at St. ('loud. M. Edmond Blanc ranks second on the winning owners’ list with £28,447; then come M E. Ve’lI’icard, £19,109; Comte Be Marois. £16,490; M. J. Lieux, £12,903; M. Caillault, £11,906; M. Camille Blanc, £9903; and M. Michel Ephrussi. with £9106. Sometimes It pays to adhere strictly to public form in the search for winners on a racecourse, but in the long run this system, if it may be so called, will pretty surely lead to bankruptcy. If may be that punters who are inclined to favour public running against .all other methods of summing up the chances will now and again strike a good, reliable horse, raced in a sportsmanlike way, to gladden their hearts and fatten their pockets; but, as we have said, there is no royal road to fortune on the turf by “following form.” In-and-out running is always there to bar the way when the hackers, fortified with evidence as adduced from the latest running, set out to find an explanation for the fact that so few horses can be depended upon' to “run two races alike. The more suspicious amongst the racegoers probably entertain their own ideas on this matter, but for ourselves (says the ‘•Melbourne Sporting and Dramatic News”) we should- prefer to believe that the vagaries of the horses themselves are far of toner than 'is generally supposed responsible for upsets -of “form.” Experience ha. s indeed taught us that'a 1 •really reliable galloper—one that -can be trusted to “run up to it” at all times—is quite a rarity. * You often hear trainers complaining about having “weishers” in their stable, and it, must be very'unsatisfactory to have to keep horses that can, but won’t, win. By this. we mean those equine impostors that have the ability to do deeds, but fail for the want of will or heart or courage, or whatever you like to call it. And the worst of it is, the ranks of these lions-at-home and lambs-in-the field seem to have been largely added to the perplexities of hackers. What, it may wen be asked, is the cause of this unwelcome increase? Weil, in the first place, we should say that it is due in some measure to the wholesale introduction into the country of a line of blood that is liable to tuin “sour” with racing, and that is notoriously unreliable at best. Then, again, it may be taken for granted that the accepted training methods of the day are not calculated to give horses an extra taste for (heir business. The continual gallop, gallop, gallop against the watch in the mornings must • necessarily have its effect, and it is quite, probable that this treatment, instead of * “improving the breed,” adds to the nuirtuer of “duckhearted” horses seen under colours from week to week throughout the season. Anyhow, whatever way it may be summed up, those in (he habit of “hacking form” must find the first-to-day-and -last-to-morrow brigade stumbling blocks in their path to fortune.

From France comes word of a totaii,sator dividend that Completely puts into the shade anything of (he kind ever recorded in New Zealand or those Australian States in which the machine is used. At MaisonsLafiit.te at. the commencement of last month ho little was thought of the chance of one horse, Etheree, that when he won he .returned 26,901 francs for every 10 franc ticket. A dividend al the rate of 2689 to 1 is so remarkable as to suggest a mistjike somewhere, but as the Paris correspondent of a London paper specially comments on (he marvellous odds, it is safe jto say . the. figures are correct. With « horse paying about £1076 it is a certainly there were < yery few tickets taken cut on him. . One result of (ho interference wilh racing in New York was to bring about 'the sale of Colonel Milton Young’s McGrat fiiae.a Stud Farm, Lexington, Kentucky, a few, peeks ago. An exchange purchasers from all points of the compass turned up at the sale, which lusted four days. The principal support came, however, from Bri , tish Columbia, where Mr Irving Wheatcroft, of Kentucky, has some landed interests.. By an expenditure of 5090 gs he was eriribled to form the -nueltuis of n new breeding establishment. His purcliases' consisted Of two stallions, fifty-two brood mares, forty foals, and twv» yearlings. KOrlin had n representative brnking-for remounts, but hi n modest way only, about twenty head jiurchased prtvately lining sent from tn Germany. The summary of the sale Was ns follows: - Four humired and fifty nhib horses of all kinds, descriplioii.H, (naiditiowH, aud ages r realised £10,090, average £35. By

a private deal one stallion and eight marcs changed hands for, £lOOO. Says an American writer:—lf anything could italicise” the long obvious fact that our American turfmen of wealth have been racing f>»r the dbdars and not for the sport, tin* departure of the strings of 'Belmont, White y, Duryea, Widener, etc., supply the font oi type. : Racing terminates -here Wednesday, November 4, the day after Election Day. Everyone acknowledges that if Governor- Hughes is re-elected —file has been re-elected] —racing will have a very stormy path, for it has been clearly in view that the bigot Governor has not ou.y been the Chief Executive, but has also been a hard Inquisitor, harrying sheriffs and police officials out of all self-respect to see that the law, he is responsible for, was carried out with Russian severity. He hoped to scare ctway decent people from the racecourse when he found his old law was inadequate to stop wagering between individuals. It was not wageting Hughes wished to stop; it was horse racing, no more nor less. James R. Keene will race here, but with all regard for thp clean racing of the Keene stable, the lack of personal betting and the great personal pride and love fqr his horses. Mr. Keene is not regarded as a good sport,” but rather a “ poor loser,” and we have no great sporting depths. H. K. Knapp, member of the Jockey Club, will also race here, and will work for racing; and these, with other prominent men, form a curious companion picture to the rich ** pillars of the American Turf ” which nave not even .waited to see what faces fl <• American Turf next but have (fallen over* themselves in a disgraceful scramble to get away to some countrv where big purses are at least ” offered.” *1 think it will be very interesting, next autumn to glance over the list of winning, owners in England and France, and note wbe?p ’i? sc’*’ expatriated American owners do aot f puic rear the top of the list. I fancy they will know much more about low races are lost, and much more about the effec: •»’ ‘’elate,” than their opportunkies in this count’y have permitted them ii the past.

One of the finest bits of riding we have seen for many a day was at Liverpool, when Maher, on Dafila, beat Wootton, on Carntoi, by a .head for the last race on the card, says the “Sporting Times.” We mention this with all the more Pleasure because we had an idea that Maher had “trained off” somewhat. With such a finish a s he gave us on that occasion it could not possibly be. Some distance from home it became a case of “first one -and then the other,” and in the last two strides Maher gave his mount two cuts of the whip that seemed to electrify him. Wootton on that gave his horse “one”; but whereas Dafila responded to the call, Carntoi did not, and was beaten by the shortest of heads. Perhaps it would have been better for Wootton if he had not used his whip; but if he, had failed to do so and had been beaten there are plenty who would have said, as Robert Peck _<did . of Wood after he had ridden a horse that was second, “If I had only thrown my. umbrella at him he would have won.” It was a beautiful finish on both sides, .and as a light-weight: we rank Wootton with Jimmy .Grimshaw and Johnny Reiff,’ who were two of the best we ever saw. We do not jnention Fordham and Archer .in. this connection, because we reinember .them as something very-much more (han as brilliant light-weights. - Their riding improved with age, whereas, with many of the boys who were exceptionally good, they seemed to deteriorate, as they went on, until at last they dropped out altogether. We see this going on around us still, and some jockeys that were in great demand when they were boys are seldom put up. .' Fays a well-Known London ;’Weekly-■ The ci rrent insinuations that the cheap excursions. to Newmarket are responsible for some of the rascality that prevailed iu Tattersall’s on Cesarewitch day, and at night in Newmarket town, are beside the mark. UndOugterly there was an unpleasant [»ercemage of pickpockets and the:r kind in the chief ring on the big day of the second October Meeting, and 1 can offer evidence of three sulistantial losses. This, however, was in “Tatt’s,” and the pickpocket who pays a pound for entrance therein would not be stopped by having to find ten and ninepence for his railway fare istead of six and sixpence.' As for the disgraceful proceedings in town at night, excursionists could not have taken part in them without forfeiting their “ return halves,” as the cheap special leaves at 5.50. That class of train run at convenient times did not obtain last October, and 1 can testify to the ring then being in need of drastic purge. With regard to Newmarket at nighttime in Cesarewitch and. Cambridgeshire weeks, it always has been desirable to keep indoors. On these , occasions the place needs more policing, and the rings could do with more observation. It was in 1907 that Mr Mairiott (• eared out <i bhtch of undesirables that iu bulk would hav6 been at home at “ No. 5, John-street.” That energetic Jockey Club official must apply his besom again, or Newmarket will, like the dog, get a bad name. Democratisation does not necessarily involve degradation, and, in any case, the presence of "the ooze and the slime” is not attributable to the cheap and reasonably timed Specials the Great Eastern have been experimenting with this reason. ' . ’ ' '

The managers of some English tacecouraes are adepts at framing programmer, which <»nsure good patronage- from owners, and still cost the fund Tittle nioriey. What is mOie to the point is that they seem to be Applauded for doing so. • The following, from the “Sporting Tinies; 0 explains the position:—“Without doubt one of the ablest racecourse managers of modern days is Mr Fowler, of Llngfield. No one grasped more fully the want of enterprise

of owners of- horses, and he acts according ly. ‘Why give a thousand pounds and have only three or four runners,’ he argues, ’when 1 can get fields of from twenty to thirty by giving nothing at all?’ If the owners like- to run under these eon di lions, why have other and more expensive ones? The first race at Llngfield was the Westerham Plate, of 103sqvs. This cost the executive £BO. Then came the Rustle Selling Handicap, of 103sovh, for which there were no fewer than tweuty-five rauuers. The added money was oversubscribed to the extent of 29sovs, so the fund gave nothing; but, ou the other hand, derived a profit of £BO from the sale of the winner. The .Nonstayers’ Plate, of 150sovs, won by Vamose, was a loss, as £2 each was paid for twentyseven horses, and £3 extra for the seven which started. On this race all was lost that was made out of the sale of the winner of the Rustic Plate. Then came the (’age Selling Nursery, of, 103sovs, won by the Forfarshire filly. Here, again, the subscription came to more than the stake, and on the sale of the winner there was a profit to the fund of about £9O. For this event there were twenty-three starters. Next on fhe card was the October Nursery, of 150 so vs, for. which there were twenty-six runners. In the first place forty-seven horses were entered,, for whom two sovs each was paid, total £94; and for the twenty-six rpnners £3 extra, amounting to £7B. So here, again, the stake was oversubscribed. Finally, we had the Pheasant Mid-weight Handicap, of 150sovs. There .were twenty runners, who phld £5 each, and thirteen at £2. In the course of the afternoon, for the six races, there were upwards of a hundred starters, and the bounty of fund was not touched.”

Tte latest subject tackled by our London Turf contemporary, “Spearmint,” is headed “The Robbers and Racing,” and is intended to indicate how betting is being slowly d he to death in the Old Country, He pursues his way thus:—Those of us who are not millionaires .must needs give over betting for the same reason ‘that the exhausted fort gave over tiring—absence of ammunition. At the prevailing prices ..backeis cannot possibly go on, as two reverses out of three attempts means a further inroad on capital, which, in the majority of cases, has not the recuperative powers of the widow’s cruse. : The frequenby-convicted criminal is always pleading for a chance, and sometimes he secures that which he so little deserves. The hand of the bookmaker, however, is always on the throttle of the backer, and if on occasions the odds seem insufficiently favourable to the layer, the customs are immediately revised to restore the balance in his direction. In other words, directly the holders of the bank perceive the possibility of the backers having a chance they re-attend to the dice. I am quite aware that as things are at present in England unless you submit to the contumelious brigandage of the Ring you cannot have a bet. I know also, however, that, 'the-volume of betting,,is decreasing, and is likely to’still further diminish un-less-the Ring alters its ways. The , eel of Che fable. I - expect, grew ,tired of being skinned.even after it had grown accustomed 'to the process. Bookmakers, by their in'-.. hereof sense of fairness, seem quite the right sort of people tp be allowed 'to on-a horses, and lay against them; quite ttie ; right sort of people to be “hail fellow, well met” with jockeys; quite the right sort to hold, as they are obtaining, control of the Turf. In fact, except for a little absurd conversatism, they might be asked to rule the Turf in name as well as in fact.. Perhaps one of those, great sporting .dailies that deal so faithfully with all the interesting details of the lives of these layers, and reports without protest any betting tue fielders- care to arrange, will during the coming winter inaugurate a correspondence on their beha’f. The subject 1 have In mind for their elaboration is ; <“Why Shou.d Bookmakers. No't Be Stewards?” Why, indeed? • What do I mean by the bookmakers ruling the Turf? Well, racing. without betting w*ould not last six months—-and as they are the arbiters of betting, saying wljere you shall bet, what price you shall bet a;t, and to what excnt you shall bet—they, if not exactly absolute rulers, are very insistent * suzerains. As to the way in which the short prices are. “faked?’ nowadays—l mean on all sorts of races —I may have something to say next; week. + + ♦ TURI TALK FROM THE SOUTH. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Otterden, the dam of Martian, Sunglow, mnd Boniform, has foaled -a filly to Multi* form at the Grotto Farm stu-tf. The date for receiving .noininatiqns for the C.J.C. Great Autumn, amJ Great'E-aster Handicaps has been fixed fdr February 12. Both races are again worth £lOOO. The enterprise .of the Wellirigtdn Racing Club in launching out so with the programme for its summer meetiug has evidently met with due appreciation. of owners. No less than (>l2 entries are re?-received for the 20 handicap events tiigt .closed on Friday last, and when the remainder come to be taken, it is quite likely that; the total will reach 700. ■ , The Stepniak mare Dalny, .full > sister to the speedy Orloff, died recently, while foaling to Achilles. >; Federal a well-grown son. of Formosan and Fairy Queen, won >«: double. •al the Rak al a Racing Club’s meet Ing. Like his sire, he tyfts plenty of substance, and can muster up a lot of pace, as evidenced by his performance of carrying 9.8 on a . rough track, and reeling off four furlongs in bls.

Another dual winner at Rakata was The Orient, which annexed the Rakala Cup and Domain Handicap. This tine looking son of Pilgrim’s Progress and Starshot has improved out of all knowledge recently, and should be worth following In his West Coast engagements, all going well. Canterbury should be strongly represented at' the Wellington Racing Club’s Summer Meeting. Nearly all the principal stables have more nominees than usual.

Sir Geo. Clifford’s probable team for the Fasnakyle, Kilwinning, and Sharpshooter. Wellington meeting will compromise Gleneulloch, Husbandman, Flltaway, Sister Anne, Gold Beater, De Witte, Applegarth, Canterbury’s other contributions include Serenade, Grand Slain, Sweet Angelas, All Guns,- Valdimar, Cymbiform, Sunglow, Armlet, Miss Mischief, Silk web, Boutade, Tikl•tere, Mythical, Inchbonny, Nobel, and Mustererc* . ..

Mr. H. A. Knight’s speedy filly Bountiful, which was considerably knocked about by colliding with a rail at the Christchurch Racing Club’s meeting, is making a speedy recovery, as is Emmerson, who was riding her at the time of the accident.

The only local meeting to engage attention of racegoers during the Christmas and New Year ho.(days is the Plumpton Park Trotting Club’s fixture. A large number of very speedy horses are down to compete, amongst their number being Durbar, Lord Elmo. Albertorious, Fusee Kk k Cole, Deringcotte, Elector, Florin, Norval, and Terra nova.

The death of Mr. Victor Harris will be heard of with sincere regret by all with whom he came in contact, either in his.private business ’or in racing w . matters. For the past 20 years Mr. Harris has. always been in the list of owners, but his racing ventures were not attended with much success. Amongst the horses he owned were CrackshdtJ Suez, Ilium, Liberator, Rochester, Si.ver Spec, Strathnairn, Epaulet, Paladin, Marawaiiui, Bpqley, Magnificent, and Vardo, all of which were at. one time or another returned winners. Mr. Harris was also closely identified . with trotting, and for many years acted as president of the Lancaster Park Trotting Club and . the N.Z. •Metropolitan Trotting Club. He did much to help the., latter., in its rapid progress, and was a most energetic and painstaking official. The_/leeeased sportsman’s funeral on Friday last 'was very largely attended by all classes of the community. The Wellington ' Racing Club’s executive reviewed the disqualification inflicted on F. Raymond,-the Tider of Indian Mutiny,-by the Taratabi-Carterton R.C., and as a result the action of the latter club has not been endorsed. Consequently. ' Raymond is exonerated.’ This being so.. it is quite probable that the stakes will be paid to the owner of Indian ’Mutiny. Blue-Book, a half-brother to St. Denis, has joined R. McKay’s team at Forbury. • lero and Possession, which were purchased recently in the North Island by a Dunedin sport, are now in w6rk at Forbury. ’ The South Canterbury J.O. November meeting resulted in a profit of about £5OO. The receipts amounted to £1834. the-’chief item. 4 being- nominations and ‘acceptAlices £427; bookmakers’ licenses . '£369, gates £227,’ And tot a lisa tor, training fe s, and-ac-eoraniodation £735. On the expenditure side, for £lllO of the £1324 paid arway. . : • '

A.K.C. SUMMER MEETING. The Auckland Racing dub opened their summer meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday last. Although several ominous looking clouds, banked up occasionally, no rain fell to mar the enjoyment of the afternoon’s f?port, and the only fault to be found with the weather was that it was a shade on the tropical side. The attendance was very large, and probably a record. The grandstands and’. lawU ; were packed while on the outside,-and way under the trees there did not seem a vacant spot. On the lawn some most marvellous creations of the dressmakers, and milliners’ art were to be seen, such■ as the, pen of no ordinary man could describe, ami it-will suffice to say that the display of fashionable colours on the green background of grass made a picture that will long: remain in one’s mind. Southern sportsmen were present in force, as well as several officers from the warships now in port, and included in the number were Capt. Da Costa (H.M.s. Challenger), Commander .R road bent. lion. J. D. Ormond, Sir George Clifford; Dr. Earle (Wanganui); Messrs T. H. Lowry, J. W. Abbott, W. Clifford, Stead Ml? Palmer, G. D. Greenwood, A. G. Whyte (secretary Wellington Racing Club;), and others, '"he course anil.surroundings were looking at their ami the caretaker, Mr C. Hill,'and his staff/ have reason to be proud of their .'w’h'ich brought, about such a conditioW. ’ 'The race track was exceptionally fast, ; and iiCthe Great Northern Foal Stakes, the wi)iner, 'Broadsword, hoisted a fresh “time, record for .the race, running the distance id 1.14 3-5, the previous best be'; jnir 1.15 4-5/ registered by Kirriemuir in 1905.' In “f he Railway Handicap, a fresh record was aIAo 1 made. Royal Sou It getting to the end df the journey in 1.14 1-5. Mi* R. II: ‘ L‘usk WasHn his old position aS judge, Mr A. Kohn officiated as timekeeper, and Mr’C. O' , <’dnnot ,! as starter, the latter gcntlenian being’in his best form, and in only one event, the Great Northern Foal stakes, 'ln Which><>Kaknma was left, was there any trouble, but this was no fault of the starter, and it would have caused no •surprise had lie-darken less pains to get her to join ber.' tleldi •/ - The-'racing throughout was interesting, the Railway I’fandft'np especially providing an exciting finish, and within twenty yards of the post no less than nine of the runners. had winning chances. Mr Morse, the handicapper, has every reason to be proud of his work. The entering was in' the efficient hands of Mrs J. Gallagher,* while during the afternoon the Auckland City Band, under Bandinn«ter' John Went, played a lumber. of choice selections on the lawn, aim the Auckland (Ynrrison Baud, under Bandmaster. G. F Cater, rendered a programme under the trees.

Owing to the Illness of the secretary, Mr J. F. HarHand, the managerial duties were carried out by Mr F. D. Youge, assisted by Mr Spence, and under the gentlemen named the various officials got through their duties In a manner that left absolutely no room for complaint. A new departure was made In the weighing room by the addition of an extra scale for weighing the unplaced horses, which greatly facilitated matters. THE TOTALIBATORS. With a Mg attendance and good fields It was expected that speculation would be brisk, and during the afternoon the machines, under Messrs IT. H. Hayr and Co., handled the sum of £22,565, as against £21,554 10/ last year, an increase of £lOlO 10/ on last year. In addition 44 pencillcrs were licensed at a fee of £2O 10/. THE RACING. The opening event, the Trial Handicap, brought out a field of nine, the Papakura trained Inglis winning comfortably, in the fast time of 1.28. The classical two-year-old event, the Great Northern Foal'Stakes, only attracted a field of, five, and of these Sir George Clifford’s colt Broadsword was made a very warm favourite, and although he was a bit restless at the post, he never gave his supporters any anxiety after the first furlong was covered, going to the front and winning with the greatest of ease by three lengths, in the record time of 1.14 3-5. Broadsword credited Sir George. Clifford with his fourth successive victory in the race* PEDIGREE OF THE WINNER, BROADSWORD, By ClanranaM, by St. Leger (son of Doncaster) from Scotch Hassle. Dam: Safeguard, by Maxim (son of Musket) from Teredo, by -Apremout. Previous winners of the race are:— Time

With the Foal Stakes decided, the way was cleared for the event of the day 'ne Auckland Cup. The eleventh hour with drawals were Downfall and Rauparaha, which left eleven (exactly the same number as last year) to line up at the tapes. The various candidates attracted a :ot of attention as they were treated to rne nnal touches of their toilet. The favourite (Bobrikoff) had a large audience add he looked beautiful to the eydf and, notwithstanding that he had yet 'to prove himself a stayer, the public never wavered in their allegiance to the son of Finland. Diabolo was also the centre of much attraction, and no fault could be found with bis appearance, and the same remark applies to Zimmerman and Master Delavai. AH Red bore a solid, well-trained appearance, wnile Ikon looked blooming, but probably the fittest horse of the bunch was Carl Rosa, which looked a veritable ball of muscle, and his coat shone like silk. Stratagem did not take the eye. nor did Paritutu or First Gun, and a though Pohutu looked trained to the hour, he did not altogether fill the bill as a Cup horse. (n the preliminaries nothing pleased better than the favourite, but, taken on the whole, no fault could •be found with the manner in whten any of them strode along. The draw for places at the barrier resulted All Red (1). Stratagem (2), Master Delavai (3), Paritutu (4), Diabolo (5) Pohutu (6), Carl Rosa (7). Zimmerman (8), First Gnu (9), Ikon (10). and Bobrikoff (11), and the following overweights were carriedParnutu. 2lbs: Pohutu Z*ns; and First Gun, bibs. Very little time vvaM cut to waste at the post, the despatch being one of Mr. O’Connor’s best effoits. Carl Rosa was first to move, but when they serried into their places Paritutu took pride of position, ano led past the stand, . with All Red Bobrikoff, Zimmerman; Carl Rosa* and Diabolo as his nearest attendants. The favourite met with some interference neap the old mi e po<t. and going a ong tb back he lost his Position, falling away to nearly last, h h ' pace was very . the riders all seem ng y being content t,6 ride a waiting race, and it was not until they got over the cutt'iig that racing began in real earnest. Cro sing the tQp Paritutu, Zimmerman, All Red.' Diabolo, an<l Master Delavai were the in *st prominent, while. Bobrikoff regained his lost ground, anil was within striking distance al the home turn. The «pace was now very «o id, and wljep they were fairly in a line for the post AH Red dashed into the lea<L while Zimmerman and Master Delavai fell away beaten. At tin* dist nee Ihibriko/T shot, out, and challenged A 1 Red, but although he finished up fits tusK in good style, he was never able to sorb us'y threaten A l Red. which won comfortably by two lengths. Paritutu was a length away, third. Just in front of First ’ mi, the running of this pair being the surprise of the race while the disappoln ments were Diabolo, Zimmerman, and Master Delava!. Had the race been run at a solid pace throughout a dlfforont result nuiy. have obtained; but, hevertholosM, All Red s’ performance was brimful of merit. The following tlmeH, kindly supplied by the official timekeeper (Mr. A. Kohn) show h >w •low the pace was In the early pnit: Two furlongs, 27a; four furiong*. hi i-3s; seven furlongs, 1.35; mile and a quaiter, 2.XU 1-5; mile <uud a-ludf. 2.41 1-5; two

miles, 2.31. Th** betting on the machine was as follows;— Bobrikoff (1), Diabolo (2), (€), Zimmerman (7), Master Delava I (S), Pohutu (3). ikon (4). All lied ('). Carl Ro«n Stratagem (9), Paritutu (10). and First (Jun (11). . PEDIGREE Ob’ THE WINNER, ALL RED. By Rtepulak, by Nordenfel It (son of Musket) from Steppe. From Madder, by Gosscon feon of Galt pin) from Madras, by Chester. WINNERS OF THE AUCKLAND CUP, Time. m. s.

JNew Year’s Day. JEoxhig Day. . The hurdle race saw the fa’O’irlt', .Do-, lores, come to giicf when victory s emed well witbiu her grasp, the .mishap leaving Hnutapu with a CQiuniandiiig lead, but l|e failed.? to respond Ayhen Reservoir cu ht him a short distance from the pest and wtw, beaten a neck. i .... . Thes Railway. Handicap produ e;l..t!:.e biggest field of the day. and Armlet was mi de favourite. The race was a most excitiiijf one, ; and at the lawn rails it looked as if the issue- lay, between. Cambrian', .’Sites Winnie, and Gold Lace, but a lite further on Aboriginie, Master Soult, Davenport, and Royal Soult apiea.ed on the scene, and the latter shooting out in the last few strides finished close under the judges box, and won by half a length from Master Soult, with Ab i .into a similar distance away, and the others close A mild surprise was in stere in the Nurs- ■ cry Handicap, which was wop easily by Jfypei ion, the favoui ite.Shai psh ot r which was made a very strong o der, tin sjing out of a place. The concluuing events call for no- special mention, and were won by Ngapuka and Waimaugu respectively. TRIAL HANDICAP of ISOsovs. Seven furlongs. A. Hanson’s hr g Inglis, syrs, by Hotchkiss—Lady Marion, 6.8 (11. Price) 1 W. Davies’ hr m Maheno, 4yrs, 7.0 ~ (Deeley) • •• - T. 11. Ixnvry’s b f Chanteuse, dyrs, 8.4 (Jenkins) Also’started: St. Ainan, 8.8 (S. D. Jones); Tui Ca&ohuu, 7.10 (Brady); Delegate. ill (R. E. Brown): Aristocrat, 7.3 (Buchanan); < Juki wife, 6.11 (Julian); Dunborve, b.J (Monk). . When the barrier lifted St. Aidan hung a little, ami lost several lengths, ( hanteuse being first to move. When they were fairly on their Jmi'rney, Guidwife rushed to the front,' and going along the back had a rouble of lengths advantage ol < hanteuse after which came Inglis. Dunborve, lui , (.'ako'liau,' and ‘Maheno. Crossing the top stretch fluid wife was still the pilot; loading a bunch comprised of Chanteuse, Inglis,' Maheno, mid Dunborve. Inglis ran into the lend ns Urey turned for home, ami had ‘ charge at the distance, where Maheno.. Chanteuse; and Dunborve challenged, and an Huforesting: race home resulted, Inglis eventually winning by half a length from Malieno.. which was a similar distance la front 1 of Chanteuse. Dunborve was clokc up fourth, and Guidwife last. Time, 1.28. Maheno was favourite. GREAT NORTHERN FOAL STAKES, of 630 Sb vs. Six furlongs. Sir George CllWord’H b e Broadsword. 2 1 years, Cjanrairald- Safeguard, bi. 10 (F., E. Jdties) , I A. M.Coomb<Vs hr e Elysian 2 yrs., 8 It) (JenKinA) .*•••, - Hon’. J. 1). Ortnond’s b<• Xylophone.2 yrs 8.10 (F. Jqiios) 3 Also started; Snow foot, 8.10 (Byown), Kai Hi;o«dsw6rd and Kakaiun delayed the : Utaft, for ten iplnutes. and wlien *tne fap-8 w<‘i.e y.eleqHed, . the-latter whipped around, mid.M 1,0 l«>. the Kh<’»?.. t Klys lan was first to fitoye, and was induUud in th.* I nd | for n, furlong, , when. Broadsword d spin red ' him, and latter showed the way c.oss | Uie iMihfcJU’Qtch two lengths dear of Elysian,

with Xylophone and Rnowfoot racing gethvr four lengths away. Elysian ran uy ■to withiii a length of Broadsword as they turned tor home, lint it was only on sufferance, as the latter e.isjjy drew out again in the run to the post, eventual y winning by three lengths from K.ysian, which was eight lengths in fiont of Nviophone with SnoHjfoot last. Time 1.14 3-5, a r» cord fo» tiie event. Bion ds word was favourite. /li'KLAXH (TP, of 1750snvs; distance * tWu miles. St. J. Buckley s l> h All Red, by Stepniak Madder. Ij r-, S.(» i jenkius) ....... 1 T, fl. Lowry’s I,lk g Bohrikoff, lyrs, 8.12 <F. Davis) ............ .. . 3 J, George’s b g Part tut a, aged, 7.1 (Bmhailan) . 3 started: Zimmerman 9.5 (F. Jones)* Master Delaval 8.12 (Brown), Ikon 7.10 (Kent), <’arl Rosa 7-S (Deeley), Diabolo 7.(1 llson). Stratagem 7.0 (Chapman). Pohutu G. (MacMillan). First Gun R 7 (Killick). Very little Jme was cut to waste at the post, and the barrier lifted to a beautiful start, from which the colours of Carl Rosa were first prominent; but when they settled down, Pari tutu was in the pride of position, and he ted the field across the top stretch, followed by All lied, Bubrlkoff, Zimmerman, Carl Ko:-a. Diabolo, and First Gun, In that order, with Master Dehivul whipping in. As they swept past the stand, I’aritiitu was still in the loud, (lip order of the others being Zimmerman, All Red. Carl Rosa, First Gan, Bobrikpd', lohutu, Diabolo, ikon. Stratagem, and Master Deluval. Racing along the back, Paritntu was bowling along a lengtX tn front of Zimmerman, and then came All Red, while Master Dclaval ran into fourth position, and Bohrikoff dropped back. So far the price had been slow, but cressing the lop rtretch the pare was cracked on, Parltrtu being stiH in front, with Zi merman and All lie I as his nearest attendants, while Bobrikofi* could be seen coming through tils i field. At the home turn All Red had caught .ami passed I’arit nt n, Zimmerman and Mns- . ter Deluval tiring in the struggle; and dropping back When the distance, was reached, Bobrikofi’ pvt in his claim, but he never seriottsl.v threatened All Red, which won comfortably by two lengths. Pari tutu was a length further; buck, third, just in front of Fiisl Gun, and then followed Ikon, Cart Rosa, Pohr.tu, Stratagem, Diabolo, Master Dclaval, the last to pass the post being Zimmerman. Time. 3.31. Bo’.rikoif was favourite. » GR A FT() N 111: R Dl. ES, <> f 200 SQVS, Dirft.ince 2 miles. V/. »S. Davidson’s ch g Reservoir (Jet d - Eau Cartouche) aged, 9.7, (Jones) -. I R Hannon's b g Hautapu aged jO.ll (Brady) ... 2 J. B. Williamson’s ch g Okaihau, 4 yrs.>‘ 9.7. including 71b. penalty (A.. Gray .. '3 Also started: Dolores (W. Wilson), 9.11. When the lirsi hurdle was reached ilaut pn put in a gap of six lengths from Okalhau, which was followed by Reservoir ami Dolores. Hautnpu had a dozen lengths advantage ns they, crossed the top stretch, but when the stand was reached his lead had been (lecreai-; d to .three lengths, the other three racing abreast. At the hurdle al tiie six furlong post, Dolores left, the others, and was within two lengths of H. and at the four furlohg post appe.utd to have his measure, but a faulty jump brought her down. The mishap left Hautapu with a commanding lead, but he fired badly, and Reservoir finishing gamely 1 under punishment, caught him a short (liS- ) tanue from the . post, and beat him by a' neck. -Okaihau Was half a furlong away, third. Time, 3.40. Dolores was favourite.

RAILWAY HANDICAP of 500SOVS. Six furlongs. 8. G. Lindsay's Dr h Royal Soult, 4yrs, by Soult Bavaria, 8.1 (inc. 3lbs penalty) (Brown) 1 Trustees A. M. Coo tubes' b c Master Soult, 3yrs, 8.9 (Jenkins) - E. .1 Watts’ blk g Aborigine, 3yrs, .8.4 (Wilson) 3 Also started: Grenadier, 8.8 (McComb*'); Dawn, 8.6 (S D. Jones); Cambrian, 8(5 (Pearson); Lochbuie, 8.6 (Kent); Armlet, 8.4 (Donovan); b'litaway, 7.9 (E. E. Jones); Miss Winnie, 7.9 (..ratty); Santa Rosa, 7.9 (Buchanan); Gold Lace, 7.4 (Price); Devonpoit. 7.2 (McMillan); Wauchopo, 7.0 (Chapman); Tarinanupo, 6.12 (Deeley); Coromandel, 6.7 (Gainsfoid). Miss W mine shut to the front when the signal to go was given, with Gold Lace as her nearest attendant, and then followed Cambrian. Armlet, ami Master Soult. Crossing the top stretch Gold Lace was on terhis with Miss Winnie, with Cambrian, Atmlet, Devonport, and Tjjimunupo mbst pri.niiiienl <»f the others. When the distance was reached. Miss Winnie. Go d Lace, and t amc.nan were abreast, but a little* further <m Master Soult. Aririlet. Devonpoi t Aborigine and Royal Soult all put in their claims, and a desperate finish resulted, Rc.yal Soult shooting out in the last few strides, and winning by half a length from Master Soult, \vhieh was a similar distance in front of A'boriglne, and then almost in. Iln«» came Armlet. Devonport, Gold Lice, Camhiian, add Miss Winnie, with Grenadier hist Time I 14 1-5. Armlet was f iron rite. MIRSKRY HANDICAP of 150sovs. Distance*, live fuibhigs. It Milletts b c 11 y pen ion, ;2y rs, by Moult l liea. 7.2 (Deeley) 1 G. I . Donnelly's ch g Golden Water, 2vrs, 8.2 (Price) . 3 D Stewart’s b <• St. Amans, 2yrs, 8.2 (Quinton) k ..... . 3 Also started Sharpshooter, 7.13 (Jones); Idealism. 7.10 (Wilson); Merriwa, 7 5 (Buchanan); Royal Scotland, 7.A (Chapinap); Liuy Doon, 7.0 (Sparkes); Sunelon, 7,0 (McMillan); Righting Eish, 6.13 (Brown); Kti allbur. <1.13 (Pearson). Hyperion rushed to the. front when tn® tnpes How up, followed by Golden Water, Sharpshooter, ami St. Amans, aud thia vas the order as they raced iictOM the tof. stretch. Hyperion still had charge as the« turned for home, where Golden Water Sim, prehooter were his nearest iiHetuhi<iti% with Meriiwa most giro inf item of the otherM Easily holding his own In th<« rod to th® post.* Ux pt'rion ’ llriished up a winner by * length and a half from .Gblden Watery

which was half a length in front of St. ▲maus Sharpshooter, which ran very unkindly. was fourth, and then came Merriwa. Time, 1.1 2-5. Sharpshooter was favourite. ROBINSON HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Distance, seven furlongs. R. C. Wallace’s br g Ngapuka. by Soutt—Paulina, 4yrs, 7.5 (Sparkes).... 1 J. 11. Waiters’ br g Sedition, 3yrs, 8.9 (Chaafe) 2 r Moriarty’s ch g Hard Kock. 4yrs, 7.4 (Deeley) 3 Also started: Karafa. 8.10 (Pearson); E«camillo, 8.8 (Gallagher); Eady Frances. 7.13 (Gninaford); Ki in lock. 7.11 (Buchanan); Explosive, 7.3 (Price); Totika. 7.0 (K. K. Brown); Blue Rocket, 7.0 (Chapman). a Tot fka lost a lot of ground at the start, Kimlock being the first to break the line, but he soon gave way to Hard Rock, which made the running to the cutting, where Eady Frances headed him. and the latter piloted the field across the top. followed by Hard Rock, Ngapuka. Sedition, and Kimlock in that order. At the home turn Eady Frances, Hard Kock, and Ngapuka were racing abreast, but when fairly in a line for the post. Ngapuka shot out, and finishing full of running, won easily hy two and a half lengths from Sedition, which was a similar distance in front of Hard Kock. Karata was fourth, and Totika last. Time, 1.28 3-5. Hard Kock was favourite. CHRISTMAS HANDICAP, of 200sovs; one mile. Mrs. Eenuard’s blk c Waimangu, 3yrs. by Soult —Roxana, 6.12 (Deeley) 1 W. S. Davidson’s ch in Douche, aged, by Jet <!’ Eau—Cartouche, 8.1 (Buchanan) 2 G. I). Greenwood's b h Sunglow. 3yrs, by Multiform—Otterden, 7.13 (Monk) .... 3 Also started: Eeonator 8.13 (Brown), Celtic 7.2 (Price). When the field came in sight from the Press stand. Douche was in the lead, followed by Waimangu, Celtic, and Sunglow, and in that order they raced along the back of the course and along the top stretch. .Douche still had charge when they turned for home, but at the distance Waimangu got on terms, ami the pair fought out an interesting finish. Waimangu, staying the longer, won by a neck. Suhglow, which finished fast, was third, and then came Celtic, Eeonator being last. Time, 1.40 3-5. Waimangu was favourite. When Dolores fell while contesting the Grafton Hurdle Race on Saturday last one of her legs was badly shattered, and, after examination by a veterinary surgeon yesterday, it was deemed merciful to put an end to her sufferings by the aid of a friendly bullet.

TARANAKI J.C. SUMMER MEETING. NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday. The Taranaki Jockey Club's Christmas meeting opened on Saturday in lino iher. Seven bookmakers contributed £14.• 10/, thus reducing the totalizator deficit of £2OO. The results were as follow: — Iluatoki Plate. Astraea 1. Roliopotae (’femora 3. Scratched: Rod Star. Maori ■Rifle, Taupera, Valentine. Gibrook, Andover, Mendip. Timo. 1.31 1-5. Stewards' Handicap. Tanekaha 1. Mulga Bill 2. Lady Menschikoff 3. Scratched: White Star. Timothy, and Overtime, lime, Ladies' Purse.—Kaniwara 1. Bismark 3, Jet De ■ More 3. Scratched: Keiwaka, Waddv. and Denis. Time. 1.4< 3•; . Hurdles.- Black Banner 1. Lingerer Bagatelle 3. Scratched: I nailer and S"'• emoor Stayboy fell in the fist io nd. Timo "'chJistmas Handicap. Kilmarnock I. I lando 2, Mallet 3. Also started: Mee Trinket, Fulminator. A fine race. Mon by a il Wel’ter'l landiea - Astraea 1. White Star 2 Mendip 3. Also started: Research, liecreation. Billow. Bed Star, Paul Marshall. W^ u^" V W a iert n i S,, Sir’A“He S al 2 Dural,.o y Mso started: Clonpett, Shining sta/ Muskerado. Sylvia Maid. Tauhara. Rifleshot. Won by half a length. Tune, PTying Handicap. Kirsty 1. Cyrene 3. Also started: Tiptoe, St. Maria. Won easily 'rime, 1.15 2-5. manawatu r.c. summer MEETING. PALMERSTON NORTH. Wednesday. The Manawatu Racing Club's Christmas Meeting was opened to-day in cold and atrnwor? weather. Tin- attendance was moderate considering the conditions, but the totalizator receipts showed a considerX falling off. only £7929 going throug h the machine, compared with £10.901 In vested ou the opening day last year. Twenty-one bookmaker, took out licensee to bet." their fees amounting to about £3OO. Hood fields were the order of the day but the raring was spoilt by bad Crest won the Palmerston North Stakes easily, and iris win was a popular one. <A,rd and latdy Plunked and party were {"mint during the day. The results follu7llghden Hack Hurdles.- -D'nil. 10.11. 11 Commander. KX9. 2: Coy. 90. 3. Scratched: Don Carlos. Won by two lengths. lime, 2 Malden Plain. Peroiina 1. Thetis 3. Scratched 'll"™. ”' avPrv - Woi by a length and a half. Time. lin. SUMMER HANDICAP, of 200»oV»; one mile. W. F McßrtlT* Cructnelto. by San Fran --4?ti«rent«% 7.9 (A. OUiver) Sir George Clifford* Gteorullocfa. M.G (It. J. King * J. Highden * Vasa. 7'l (E. Imwel ...... 3 Also alarted: Kopu R. 5. Sunbonnet 7.1 1. ffVugonlm 7 10. Arc Light 7.3, Cariaslma « >X Flotilla 6 9 Thin start waa ti very poor one, Rnnbonnet feeing left standing al the (tost. Approach-

ing the home bend Crucinella overhauled the leaders, and went on and won by three length*, Glenculloch beating Vasa by a neck for second place. Time, 1.42. PALMERSTON NORTH STAKES, of bOOsovs; six furlongs. J. R. McDonald’s Gold Crest, by Gold Reef—Nymph, 9.5 .(C. Jenkins) 1 G. Foreman’s Full Rate, 8.1*2 (R. Hatch) 2 D. Buick’s Rangipapa, 9.6 (S. Reid) .... 3 Also started: Penates 10.0, Bo iui reg is 6.12, Kiltie Lass 6.11. Kiltie I-ass was first away, but was quickly replaced by Full Rate and Bonaregis, Rangipapa getting badly left. Full Rate led round the home bend, where Gold Crest came through, and; leading into the straight, won easily by two lengths and ahalf. Full Rate heat Rangipapa .by a length for second place. Time, 1.14.

TIRITEA 11URDI/K HANDICAP, of 150sovs; two miles. J. Highden’s Aorangi. by Merriwee — Panaturi, 10.3 (11. Cairns) 1 J. Munn’s Gold Dust, 10.13 (J. O’Connell) 2 ,T. Maher’s Prospector. 9.12 (J. Lyford) . . 3 Also startl'd: Paparehi 10.3. Haeremai 9.0, Touderghie 9.0. Prospector led from a fair start, and, in company with Aorangi, raced round the back; but approaching the home bend the latter went ahead, and, stalling off a challenge from Gold Dust, who came fast at the finish, won by a length and a-half. Time, 3.46 3-5. AWAPUNI HANDICAP, of 300spvs; six furlongs. G. P. Donnelly’s Gold Thread, by Gold Reef—Purse Strings, 8.8 (S. Reid) .... 1 R. W. Paterson’s Mon Ami, 7.13 (A. Olliver) - T. McGrath’s Tuinut, 8.2 (K. Hatch) . . 3 Also started: Moriarty 8.5, Golden Eagle <B.l. Ballarat 8.0. Waipuku 7.9. Hernia 7.3, Lothair 6.13. Advantage 6.12, Contour 6.7. Gold Thread jumped into the lead, and was never troubled, winning easily by three lengths, Tuinut being a length 'and a-half away, third. Time, 1.13 4-5. TERRACE HACK WELTER HANDICAP, of lOOsovs; one mile. F. Dorset’s Blue Ribbon, by Bluejacket Yattaghan, 9.3 (A. Olliver) 1 E. J. Watt’s Separator, 8.8 (R. Hatch) 2 M. T. McGrath’s Osiris. 8.3 (W. Ryan.) 3 Also started: Passive 9.4. Espartero 9.2, Shannon Lass 5.9, Windage S.O, Northeast 8.0, Paione 8.0. The start was a bad one. Blue Ribbon caught Separator on the post, winning by a head. Osiris was a length away, third. Time, 1.45. HI MITA NG I WELTER HANDICAP, of luOsovs; seven furlongs. F. G. Roe’s Probability, by The Possible —Seraph, 8.9 (IL (’airns) 1 G. I*. Donnelly’s Gold Treasure, 7.7 (Rae) 2 W. A. Donald’s Aboriginal, 9.3 (Reid) .. 3 Also started: Waitapu 9.11. Bourrasque 9.6. Sandstrpam 9.3, Mussel 8.0, Rosegrove 7.11. Gold Treasure went to the front from a straggling start, and led to the entrance to -the straight, where Probability came •through and won comfortably by three lengths. Aboriginal was half-a-length further away, third. Time, 1.30. PALMERSTON NORTH. Sunday. The Manawatu Racing Club’s summer meeting was continued on Saturday in lovely weather. There was a targe attendance, incuding the Governor (Lord I’lunket) and a Government House party. The sum of £17,852 was put through the machine, as compared with £23.635 for the correspond-, ing day of las’t year. Seventeen bookmakers paid foes to lay the odds. There was a magnificent race for the Cup. only a head separating the placed horses. The results were as follow:— KELVIN HACK HURDLE RACE of 109 sovs. One mile and three-quarters. Mr. W. Davies’ b m Yosami, 9.8 (A. McConuon) • • Mr. W. Griffiths’ b g Commander. 119 (T. Price) Also started: l»on Carlos, 10.9; Mikotahi. 9.13. Mikotahi and Don Carlos both fell living Yosami an easy winner by a length and a-half. Time, 3.21 1-5. TAKUAHA HACK MELTEiR HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Seven furlongs. Mr. A. Jackson’s b g Roosevelt. 9.0 (S. Reid) * Mr. T. McGrath’s ch g Osiris. 4yrs, 8.6 (W. Ry am - Mr. G. P. Donnelly’s b m Gold Treasure. 3yrs, 8.11 (A. Rae) Also started: Espartero. 8.10: Flingot, S. Shannon Lass. 8.9: Courier. 8.5; Windage 8.0; Biberkola. 7.10. R<x»scvelt won after a desperate finish by a head. Time. 1.29. MANAWATU CUP of 650sovs. One mile and u-ha’f. Mr. D. Buick’s b m Tangimoana. syrs. by San Fran —Waingongoro. 8.6 (8. Reid) 1 Mr. F. Dorset’s ch in Blue Ribbon, 6.7 (H. Batten) 2 Mr. F. Preston’s b g Apa, 8.11 (A. Olliver) Also started: Kopu. 8.3 (P. O’Brien): Bourrasune 7 13 (C. Scotti: Muskerrv 7 13 (G. Price): GleneuHoch. 7.12 (R. J King); Moloch, 7.11 (W. IL MeKiiv); Rifl o maid. 7.3 (F. Cress); White Lie. 6.13 (W. Ayres); Arc Uitrht. 6.13 (R. Young); Trueanini. 6.12 (E. Howe); (Nirissimu, 6.7 (F. Carroll). Muskerry tod off from a bunched start mid led up the straight for the first time In company with Blue Ribbon. Truganlui and Moloch being next. Round the home bend Apn mn into third place and appeared to be rapidly overhauling the leader*. Mnskerry dropped back, but Blue Itlbbou maintained bis lead from Apa and looked a snre winner, when Tanglmoann ramc with n great run from behind and just a ecured the verdirt by half-ahead on

the post. Apa being the same distance away third. Time. 2.36 15.

TOKOMARU HURDUE HANDICAP of 13') so vs. One mile and three-quarters. Mr. Highden’s b g Aoraugi, 11.6 (H. Calm) 1 . Mr. A. E. Tucker's ch g Touderghle. 9.0 (J. Stewart) 2 Mr. J. Munn's Cold Dust, aged, 11.5 (J. O’Connell) .. 3 Also started: Pnpareehi, 10.6; Prospector, 10.3; Haeremai, 9.0. A ora ng i won by about two lengths. Time, 3.17 15. FITZHERBERT HANDICAP of 250hovs. Six furlongs. Mr. Ross Alan’s br in Ballarat, 7.10 (G. Price) 1 Mr. D. Buick’s br c Rangipapa, 9.2 (S. Reid) 2 Mr. T. McMath’s br g Tiimut, 7.13 (R. King) ... 3 Also started: Gold Thread, 9.0; Mon Ami, 7.13; Moriarty. 7.13; Golden F.agle, 7.10; Advantage, 7.7. Ballarat won by a clear length. Time, 1.14 1-5. GILLIES HACK HANDICAP of lOOsovs. Six furlongs. Mr. C. A. W. Monkton’s br g Longner, 8.10 (N. Campbell) 1 Mr. Highden’s b g Perolina, 8.5 iHowe) 2 Mr. F. Tilley’s b m Contour, 8.2 (W. Price) 3 Also started: Eclogue, 8.11; Cute. 8.7; Miss Vera. 8.4; Te Ru, 6.12; Pikipo, 6.7; Merry Messenger, 6.7. Longner won by a bare length. Contour being a poor-third. Time, 1.15. NURSERY HANDICAP of 150sovs. Five furlongs. Mr. Highden’s br c Boanerges. 7.3 (E. Howe) 1 Sir George Clifford’s b c Kilwinning, 9.2 (R. G. King) 2 Sir George Clifford’s ch f Fasnakyle, 8.11 (W. Price) 3 Also started: Aema, 7.91; Kiltie Lass, 7.0; Milan. 7.0; Amphianser, 6.10. Boanerges won by two lengths. Time, 1.2 4-5. GRANDSTAND HANDICAP of 200sovs. One mile. Mr. W. 11. Nicol’s br g Sir Antrim, 6.12 (T. Carroll) .-• • • 1 Mr. G. Penfold’s br in Flotilla, 6.7 (R* Young) • • - Mr. G. Foreman’s br g Full Rate. 8.9 (R. G. King) 3 Also started: Vasa, 7.3; Aboriginal, 7.7; Mussel, 6.7. Passive camp in first, but was disqualified, as the rider had failed to declare overweight. The race was awarded to Sir Antrim, with Flotilla second. Time, 1.40. 4-4- 4DUNEDIN RACES. DUNEDIN, Sunday. The Dunedin Jockey Club's Summer Meeting opened yesterday, when there was ti larger attendance than there has been lor many years. This, in a measure, explains the large increase in the totalisator investments, which totalled £By»26, or £llt>7 higher than the first day of last year’s meeting. The weather was fine for the first couple of races, but the next two were run in heavy rain, after whcih the weather cleared again. Eight bookmakers were licensed for the day. Hurdles. — Leonardo 1. Royal Shell Storm 3. Scratched: Tirole. Magical, and Northern Star. Won by two lengths. Time, 3.23 2-5. At this stage it was raining steadily. Dunedin Handicap.—Cymbiform 1. Caspian 2, Adage 3. Chinook also started. The leaders fought out a great race the whole way. Won by a long neck. Time. 1.5. Salisbury Hack Handicap.—Czar Kolohol 1. I’assion 2. Spinning Flight 3. Scratched: Valdimar, Zionness. and Vandirk. Kolohol got up on the rails, and won by a neck. Time, 1.31 2-5. Otago Handicap.—Astraehan 4. Rose Noble 2, Grand Slam 3. AU started. Astrachan made all the running, winning by a length. Time, 2.12. OTAGO HANDICAP, of 20Osovs; one mile and a-quarter. Messrs. W. T. and L. C. Hazlett’s ch h Astrakhan, 7.3 (C. Hack) 1 F. H. Fyne’g Ros<* Noble, 7.9 (R. Derrett) 2 C. H. Gorton’s Grand Stain, 8.8 (L. G. King) 3 Also started: Harvest 8.4, Tikitere 8.2, Apollodoris 7.3, Speculate 6.10. Speculate was left standing, and lost half a dozen lengths when the barrier rose. Won after a good race by nearly half a length, Grand Slam being a length away, third. Time, 2.12.

TRIAL STAKES. ef lOOsovs; screw furlongs. W. Gardiner’s b m Jessie La*wars, 8.1 (F. Yarr) 3 Mrs. J. Glenn's b e Optional, 8.2 (A. 11. Wilson) 9 J. Kilis’ be c Adjudge, 8.2 (J. McCluskey) 3 Also started: Fulmar 8.2, Stepliuk 8.3, Invincible 8.3, Sacha 8.2, Stepastde 8.1« Princess Ena 8.1, Bountiful 7.11. Won by a long neck. Time, 1.32 2-5. FEDERAL HANDICAP, of 150sovs; six furlongs. T. Tanney’s b c Ard Relgh, 7.12, including 31b overweight (Yarr) t R. Sheddon’s b g Loftus, 7.12, including 21b overweight (J. P. Byrne) 3 J. Maris’ ch g Heirloom, 6.7 (E. Harrison) 3 Also started: Petrovna 9.7, All Guns 8.13; The Seer 7.9, Octave 7.8, Erskine 6.10 (31b overweight). Gapon 6.7. Won by half u length. Time, 1.18. CAVERSIIAM HACK HANDICAP, of lOOsovs; six furlongs. Messrs. Johnson and Paterson’s bl m Mtes Galby. 9.3 (J. McCluskey)) 1 J. J. McKay’s br .in Vagranee. 8.11 (F. Yarr) 2 Messrs. W. and C. Samson’s Little Medallist, 8.10, including 31b overweight (T. Ruthven) 3 Also started: Lady Ranald 9.8, Cashier 8.11 (including 21b overweight), Musterer 8.7, Montura 8.7. Won by a little over a length. Time, 1.18 1-5. OTOKIA WELTER HANDICAP, of lOOsovs; one mile. C. M-acheU’s b g Valdimar, 9.5 (J. McCluskey) 1 R. McKay’s ch g Lupulite, 10.3 (A. Mackay) 3 W. C. Harrison’s b g Ecus, 8.0 (W. Emafcreon) 3 Also started: Oiyoi 9.5, Jack Ashore 8.13, Mango 8.6, Cuirosettia 8.0. Won by a neck, Eons being a length behind Lupulite, third. Time, 1.45. ASHURST RACES. PALMERSTON NORTH. Wednesday. The Ashurst acceptances are as follows:— Trial Hurdles Handicap, one and a-half mile.—Hipporofla 10.9, Moose 9.13, Netherby 9.9, Ancycle 9.9, Scenery 9.8, Whareponga 9.3, Waikareao 9.0, Atanui 9.0, Colanter 9.0. Strathmere 9.0. Flying Hack Handicap, five furlongs.— The Saiitf 8.11, Cute 8.10. Miphera 8.5, Voetgang 8.0, Royal Maid 7.3, Tern 6.13, Thetis 6.9, Taumono 6.7, Merry Messenger 6.7. Ashurst Guineas, one mile.—Pikiho 8.10, Aurage 8.5, Bravery 8.5, Waitoto 8.5, Midian 8.5. Ashurst. Cup, one and a-quarter mile.— Tangimoana 8.8, Kopu 8.8. Muskerry 8.7, Moloch 7.12, Waipaku 7.10, Riflemaid 7.6, Arclight 7.4, Probability 7.3, Carissima 7.0, Mussel! 6.10. Tangeroa 6.7. Komako Welter Hack Handicap, seven furlongs.—Espartero 8.13, Tangeroa 8.9, Highden 8.9, Roosevelt 8.8, Voetgang 8.6, Shannon Lass 8.6. Windage 8.5, Separator 8.5, First Mate 8.0. Anemone 8.9, Courier 7.9, Mildura 7.7, Prince Hassan 7.7, Robin Link 7.7. Pohangina Handicap, six furlongs.—Moriarty 9.0. Tumut 8.11, Ballarat 8.9, Advantage 7.5, The Saint 7.4, Mussell 6.13, Contour 6.13. Maiden Hack Handicap, four and a-half furlongs.—Fond Memory 9.0, Kimmeran 8.9, Toang 8.5, Tern 8.5. Conquestina 8.3. Glenora Park 8.2, Thetis 8.2, Merry Messenger 8.0, Dauntelin 8.0, Charge 8.0, Arevore 8.0, Taumano 8.0. Manawatu Gorge Handicap, seven furlongs.—Probability 8.9, Merry Zealand 8.4, Carissima 8.4, Loiret 8.4, Sir Antrim 8.3, Lethean 8.2, Waicola 8.0, Flotilla 7.7, Miphera .7.7, Tangeroa 7.7.

RANGITIKEI R.C. SUMMER MEETING. BUDDS. Monday. The following acceptances have been* received for the Rangitikei Racing Club’s summer meeting:— Scott Memorial.—Rangipapa 9.0. Golden Eagle 8.2, Ballarat 8.0, Crucinella 7.10, Dothair 7.0, Advantage 6.10, Mussel 6.8, Contour 6.7. Ohakea Hurdle Race.—Dull 11.0, Capulet 10.7, Don Carlos 10.0, Xavier 9.11, Harmi 9.7, Belario 9.5, Touderghie 9.5, Yosamie 9.2. Carnarvon Hack Race.—Dongner 8)10, Rooseveldt 8.10, Tesain 8.8, Eclogue 8.8, Cute 8.8, Chase Mob 7.12, Shannon Dass 7.10, Dlanwern 7.9, Debonnairo 7.8, Bonnie Doon 7.3, Merrie Messenger 6.10. Rangitikei Cup.—Apa 9.0, Tangimoana. 8.3, Waitapu 8.2, Truganini 8.0, Nova 7.0* Arclight 7.0, Carissima 6.12.

Railway Hack Hurd lee. -Xavier 10.8, Onil 10.7, Belairo 9 12, Mikotahi 9.11, Moose 9.11, Yosami 9.7, Netherby 9.2, Maid! 9.0, Taupo 0.0, Pepoleoanta 9.0, Sedgemoo re 9.0. Makowat Welter.—Mahuta 9.12, Toatuhl 8. UK Merrle England 8.10, Sir Antrim 8.8, Rose Grove 8.0.

Pukenui Welter. —Roosevelt 9.7, Zoraida 8.11, Shannon Lass 8.10, Anemon 8.8, North 'East 8.5, Goodwin Park 8.0, Buemac 8.0, Kiwi 8.0.

WHANGAREI JOCKEY CX.UB. The following nominations have been received <or the Whaugurei Jockey Club's Summer Meeting:—Whangarel Cup.—Puhipuhi, Franklyn, Jolly Tar, Luros, Quebec, Aureole, Lady Ellen, Sweet Alice. Star Rose, Manapouri, Lord Seaton, Biddy Curran, Hard Rock, Kaitangata, Tui Kitua, Haldane, Nervine. Settlers’ Handicap.—Lochlea, Lady Sperry, St. George, Iloanga, Miss Jesmond, Sapper, Regan,. Gipsy Queen, Denbies, Loros, Highland Fling, Discoverer, Matabare, Paul Beaver, Whakapopota. Publicans* Purse.—Franklyn, Jolly Tar, Sweet Marie. Nervine, Lures, Highland Fling, Corporal, Discoverer. Flying Handicap.—Puhipuhi, Frontino, Hukutawhiti, Jolly Tar, Luros, Highland Fling, Discoverer, Paul Beaver, Lady Ellen, Sweet Alice, Arlstos, Manapouri, Lord Seaton, Hard Rock, Kaitangata, Tui Kitua, Mozart, Haldane. Railway Handicap.— National League, Lochlea, Lady Sperry, Alanah, Hoanga, Sapper, Denbies, Nervine, Wairuhe, Luros, Discoverer, Paul Beaver. Whakapopota. Second Hurdles. —Loehard, Franklyn, 1 ady Lanta, Mideyr, Gipsy Queen, Peter S'* tuple, Swagsman 11., Mawhiti, Quebec, (o’ooral, Lady Ellen. Rotoiti, Waihekau, Strdßer, Aletta, Laddie, Mozart, Kotlti, San Paulo. First Hurdle Race. —Rotoiti, Loehard, Waihekau, Franklyn. Stroller. Lady Lanta, Aletta, Mideyr, Peter Simple, Laddie, Swagsinan 11., Mozart, Mawhiti, Kotihi, Quebec, San Paulo, Corporal. Maiden Plate.—Lochlea, Leo. Mary, Lady Sperry, St. George, Hoanga. Miss Jesmond, Sapper, Denbies, Waiata, Luros, Highland Fling. Matahare. Kensington Welter.—Gipsy Queen, Sweet Marie, Luros, Discoverer. Bracelet Handicap.—Sapper, Sweet Marie. Highland Fling, Swagsman 11., Quebec, Corporal, Discoverer. Park Handicap.—Puhipuhi. Franklyn, Jolly Tar, Nervine, Luros, Aureole, Discoverer, Lady Ellen. Sweet Alice, Star Rose, Arlstos, Manapouri, Lord Seaton, Biddy Curran, Hard Rock. Kaitangata, Tui Kitua, Haldane. Marsden Stakes.—National League, Lady Sperry, Alanah, Iloanga. Jolly Tar, Miss Jesmond, Gipsy Queen, Nervine, Wairuhe, Luros, Highland Fling, Corporal, Discoverer, Paul Beaver, W'hakapopota. Hack Handicap.—Lochlea, St. George, Lady Lanta, Mideyr, Sapper, Regan, Gipsy Queen, Denbies, Sweet Marie, Luros, Highland Fling, Matahare.

Farewell Handicap.—Puhipuhi, Frontino, Hukutawhiti, Jolly Tar, Nervine, Aristos. Luros, Highland Fling, Discoverer, Paul Beaver, Lady Ellen, Sweet Alice, Lord Seaton, Mozart, Biddy Curran. Hank Rock, Kaitangata, Tui Kitua, Haldane.

HAWKES BAY J.C. SUMMER MEETING. „ NAPIER, Friday. The following acceptances have been received for the summer meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, on January 1: — Maiden Hack Handicap, five furlongs and a-half.—Ora Pinsent 8.8. Cork 8.1, Awha 7.13, Icel 7.13, Obscurity 7.13, Valoma 7.13, Magneto 7.10. Christmas Handicap, six furlongs.—Gold Thread 9.7 71b penalty), Auldearn 8.8, North Head 7.12, Stylish 7.6, Erl King 7.2, Pluck 7.0, Voetgang 6.12, Chamois 6.7. Welter Hark Handicap, once round.—Rose Lethe 9.1, Highden 9.1. Spate 8.12, Parable 8.4, Sir Benson 8.3, Mistletoe 8.1, Eldorado 8.0, Robin Link 8.0. Utopia 8.0, Minister 8.0. President’s Handicap, one mile and aquarter.—California 9.10, Woodhey 8.0, Uenuku 7.8, Loiret 7.8, Dardanus 7.0, Lamsdorff 6.7. Otatara Handicap Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters. — Gold Dust 11.3, Kaipetipeti 10.10, Monarque 10.8, Hipporofla 9.13, Te Kainui 9.8, Rawhiti 9.0, Waikareao 9.0. Two-year-old Handicap, four furlongs.— Bally Shannon 8.4, Ideate 7.10, Ariom 7.7, Composed 7.7, Fairy Gold 7.7. Ultimatum 7.7, Undecided 7.7, Reformist 7.3, Perhaps 7.3, Seraphic 7.0. Flying Hack Handicap, six furlangs.—Stylish 9.0, Andrew Mark 8.4, North Pole 8.2, Waioriki 7.12, My Darling 7.5, Robin Link 7.2, Sir Possible 7.0.

New Year Handicap, seven furlongs.— Martyrium 9.4, Auldearn 9.4, Loiret 8.8. Soafondale 8.0. Voetgang 7.9. Berengaria 7.9) Highden 7.9, Millennial 7.7, Gold Treasure 77.

MATAPOURI RACES. WHANGAREI, Friday. The Matapourl meeting was held on Wednesday, with the following results.— Malden Race,—Highland Fllug 1, Irish Girl 2 Gordon 3. Hurdle Race. —Miss Ida 1, Peter Simple 2. Pony Race.- Walata 1, Irish Girl 2, Dandy Matapenrl Cup.—Kai tangata 1, Shrewsbury 2, Manoeuvre 3. Steeplechase.—Peter Simple 1, Verna 2. Ladles’ Bracelet.—Sapper 1, Mackay 2. Whananakt .Handicap,—Kaitangsta 1, Manoeuvre 2, Shrewsbury 3.

NETHERTON RACES. The following are the weights for the Netberton races, to be held on New Year's Day;— Publican’s Purse.—Nebraska, 10.10. lametta 10,10.. Correction 10.0. Lady Mac 10.® Pall Mall 10.0, The Waater 9.0, Sweet Heart 9.0, Hnberlte 9.0, Runetta 8.10, Wai Wai 8.7, Plako 8.0. Cudora 7.4. Netherton Cup.—King Tom Uj), Nebraska 10.10, Llngard 10.10, Tarrlelett 11M*. Correction 10.6, Ngarue 9.6, Plako 8.0, Outsider 8.0, Sweet Heart 8.0, Ruebrtte. Handicap Trot. — Chubby scr.. Pilot scr., J. B. Gray, 2dsee„ Lady Emily 20aec.. Nell 25sec., Sunset HOsec., Sweet Alice 45eec., Cora 45aec., Dolly 45sec., Polly BOsec. Malden Race.—Ruberlte 9.10, The Waster 9.8, Outsnlder 9.0, Lone Hand 8.4, Lady Love 7.4, Eudora 7.4, Turulan '7.4, Sunshade 7.4. Creamery Handicap. — Pall Mall 10.0, Ngarue 10.0. The Master 9.0, Plako 10.0, Chiino 8.0. Hurdles. —Lingard 11.0, Imagination 10.10, Tarrlelett 10.10, Klug Tom 10.10. Frank Dodd 10.0, Lion de Or 10.0, Chirno 9.0.

THE AVONDALE INQUIRY. The Auckland Metropolitan Committee met on Satuiday. and further considered the decision given by the Avondale Jockey Club in connection with their recent spring meeting, and after discussion. an adjournment was made until January 5, 1900.

AUCKLAND METROPOLITAN COMMITTEE. The Metropolitan Committee met last Tuesday, the Hon. E. Mitchelson presiding. Licenses were granted as follows:— Trainers: F. Harkins, E. Hillary, E. Kelly. Jockeys: Geo. Goldsboro, J. Blake, F. B. Collins, G. I. Comer, J. B. Gainsford, A. J. Gray, J. Greenwood, F. Harper, F. Johnson, Win. Marchant, J. <J. Maher, A. K. Pearce, W. H. Pearson, A. Rhodes, J. Williams, P. E. Pope, M. Quinton. Gentlemen riders: Messrs H. K. Clarke, W. Elwarth. Apprentice license: G. Keenan. The following programmes were passed:—Matamata Racing Club (February 11), Ohinemuri Racing Club (March 17 and 18), South Auckland Racing Club (February 26 and 27), Papakura Racing Chib (March 20), Otahubu Trotting (Tub, three pony races (February 6, 10, and 13). A meeting of the A.R.C. Committee was held subsequently, the Hon. E. Mitchelson in the chair. Four new members were balloted for and elected. Transfers were passed as follows: —T. Shannon to J. F. Tocker: Colt, 3yrs. by Merrie England—Prologue. A. Baird to Mr Hazelton; Dolores. S. Bradley to Chas. Peoples: Puhipuhi.

TROTTING DISQUALIFICATIONS WANGANUI. Monday. At a meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club to-night the horse Bob E.T., the owner (A. T. and rider (J. T. Fairley), were disqualified for 12 months for inconsistent trotting in the Farewell Handicap at the recent Trotting Club’s meeting. The owner and rider were also summoned to appear before a meeting of the Trotting Club committee to answer questions regarding the ownership of the horse.

THE YEARLING SALES. On Monday. January 4, the annual sales of thp thoroughbred yearlings raised at Cambria Park and Glenora Park will be held by the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Co., the latter lots being submitted first at Papa, kura, while the Cambria Park youngsters will be afterwards offered at Papatoitoi. The exceptionally mild winter experienced last season was very beneficial to the youngsters, and a better grown lot It would be hard to find anywhere. At Glennra Park Mr. Walters has 14 of bis own breeding to offer, and their condition speaks volumes for the care bestowed upon them by the caretaker, Alee. Brown. Sixteen appear in the Cambria Park catalogue, and these also bear evidence of the careful attention of their guide, philosopher, and friend, Al. Cummins. A visit to both breeding establishments is always a pleasure, and both Mr. Walters and Mr. Price esteem it an honour to show visitors the various lots at auy time', so that any visiting or local sportsmen should make a point of taking a run into the country, and it is safe tn gamble that they will be well repaid for their journey. As usual at this time of the year. I managed to snatch a few hours from Father Time, and had a look over the lots to be offered next month, and a few remarks might not be out of place. GLfckORA PARK. As the Fapakura yearlings are first to come tinder the hammer, I will deal with them first. No. 1 on the catalogue is a brown filly by Gluten—Boult Girl, and although a bit undersized, she is beautifully turned, and for pony racing alone should realise a decent figure. Something with decidedly more size and substance is the bay filly by Soult— I’rlnceas Alice, which claims as full listen* the good performers Avalanche and Sweet Alice; and that the filly under notice will prove as profitable there should be no doubt. No. 3 is a perfect little gentleman, by Gluten—Gold Web, and if ever a youngster gave promise of turning out a racehorse, you have one here. With Bound constitution and legs of steel, he Is undoubtedly one of the picks of the large basket. One of the finest looking and beat-grown »ens of Soult >et dfferM is the brown colt by Soult- latdy Musket, which stands fully 15.1. Of good

bone, and no useless lumber about him, he should furalßh into a handsome horse, and as he la full brother to the speedy Salute, there should be no doubt as to his pare. Th« gem of the collection is No. 5, the bay or brown filly by Soult—Hotcherina. and th'* filly has to be men to be appreciated. for hot sufficient words can be found to adequately describe her, and it win suffice to say that nothing better has yet been seen at Glenora Park. A beautiful filly is the chestnut «sae by Gtaten—Helen Me Gregor. Of kind disposition, aud perfectly proportioned, she promises to come to baud early. A colt bred on similar lines to the great Walrikf Is a brown by Soult—Cornsa. which should develop Into a racehorse. In the paddock he H a remarkably good galloper, with perfect action. aud, altogether. Is as nice a colt as one would wish to see. An attractive youngster Is the bay tiliy by Hou It—St. Edith, which is strong and robust, with great quarters. The brown colt by Soult—Curacoa, consequently full brother to the speedy Lormguna. was not seen at his best owing to a slight accident through contact with a fence. The mishap Is nothing serious, and In the intervening week before the sate should F»e fully recovered. A first foal is a brown colt by Soult — Lady B. which is nicely turned, and fair size with good bone. The (bun of this colt. Lady B. was specially purchased to mate with Soult, and this her first foal Ls well up to expectations. A colt that has grown out of recollection during the past three months Is a brown by Soult—Rouiola. This youngster shows a lot of quality, and is well grown, with plenty of substance, a double cross of the much sought after St. Simon—Musket blood is to be found in this cott, and on breeding lines alone should be much sought after. A second foal is the chestnut filly by Gluten—Lady Rose, which possesses great substance ar#l quality, and in her essays in the paddock shows great pace, in lot 13, a brown filly by Soult- Lady Emineline. one sees a racy-looking youngster, which should go fast and come to hand early; while the last on the list is the bay colt by the English sire Hackrnschmidt. from the imported Merry Nip. The dam of this colt was in foal when imported, and the youngster is, therefore, bred to English time. An exceptionally well-bred colt, he should make a valuable sire after his racing days are over, as, besides coming from a great racing family, his blood is new to the Dominion. In addition to Mr. Waiters' lot. a number of others will be also offered on account of various owners. CAMBRIA PARK. At the Papatoitoi estate there are eleven Obligados, three Etons, and two Saults to be offered, and - the lot are exceptionally well grown and free from blemish. The first catalogued is a bay by Eton—('yrenteune, which is a first foal, his dam never being broken in, but reserved for the stud. The youngster is well grown, aud l*ears a most racy appearance. A smart filly, which should come early, is the brown by Eton—Cyrense, also a first foal, while a third first foal is the brown filly by Eton—The Dell. A lengthy filly, she is chock full of the best

runuiiig li.oad aiyi tdnuihi Qirnish into hujuo tiling nut of iho onHnary. The pick of Hnhunch is iho < nlt by Soult Harpist. This Ls an exceptionally lino <«olt, brimful of duality., with piciuy of alsc, and as sound as a bdl of h::iMs. A nuist evenly made coil, he ft hard to fault, ami i» is safe to predict that there will be ln*»m ••'nupetilJon for his ponsiMsaion. The lady of the liouee is to be seen in the bay tUly Uy NkniLP Mias Annie, and well '-.he Um Hila. Quality from tlie tips <tf Lior «ara her tail, with sbouhiers and unnrtfns*. she ifi a perfeet *em. Dreandurii s cuntribulinn Ir a fray - «.»X? to OfiUgadtn. uud a nice, evenly' iLMvule Chile feHna he is., modelled on much the same Lines .m hfi, half biot'ner. Ely Man. A colt with a fencless style about him i« a h.iy try Obllgado—-Gwwnhul. which was an exceptionally fast mare. Her sun is well grown, with plenty of bone, and standing over a lot of ground. I tip him to grow into a nice h.urs<\ and if he does nut gallop I will acknowledge defeat. A lazy* couxemted customer is n chestnut by Obiigaii» Rapid, which, irSce all the is very docile and well growir. iFee* ua die paddock, this colt shows a tot «sf ipicsi, and is a perfect mover. A handsome. colt is Crecy's tribute to Oblf-’&uo*. .smi a f&jer looking youngster It woul 1 be hard Lu find. A nicely developed tilly. aiCJr pfeuXy of size and Kubstaure. Is the eitstant by Ohligado — Sengn. which come.* t'm ai the great. No. I fanrfiy. A tirat fo.iL. plenty of size ana quality, which ha.*< clamed <rwite a paddock reputation. Is tire buy tfily by Obligadu - Te Hufnga. A nice, evenly -aimte tilly. alio is hard to pick to Peace,, the dam of Karat a. .contributes a bay colt by Obligado, which is exceptionally well grown and robust, and there H nothing at all meuai about him. Cytherea’s lilly. by Obitgado. a bay in colour, is a likely looking young lady, that will go fast, xud emne to hand early, but one that is sue .o omxaxand attention, is the chestnut o It by Obllgado--Tourna-ment, which is well srowu* and possessed of a perfect teiupecuKreut. Th&i is one of the sort that kooks PCfce developing Into a grest stayer. Zhe sep resents five <yf Lute is a chesiuiit <Uit by OaLigado. therefore half brother «o the speetiy Cadence, (.'omnig from such a i-ecing taurlfy. r.wJ being well grown, he should turn out The Last on the list is a bay colt by ObLigasfaK FOtfeoa. Tills is another irell-gruvrn cult, with plenty of bone, and handles himself beautffaHy. In addition to the yearlings, a number of others will he offered, as well as tire horses in the estate of the late Mrs. Comnhe which comprise such -great horses as Master Soult, Elysian. Tetraa-dui, Fferst Gun. and Ciriragno. Particulars xs to tustins. will be announced later.

it in many places, and furm dharp point* which break the amout lines* of the turf. The house is square, with a very low roof, designed to resist the strong wind.) which might sweep it away in this nar row gorge. The mountains, so close at hand, deepen tin* impression of wild loneliness; a plain, no .matter how barren, could not give, to the same degree the delightful sensation of being absolu tely alone. A stone wall and a laurel hedge surround my now home. The garden, abandoned for a long while, is nothing but a tangle of luxuriant venlure and of straggling rose-bushes. Still it has preserved its former character, in cspito of this neglect and disorder. Tho lodge also charmed me with its furniture of the First Empire, and its old keeper. Francoise, who can only eqxiak a language strongly marked by the patois of the mountains 1 was eager to take possession of this place so much in accord with my tastes, and I settled myself here with no other company than the old woman and Paul, my.valet, to pass the summer and the autumn far away from Paris. Robinson Crusoe finding the footprints <»n his island could not have been more amazed than 1 was this morning. I had gone out upon a voyage of discovery in •my new property. Upon the north my garden is bounded by a grove which has become almost impenetrable. I had not yet carried my explorations thus far, •but to-day 1 decided to go into the thicket. Ry vigorous blows with my cane I succeeded in breaking out a path for myself. 1 went for ward, very slowly, not without scratching my hands on the thorns, when audder/y my cane, having cut- through a last screen, met 'with no further resistance. I was tat the end of the grove. My foot slipped. I found myself on the edge of a narrow ditch half-full of rubbish and decaying leaves. Beyond this ditch, 1 saw a carefully kept law’ll, shaded by oaks and chesnut tree?; still farther f could see a path, flower 1 bed*, an arbor, and, still farther off, a white house with green blinds. I had some neighbours! Yes, and with my own hands 1 had impudently broken down the natural barrier which separated them from me! 1 remembered that ..Pa-pl, in .Y valet , openly opposed to our stay iji.the country, had said: ‘‘Monsieur is living close to crazy people! There are some strange folks right near us, whom no one cares to see. and who do not visit anybody/* That white house, was no doubt, the place where an unfortunate had come to hide the sad disease of one of its memliers 1 was considering the matter in this way. when lowering my eyes, I was amazed by a most- surprising sight. For a moment I thought that 1 might Im* the victim of hallucination; that this was merely the memory of bygone days. But no, these personages were real, and not called into being by the aspect of the scene in which they moved. One of those engravings which had delighted my childhood was living again before my eyes. A few steps distant from me, under the shade of a fir-tree, a very old man was sitting in a rollingchair. His large, body, wasted and bowed down, was wrapped in a dressinggown. 1-ong locks of silvery white hair escaped from his velvet skull-cap. His cheek*, were hollow, his lips contracted, but his eyes were still bright. This old man seemed to be unnaturally aged. He must b** one hundred years old. Near him a young woman, blond, rosy, smiling. was seated upon a caiup-atool, and it was she who made the picture so extraordinary. She was dressed in the garb of fiftyodd years ago; shoes with buskins, showing white stockings; a red poplin dress, very short-waistvd; broad leg ofmutton sleeves; white mittens upon her hands, and her hair drawn up in two high loops. My clear Athenais,” said the old man in a voice which was still firm, ‘‘it makes me anxious to see the youth of our Monette buried alive in this lonely place.” “Do nut Im* troubled about her,” Athenais replied. “Monette is hftppv here.” “1 do not know. You are still beautiful and still charming; but, after all. our vears must Im* considered, and the Foeiety of t>p old people cannot be v<*ry livelv lor a young girl.” ‘‘Do not Im* anxious as to Monette. Siu* loves you.” (,'crlaiulv she does; but there is one thing which me sad, and of which I have wanted to speak to you for some time. Is there nothing between you •nd her which keep* you asunder V 9

The tittle lady in red laughed gaily. “There is nothing whatever to separate us,” she said. “What makes you anxious?"

“Why do I never see you together?" “Oh! Monette has her own occupations ami I have mine; and so as not to leave you alone we divide the pleasure of being with you.” “But at meals "

“You know that the doctor has put me on a diet, and to be present, at meals would be very annoying to me. But as you want to see Monette 1 will bring her to you.”

She rose, tenderly kissed the old man's forehead, and went away.

Halfway to the house a servant was waiting for her. " She said a few words to him and he came at once to the old man, who asked:

“Have you seen my granddaughter?” “Mademoiselle is in the parlour, as I just told Madame, who was looking for her."

1 had kept hidden in my thicket, having decided, I must own, to continue my indiscretion. What was the meaning of this comedy? Was it possible that this adorable figure of a grandmother in the flush of youth was merely the result of some fleeting, caprice of a deranged mind? Was Paul right, and were my neighbours insane? Were they all insane? The centenarian who, in speaking to the young woman had said: “We must consider our years; we are both old folks!" That Athenais disguised as an antique portrait! The. very servant who seemed to consider all things natural! A few minutes passed by. The invalid did not speak. Leaning forward, be was watching for Monette. At last she appeared. She came running and singing,’ She, at least, had nothing strange about her. , She was dressed verv simply in a muslin blouse and a white linen frock. A large garden bat covered her head, half shading her face. She kissed the old man and said:

“Dear grandfather, grandmother told me that you were asking for me.”

“Grandmother!" Then Monette, also, must be insane! Why did she call that blond, rosv Athenais, “grandmother"? When Monet te raised her head I nearly cried out. Underneath the large hat I seemed to, recognise the blue eyes, light hair and pretty smite, of the improbable grandmother. , Had I made some inv.qlipntary more-ment?--Had a cyaeking of branches or a rustling of the foliage alarmed Monette? Her eves, all at once anxious, turned in mv direction. I thought that I was completely hidden bv the brambles but I was mistaken. The young girl turned pale, and called in a distressed tone. of voice: “Eusebe! Eusebe!” The servant had turned back toward the house upon Monette’s arrival, and he now came running to her.

I did not care to be hunted like a wild beast or driven away like a tramp, and so 1 jumped .across the ditch and boldtv came forward, saying: “Madam, I hope that you will pardon me!"

I do not think that I look like a criminal, yet Monette's pretty face still kept its expression of fear, and Eusebe looked at me in a threatening way. The invalid was the only one who seemed to regard mv abrupt.intrusion as a natural thing. Bowing to me with the greatest of courtesy he said: "No doubt vou have lost your way, sir. If it will be agreeable to vou to take the road bv crossing our garden. I shall be happv to show you the way.” I thanked him, and owned that a voyage of discovery m. my new property had ted me astrav.

•'What, sir!" exclaimed the old man. “Are we neighbours? I am delighted to hear it. The solitude in which we live—and which is dear to us —far from being disturbed, will be made more agreeable by the pleasant relations which we can establish with you."

But if the invalid was pleased by the new interest which my coming wopld bring into bis life, Mlle. Monette seemed to be dismayed, and Eusebe shook his head impatiently.

“Sir," resumed tht* old man, “I want to receive you in -a more hospitable manner than is possible in this corner of t-lte garden. Let me have the pleasure of seeing you in my house. Monette, go first, infotin 'your trr»rtdnir>?i.er. «'•• t h"g her to come down to tt\e parlour. Eusebe, be so good as to wheel me back "I'd Hie hou-o.”

The servant shrugged hU shoulders in

a way which evidently meant: “What am 1 to do?" Mbe. Monette looked at me with a troubted air, and 1 could easily read upon ner mobile laee: “If he would only retuse!” Hut T had no idea of refusing. On the contrary. 1 accepted tlie invitation with a leaumess for which the old man thanked me warm»y ■ '

“I see, sir,” he said, “that you are not a man to stand upon useless ceremony, and that pleases me. Besides, I am sure that you are an agreeable man. I am a physiognomist, and I read your character at once. My age is really terrible to think of, sir! My life is prolonging itself beyond all natural limits. 1 am nearly one hundred years old. . Yes, a century weighs upon my head. How many more years shall 1 sec? It must be left to the mercy of Providence. I have given my heart to my dear little Monette, my granddaughter, for she is my only surviving child. But ’she is not alone in cheering my last days. You will see my dear sister, Athenais, an angel of beauty and kindness. She has been the tenderest of mothers to Monette, who has long been an orphan, and Monette ■calls her grandmother. God gave back my sister to me after a dreadful trial —” Almost involuntarily I glanced questioningly at Eusebe, who turned away his head. He, also, was an old man, but still robust. He pushed the rolling chair without effort.

Monette had gone first and her white dress soon disappeared at the turn of the path. We found the young girl, a fewminutes later, standing by a casement window., Eusebe rolled the chair into the parlour, where I followed it, and was charmed to find that there, even more than in my own house, I was surrounded by suggestions of a period very dear to me.

“Many years ago,” said the old man, “I built and furnished this house. How the time passes! I have lived here for most of my life, and I no longer go away. Monette, will not your grandmother give us the pleasure of seeing her?”

“No, grandfather, she begs you to excuse lief. She has a sick, headache, and is .lying down.” ri . , , “These attacks,” said the old man, “'are .very frequent, and so sudden. She has been in the sun without her hat. Well, my good neighbour, we shall ■meet again, :in<J if you will come back some day, to-morrow,, for' instance, you will become acquainted with my sister. But I have not told you my name! I am Baron Raoul d’Outreval.” Eusebe had left us, and now returned bringing refreshments which Mlle. Monette served with grace. She seemed to be reassured and answered my questions freely. I learned that she' loved to paint flowers, to read romances, and to embroider.

1 was glad to receive these confidences, and rose to go, saying that I meant to come again very soon. Then Mlle. Monette’s face grew troubled!, and -she again became cold and formal.

I waited a few days before calling again, so that there might be a decent interval between my visits, and one morning Paul handed me a letter which Eusebe had just brought to him: The letter was short, and although there was nothing strange or unusual in it, the signature made me still more eager to pierce the mystery presented by my neighbours, even . though that mystery might be explained by insanity. This is what 1 read: "Sir; Will you give us the pleasure pf coming to dine, with us, without any ceremony, this evening? Pardon the lateness of this invitation. I did not want to miss your visit, as I dijl the other day, and" I take advantage of a good day granted to me by my capricious ■ health. Come quite simply, as a neighbour. • ■ ; Athenais d’Outreval.” ■ Athenais! Athenais the little lady, in red, the grandmother of twenty, the charming portrait of an earlier time come down from its frame. She bad written to me, invited me, promised to meet me. She was real. 1 fell that she Could not be a lunatic. The tone of .this tetter, the very writing, orderly and regular, had nothing suggesting a deranged mind*. . > ; . i I accepted with eagerness. I fold tny horrified valet where 1 was going, and directed him to help me with my toilet, which I wanted to have decent >tnd be-. coming. For Monette, or for .Athenais? J scarcely knew for which.'

What an evening. Had I been dreaming, or waa, I, also, insane.

even more insane than these ghosts who entertained me? I was received in th< old parlour by M. d’Outreval and Athenais. Upon, seeing her it was hard" for me not to show my surprise, not so much at her antique costume, for 1 waa prepared for this, but ut her resemblance to Monette. '

M. d’Outreval guessed my thought. Gutting short th 6 commonplaces of our meeting, he exclaimed gaily: “f see that you are wondering at the strong resemblance between my granddaughter and Athenais. You will see them both, very soon. Has not Monette come home Find out, Athenais, and tell her that our neighbour is here.”

“1 will look for her,” said Athenais And she went away, smilingly, appearing so flinch at ease" ih her ancient dress that it no longer seemed strange. M. d’Outreval told me that half an hour before my arrival a woman from the village had come to ask help for a wounded ehild. Monette had gone there at onee. She was' a skilful and highly courageous nurse. “She is not like Athenais, who faints at seeing a cut,” said the old man with an indulgent laugh. Athenais soon came back, alone. “How provoking it is,“ she said. ’“Here is a message which Monette has sent by a little boy.” And she read: “Sit down at the table without waiting for me. The wound is serious, and I have sent for a doctor. -I must stay to help him. Send Eusebe for me in the evenirig." ‘ ' “It is a foolish business,” muttered M. d’Outreval. “Send for her at onee.” Athenais shook her head and sighed. “It would be useless,” she said. “You know very well that she would not come. She is very obstinate, and as you have let her have her own way ” “There, there, my dear, you yourself spoil her just as much as I do, so do hot scold me. Het us yield once more to this child, especially as what she is doing this evening is very good and charitable.” So we sat down to the table without Monette waited upon by Eusebe, whom Athenais directed to keep a cold supper for the young girl. She herself ate searbely anything, and yet, every time that he saw her take up a dish, M; became anxious, and said earnestly: ' . <. ■ “Do remember’that -you are on-a diet. Yoii will suffer for this to-morrow and will punish me bV not coming to the table any more.*- It is only because you are our guest, sir, that my sister has consented to come to a meal.”

“My sister!” That slight little creature the sister of this centenarian! My valet was certainly right. These people were both insane.' I was distressed, and regretted having come. Still; the remarkable young woman talked well with a sweet musical voice. She questioned me about my occupations and my solitary life.

I did not notice that the meal wai over until T saw Athenais rise. Indeed, I had eaten so absent-mindedly; engrossed in studying the words and faces of my hosts, that I bad not observed the different courses. 1 offered my arm to Athenais, while Eusebe pushed the invalid’s. rolling chair. I felt that the little hand leaning upon my arm trembled and seemed to hold me back- I paused and turned my eyes towards the pretty face, now very pate - under: the light curls. A quiet gesture warned me to be prudent. Then, in a low tone, leaning so close, to me that her hair touched me, Athenais said: ■

"'To-morrow morning, at-seven o’clock, be in your grove, near the ditch.” Before I could accept this strange appointment, ’ she left me,' and, going to the invalid, began to talk to him very quickly, and rather feverishly. For the rest of the' evening, which I thought it discreet to shorten, I could not ‘catch her eyes. She only spoke to me with an effort, and in my bewilderment,'not knowing what to think. I felt that the mystery was growing deeper and deeper. I took my leave before Mlle. Monette’s return, Eusebe having already gone to bring her home. In my haste ’l wont earlier (han tba time appointed, and was prepared wait.* But, impatient as 1 was, she was, undoubtedly, even more so, for I saw « light dress in the distance, and quiekencd niylpace. • • : J •‘I thank you for coming here,” said Athennis’s sweet voice, while she held oiit her little hitnd td me; I pressed her Hand gently,'’joyful And perplexed, already partly gtiessing the 1 truth. It win indeed Albcnaia who- was smiling at 'nm, but Athenais in modern dress without the monumental arrangement of hwj

hair, and In this Athenais I recognised Monette.

“There!” she said with a sigh, “I did not want you to think me crazy, besides, I saw plainly that you had your suspicions.”

I owned that this had been the ease upon niy first visit, but that last evening Athenais had played her part so perfectly, and the absence of Monette, detained by a wounded child, had seernso natural, that my suspicions had begun to fade away. “It : annoyed me a good deal,” said Monette, “to be forced to invent a story which made me pose as an angel of charity at the very time ■when I was playing a comedy. But ■what could Ido or say ? lam obliged to lie all the time. Either Athenais must explain Monette’s absence or Monette make excuse for Athenais. I regret, sir, that I have been forced to tell you my secret, our secret —for old Eusebe and all our good servants help me to play my part. I was in despair the other day—l awn it—when you appeared in our garden and I saw that we had a neighbour. At last I made up my mind, and decided that .any best course would be to see you, and to try to find out what sort of a man you were, and whether I could trust you.”

Monette spoke with that quiet assurance, that frank self-possession which spring from a lonely li.ff and absolute ignorance of the .world, when, indeed, those circumstances do not produce a contrary extreme of shyness and distrust. Monette’s.eyes met mine frankly, and she was evidently trying to read my inmost thoughts. But it- was really I who read her thoughts, and - I was profoundly affected. In all sincerity I as ured her of mv discretion and devot’on.

“Yes,.yes,” she said, nodding her head, "I saw last night that you wight become our friend. And so 1 am no long r annoyed to have you for a neighbour. On the contrary, when I woke this morning I did not have my usual feeling of being all alone and frightened. That feeling comes to me every morning, but J shake it off.” “Oh! Mademoiselle Monette,” I said to her, “I am your friend, your friend ■with all my heart. It seems to me as if we had known each other for centuries. And- now, perhaps you* will, tell me your story?” ...... _■ “It will not be long. J have been an orphan almost ever since my birth, . 1 was ■ placed in a convent.- when very young, and stayed, there until I yvas seventeen years old. I came here to spend my vacation with mv .grandfather and my great-aunt, Athenais. . "Grandfather adored me. He had lost all his children and gave me all his tenderness; I should not say that he loved even more his sister, Athenais, many years older than himself, and who had brought him up. They had never left each other.. . Aunt Athenais, whom I called grandmother, had remained single bo as to.stay with her brother. “Perhaps you may think that my vacations were dull and sad with these two old people. Not at all. Their hearts and minds were stili young, and, despite their many bereavements, theywere serenely happy. Two years, ago I ■was sent for in haste.- Aunt Athenais had suddenly died.

“I reached here overwhelmed by this death.. Still, this was not my heaviest trial. I found grandfather insane. H s reason, which, until then, had remained so clear and well assured, had given way. under the new grief. Ah! I lived some dreadful weeks. But at seventeen years old, however sorrowful one may be, there come moments of relief, and, at sueh a time, haying gone intg a room where several chests were, piled, I took a motion to open one of .them. I found that it was; full of Aunt Athenais’s dresses, those which she had worn when she was a young girl. I did not resist the wish to fry, on one of these dresses. It fitted me very well. I finished my disguise-by putting my hair very high, according to the old fashion, and I was posing in front of; a mirror when I heard behind me a loud cry, ami then the fall of a body; I ; "Grandfather; whom 1 had left asleep, had come out from his room, and, seeing an open door, he had entered. , IJe lav there,on the floor as if dead. I called for help. Without thinking to change my dress I helped.to carry grandfather and to i.-'--;:e him on his bed. He soon came to himself, and, upon seeing mo, Caught hold of m,v hands and began to weep, calling me A thena is. “‘I. knew very well,’ he said, ‘that you were only asleep. And there you •re. just as you were in old days.’ •‘When the doctor came, he said that

this crisis might be favourable, but that it was very important not to oppose or contradict grandfather. The illusion which made him take me for his sister, would not last; it would pass away of itself when the fever subsided. Until then it would be necessary to humour grandfather’s hallucination.

"Alas! That hallucination still continues. He has never regained the entire use of his limbs or of his reason. Poor dear grandfather! He only leaves his bed for his armchair, from which he is no longer able to rise. His legs are hall paralysed; his hallucination has never waned; he believes that Athena s is still living with him; and, in order’ not to destroy this beautiful dream, which. will be the last joy of his life, I am forced to play a comedy which never ends.

“Tn legard to everything except his .sisters’ resurrection, grandfather reasons with just as much clearness and good sense aS’ ever. And if you only knew what ingenuity I have to employ to keep from insisting upon the presence of Athenais and Monette at tlie same time! But the explanation which we give as to our absences satisfy him.

“When I am fairly at my wit’s end I pack Monette off to pass a week at her convent, where they want to see her. That gives a respite of a few days during which Athenais no longer has to make excuses for the movements of her nieee. It is not always easy to play my part, and sometimes I am much troubled, but I feel that my poor grandfather owes his last joys to me, and I believe that our dear lost one blesses me for giving them to him, and inspires me.

“Now you understand how terrible the coining of a stranger seemed to rhe. But you are no longer a stranger, sir, since you know my secret. You will not betray it; and, in case of need you will help me—will you not?”

How ean I describe the emotion which I had felt in hearing this story? ~ I promised to be a faithful, discreet friend, ready to serve Monette and her unfortunate grandfather to the extent of my power. But how could I help her, except, perhaps, by giving her the moral support of my affection? I say, affection. The word friendship would poorly express the sentiments inspired bv mv sweet, melancholy, and courageous little neighbour.

Two davs after the dinner I went to see my neighbours again. It was at evening. After a day' of intense heat a cool and fragrant breeze tvas blowing, and so I thought I should find M. d’Outreval and his granddaughter in the garden, but I reached the house without meeting them. The long windows of the parlours were open, and the notes of a song, accompanied on the pianoforte, made me go slowly, that I might not disturb the singer. From the old fashioned character of the melody and the words I understood that poor Monette was plaving her part as a phantom, and I stayed upon the threshold until the song was ended.

The invalid’s head was leaning upon his breast and his eves were closed. Monette, or, rather Athenais, dressed in a gown of pale green organdie, could not see me front her place, and I looked at her with much pleasure. A little embroidered scarf half covered her shoulders, and a flowered ribbon surrounded her waist. Ah! What an exquisite portrait of other days. She turned, and uttered a low e.rv:

“Oh! You frightin me.” M. d’Outreval opened his eyes, drew himself up, and welcomed roe with a pleasant smile. But I noticed that he had an expression of weariness greater than when I' had last seen him. He also looked paler, and had gray shadows on His face, which made me anxious. Th reply to my friendly questions as to his health, he complained of much fatigue, an dof a snese of heaviness in his whole bodv. I iaw that Monette’s eyes were full of distress. Then T tried to explain Jiis feelings by the state of the atmosphere; lint the old than shook his head incredulously. '‘Nd. no; I do not feel at all well. I asked >nv dear 'Atlienais to give me some music. Her voice has always been sweet and quieting to me. To-dav I have had a great vexation: my little Monette has left ns for several days. She lifts gone to seo the nuns who brought her up. These ladies arc sometimes. very anxious to sec her, and T dare, hot i object to her visit to the convent* ’lt is well that nhe should have the aid of friends and protectors after w< have gone. The future often trouldes me, presenting itself to me in dark ■■■ j . I ■

colours, and I fall to wondering what will become of Monette.” After a moment's silence the old man continued:

"Heaven be thanked, as to the pecuniary point of view I have no reason to be anxious. My fortune and my sister’s will be added to that which my granddaughter received from her parents; but this very fact may expose her to greater dangers. I fear that she may become the victim of some man unworthy of her, and it grieves me not to be able to choose for her husband the proper man to love and protect her. Unfortunately, I have given up all relations with the world; our family is extinct.” “My dear brother, do not give yourself needless alarm about a child,” said Athenais.

I looked at her. Her cheeks wore crimson. Standing near the piano, she arranged and rearranged the portfolios of music with impatient gestures. “Mlle. Monette,” 1 said, “is too charming not to be loved.” “I think so,” exclaimed M. d’Outreval, while Athenais, still more deeply crimson, turned away. “It is indeed true that she is entrancing, and so gentle and good. But, real Iv, sir, you scarcely know her. You barely had a glimpse of her at the time of your first visit, and, shall 1 own it, 1 have heartily cuirsed these various accidents which have kept her away whenever yon have been hero. Let me tell you, sir, that you are perfectly sympathetic to me, and I cannot help thinking, since I have had the pleasure of knowing you, that heaven itself has led you so near to us.” “But ” began poor Athenais, quite out of countenance. “Let me speak, my dear. I am very near to the end of my course, near impose, and 1 have no more time to waste in diplomatic cleverness. All that our new friend has told me of his family and himself has only confirmed my first very favourable impression of him. On the other side, my dear sister, we are compelled to think of the future destiny of a dear child from whom at any moment our support may be withdrawn. These are sufficient reasons to give me the courage to own the romance which I have been building. Monette knows nothing of this romance, and will know nothing, unless our friend approves of it, and so her dignity is perfectly secure. Will you pardon my frankness, my dear neighbour’?”'

I' did not dare to look at the young girl. I was now almost a* much embarrassed as she was, and I inwardly cursed the terrible old man. I freed myself, as well as I could by entire frankness. I owned that until then I had never had seriously thought of marriage, and I did not eonceal the value which I attached to my freedom as a bachelor. But I added that no man can tell how completely his feelings may change in a single day, and that Mlle. Monette, more than anybody else, seemed capable of working wonders of this sort. Then without allowing the old man to linger, I left this dangerous subject, and turned the conversation into quite a different direction. But Monette was long in recovering her composure, and I believe that she devoted me to the infernal powers.

I made my visit brief, fearing that M. d’Outreval would return to liis matrimonial projects, ami went home thinking of Monette’s blushing confusion and of her 'charming prettiness in that antique costume. Her grandfather’s words haunted me, and I reflected upon them without anger. Was he not right? Was it not strange and providential that 1 should have eoine here, in a misanthropic mood; and have read the notice. “Eor Sale/’ ~jh the old iron fence of "The Desert’"? And as I looked back upon my life, did it .not. seem prophetic that in my, childhood I should have grown to love a period which, one day I was to find sq strangely personified by this lovely, phantom with the light hair? Was.it my fate which was waiting for me here, ami which had signalled to me from so far away? What a night! 1 had scarcely fallen asleep when a violent knocking at the front door brought, me to my feet. I heard Paul running downstairs from hiss room, ami Franeoise’s high voice crying, "Alas!” 1 ran to my window, but the night wiis dark. A warm wiud drifted tin* low, inky clouds, which were torn from time to time,, by flashes of lightning. I could not distinguish the person who lull! knocked, and I did uot recognise the voice which was answering my valet's questions. 1 culled:

"Who is there?. What is wanted?" “Oh, sir, can you come? M. d’Outres val is dying. Madeino sella has sent me to bring you.” A few moments later I joined Monette’s messenger. "Come quickly, sir,” said this man. “The poor gentleman is very low, and Mademoiselle is greatly alarmed. Kuspbe is with her. If you know the way, sir, 1 will not go with you, but will hurry to the village to bring the priest.”' “Go, go.” In spite of my haste. I could only go very slowly, groping, striking myself against trees, and scratching my hands against brambles; but at last I reached the house. There was nobody in the vestibule, and I went up-tails counting on the sounds of voices to guide me. At the end of the hall a door was open and 1 saw Eusebe. I called to him in a low tone, and he said: “Oh! It is you, sir. He has asked for you several times.” M. d’Outreval was lying upon a very low bed, with his head prepped up by pillows. His eyes were closed, and he breathed heavily through his half-closed lips. Leaning over the old man, trying to warm his cold hands with her kisses, Monette, through her tears, exclaimed: “Grandfather, do not leave ine. Grandfather, look at me. Speak to me.” The dying man raised his eyelids, but lie was not looking for his granddaughter, He saw me, recognised me, and murmured : “At last. Thanks!” I leaned over him beside Monette, and his face was again lighted by a smile. 1 felt his iev hand grasp mine. "I am happy,” he said feebly. "I am going U> meet once more all those whom I have loved—all—my dear wife, my children, my good Athenais—yes, Athenais is dead; 1 know it now! Yesterday I seemed to’seo her near me, and Monette was away. Ido Hot understand it; no, I do not understand it. ‘ But I' know that Athenais'is dead. This evening, as I was going to sleep, I saw her.' She called to me’ and that awoke me, and since—since lie paused, out of breath. Monette tenderly raised him up. “I wanted to know,” continued the old man, "I wanted to ask you—after my death Monette Will be alone —all alone, and I fear for her.” 1 understood hini, 'and then. ’ even if Monette had been less cliarhiing, even if 1 had not loved her, I 'Could not have resisted the heart-rending prayer of that dying gaze which sought mine, of those iey fingers which clung to me. I held out my hand. Monette, without hesitation.' laid her hand in mine. I said: “Do yon wish to confide Monette’s happiness to me. sir? Will you give us your blessing?” A gleam of joy transfigured his face. He made an effort to raise his hand: “Bless you, iny " He did nob finish. His arm dropped. He was dead. Two days had passed after M. d’Outroviil’s death. By a common consent Monette and I had avoided any reference to the promise made to her grandfather. Bn' at last. I ventured to say: “Dear, dear Monette, now will you lie mine?” She checked me with a l>eseeching tone of voice: “Oil. do not speak so Do you suppose that I want to take advantage of the generous impulse which led you t.O yield to the wish of a dying man? Did you not understand wi-en I put my hand in.yours that I only did if to calm grandfather. to reassure him. You are free, do not be anxious about me, they will receive me at the convent." I did not insist. Monette might have refused to believe my protests. I wanted to prove to her that 1 loved her;that since our first meeting her charm, her confidence, her sweetness, and bravery had conquered me. I went home. I gathered together my record of all that had passed since our first meeting. I tc.ok it to her and said: "Bead these page*, written from day to day without a thought that you would ever see them. And when you' have read them, tell me frankly if you still think that I am merely obeying my promise to a dying man when I ask von again. Monette, will you l*e my wife?” “Sinn- it r :im that you love 1 cannot tell i«m ! • » happy I am t« know it.' Such was the t.nkwi r in Monette** handwriting, which I have read again amt again. What could 1 add whreta would more fitly’ end this love story?

in. s. 1885—Ricochet, by Musket 1 19 1886 Niagara, by Anteros 1 184 1887 Pearl Shell, by Musket* 1 192 1888 —Corunna, by Musket 1 2<)' 1889—Pygmalion, by Apreuiont .... 1890—Lebel, by Nordenfeldt 1 151 •1891 -Whakawatea, by Apremont .. 1 16 1892 —Reflector, by Lochiel 1 19 1893—Three Star, by Castor 1 19* 1894—-Bloodshot, by Maxim . 1 17 1895 —St. Paul, by St. Leg er 1 18 1896—Gold Medallist, by Medallion. . 1 171 1897—Conqueror,' by Medallion .... 1898 Screw Gun, by Hotchkiss .... I 162 1899—Renown, by Dreadnought' .... 1 17 1900—Menschikofl*, by Stepniak .... 1 19 1901-Idas, by Seaton Delaval 1 17 ■ .1902—King Log, by Stepniak 1 18* 1903—Silkworm, by Seaton Delaval. . 1 17 1901—Sungod, by Multiform 1 18* 1903—Kirriemuir, by Clanranald.... 1 152 1906—Gleudulloch.- by Clanranald.... 1 16 1907 -Fleetfoot, by Clanranald ... J 17 2-5 by Clanranald.. .1 14 3-5

1874—Mr F. Delttmaia’s Templeton, 9.11 C 51} 1876 Mr W. Waiters’ Kingfisher, G. 10 1877—Mr J. WattH’ Ariel?, 8.2 .... 3 52 Two miles and a quarter. 1877—Mr W. Bolton’s La rat, 7.7.. 4 27 1878—Mr A. McDonald s Aiiel. 8.13 4 2IJ 1879—Mr M. Edgar s Aiiel, 8.10 .. 4 236 1880 -Mr Lancets Foul Play. 8.12 4 16 1881—Mr Horsfall’s Klug Quail, 7.-1 4 8 1882 —Mr J. Pilbrow’s Welcome Jack, 7.8 4 81 1883 —Messrs Mason and Vallatice’a Salvage, 8.8 4 m 1884 —MV G. Donne's The Poet, 7.0 4 18} 1885—Major George’s Nelson, 7.8.. 4 U 18S6 —Major George’s Nelson, 9.8. . 1888 Major George’s Nelsont, 9.12 4 3J 4 6 Two miles. 1888-Mr G. G. Stead’s Locli!el,f 8.10 3 32 1889—Mr C. Beresford’s Leopold, 7.4 3 33 1890—Mr P. Butler’s Crackshot, 8.3 3.30:1 1891 Mr W. Walters’ Pinfire, 6.10 3 326 1892 Mr L. D. Nathan’s St. Hippo, 8.9 3 30 1893- Major George’s Prcasus. 7.5 3 39 1894—Mr Kean’s Lottie, 8.0. . 3 364 1895 —Mr R. Burke’s Anita. 6.9.. 3 37 1896—Mr A. E. Byers’ Nestor, 6.12 3 32J 1897—Mr J. G. Green’s Anta re**, 7.11 3 36. 1898 -Mr J. J. Russell's Uhlan, 6.9 3 32J 1899— Mr A. F. Scott’s Bluejacket. 3 24)4 5 1900- Mr P. Chaafe’s Bluejacket, 8.0 3 33 1901—Mr G. G. Stead’s St. Michael, 3 32 3 5 1902 -Mr G. G. Stead’s Siege Gun, S G "1 1903—Mr S. Brndley’s Walrlki. 9.8 3 29 4 a 1904 Mr C. Wallis’ Mahutonga, 8.12 3 .”0 1-5 1905—Mr T. A. Williams’ Pjitty. 7.8 3 29 4 5 1906 Mis Coonibe’s Master Delaval, 7.G 3 o'-i HjTj 1907- Hon. J. D. Cmmiid’s Zim merman, 8.4 • 1 35 2-5 1908—Mr St. John Biivkley’s A 1 Red, 8.6 3 31