TOPICS OF THE BAY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 175, 23 October 1886, Page 6 (Supplement)

TOPICS OF THE BAY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

London, August ?7th. One of the so-called " society' journals recently offered a prize for the best definition of , an Englishman, a Scotchman, and an Irishman. *There wero many clever answers, but the referee eventually decided that the victory lay between a gentleman who . pronounced an Englishman solid, a Scotchman stolid, and an Irishman squalid, and a lady who thought Englishmon strong - headed, Scotchmen long-headed, and Irishmen wrong-headed. If the former is the smartest definition the latter is certainly the truest. Very few persons have the smallest notion what a state certain parts of Ireland are in at the present time. On the Marquis of Clanricarde's estate in Galway a small army, comprising nearly one thousand persona (soldiers constabulary, agents and magistrates), are engaged evicting or three small armers. The opposition offered by the j peasantry is so violent and sustained that it absolutely took his regular field force the best part of a day last week to evict one cotter. Englishmen generally fancy that out* side Belfast things in Ireland are "pretty quiet " jußt now. This is a complete delusion. If you want to get an approximate idea of the sort of curl war prevailing in the Southwest, read a book called "Norah Moriarty," written by a Galway lady, and just issued by Black woods. It contains pictures of Irish life startling enough to make up even a Conservative Government into immediate action. ' majority of Earl Ruiwell. Earl Russell, who has just come of age, bears no resemblance either in person or character to his famous grandfather. At ! Oxford he was known as a pronounced eccentric, full of impossible fads, and curiously conceited. He professed, perhaps professes still, agnosticism in religion, communism in politics, and sestheticiem in art. Moreover, he became a strict vegeterian. Theße youthful crazes will,however,soon be blown away by the prosaic atmosphere of the House and Lords. The Earl is only very moderately off. His property consists mainly of the estate which then the Duke of Bedford settled on Lord John Russell when he became a peer. The Dilke Case. Nothing further has been heard of a prosecution in connection with the Dilke case. Sir Charles and Lady Dilke are abroad. Mrs Crawford and Mrs Ashton Dilke after spending some weeks at the seaside have settled down at St. Ives, an old world town, the society of which is considerably disturbed by their advent. Now the excitement of the trial has faded out people talk much more reasonably about Charles's position. No doubt tfce atti tude taken up by the foreign press has a good deal to do with this. French, German, and Italian papers express the utmost surprise at the wholesale way in which public opinion here has damned poor Sir Charles. Like "Truth," they can find in the evidence nothing to justify such a course. " Which," asks one journal, "is it reasonable to believe—the great statesman who protests * I am innocent,' or the proved liar and hypocrite and self-confessed harlot who accuses him so malignantly ?" ' An Unpopular Prince. The growing unpopularity of Prince Albert V ictor is giving both the Queen and the Prince of Wales serious anxiety. The young man will take no pains to propitiate people fie is dense, apathetic, shorttempered and sulky, The Marlborough House set make him their butt. His father alternately scolds and exhorts him, whilst his mother pets and protects him. The young Princesses of Wales openly deride Victor's "stolidity," and even "brother George" must feel a certain amount of contempt for his elder'ejlack of savour fuire. The Queen alone treats the heir-presumptive with consideration. At "Windsor or Balmoral the young Prince is abvays sure of a cordial welcome, though Her Majesty makes no secret of her disappointment at his repeated failures in public, Considering how well most of the Royal family deliver commonplace speeches , Prince Albert Victor's utter inability to string together half-a-dozen sentences coherently seems inexplicable. For years past the chief work of his life with Canon Dalton has been studying this very art, yefc he has not even mastered the A B C of public speaking. Even if itismerely a case of returning thanks after dinner the speech has to be written out for him beforehand and learnt off by heart. When he repeats it he does so like a parrot, without feeling or expression, and then plumping down in his chair, takes no further interest in the proceedings, whatever they may be. At several public Sinners lately, H.R.H. has given great offence by chattering^ loudly to his neighbour whilst speaking was going on. Hia guttural request, too, " Where can I have my euggarette ?" comes nearly as often as his parent's "I really must have a cigar," and at Edinburgh not long ago comoletely disorganised a whole day's arrangements.

A Direful Fropbecy. The announcement that the Kempton and Manchester executives, following in the footsteps of Sandown, mean to inaugurate £10,000 stakes of the same character a8 the Eclipse, haB provoked a letter from John Porter, the famous trainer, ! who prophesies that unless new life is put into the Epsom Derby, its prestige will soon be a legend of the past. Porter's Dropositlon is that £5,000 should be given in added money by the Epsom executive, the stakes raised from £50 half- forfeit to £200 halfforfeit, or £25 forfeit only, if declared in the Craven week of the year of running, This would make the race worth £16,000 or £17,000, even if the entries failed to increase, and once again render it pre-eminently the blue-riband of the turf. • , TheLeger, too, stands sadly in need of " a refresher." Such a state of affairs at the present was surely never known in the history of Doncaster Town Moor. Odds of 7 to 2 were betttdonthe favourite and 33 to 1 "bar one." Last year, when the fact of Paradox not being entered left the road comparatively free for Melton, things were flat enough, but at least there was some opposition. This time it is not impossible if Ormonde keeps well that the result of the Sellinger may be indicated by the mystic letters, W.O. * At Stockton laat week the highest tried 2-yr.-old -seen out this year made a successful debut. This- was Captain MachelPs Kilwarline (by Arbitrator, out of Hasty Girl) a half-brother to the famous Bendigo. What thecolt had done at home the public failed to discover, • but 'twas significantthat in the ' face' of such <• cracks " as Gloriaton and Royal Chartor ,the associates of the stable tumbled over, one another to' lay 3 to 1 on the * whole thing." It cam© off easily. Archer h'aa seldom had a pleasanter ride,and Kilwarline's career will probably be a victorious one for sometime to come. I hear the Auckland (New Zealand) Stud Company are casting "sheep's eyes" at Friar Rush, a, whole brother to St. 1 Blaise and Candlemas, by Hermit— Fueee. Surely.

they could , find a stouter nick with < Hermit than (Fusee.. The Friar himself was a good old slave to Mr Feck, and perhaps the best of the three brothers (St Blaise's Derby notwithstanding), but he certainly wasn't a stayer, and could barely get a mile in the decent company ; neither was St. Blaise a stayer. The latter's sole claim to fame rests on the fact that Judge Clarke chose to give him. the Derby of '83, really won a gooi £ length by Highland' Chief. The fol'owine year carrying Bst 121b in the City and Suburban, and ridden by Archer, St. Blaise ran well for a mile, and then Bhut up like a telescope. Candle- ■ m&e, everybody knows, is a second-rater. A famous " staying " Hermit horse was in the market aometime ago (I don't know whether ifa is now) in Eetreat (by Hermit out of Quick March, by Rataplan, out of Qui Vive, by Voltigeur). Whilst on tha, turf Retreat was omb of the grandest looking, animals I ever saw. Moreover, hejwon such long distance events aB the Ascot Stakes (syrs, Bst 121b) and Don caster Cup (1882), as well as big mile, races like the Kous Memorial at Ascot (1882) and Royal Stakes at Epsom (1881). If he has not been sold a the hors* Retreat belongs to Lord Bradford.

The Ebor Handicap. A few years ago the Great Ebor Handicap seemed to be going the way of the Chester Cup, the Goodwood Stakes, and other old-fashioned longdistance races; But fortunately the York executive aro smart men of business. By raising the added money from £500 to £1,000, and reduciug the distance from 2 miies to a mile and a-half, the retrogressive movement waa promptly checked, and on Wednesday last the race proved a complete success. Thirteen good-class animals faced the starter, including such well-known performers aa King Monmouth, Perdita 11, Stone Clink* Raffaello, Eurasian, Prince Randolph and Tita. The favourite was Le Caissier (3yrs, 6sfj 71b), purchased by Mr Childwick in the spring to lead Saraband in his work. The colt had run well in the Hunt Cup at Ascot, besides having, it was said, been highly tried and carried Mr Peck's confi. dence.

THE GREAT EBOR HANDICAP PL ATE of 1.000 boys., by subscription of 20sovs. each, 10ft., and 5 only if declared, tor three-yr-olds and upwards ; winners after July 28. extra. li miles over the Old Course. Mr Childvrick'a Le Caissier, 3yrs, 6st 121b tfsu (AJlaop) i air J Low therms King MonmoHth. 4yra, Bst 121b (Watts) 2 Mra T. Chaloner's Jacob, lyre, 6at 101b (J. Woodburn) 3 Mr Vyner'a Stone Clink, 4yra, Bat 41b (J. Oaborne) 4 Mr A. Benholm's Perdita 11, syrs, Bat (Laahmar) „ 0 Mr J. Hammond's Eurasian, 4yrs, 7st 91b (C. Wood) — 0 Mr W. I'Anson's Prince Rudolph, syrs, 7at 91b »Faf):an) 0 Mr H. Hall's Tita, aged. 7st 41b (Chandley) 0 Mr A. Gaunt's Prinoe Rupert, 4yrs, 7st 41b (Tomlinßon) 0 Chev. GiniatrelU's Rafl!aello. syrß. 7st 41b (Cro wther) 0 Sir R. Jardine's Beaumont, 4yrs, 6at 91b (Glover) 0. Mr F. W. Brownes Alexandria, syra. Bst 61b (Warne) 0

Th« Race. Tita and Raflaells made most of the running till a quarter of a mils from home, when Jacob assumed the lead, but was quickly challenged by the two favourites* The three then raced home together a dingdong finish, ending in favour of Le Caiasier by a neck, King Monmouth only beating Jacob by a head for the second place. Time, 2m. 37sees. The principal two-y ear-old races at York were won by Sir ft. Jardine's Hawthorn (by Albert Victor — Hawrhobrnloem) and by Lord Lusi celle'sWhittington (brothertoToastmaster.)

Forthcoming Books. A number of new books are promised during September, Chatto and Windus advertise a thrilling tale (of the " Kidnapped" class) by Bret Harte, illustrated by Kate Greenaway. It is called "The Queen of the Pirate Isle," and is said to be a veritable ' ' hair-raiser. " The same firm will immediately publish Mrs Alfred Hunt's •'That Other Person" (now running in "Bel§ravia"), Mr Grant Allens "In All hades" (now running'Jn •• Chambers 'a "), and Mr B[all Cape's " A Son of Hagar," also cheap editions, at 2s, of Mr David Christie Murray's "Cynic Fortune," Mrs Riddell's "Mystery of Palace Gardens," Ouida's " Othmar," and Buchanans "Master of the Mine." Smith and Elder announce Mr Rider Haggard's " Yess," in three volumes, and cheap ecUtious s at 2s, of Norris's "No New Thing " and " Beauty's Daughters," by "The Duchess." Ward and Downey promise "A Deed Without a Name," in three volumes, by Frank Barrett, author of "Folly Morrison ;" " A Near Relation," in three volumes, by Christabel Coleridge; and "Lady Falworth's Diamonds," by " The Duchess," at a shilling. Hurst and Blackett are busy putting through fhe press poor Mary Cecil Hay'a last story, «« A Wicked Girl," also Mr Porter's " Out of the Gloaming." Longman s will publish Walter Beaant'a "Children of Gibeon," and Kegan Paul a new novel by the author of "Colonel Enderby's Wife." Vizeleely's are preparing translations of "My First Crime," by G. Mace ; of " Mdme de Bovary," by Flaubert; and of "The Red Ribbon," "The Pretty Gaoler," and " The Cry of Blood," by Fortune dv Boisgobby.