The Australian Cricketers En Route for New Zealand.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 179, 20 November 1886, Page 5

The Australian Cricketers En Route for New Zealand.

The tour of the Australian cricketers is at an end, and the sadly demoralised team sail for New Zealand to-morrow by the s.s. Arawa. They have played 39 matches, of which they have lost 8, won 6, and drew 22. But of the 22 drawn, a large percentage was distinctly against them. In fact, England's once doughty rivals, before whom the flower of the Home cricket world used to tremble, leave U 9 with their tails between their legs. The chief cause of this remarkable change ie, of course, that the eleven lacked good batsmen. Much must, however, be attributed to the fact that the tour began unluckily, both a8 regards weather and play, and that several leading men soon snowed themselves disheartened. SpofForth'a accident, too, must be considered, as also the increased excellence ot late years of many of the couuty elevens. {I forward the team's averages, etc., with clippings.)

Beach and Hanlan. Beach eticks— as no doubt Hanlan foresaw he would— to hie determination not to row the Canadian on the Thames this autumn, and the latter is consequently able to indulge in a little cheap braggadocio for the time being. The pair met at the match between Nielsen and Largan the other day, and the Australian at first showed a distinct disposition to " out " his old rival. Hanlan, however, would not be ignored, and on hie denying having said unkind things of Sydney people— on the contrary, admitting that he was thoroughly fairly treated in Australia—Beach consented to be appeased. The Sydney man would not, however, listen to Hanlan's elaborate explanation of his nonappearanve during the summer. He doggedly repeated hiß belief that Mr Hanlan was a "gas-bag," and sceptically queried whether the Canadian really expected that he (Beach) would forfeit his passage and go into training again now, simply to oblige him. If Hanlan wanted a match, let him tackle Gaudaur, whom (the ehan.pion hinted) he would find a biggieh mouthful. Hanlan ia, unque&tionably, in better form now than he has been for months, ani a race between him and Beach would bo phenomenally interesting. It eeems, how-

ever, unreasonable to ask the latter to alter a determination come to six months ago, more" especially as He frankly confesses to disliking cold weather., Nevertheless, great pressure Ib being bvought t6 bear on him, in the hope of bringing about the meeting.

Fostsorlpt. London, October 7th, 5.30. Sir F. D. Bell is strongly in favour of the re-opening of the Exhibition uext summer, if only on the ground that it would afford a grand opportunity of re- organising the New Zealand Court During the winter; he considers, the rubbish should be kicked out and replaced by really interesting exhibits. They could arrange, amongst other things, for the finest display of cereals ever exhibited Sir Julius Yon Haaet also expresses himself favourable to the re-opening. Should it be decided upon, BoBisto, Thomson, Yon Haast and others will probably go home for the winter, returning to England next May or June. The Hebrides difficulty remains in siatu Juo Nothing seems certain, save that the 'rench have no intention whatever oi clearing out, and that the Colonial Oflice folk object to making further fuss about the matter. The situation is complicated, owing to the Agents-General di-agreeing as to the course which should now be pursued Berry and Service are for threatening ex'reme measures, Blytb and Saul Samuel are indifferent, while Sir Francis 801 l (as you are aware) favours compromise. Sir H. Sandford will, after all, bo the English Commissioner at Adelaide Jubilee Show. Mr Gordon Baillie has, I hear, perfected arrangements for enabling 2,000 more crofters to emigrate to Otago. Ransomes are testing a number of samples of Australian and New Zealand wooris at their works to-day, in order to ascertain if any are suitable for axles, spikes, etc., etc. Owing to the salary being so '•mail, no Churchman of promise with any sort of future before him would accent the LJl&hopric of Melbourne. After being hawked about for nearly two months it has at last been accepted by Mr Goe, of Sc. George's, Bloomsbury, a hard-working old clergyman of strict evangelical views, and about as striking a contrast to Bishop xMoorhouss as could be imagined. Mr Norton, the so-called " labour delegate from New South Wales," is carrying on his crusade against emigration with tremendous vigour. Every night there are leviathan meetings at the East End, at which the eloquent Norton draws highly-coloured pictures of the blackest sides of colonial life, and solemnly warns working men against Australia and New Zealand. There is to be a demonstration in Hyde Park on Sunday, and next weok Nortou goes to the Provinces. He has converted Parnell to his views, and the pair mean to stump Ireland together. I have seen and talked to Norton, who seoms a professional agitator of the moat mischievous type, and certainly | not a working man in the proper sense of the term. The inquiry into the grievances of the Australian v'ignerou-i has proved abortive, owing to the Committee having merely dealt with the action of the Executive after it entered into the contract with Spiers and Pond, whereas it is of the maLing of that contract that the vignevons mainly complain.

Frozen Meat. The "British Australasian " published thia afternoon eiys : The great heat which prevailed during the past week, coupled with Hae usual dinainibhed Michaelmas requiroments, havo had a very depressing efTect on the meat market. The value of the best New Zealand cheep fhow no 1 change from the quotations we gave in our last issue, but carcases out of condition continue to be sold at very low rates. The consignments brought by the lonic and Aorangi do not tend to improve a market already overstocked, and many think that even a lower level of prices will be reached before any recovery can take place. Twelve months ago, with a stock of 100,000 sheep, prices were 5d per stone higher than they are at the present time, and no recovery took place till towards the end of the year, As the stocks are considerably heavier this year, there does not appear to be any reason why the future course of the market should differ to that during the winter of 1885, so that any material advance in the value of frozen meat can hardly be looked for till the beginning of next year. The prices are aa follows : — Per stone: New Zealand sheep, 2s 6d to 2s 9d ; Melbourne, sheep, 2-i 4d to 2s 6d ; River Plate sheep, 2s 4d ; Falkland Island sheep, 2s to 2s 4d ; English sheep, 3a to 4s Sd ; Dutch and Tonning sheep, 3s to

The Marquis of Stafford (eldest son of the Duke of Sutherland) with Lady Stafford and their eon, Lord Tarberfc, will make a tour of the Australasian colonies during the coming winter. They sail for Sydney by the P, and O. steamer Shannon next week.