OUR SYDNEY LETTER. Sydney, September 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 305, 6 October 1888, Page 3

OUR SYDNEY LETTER. Sydney, September 27.

The : Rotomahana on tier* upward trip brought nearly 300 souls in all for Sydney ,'_ and takes down a full complement in the saloon to Auckland. ' No less than 50 were booked on Tuesday, ,the majority being ex-* cursionists returning from the Exhibition. Among those on board are Mr James Russell and his family, who have spent a month here. Among those who are " doing " Sydney with" the intention of proceeding to "Melbourne after is His Worship the Mayor of Auckland (Mr A. E. Devore), who has been taken in hand by Mayor Harris of this city, and shown the sights, etc. Councillor John Grey and wife are also spending a few days here, and leave for the Exhibition by the P. and O. liner Coromandel on Saturday ; also Mr J. i J. Craig and his bride. Mr J. McVey Baird, who will be well remembered in Auckland in connection with the old Wesleyan College in Upper Queen- ' street, is here,and is erecting a new form of amusement after the rinking hall. It is a wooden slide, which is intended to represent the tobaggonning that is so peculiar to Canada. 1 Mr " White, ' late of the Civil Service Supply Association, has, I learn, started in business in Orange, an inland town. His son is in Sydney. Mr Blundell, of Blundell Bros., the enterprising proprietors of the Wellington " Evening .Post," hasgr come- on here after" doing tlie Exhibition, and remains here for a week or so. Hip was much pleased with the great " show.'" • * Mr Allan O'Neill, C.E., late of Auckland, made application to the Municipal Council last week to run an electric tram as an experiment in Erskine-street, but permission was refused. Mr O'Neill's efforts to establish tramways in your city will, I think, be well remembered.

PEARL, SHELL'S VICTORY. The running of the Auckland-bred mare Pearl Shell in the Oaks, on Tuesday, at theA.tLC. Meeting, gave great satisfaction to, fhe Aucklanders over here, and her victory over her old opponent Volley was a very meritorious one. . She started with odds of 12 to 1 against her. Necklet is filling out well and gives great promise for her wo-year-old work this season.

AT THE THEATRES. The London Gaiety Company continue their run of success, and for the past three weeks "Esmeralda" has been played. Miss Sylvia Gray, 1 one of the leading danccusek, wh'o had been unable to appear in " Monte Christo," has come out now, and. is much spoken of. Mr Leitch, under Brough and' Boucicault's management, opened in the Criterion last week in a new drama, entitled, " Touch of the Sun." Rignold's Company are placing "Uncle Tom's Cabin " at Her Majesty's.

THE AUSTRALIAN FLEET. The new flagship Orlando is still in harbour. H.M.s. Opal arrived from New Guinea, via Thursday Island, on Sunday., The Admiral is still away at the Islands,, 'and is probably now^t Samoa. His t . visit' will be very opportune at the pressnt crisis", of affairs. H.M.s. Swinger is expected; in , shoi tly from New Guinea. > t ; The, exhibition ( of the New South; Wales ' Art; Society, , has- .been i going on ior: some d,ays p^st in in ,a block of offices in i'itt'-sti'eet.,- jln. point of number of pictures, and, I a'trP inclined' to think, most of the production's, it cannot compare to Auck■lHnd. -Ifasurely must 'be the beautiful land that,, surrounds the Corinth ot the South ih&b makes , art so much .cultivated there. ,S,y<^ney, v n^ay, have many good/ artist3,,but ■they.do not show, and hence jhe'co'mpati^pn ■ _ . I '; . "" "]"." , t Jilajdr. IPitt, I am gla&to.s'ay, is improving in health, and giv,e,$ every promise of mending'agbod deal. ' Captain ( Whitney came up here by ,the •ROtomaJiana,'and is in communication with 'the Government in regard to the Federal Cartridge Factory. He intends proceeding tQ'Melbpujjri^.iJ.'H'e' has chosen Echuca tor thB-i^ctor^, b'dfe'iNew South Wales wants 'i^Ibany^, o ) rtdbli,e, bonders. • Libeauj ,the New Zealand professional ''eycli'sfc, ride^ r in a sweepstakes ma,tch on the Association Cricket Ground on«.Saturday.. ' He succeeded in defeating Wyburd •at Newcastle recently. 1 Mr 'R.- K. Davis, who was such 'a heavy loser by the La<Monte mine at Te Aroha, is in Sydney. Mr H. Green, agent in .Auckland for Mr 'Thomas Russell, passed , through here to 'Melbo"urne this week. He has several Tliames mining properties in hand for sale. The great rowing match for the championship of the world takes; place on the Pavramatta River to-morrow < (Friday) between Kemp and Hanlan for £500 a-side. Hanlan is a strong favourite, but Kemp, from his pluokyTace 'before, is tipped by the critics to win. Neil Matterson defeated Neilson over the same course yesterday (Sept. 26) very easily- indeed. But there was a very' lumpy and broken water to contend against, and the time was ■ slow. Neil seems to be getting info form again, and has, a strong party behind him.