through the shallow fixed-fin boats to the racing centreboard skiffs and dingies, and finally to the open boats and half-deckers of to-day, with their light draught, enormous beam, and huge centreboards. Openboat sailing has long been a feature of the harbour, and much wonder has been expressed by visitors at the craft with enormous sails and no other ballast than the line of men hanging out on the weather gunwale. Lively indeed is the scene which may be witnessed on any Saturday afternoon or holiday. The harbour from one end to the other dotted with white sails, the yachts with their tall masses of canvas, and the smaller boats with their huge sails and a row of men in bright guernseys hanging out to windward; boats from 40 tons down to little 8ft. canvas dingies, as carefully built and no less skilfully handled than their larger sisters. Of the clubs at present in existence the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is the oldest. But even before this time the regattas were sights worth seeing. Excursions by rail and other attractions were less numerous than now, and on Anniversary Day the regatta was the outing.

Crowds covered the ground about Fort Macquarie and other points of vantage, while the harbour was alive with craft of every description. The first Anniversary Regatta took place on January 8, 1834, and from that time to the present the regatta has been looked upon as the aquatic carnival of the year.

In July, 1862, a number of yacht-owners met and determined to form a yacht club to be called the Australian Yacht Squadron. Next year the

club received the patronage of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, under the title of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. The club has continued to flourish, and at present possesses a fleet of 34 yachts, and has about 138 members on the roll. In 1867, after the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince Alfred Yacht Club was founded under his patronage. The older club allows no yachts under five tons, but the P. A. Y. C. admits smaller boats; many of the yachts and members, however, belong to both clubs. The Prince Alfred Club has 24 boats and 70 members. The fleet of the Sydney Amateur Sailing Club consists of open and half-decked boats of all sizes. The club was founded in 1872 for the purpose of encouraging sailing and organising races, and it now has 80 boats and 130 members. Under its auspices most of our most noticeable amateur helmsmen and sailors have grown up. Later still, Balmain, which has always been a great sailing centre, formed the Balmain Sailing Club. Most of the boats in this club also belong to the S. A. S. C., and between them the two clubs keep the racing half-deckers and open-boats busy in the season. The Balmain club has between 60 and 70 boats and 120 members. About nine years ago the first race for canvas dingies took place. At that time these boats were roughly-built craft, but the encouragement given to them and their juvenile crews has improved the build to such

an extent that the canvas dingies of to-day are as carefully modelled and built as the larger and more pretentious vessels. In 1883 a club was founded in their interest, and now numbers 26 boats and 140 members, who are famous for the skilful and daring manner in which they sail their small craft.

But sailing is not confined to Sydney. All along the coast the fishing-boats are known for their sea

worthy qualities, and at every important centre an annual regatta is held. Botany now has its sailing club, and the Macleay is well known for the keen interest taken in open-boat sailing. Our open boats are a type peculiar to ourselves, but our yachts hail from all parts. From England come such yachts as the Mistral and the Iolanthe. The Waitangi, winner of the Intercolonial Cup last year, comes from New Zealand, but it is to alterations made here that she owes her

was

present fame. Last year a great impetus given to yachting. On the suggestion of Sir William Clarke, owner of the Janet, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and the Victorian Yacht Club inaugurated the Intercolonial Cup. The first series of races took place in this port, and the cup was won by Mr. A. Milson's yacht Waitangi. This year no yacht from other ports will visit us. This is unfortunate, as Mr. Milson's new yacht the Era, 40 tons, built according to the latest designs, will not have an opportunity of testing her qualities with any boats from foreign ports. The present season has seen an important change in the rules of the yacht clubs. Formerly the R. S. Y. C. would not admit centreboard boats to its races, and the P. A. Y. C. only allowed centreboards if fixed. But the success of American centreboard boats has caused a relaxation of the rules, and the elder club now admits them under certain restrictions as to the proportion of depth to length, while the younger club makes no restrictions. The Miranda, a 40-ton centreboard boat built by Mr. J. Want, is the first boat to enter the clubs under the new rules. In addition to this, the clubs have adopted the new Yacht Racing Association rules of measurement.

It is impossible to go into the details of the performances of boats dear to the memory of boating menChance, Era, Xarifa, Mistral, Magic, Nereid, Carlotta, Lottie, and a host more; suffice it to say that at present the enthusiasm in the sport is as keen as ever it was, and that from cruising and racing many valuable lessons of pluck, judgment, and endurance have been learnt. Amongst some to whom a tribute is due for practical encouragement to yachting and sailing in past years we may mention the Hon. George Thornton, M.L.C., Messrs. James Milson, Alfred Fairfax, Richard Harnett, the Hon. Henry Dangar and Mr. W. O. Gilchrist, who, though still amongst us, have retired from active yachting. In honour of the centennial of the colony, the Government have presented a Cup of the value of £500 to be raced for by the yachts, and this race, together with the other features of the regatta which is to take place on the 27th, should prove a fitting beginning to our second century of aquatics.

THE TURF.

A NATION OF HORSEMEN.

Although we have attained pre-eminence in aquatics, and have fairly well held our own in the cricket field, there cannot be a doubt that horseracing is the national sport of Australia. Almost every second man you meet is a horseman in more or less degree, and out on the back blocks men are to be found by the score that no horse could unseat. There is an inborn love of the horse in

every Australian breast, and it is not to be wondered at that we have become a nation of horsemen, and that horse-racing is our principal pastime. Thoroughbreds were first imported to this colony by the late Sir William Macarthur and Messrs. Lawson and Rouse; and, others following their example, the colony gradually became possessed of some of the best strains of blood in the world. Several enterprising gentlemen formed studs, and in a comparatively few years they have succeeded in producing animals able to compete with anything bred on the Continent of Europe or in America.

PROMINENT BREEDers.

Prominent amongst the breeders of thoroughbred stock were and are: The Hon. E. K. Cox, the Hon. James White, the Hon. John Eales, the Hon. W. A. Long, and Messrs. Lee, Reynolds, Town, Loder, Dangar, Baldwin, Rossi, Busby, Bowman, Lloyd, De Mestre, Wyndham, Mitchell, Bowler, Ronal, Lawson, Barnes, Smith, Rutledge, Tindal, Hassall, Roberts, Badgery, Suttor, &c. Sales of yearlings. are held annually, and on occasions the prices realised for a particularly well-bred colt or filly have reached as high as 2000 odd guineas. Prominent amongst the sires that have been imported to our shores are Kelpie, Sir Hercules, Whisker, Kingston, Lord of the Hills, The Drummer, Splendour, Livingstone, Magus, Mail Train, The Marquis, Boiardo, Bay Camerton, Emigrant (Rous'), Emigrant (Lawson's), Cap-a-Pie, Captivator, Marvellous, Chandos, Duke of Athol, Millionaire, Moorethorpe, Flying Pieman, Grand Master, Glorious, New Warrior, Obscurity, Epigram, Free Trotter, John Bull, Hawthornden, St. John, Odd Trick, Pitsford, Renguy, Theorem, Somnus, The Premier, Snowdon, Gemma di Vergy, Wilberforce, Yelverton, Vespasian, and others of lesser note; and their produce having been mated with the descendants of equine celebrities in the other colonies, such as Fisherman, Robinson Crusoe, Panic, Peter Finn, Traducer, Tim Whiffler, St. Albans, Musket, The Hermit, Gang Forward, &c., the most satisfactory results have been attained in the production of some really great racehorses. The deeds accomplished by The Barb, Tim Whiffler, Tarragon, Chester, Veno, Yattendon, Fireworks, Goldsbrough, Grand Flaneur, and other heroes of the past, can never be forgotten, and many of our records will bear favourable comparison with anything accomplished in England or elsewhere. So far Maribyrnong, Yattendon, and Goldsbrough can claim to have been the most successful of the New South Wales-bred sires.

BEST RECORDS.

Our best records in all the colonies are as follows:Three furlongs by Innuendo, in Victoria, 0.37; half-amile by Bis Bis, at Adelaide, in 0.48; five furlongs by Acme, at Hawkesbury, in 1.1; three-quarters of a mile by Volcano, at Randwick, in 1.14, and by Newstead, at Flemington, in 1.14; seven furlongs by Phantom, at Flemington, in 1.27; one mile by Crossfire, at Randwick, in 1.41; a mile and a furlong by Cerise and Blue, at Flemington, in 1.55; a mile and a-quarter by St. John, at Flemington, in 1.83; a mile and a-half by Prince Imperial, at Hawkesbury, in 2.35; a mile and three-quarters by Woodlands, at Flemington, in 3.4; two miles by Dunlop, at Flemington, in 3.281; two miles and a quarter by Nelson, at Auckland (N. Z.), in 4.0; and three miles by Trident, at Flemington,

in 5.25, and at the same place by First King and Commotion in 5.26. The fastest Derbys were won by Martini-Henry and Trident in 2.39, thus beating the English records for that classic race. Such brilliant records must read like a fairy tale to those who remember that the first race, little better than a hack race, took place at Parramatta on April 30, 1810, and that the first sod was turned on Randwick in 1859. THE AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB.

of

The Australian Jockey Club was established in 1828, and when it became possessed of the Randwick Racecourse (thanks to the efforts of the late Mr. W. M'Quade and others) it soon converted it from a bed of sand into a really good course. Mr. T. S. Clibborn, the present secretary, was appointed in 1873, and during his long reign of office has made it one of the best of racecourses, though it must be admittted that it is still greatly inferior to Flemington, which is beyond question the best-appointed racecourse in the world. The Randwick course is prettily situated between hills, about two and a-half miles from the heart of the city. It is oval in shape, right-handed (which is a mistake), and a mile and a-quarter round. Several important improvements are now being effected which will give a straight run nearly half a mile. There are three handsome and substantial stands, and every convenience is provided for visitors. The Randwick course can be reached by road or rail, and the largest attendance that has yet assembled there on a single day may be set down at about 22,000. Following the success achieved by the Australian Jockey Club, similar institutions have been formed at Hawkesbury, Rosehill, Canterbury Park, Wagga Wagga, and in fact nearly all the leading provincial townships. During the early days, and until a few years back, when he retired with an untarnished name, Mr. John Tait, who has been aptly named the "Father of the New South Wales Turf." invariably secured the lion's share of the races. Then Sir Hercules Robinson's presence amongst us gave the turf a great impetus, and at about the same time the Hon. James White began to foster racing, and so remarkable has been his success that his name has become a "household word." Each season it is evident that racing is rapidly advancing, for scarcely a week is allowed to pass without a race gathering of more or less importance.

ATHLETICS AND FIELD SPORTS.

CRICKET.

As a national pastime cricket has always found great favour in this colony, and the patronage at firstclass matches still remains so good that the takings on the Association Ground are looked to by visiting English teams to cover the bulk of the necessary expenses, and leave a profit to the promoters. The earliest cricket played in Sydney was on the north-west portion of Hyde Park, at that time known as the racecourse, and the first match of which there is any record took place there in 1826. The early intercolonial matches were also played in that locality from the year 1857, but in 1869, the Albert Ground, Redfern, having been opened, four matches were played on that green. In February, 1876, the last match was played on the Albert Ground, which was subsequently cut up and sold. In February, 1878,

the first intercolonial match was played on the Association Cricket Ground, the present scene of all first-class cricket in the colony, It came into existence in 1851, on an application from Colonel Bloomfield to the Government for a grant for a military garden and cricket ground for the use of the Imperial troops. In 1870, the ground not being further required for that purpose, those troops having been withdrawn, was reserved "for the use of such troops as may be raised for the defence of the colony," and it was then known as the Military and Civil Ground. From 1872 to 1874 the ground was handed over to the East Sydney Club, and then to the Civil Service Club. The latter ceased to exist in 1875, and in 1877 the ground, as it now stands, was dedicated as a cricket ground, under the management of the New South Wales Cricket Association, the present trustees being-Messrs. P. Sheridan (managing trustee), C. Oliver, and W. W. Stephen. The ground, which is about 12 acres in extent, has been greatly improved and beautified. Two spacious stands, one for members and the other for the use of the public, have been erected, and there is now no finer or more perfectly-appointed cricket ground in existence. The outlay upon it amounts to about £18,000. The interchange of visits on the part of representative teams is becoming more frequent as the facilities for speedy travelling are multiplied. The various meetings which have taken place have undoubtedly improved play to a wonderful extent, so that cricket now is as much a scientific pursuit as an outdoor sport. The first English team, captained by H. H. Stephenson, visited us in the season of 1861-2. They played 12 matches, all against odds, winning six, drawing four, and losing two. In 1863 George Parr's team came here, and out of the 16 matches played, all against odds, were won and six drawn. Ten years later saw the advent of W. G. Grace's team, and then the improvement in colonial play was manifest, as in 16 matches the Englishmen were thrice beaten, once by an 18 of New South Wales. In the 1876-7 season, James Lilly white brought out a team of professionals, and for the first time the Australians and Englishmen met on equal terms. An eleven of New South Wales played a drawn game with the visitors, while a combined eleven of New South Wales and Victoria defeated the Englishmen by 45 runs. Each colonial team, by itself, numbering 15, also inflicted defeat on the Englishmen, New South Wales winning by 2 wickets in one match, and by 13 wickets in another. Lord Harris had command of the fifth team, which came here in the 1878-9 season. They played 13 matches, winning five, losing three, and drawing five. Of the total, five matches were 11 a side, and the Australians won three of these, New South Wales scoring a win by 5 wickets. In 1881 Shaw, Shrewsbury, and Lillywhite brought out a professional team, which played 25 matches. Seven of these were 11 a side, the Australians winning two. The seventh team came here in the season of 1882-3, and all the important matches were 11 a side, New South Wales winning a signal victory by an innings and 144 runs, The eighth English team, in 1884-5, was once more under the manage ment of Shaw, Shrewsbury, and Lillywhite. Eight matches (out of a total of 33) were played 11 a side, and All Australia won the only two in which the Englishmen suffered defeat, the first by six runs, and the second by eight wickets. In the 1886-7 season, Shaw,

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Shrewsbury, and Lillywhite brought out the ninth English team, which played 10 matches 11 a side out of a total of 29. In the 11 a side matches New South Wales won the only two in which the Englishmen suffered defeat, the first by six wickets and the second by 122 runs. The 10th and 11th English teams are now with us, one, which is captained by Mr. A. C. Smith, being a venture by Shaw, Lillywhite, and Shrewsbury (having come out at the invitation of the trustees of the Association Cricket Ground), while the other is in the colonies under arrangement with the Melbourne Cricket Club. Playing with Shaw's team, New South Wales has won the first and third matches and lost the second, while against the M. C. C. team New South Wales won by nine wickets and two runs. From 1878 to 1886 five Australian teams visited England. They played altogether about 190 matches, of which 139 were 11 a side. Of these 64 were won, 27 lost, and 48 drawn. A sixth Australian team will leave for England in March. In 1868 the proposal to send home a team of aboriginal cricketers was arranged. They were got together in the Lake Wallace district, and coached by T. Wills and C. Lawrence, and left for England in February of that year. They played 47 matches, of which 14 were won, 14 lost, and 19 drawn. Their most signal win was against the Farbrother team, which they defeated by an innings and 284 runs. At East Hampshire one of the aboriginal bowlers named Twopenny obtained the following average :-10 overs, 7 maidens, 9 runs, 9 wickets, while the remaining batsman was caught by him off Mullagh's bowling, Of late years, however, aboriginal cricketers have disappeared from sight, and almost from memory. New South Wales has the credit of having witnessed the largest score ever made in one innings, viz., 1238, made many years ago at Pyrmont, in a match between the Ulster and Macquarie clubs. The record is viewed with suspicion in another colony, but the individual scores are still extant, and one of the players at least yet lives in Sydney. recent conference of intercolonial delegates in Melbourne, the recommendation of the Victorian Association that the patronage of associations should not be granted to any English eleven visiting the colonies for three years after the present season, or to any Australian team irrespective of the one now ir. course of organisation, visiting England for two years, was agreed to, although the New South Wales delegates voted against it. The number of balls to the over was also discussed, and it was resolved that in future there be six in place of four. The great improvement which of late years has taken place in break bowling has created much difficulty with regard to the law of leg-before-wicket, and an appeal is to be made to the Marylebone Club for the purpose of bringing about some alteration in the present hard and fast law which practically says that a batsman cannot be given out legbefore-wicket, no matter whether he stands in front of the wicket or not. In future the Victorian, New South Wales, and South Australian elevens will each play a match with the others every season in such a way that each team shall have one home and one absent match.

ROWING.

At a

As the greater portion of Sydney and its suburbs are almost completely surrounded with expanses of

water, it is not to be wondered at that the dwellers in this "city by the sea" are fond of aquatic pursuits, or that rowing is one of the most popular of their many pastimes. New South Wales holds the pride of place in this particular sport. Judged from a rowing standpoint, she may be said to have occupied the foremost position among the nations of the world, as one of her scullers held the championship of the world against all comers for more than three years, and has quite recently retired upon his well-won laurels. The prowess of her rowing men has given a world-wide celebrity to New South Wales, and it is not going too far to assert that the world has never seen a mightier oarsman than William Beach, the Illawarra scu!ler, whose physique and courage enabled him to meet and defeat all the representative rowing men of the day. Although rowing is by no means neglected in the other colonies, none of the group can produce such an array of really good scullers as we can. New South Wales can boast of the deeds of Brennan (the first champion of Australia), Mulhall, R. Green, Punch, H. Green, M'Grath, Donnelly, Hickey, Laycock, Rush, E. Trickett, Messenger, Neil Matterson, Peter Kemp, Tom Clifford, Neilson, and William Beach, the retired champion of the world. A New South Wales oarsman, Richard Green, the then Champion of Australia, went to England as early as the year 1863. He rowed Robert Chambers on the Thames for the Championship of the World and £200 a side. Green pulled a great race for a mile, but he was eventually beaten by the Englishman, who was a little too good for him. Edward Trickett was the first Australian who won the Championship of the World. He defeated Joseph Sadler-England's champion of the oar-on June 27th, 1876. On Trickett's returning to Australia, Michael Rush challenged him for the coveted honour. This was in June, 1877. The race took place on the Parramatta, and was witnessed by than 50,000 persons. Rush was defeated. Soon after this the wonderful performances of Edward Hanlan, the Canadian oarsman, challenged the attention and the admiration of the world. One after another he me, and conquered, and the Australians were desirous that Trickett should measure blades with the Toronto man. A match was arranged to take place on the Thames on the 15th November, 1880. The interest taken in the event was very great, the friends of each man being confident of success. The result of the race came as a surprise to the people of these colonies. Trickett was defeated by the Canadian. It is estimated that £100,000 changed hands over this race. Elias Laycock then went to the front and had a splendid career for a short time, but in the end he too went down before the all-conquering oarsman. With later events in the rowing world everyone is more or less familiar. The circumstances of Hanlan's visit to the colony and the story of his defeat by Beach on August 16, 1884, and again in the year 1885, are fresh in the memory of our readers. Hanlan, who was never quite satisfied that Beach had beaten him on his merits, returned to New South Wales last year, and on the 26th of November he met his old opponent on the Nepean in a match for the Championship of the World and £1000. The course was three miles and a-quarter. A good race was rowed throughout, but Beach won by

more

two lengths in 19 minutes 55 seconds. The Illawarra man retired after winning this race, and handed the championship to Kemp, a brilliant sculler, of much promise, who had challenged him to row for the possession of the title. Kemp has been challenged by Clifford, and the pair meet on the Parramatta on the 11th February, to decide who is to hold the championship. It is Hanlan's intention to row the winner for the much-coveted honour and £200 a side, and ere the Canadian leaves Australia he will row Edward Trickett on the Fitzroy at Rockhampton. The present year promises to be a very lively one in the rowing world, as several American oarsmen are expected here. Amateur rowing has made favourable progress during the last few years, and the intercolonial eightoar races attract much attention. There are 11 good rowing clubs in and around Sydney.

FOOTBALL.

Three different games of football are played in the colony-Rugby, Australian or Victorian, and British Association. Rugby is the standard game, although the colonial pastime, which is called indifferently the Australian or Victorian game, has lately grown considerably in public favour. The Rugby Union was started in Sydney in 1874 with five clubs. In 1881 the number had increased to 35 clubs, and now it comprises about 90 clubs, having some 3500 members. Intercolonial matches are occasionally played with Queensland and New Zealand. In 1882 the first two intercolonial matches were played here against the Queensland representatives, who were beaten both times. In 1883, in Queensland, New South Wales won both matches. In 1884 the Queensland players came here, and were beaten in both matches. In 1885 New South Wales won and lost a match in Queensland. In 1886 Queensland won and lost a match here. In 1887 New South Wales won and lost a match in Queensland. In 1882 the New South Wales players visited New Zealand, where they played seven matches, winning four. In 1884 New Zealand played three intercolonial matches here and won them all. In 1886 the New South Wales team visited New Zealand again, and played 12 matches, scoring only two wins. A team of English footballers will visit the colonies during the winter months.

PEDESTRIANISM.

The last few years have seen a wonderful advance in pedestrianism, and so large have the prizes become that well-known runners come here from England and America to take part in the handicaps. Championship foot races appear to have died out, and they have of late years been replaced by Sheffield handicaps, for which the acceptances, to say nothing of the entries. are generally quite as numerous as will permit of an event being disposed of in four days. The favourite distance is nominally 150 yards, but the scratch man generally runs about 135 or 140 yards, while those on the limit have perhaps 15 yards' start of him. The hurdle race is also a popular institution, the distance being somewhat shorter. There are usually eight hurdles, 3ft. high. The quarter-mile distance also makes a very attractive race. The principal running grounds are the Sir Joseph Banks, at Botany, and the Carrington Grounds, Surry Hills. The first Sir Joseph Banks Handicap was run at

Botany, in May, 1884, and was won by D. Blyth, off the 20-yards mark, in 14 1-10th seconds. This may be called the inauguration of foot-racing there, although several minor handicaps had been run previously. The largest prize ever given at Botany was £555 10s. for the third Sir Joseph Banks Handicap, run in March, 1885. It was won by Jas. W. Byrnes, off the 15-yards mark, in 13 seconds. The largest nomination and acceptance ever received for any of the Sir Joseph Banks handicaps was for the 13th, the nominations numbering 403, and the acceptances 254. These handicaps are always 150 yards, and whatever starts are given are computed from that distance. The exact distance run depends on the handicaps that are declared. Attached to these grounds is a quarter-mile circular track. The Carrington Grounds, with the grand stand and other buildings thereon, cost £7000, having been finished at the end of 1886. The first Carrington Handicap was run during Christmas week in that year, and £525 was divided in prize money on that race. The length of the straight track is 175, and of the outside oval track 352 yards. The largest acceptance for any race on this ground numbered 256.

LAWN TENNIS.

Although lawn tennis is a popular and fashionable sport throughout the colony, its patrons have not yet come together into an association. The Sydney Lawn Tennis Club, which is the leading organisation, has been in existence since 1880, although it has not possessed its present title for that length of time. The membership roll shows a list of 70 playing members. Intercolonial matches were started with Victoria some four years ago, and up to the present each colony has won three. In Victoria they are played on asphalt, and here on grass; but

the recent completion of the asphalt courts at the Association Cricket Ground will no doubt enable our players to meet the Victorians in their own courts on terms of equality. The present champion of the colony is Mr. C. W. Cropper, who has held the position for two years. The lady champion is Miss Mayne, of Victoria. The double championship for gentlemen is held by Messrs. Riddle and Webb, of Victoria, and for ladies by the Misses Scott, of New South Wales.

BOWLING.

Bowling is a sport which has always been endowed with much vitality in the colony, due no doubt in a great measure to the intercolonial and interclub contests. The New South Wales Bowling Association came into existence in 1880, and it comprises six clubs having a membership roll of about 450. The following are the names of the associated

clubs and the number of rinks they can play:-City, 8; Balmain, 8; Glebe, 6; Rosehill, 8; Union Recreation (Strathfield) 10. Newtown 4. The City is the leading club, and its green in Cook Park entailed an outlay of £3000. It holds the president's trophy, having won it four times, and another win will make it the club's exclusive property. Intercolonial matches are played annually with Victoria, the following being the results:-1880, first match played in Sydney, Victoria won by 23 points; second match (same year, played at Melbourne, Victoria won by 54 points; 1881, third match, played at Sydney, New South Wales won by 10 points; fourth match (same year), Victoria won; 1882, fifth match, played at Sydney, Victoria won; 1883, sixth match, Victoria won; 1884, seventh match, played at Sydney, New South Wales won by 19 points; 1885, eight match, played at Melbourne, Victoria won by 55 points; 1886, ninth match, played at Sydney, New South Wales won by 39 points; 1887, tenth match, played at Melbourne, Victoria won by 27 and 13 points. In the last year the championship was altered from one game to the best two out of three, and the change is regarded with great satisfaction.

CYCLING.

Since the initiation of the Cyclists' Union in 1883 cycling has been pushing ahead with great vigour, and to-day it is established on a very sound basis. There are 21 clubs in the union, with a membership roll of about 500. Last year seven new clubs were formed, and about 200 new members thus came into the ranks of the union. C. R. Wood is the amateur champion of the colony. The record for the best mile on grass is held by F. H. Shackleford, of Melbourne, who covered the distance in 2 minutes 53 3-5 seconds, on the Association Cricket Ground, in 1885. All the important racing in the colony is done on

grass tracks, but the cyclists with other sporting bodies are agitating for another ground close to the Association Cricket Ground, so that they may lay down an asphalt track, and give athletic sports generally more extended scope.

COURSING.

Coursing is not in a very vigorous condition in the colony at present, although most of the large centres of population to the South and West have their coursing clubs. The sport was first instituted on a public basis at Bathurst in 1876, but it died out there again in 1882. In 1879 the New South Wales Club Derby was organised, and was run regularly until 1886, in which year the venue was moved from Rooty Hill to the Rosehill racecourse, and the principal stake was called the Rosehill Cup.

VICTORIA.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Victoria was discovered, practically, by Lieutenant John Murray, commander of the Lady Nelson, in January, 1802; and before the end of the same year, Mr. Charles Grimes, Surveyor-General of New South

Wales, entered Port Phillip on a surveying expedition, and penetrated some distance into the fresh waters of the Yarra. In October of the following year Captain Collins brought out a company of convicts in the Calcutta and Ocean, and attempted to form a settlement at Sorrento: but after a few months' trial he hastily packed up and moved the whole camp to Tas