TABLE TALK.

Bbimjant weather. Good Friday to-morrow. Hot-cross buns to-morrow. Preparations rife for the holidays. ban Francisco outward mail on Safcor* day. Louis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, it dead.

Pondoland is now a part of the British empire. Chriafcchurch voted strong for "»» licenses." The Hoase of Commons has passed ths naval vote. „ ~ . The French Government are fortifying Timbuctoo. ' , : General exodus of yachts from the harbour this evening. Club night at the baths last evening wag a great success. * Mr Gee's eacred concert takes placa ta« morrow evening. . Mr Gee held his first Wednesday evening concert yesterday. 41 Gold " is the cry in Australia, and they seem to be getting it too. Cheap excursions to Eotorua are now offered by Mossra Cook and Sons. Large attendance at the Opera Honso t» hear tho Lynch bellringers yesterday. The master butchers of Auckland had al very enjoyable picnic at Mofcutapu yester* ; day- „ ■ . ? Hayes Circus manager is making ar- , rangements in Wellington for an exhibition; \ there. t A cynic observes that the most popular air with the girls these days is a millionaire. '' The temperance and publican candidates j at the Wellington elections ran a close race.

Misb Bessie Doyle's concert) to-morrow will doubtless attract a large number of persons. General Booth still cherishes his over-sea colony scheme. A lady has loft the General £30,000. The United States have established a. coaling station at Hawaii. This looks HIM annexation. '' # A magisterial inquiry is to be held into the stranding of the Stormbird ab Waikana© Spit recently. ' . The police are beginning a crusade againss the occupiers of disorderly houeer in Wellington. The Working Men's Club celebrated its sixteenth anniversary last night by ft banquet and concert. The British Unionists complain that they are not in the confidence of the Liberals. Why did they leave them ? The Salvation Army water excursion . ,■ arranged for last night had to be postponed . owing to unfavourable weather. The Minister of Education, Mr W. P. Rseve3, is coming North next month, on a , ■ visit to the Northern native schools. Mr Hardy, it is said, offered "Tess " two or three years before he found a publisher willing to bring it out in its entirety. "■,•; "Blank seems to have failed a good many times." "Yes, *ju?b 24timeB. ThY next time will be his silver bankruptcy." > .. ' A team representing the Parnell Cricket)' Club leaves for the Thames this evening,? where they play a local eleven to-tnorifbw. A Bill providing for the marking oE foreign meejit to, prevent it be'itig-iwl* a« •: * ' English has been introduced into the Mouaqgb ; of Commons. * ■'■'■r\i-' Tho Naval and Military ABSOCiafclpn ot -: New Zealand meet this evening forjbhe pur* ; & pose of sending a fetter of Bynipathy to { Eewi Maniapoto. Conenmeca of gas should boar in mind that Tuesday is the last day for the payment of their accounts if they desire tha ordinary discount. Taken on the average English policemen ; are said to be paid £100 a year each. Roughly speaking there is one for every sixteen square miles. : The annual meeting of the members and • friends of the New Zealand Socieby for the Protection of Women and children, takeaplace on April 2nd. . „ - By advertisement in another column, tenders are invited for decorating the Choral Hall for the Chrysanthemum Society's annual show. ;| j Bridegroom (ab the end of the wedding)— , 111 am glad ib is all over." Married friend —■" Over! Greab Scot, man ! You have only just commenced." • ' * Some of Mr Benge's sympathisers' ab Devonpprt intend to present) him with » small purse of sovereigns on the occasion ot his leaving their midst. \ ■ Only 2,068 votes were recorded ab tha licensing booths of the City yesterday. Inwould havo required 7,500 to prevent tho poll being null and void. The Wanderers' C.C. leave for Wark» worth and the surrounding districts thii evening, where they play matches on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Eden George, of Christchurch, who is determined to sib among the chosen ones ak Wellington has started canvassing Watte* mata which seat he will contest with Mr Palmer. - There are about 4,000 safety bicycles in ■ New Zealand. Reckoning cost, including yearly outlay for repairs ab £20 each, this . would show a total of £80,000 sunk in

wheel stock. ■■■'•■'■-• l« ,«-.•■.- -^ A Melanesian ordination will be held at the private chapel Bishops Court, Parnell, on Monday 26th, at 10.30 a.m., when Hugo Gorovaka, of Bugotu, will be admitted to the deaconate. Stipendiary Magistrate—" Now, then, McCarthy, no prevarication. Tell us all that passed between you and the defendant." McCarthy —- " Brickbats, yer honor; jisb brickbats." Good Friday services ab St. Paul's aro announced in another column. The evening service will include the beautiful aacrod meditation called "The Crucifixion," set to the music of Sir John Stainer. Modern suitor—"And do you really think you could support us in the style to which I have been accustomed ?" Her father—"l really think so." "Then you may become my father-in-law." Sydney paper says:—" The police should be prohibited from arresting well-known citizens and carting them to Court in tha ' Black Maria' on such trivial charges as •cruelty to a horse/ etc." "Tritial charges " is good ! Mr Tregear, of the Labour Department, who has jusb returned to Wellington from the North, considers the outlook in tha gum trade very far from hopeful. Let us hope Mr Seddon'a' plan for settling tha diggers on the land may 'prove successful. Good Friday, the 23rd inst., will bo observed as a close holiday at the Chief Poßt Office. t Ma}ls usually closed on Fridays will be closed on Thursday, the, 2?nd mat., at 7 p.m. ' On the evening of tho 22nd ihst., the Post Office will be Open from 7 to 8 o'clock for delivery of letters, including those usually delivered by letter carriers.