TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 255, 3 November 1897, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

'Frisco mail arrived. R.M.s. Moana from America. " Graphic " published to-day. Rangitoto track opened to-day. Revolutionary plot in Venezuela. Concert and dance at Mangere to-night. A.R.C. Spring races at Ellerslie on Saturday night. Debate on the estimates in the House of Representatives last night. The Defence Report is to be brought down in the House this week.

Engineers lockout meeting takes place in the Tailoresses Hall to-night. An aquatic carnival is proposed to be held on the Hamilton Lake this summer.

A public meeting is .to be held in Auckland on the question of the Pacific mail contract.

An interesting account of a cycle tour to the West Coast appears in this week's "Graphic,"

At the beginning of this week there were 144 male and 12 female prisoners in Mount Eden Gaol.

In spite of the recent "sly-grog" prosecutions, liquor is still being sent into the King Country. Auckland Chamber of Commerce met this afternoon to consider the 'Frisco mail service matters.

The Maoris sentenced in Taranaki for ploughing settlers' lands have been taken on to Wellington gaol. Over £90 has been subscribed in Auckland for the improvement of Rangitoto Island as a pleasure resort. The very latest portrait of Sir George Grey, taken in London recently, is published for the first time in the "Graphic" this week.

Large numbers of entries have been received for the Auckland Agricultural Show, and there will he a very large show of fine stock.

Auckland Harbour Board have decided to offer special advantages to mail steamers coming here," in order to counteract Wellington's influence.

Rangitoto had a " benefit" to-day, twothirds of the steamer fares going towards the future improvement of the mountain for holiday makers. Devonport Borough Council has decided to endeavour to stop the construction of the new rifle range at Shoal Bay, as landowners are afraid of the bullets.

During the year ending March 31st last the amount of mortgages paid oft' in Auckland totalled no less- than £1,454,825 8s sd; no doubt the result of the mining boom. The total amount secured by mortgage in New Zealand at the end of the last financial year was £31,112,921, showing a decrease of about half-a-million on the previous year.

The Government intend opening up for settlement the lands on the south side of Kawhia Harbour as soon as they have increased the Crown areas sufficiently for the purpose.

At next meeting of the Devonport Borough Council Cr. J. Dunning will move that steps be taken to secure a reserve for recreation purposes at Brick Bay, at the west end of the borough. Last evening another heat in connection with the West End Rowing Club's trial fours was rowed off the Ponsonby shore. The crews were stroked by H. Matthews and W. Rees, and the race was a keen one, Matthews' crew winning by a few feet. ' The Rev. W. Wocliass, Primitive Methodist minister, while proceeding to Waihi on his bicycle the other day from Paeroa sustained a severe fall through the frame of the machine breaking at the axle. Ho was, however, not seriously injured. The Minister of Lands says the Government have 50,000 acres of land suitable for settlement in the King Country, and are increasing that area very largely. When they have completed purchases they will consider a scheme for settlement purposes. Dr. Harsant, who was the first Resident Magistrate appointed to the Waikato, long before the Maori Avar, is seriously ill at Onehunga. He is 87 years of age. In the early "sixties" he was removed from Te Awamutu to Raglan, Mr Gorst, now Sir John Gorst, succeeding him as magistrate at Te Awamutu.

A Maori met with a very serious gunshot accident near Towai lately. He was resting with his hand on the muzzle of his gun, when one of his little children, playing about his legs pulled the trigger. The charge passed through the hand, shattered the arm, ripped up one side of the face and destroyed one eye. The man is under native treatment, and notwithstanding his injuries he is likely to recover.

The Auckland Orphans' Club concluded a series of re-unions with a special programme in the Cook-street Hall last evening. Mr Milroy presided. Excellent items were contributed by the Rev. Dr. Egan, Messrs A. Eowe, H. Fountain, Robinson, W. Manning, and Bros. W. Moore, Worrall, E. Schtaz, M. Lewis, R. BurcH; A. Bartley, Eyre, A. J. Patterson and Robins. Overtures were played by Mr Gittos' orchestra, and the farce " Irish Justice " was performed.

Fine weather for "R. on S."