TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 297, 22 December 1897, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

"Star" Summary to-morrow. Inward 'Frisco mail next week. Alameda from Sydney on Friday. Warm altercations in the House last evening. Special mail and holiday number of the "Graphic" published to-day. Miss Hope Nation, contralto singer, at the City Hall on Boxing nightl Sharks are plentiful in the Haurakt Gulf and the Waitemaoa just now. For Christmas reading aud Christmas pictures buy this week's " Graphic." The Floral Fete prize distribution took place at Mrs Sowerby's Kail this afternoon. At the beginning of this week there were 152 male and 17 female prisoners in Mount Eden Gaol.

An English mail of London date November 12fch will arrive from Sydney by the R.M.S. Alameda on Friday. The Orakzai tribesmen, Indian frontier, have submitted to the Britisli forces, and have surrendered their arms. :

The King Country natives are talking of offering for lease a large area of land in the Kohepotae, or King Country. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with St. Matthew's Parish Day School took place tins afternoon. The German warship Falke, which arrived here from Samoa yesterday afternoon, will remain at Auckland for about a month.

On account of the Christmas holidays, Friday, the 24th inst., at 5 p.m., is .the last day on which discount can be allowed on gas and coke accounts.

The garden fruit crop at Wellington is ruined, and little fruit is obtainable, and that of the poorest quality. Wairarapa is suffering severely from the drought. Mr Wybert Iteeve and the cinemato-graphe-lumiere on Boxing night at the City Hall. The Melbourne Cup of .1896 will be shown, together with many other new pictures.

The sum of £250 was paid this month at Kihikihi, Waikato, by the Government Inspector to the Maori people for rabbitskins from the native districts surrounding Kihikihi and the Punui Paver.

Influenza is still rampant at Wellington, and the visitation is more widespread than on any previous occasion. The epidemic is remarkable for the variety of its effects on the victim. The chemists in Wellington are rushed for quinine. The influenza epidemic is still spreading in Onehunga. The public school has been closed, and the ordinary Committee meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council had to be postponed on Monday night, as most of the councillors were laid up with influenza.

Owing to the losses of the Northcote and Birkenhead strawberry growers through dry weather it is suggested that the two districts should combine and get a supply of water from Lake Takapuna. Thus in a dry season the strawberry beds could be irrigated.

Forty Lincoln rams were shipped by the s.s. Itotomahanaat Lyttelton yesterday for transhipment to the s.s. Kaikoura at Wellington. They are bound for Monte Video, and have been shipped by the New Zealand and Australian Land "Company, Mr Reid (of Eldcrslie) and Mr James Holmes.

The general meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company will be held at the Company's office on January 12th r 1898, for the purpose of receiving ihe directors' report and balance-sheet, and for the election of two directors in place'of Messrs Thoa. Buddie and James Russell, who are eligible for re-election., .

The deatli is announced of another old colonist, Mrs Lawry, wife of the Rev. H. H. Lawry, at the advanced age of 73 years. The deceased lady was a.sister of the Rev. T. S. Forsaith, of Paramatta, New South Wales, and had been a resident of the province of Auckland for over half a century. The funeral took place this afternoon at the Puvewa Cemetery.

Mr. R. A. Underwood's kinematograph exhibition will open on Christmas Day at the Agricultural Hall for a short season. The building has been re-furnished and fitted up afresh for the occasion. A concert programme will be presented, to which will contribute Mr Wm. McKenzie, baritone, and Miss Jessie Glover, the wellknown elocutionist. Popular prices.

Notice it—all wool tweed suit 21s, white shirt 2s lid, straw hat Is, collar and tie Is, sox Gd. Total for Christinas outfit, 26s sd. At Ernest Moore's, 240, Queen-street— (Advt.)

Rambler bicycles are the biggest winners this season, having 22 firsts and 16 seconds to their credit. Only £22 10s at Dexter and Crozier's, Victoria-street East.—Advt.

R. Spreckley has opened a new showroom for Christmas cards in Victoria Arcade. Large variety of reward and gift books in Shortland-street, next Post Office.—(Advt.)

640 yards canvas check cotton dress, extraordinary value, 6f d per yd; also large assortment of silk mixture zephyrs, etc., for blouses and dresses. — Smith md Caughey. —(Advt.) Picanniny biscuits are specially made for children and invalids by J. Bycroft and Co. Limited, sold in air tight tins. "Ask for them."— (Advt. )