TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 17, 21 January 1898, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

Dr. Orpen arrested. , Outward mail to-morrow. Mariposa from Sydney to-day. Arbitration Court sat again to-day. Rowing regatta at Drunken Bay to-mor-row. ■'■'■• ■ -

German warship Falke for Samoa today.

The Chinese question is becoming critical. . , .

The Wellington Cup will be run tomorrow.

Auckland Anniversaiy Regatta to-mor-row week.

The Hon. A. J. Cadman was at Cambridge to-day. - ■ ' The Cotton King' again at the Opera House to-night. Fire in Sargood, Son and Ewen's warehouse last night. Entries for the Auckland Regatta close next Tuesday evening. The death is announced of Mr E. M. Corbett, the well-known mining expert. A number of new books are being added to the lending branch of the Free Library.

Mr Kirkpatrick who was injured in the Ukatira coach accident, is now in a critical state. ■ ■

It is stated that 1,000 chimneys in Wanganui and suburbs had to be rebuilt owing to the earthquake. The premises of Abel Dykes and Co., printers, will be clo.sed to-morrow, Saturday, for tlieir annual picnic. Maize is being carted in from Te Puke as quickly as the vehicles can bring it, the price ruling now being payable. The charge of Sunday trading against the City. Hotel licensee was dismissed at the Police Court this morning, on the ground that the drinks were supplied to the order of a lodger. On dit that an early Sydney production in the new year will be a Maori opera by Mr Williamson arid Mr Bert "Koyle, the theme of which will be arranged around a story of Captain Cook.

Dr. J. L. Campbell has presented 6J acres of land at Maungakiekie (One-tree ■Hill) to the One-Tree Hill Domain Board. This will be a very valuable addition to the present Domain at that locality. The country between Hastingsand Napier is said to present a remarkable appearance, at the present time. The earth, which was covered with silt at the late floods, displays great crevices. The silt is cut up into regular squares, as if the work had been done by a mason. . : The Registrar-General's estimate of the population of Western Australia at the end of December, exclusive of aborigines, was 110,364 males and 51,544 females, or a total of 161,908. This is a decrease of 4,959 compared with the figures for the previous quarter. It is stated (says the " Wanganui Herald") that a Moawhanga stock owner had the misfortune to lose no less than 800 sheep through the animals having been driven: by dogs into a gully, where they got smothered. It is said that the sheep were piled ten to fifteen deep on each other. The natives of the Maungatapu settlement, near Tauranga, intend erecting a large new carved meetinghouse there, and for that purpose have just brought down from the Oropi bush an immense log to act as a ridge pole. The building will take a coii«j<jruU» t;nm t.i\ /M-instruHt: a,nd wi]l doubtless prove an attraction to visitors^aii the old style of work will be adhered'toi-

A':iiunibter"of Tauranga people recently went on an excursion to Mayor Island, per the scow Margaret. They returned safely toTauranga last Friday night, havingspent two thoroughly enjoyable days, although the weather was not suitable for fishing. The natives on the Island say that visitors are quite welcome to land, but they must not do as. some of the excursionists did, shoot peacocks. An example of untiring energy and parental affection that might put even a European to blush occurred at Lake Waikaremoana, inland from Hawke's Bay, the other day, when the body of the unfortunate lad Rapai was discovered by his father, Ata. Ata searched the river from daylight to dark, diving into the deepest holes and groping under the ledges for a period of ten days, barely taking enough food to sustain him. When he found the body he carried it for' nearly a mile to Mr Lambert's, where a rough stretcher was made, and the body taken to the village to await the arrival of the coroner.