TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 103, 3 May 1898, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

Groat naval engagement, bpaniah squadron defeated. Yankee fleet blockading Manila. . l\ nii. yP has g^nted Japan freedom c trade in Corea. After the battle of Manila the American Squadron steamed of]'. Americans assert that they decisively defeated the Spaniards. The engagement, however, cannot be characterised as decisive. _' I' I|« ''read riots in Italy are extendi.!". 1 he rioters are led by women. ° The Elingamite from Sydney arrived this morning after a fine-weather passage. The loss of life on tho American side is stated at 500 and on the Spanish as 2,000. Further conflict between the Spanish and American fleets at Manila is unavoidable. Several cab-drivers lined at the Police Court to-day for breaches of traffic bylaws. J Tho return of the Queen in excellent health to Windsor from the Riviera is, reported. There ate stated to be 250 armed natives ' engaged in the present fanatical rising at, Hokianga. The Bight Hon. R. ,J. Seddon addresses political meetings at Mas'tcrton arid Eketahttna this week. The Full Court in Sydney has declared that a lane is a place within the Bettin" Suppression Act. The work of re-metalling parte of Queenstreet, which badly wanted doing, is now being carried out. The case Read v. Thames Hauraki Goldfields Company was decided in favour of the defendants. The lions. E. Mitehelson and H. Mossmann were passengers by the Westralia for Sydney last night. The fiincinoa with the bodyof Permanent Artillery from Wellington arrives at Hokianga this afternoon. An opera new to Aucklanders is to be staged at the Opera House to-night in " La luUede Madame Angot." The Maori trouble in the North is still in the acute stage, but a settlement without fighting is anticipated. A prohibition order under the Licensing Act was granted against one John Coutls at the Police Court to-day. Judgment in the assault case against Albert E. Glover and James Edmonds will be given to-morrow morning. Consequent on the disorganisation of the Manila hemp trade, it is thought that there will be a better demand for flax. In connection with the Maori trouble H.M.s. Torch has been despatched to Hokianga, and is due there to-morrow. The Auckland contingent of 25 Perma-" nent Artillery arrived at Rawcnc at eight last night, landed their Maxims and posted sentries. The Harbour Board consider at a special meeting this afternoon a resolution lessening th« dues paid by the Colonial Sugar Company. Warden flush lias ruled that mining properties should not be placed on valuation tolls prepared under the Valuation Land Act of 189fi. The sitting of the Conciliation Board in the bakers' dispute was continued to-day and is expected to occupy the Board tomorrow and possibly on Thursday also. • The Government if ;the Shipping Com-' panics will co-operate will run three trains between Wellington. amUNew Plymouth per week instead of Only two as at present'/ •"Have you any goods to levy on ?" was the question addressed to a prisoner who had been lined at the Police Court in Sydney last week. "1 have a wife and family," was the reply. . A deputation from the New Plymouth Harbour Board saw the Minister of Rail-' ways yesterday, and obtained from him an assurance that there is no intention to interfere with the use of the breakwater by the Board any more than hitherto. The barque Swanhilda, of "Butler" fame, was 200 miles out from Newcastle to 'Frisco last week, when four stowaways were found. The vessel returned and handed them over to the captain of the. tug' Emu, which was lying outside Newcastle." The damage done in the tire iv Edmond and Co.'s warehouse, Dunedin, amounting to about £2,000, is covered by insurance in the Standard, which has the risk on the' building, and other olliccs holding stock" policies, the largest line being in the South British. John Craig, late manager of the big drapery business carried on under the name of Te Aro House, was arrested in Wellington yesterday on a charge of stealing £700. As it was stated that the afl'air arose out of a miscouceptiQii, accused was remanded on bail. About six weeks ago a Russian Jew who is in business at Kalgoorlic, West Australia, where he has a wife and family,' visited Victoria for medical advice regard, ing an ailment. He consulted four or five medical men, and they finally pronounced his ease to be one of tubercularleprosy. The matter was reported to the Board of Health, and the patient was informed that he could not remain in any Australian colony unless he submitted to be isolated at a leper station. He said that in those circumstances he would leave the country, and asked to be allowed to return to West Australia in order that he might wind up his afi'airs preparatory to his departure. Permission to do so was granted, and he left on his return journey last week. At present there is only one ease of leprosy in Victoria. The patient is a European, and is segregated near the quarantine station.