TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4, 5 January 1903, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

'Frisco mail due Wednesday, Further volcanic eruptions in Central America. The Germans have seized the Cus* tomb.ouse at Porto Cabello, Venezuela. Sir Joseph Ward (Minister for Railways), will arrive here from Rotorua on Wednesday or Thursda}'. The British-India Company's new steamer Sealda arrived here yesterday from Calcutta and Singapore. Seventy-five saloon aud eighty-five steerage passengers arrived here from Sydney by the.s.s. Westralia yesterday. l>uring- last jear 1715 persons were arrested in Wellington for drunkenness, against 1165 in the preceding year. Terrible heat prevails in New SouthWales. At Goodooga, a-n up-country township, the thermometer register-. Ed as high as 123 degrees on Saturday. The Kaipara Flats members of the North Auckland Railway League urge the desirability of agitating- for a £100,000 vote for the extension of; I the railway North of Auckland. The Tattersall's sweep prize of £ 1350 which fell to Gisborne belonged to four Freezing Works' employees— G. Petcher, his son, and Smart. A fourth had disposed of his share to Petcher. It is stated that the majority of the residents of Norfolk Island object to inclusion in the Australian I Commonwealth; -if there is to be a ! change they would rather be under | New Zealand's, control. A man who sued his employers under the Workmen's Compensation Act ■at Andover. (England) for compensation .for. the loss- of the- top of his finger,. through.. an accident in the machinery, .was- awarded Id per week. Mr T. E. Donne (Superintendent of the Tourist- Department) left here today for Rotorua in order to meet Sir Joseph Ward-in connection with various matters- affecting the attractions for tourists •in • the- • Thermal Springs District.

The .Stipendiary- -Magistrate at Hawera (Taranaki) does not believe in palmistry. "You might as well," he remarked in court the other day,,"attempt to tell-a man's.character by the creases in his trousers as the lines on his hands." • .-•*• • : '; .■•-.-•

Something new in mines is reported from British Columbia; where a natural soap mine has been, discovered. It is- asserted" that 275 tons of soap have- been- taken from this mine, which- "is 1 to be "manipulated by the inevitable' syndicate. *

The State of Arkansas (U.S.A.) has by law prohibited the sale of cigarettes to any person, young or old. Even the free gift of a cigarette is prohibited. For any violation of this Act the penalty is hot less thaii £100 or more than £1000.

■!• Trout-fishing in Lake,Rotorua has "now commenced in. earnest, as it has been found that.the fish will take the minnow, when trailed behind a sailing 1 boat. Some very large fish were taken lately, and the strongest gear was carried away by the heavier fish, presumably a 20 pounder. A Dunedin boy has gained the unique distinction of having won the mental arithmetic prize in every standard during his school career. His name is Henry Cohen, and he is the •on of Mr Albert Cohen, Parliamen-

tary reporter of ihe Dunedin "Star" and one of the best known pressmen in the colony.

During a thunderstorm in Dannevirke recently a flash of lightning struck the chain used by two surveyors, Mr J. A. Robertson and his son, who were surveying some land near Mr Hartgill's residence. Mr Robertson was hurled against a house with considerable force, but except for a severe shock, escaped unhurt. His son, who at, the time was, holding a boot-lace attached to the chain, was not in any, way affected by the lightning.