TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 14, 17 January 1905, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

Garden party at Government House this afternoon. M. Combes is to resume the French Premiership to-morrow. Sensational revelations about Russian officers at Port Arthur. Condition of Russian warships at Pott Arthur is above expectation. General Oku despatched SOOO troops to intercept the raiding Cossacks. Port Arthur Russian soldiers finished by an orgie on 5600 bottles of vodka. Fuller details are cabled to-day of the Russian raids to the south of Uaoyang. Bush fires in the Nelson dMrict proved more serious than was at first supposed. The front of the Russian cavalry in the southward movement extended ft* five miles. The Japanese threaten retaliation i» v the direction of the violation of Chinese neutrality. Mr George Stephenson's company concluded their season at Hia Majesty** Theatre last night. Many Russian officers were so incompetent that they were given leave of absence during attacks. The Westport Coal Company's output last week was 9580 tons, and the Seddonville State Coal Mines 1090 tons. Port Arthur squadron, says the "Times" correspondent, became hopelessly demoralised after the death of Admiral Makaroff. General Trepoff, ex-Chief of Police at Moscow, was shot and wounded white escorting the Grand Duke Sergius to the railway station. The prospects of the fruit crop in the Parramatta district of New South Wales are as gloomy as they were at any time during the drought. Mr. T. K. Johnston, a member of the Melbourne Stock Exchange, died suddenly whilst in CavilPs swimming baths at Sydney a few days ago. The New South Wales Government has to meet Treasury bills this year to the amount of £2.000,000. and debentures te the amount of £903,800. Captain Percy Scott, famous in eonneetkm with the naval guns at Ladysmith, has been appointed supervisor of naval gunnery practice. General Nogi, speaking at a memorial service at Port Arthur, said he did not desire to monopolise the glory. He invited the dead to share in it. A live hedgehog was captured in St. Albans a few days ago. It was discovered by a dog, which was considerably astonished at the nature of its find. Three attempts have been made to induce the Melbourne Trades Hall Council to express an opinion on preferential trade, but the question has been barked. George Stevenson, a well-known beggar, who has substantial banking accounts in Sydney and Melbourne, refused food in gaol, lest he should have to pay for it. During the month of December not a single resident died in the borough of Timaru. The registrar says this is the first time within his recollection that sneh a state of affairs has existed. A motor "waggon, the first to be introduced into the district, was to arrive in Blenheim last week. It has been imported to the order of a sawnriller, who "will use it for the transport of timber. The Yinhow railway station, whet* the Japanese had immensely valuable stores, was saved ■ from being looted by the Russians by:c { -tKe heroism of the Japanese engine-drivers in bringing up reinforcements. In the debate in the Cambridge Congresation on the subject of com-polsory Greek, Sir Richard Jebb, who opposed the statute for the rendering of it optional, quoted Professor Hashun's letter to "The Times," showing some effects of the negteet of Greek in New Zealand. Miss G. E. Bohnam, who is a wenknown Alpine climber, has arrived in New Zealand, with the intention of awrwKHng Aorangi and other peaks in tie Southern Alps. The attempt on Aorangi will be made this month. Miss Bohnam has already achieved some fame in her {iHMfet climbing in the Canadian Rockies, and has "done" most of the Swiss Alps. '•Iferkfir* Millinery Studio*—Sale of trimmed hats, toques, and bonnets, at greatly reduced prices. — HJ£. Arcede, Qneen-sfcreet. —(A«L>