TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 161, 8 July 1909, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

H.M.s. Encounter arrived from Sydney, The legal status of slavery has been abolished in Zanzibar. In all, 38 workmen lost their lives in the landslide at -Newport. The Citizens' Unemployed Fund at Wellington now totals £200. Lord Avebury says that some of the Budget proposals are not taxation, but confiscation. Warwickshire scored 185 in their first innings, in reply to Australia's total of 450. The selection of wools at the opening of the London sales is described as extremely rubbishy. The United States Senate has imposed a duty on all foreign vessels entering its ports, according to tonnage. The exports of Gisborne for the year ended June 30 amounted to over a "million, showing -a substantial increase all round. Terrorists in Bengal are again active and leaflets have bee nstrewn broadcast, suggesting a renewal of bombthrowing. The Lyttelton Harbour Board has decided that the terminal point of the Sum« ncr Canal should not go beyond Hea__• cole Bridge. Enormous damage has been caused by floods in Colorado and Ohio, and relief trains are carrying food to the inundated districts. For the quarter ended June 30, railways were responsible for an increase of £92,338 as compared with the same period of last year. The Minister for Lands will recommend the Land Purchase Commissioner, to make a valuation of the Hautotara Block in the Wairarapa. A child named Ivy Evans was telling her aunt at Parua Bay that she had been frightened by a bull, when she suddenly dropped dead. A Takaka (Nelson) farmer namect Dobson has been fined £10 and costa for sending in a false return stating that he had dipped his sheep. Dhingra's father has published a letter in which he says: "My family was deeply indebted to Sir Wm. Wyllie, whom my cursed son killed in a fit of madness." The revenue of the Dominion for th. quarter ended June 30 amounted to £1,826,597, a net increase of £34,673 compared with the corresponding period, of last year. The donor of £"300,000 to endow a British National Opera_,—-v s e is Mr Joseph Beecham, of pill __ v and father of Mr Thos. Beecham, the well known musical conductor. The airship scare in England a couple of months ago was caused by the secret trials of an airship 'constructed by Dr. M. Boyd. It twice crossed the" Irish Channel and hovered over Wales and England. A constable at Invercargill (a disrated detective) complained to the Police Commission of unjust treatment, and submitted to the Commissioner the name of one detective who, he alleged, was in the habit of getting drunk. Mr Robt. Logan, chairman, of the National Bank of New Zealand stated at the annual meeting that the steady improvement in- the outlopk justified the hope of New Zealand's return to her former prosperity. The world's sculling champion, R. Arnst, gave an exhibition at Nelson yesterday. He made an attempt to lower the two miles record in a race with Fogwell, his pacer, but was unsuccessful. The conditions were very unfavourable. Two representatives of the Colonial Office in London have arrived in Wellington, their mission being to promote a better understanding with the Colonial Governments, and to get into closer and more personal touch with their public men. "Each one owns the train, including luggage vans and engines. It is quite common for one passenger to possess three seats, particularly those in a somnolent condition or trance-like state."—■ Remarks of a Sou.hern visitor on New Zealand railway passengers. A witness before the Police Commission at Invercargill alleged that steps h.ad been taken by Mr. G. Laurenson, M.P.. to have him removed from Lyttelton, as he was too successful for the comfort of the residents. Mr. Laurenson describes the allegation as monstrous. "It is true to some extent that the late Mr. Soddon was a great opportunist, but he was never a propagandist. He was a great constructive statesman, and always knew how far he could go without getting a reaction."—Hon. GFowlds, at the Seddon Memorial Ceremony.