TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 55, 5 March 1914, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

- '■Carnival Week" at Wellington -commenced ye___r_ay. General C_rran__ has appointed a commission to investigate Beaton's death. A monument on the Orakau battlefield, near Te .Vwumutu, will be unveiled on April 1. It has been discovered that molybdenum prevents the deterioration of cordite in hot climates. The pure food regulations, which were gazetted a year ago, will be -brought, into operation on April 1. At an auction sale in London last week :1S!) letters written by Thackeray were sold for .-0,400. A consignment of shrimps- has been liberated in Lake Tanpo. with the object of providing food for the trout. An alarmist article in the Cologne "Gazette" states that 'Russia will attack Oermany in the autumn of 1917Canada .is to make efforts to stem the tide of un__itahle immigrant*., concentrating on farm hands and domestic-. The poll on the proposal to acquire the Gillies' Estate. Parnell. as a park for the city has been -fixed for -larch 26. Tlie Prime Minister intend- to turn the first sod of the WhangareJ-'-lortli Auckland branch railway some time in April. ■Allen iKicliolson. a traction enginedriver, "was killed at P_ke_itiri. :H_-wtke'« Bay. through tlie macliine going over a bank. Chaos reigns in New York as the result of a blizzard. Traffic in dislocated, and the damage run- into millkras of dollar.. Captain -vlac-doii-ld. -of the iNrorthern Co.'s steamer Rotokohou, was injured at Tirohia yesterday by falling on a gang-plank. « The British Government will grant' •Shackleton £6,000 next, year and £5,000 the following year, for his Antaretio •expedition. Pourparlers hare been opened between Britain and France towards a conference to discuss details regarding tho Xew Hebrides. It is stated that the concession- to Ulster include a sweeping veto, with the right of •withdrawal after the expiry of a certain period. Business in Western Canada is said to he very bad, due to a slump following upon the cessation of heavy borrowing and land speculation. The Governp-ent have acquired 500 acres of freehold and leasehold in the Orakei block, leaving about 40 acres inalienable to the native owners. The N_s- Rugby League executive is heading a movement in -favour of the provision of more seating accommodation in the Domain Cricket Ground. After a keen d_b_te, the Metliodi_t Conference, an fixing the first reading of stations, allotted the Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., to Pitt Street Church. Auckland. A Russian shrapnel works- foreman •killed the director of tlie works with a crowbar, and then committed suicide by jumping into the electrical machinery. It is stated ___t the Government intends to renovate the old Coarthouso with the object of providing more accommodation for tlie Stamps and DeedOffices. Thos. Sheehan. the driver of an unlighted cart, has been committed for trial at Wellington on a charge of negligence leading to the death of a cyclist who collided with it. Entries from rowing clubs are rolling in for the Rowing Association's big rally at Shelly Beach on Saturday, and it is estimated that about fifty crews will take part in the races. Won. W. H. Herriea informed a deputation, that the railway tariff on wool, coal, hemp and similar freijrhts was being revived, and that the shortage of trucks was being remedied. The Mayor has opened a subscription list for the purchase of medals for presentation to the members of the. Third •Regiment Band, which won the Hawke 'Shield at the recent contest. Some inißcnipulous persons in Ouristehurch are said to have a fondness for mounting bicycles not their own, riding them half across town, and dropping them in the river when done with. A sum of £1,000 has been presented to the Wellington citizens' fund, by Mm. W. R. Williams, to make up £6.000, the 'balance of the money required to acquire the Day's Bay grounds for the city. 'iBill" Xaugliton. -sporting editor of the San Francisco "Examiner.'' and the doyen of sporting writers on the Pacific Coast, is stricken with heart disease. The doctors declare that his chanceß of recovery are poor. The Xcw Zealand Postmaster-General (Hon. R. IT. Rhodes) is not entirely in favour of tlie Federal PostmasterGeneral- proposal to supply news by wireless to intercolonial steamers at an annual charge of about £20. About 2.000 circulars have been sent out in connection with the appeal for funds for the purchase of a motor-ambu-lance for the conveyance of urgent cases to the Hospital. The friendly eocieties and the St. .lohn Ambulance Association' are co-operating in the movement. Large crowds witnessed the initiation of carnival week, in Wellington yesterday, when a lengthy procession of gaily decorated motor and other vehicles went through the city to Newtown Park. Athletic events, dances, cadets, and fire brigade displays filled up the afternoon and evening. Tlie scheme for improving Jermyn Street as a traffic outlet was further considered at a conference between the? City Council and the special citizens' committee yesterday -fternoon. The committee expects to present a report on the financial side of the ""heme by the end of next week. Stocktaking sale starts to-morrow. Orey and Ford. Ltd-, Karangahapc Road.—(Ad.)