TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1916, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

Australia is spending over £300.003 a j ear on war pensions. Fricourt has been taken by the British and Frise by the French. German priso-iers captured by the British and French number about 9500. It is believed that no overseas troops were engaged in the offensive north of the Somme. French reprisals are to follow the bombing of the open town of Luneville by German airmen. America is adopting the sixteen inch gun for the new super-dreadnought California and Tennessee. "The whole sky was ablaze." says a correspondent describing the bombardment on the Albert front. * The s.s. Westralia arrived at Auckland from Sydney this morning, with passersgers and an English mail. Lord Derby may succeeed Mr H. J. Tennant as Under-Secretary for War. is the opinion of the "Daily Chronicle." A Dutch report states that at th« last Leipsic fair £50,000 worth of German goods were purchased for British, firms. Marine insurance via the Mediterranean or the Panama Canal has been unexpectedly increased from 30/ to 60/ per cent. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce is promoting a conference to consider the possibility of a railway from Eaetihi to Wanganui. A large proportion of the men hit on the British side were only slightly wounded during the attack on the Ger« man' lines. The sentencing of Liebknecht, the Socialist, to a term of imprisonment, is causing dissatisfaction in certain circles in Germany. Hons. A." IT. Myers and G. W. Russell will arrive at Auckland on Saturday to be present at the reception to the Japaneso warships. The insignificant French losses in the recent advances were due to complete artillery preparation and the dash of the infantry. A work at Thianmont, north of Verdun, changed hands five times. during recent fighting, and on Saturday was in the hands of the French. Later reports show that the British estimate of the enemy's losses in tho offensive of the last few days was too low. says Sir Douglas Haig. A number of trades unionists made a demonstration in Athens in favour of Venizelos, and assured him of support at the forthcoming election. A naturalised German has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment at Greymouth for disloyal utterances, coupled with obscene language. The Marine Department has directed that an inquiry be held at Nelson regarding the wreck of the schooner Southern Isle, at Farewell Spit. Great Britain possesses aeroplanes capable in reasonable weather of flying to certain of the Zeppelin sheds in Getmany and returning to their base. Inquiries have shown that the freigita upon many lines of hardware imported into the Dominion are greater than the ccst of the goods at the other end. The Returned Soldiers' Association has ' decided to set up an-employment bureau for the benefit of the 70 or 80 men who ar?. said to be out of work in Auckland. Some long distance reconnaissances}, were made by the British aeroplanes during the advance north of the Somme. Three British machined were missing after the attack. , Australia's revenue for the past twelve months is estimated at over £89,000,000, and the expenditure will probably leave a balance of about £13.000,000" to be carried forward. '"The toll was heavy, but not excessive, considering the magnitude of the operations," says the correspondent of the "Morning Post" in commenting on the British losses -in the advanceLegislation, providing for co-operation between friendly societies and tho National Provident Fund, with an extension of the benefits under the latter, was outlined in the House last night. . It has been suggested in Wellington that- the Education Department should import all school books and ■ requisites and sell retail-to primary school children —thereby effecting a saving of 25 per cent. The latest offensive was roughly three times the size of that at Loos, is the verdict of neuter's correspondent. He 6tates that the shellburots numbered five hundred to the minute on a short front. , Directors of cheese factories in the Auckland province will meet at Hamilton on Wednesday to consider the possible requisitioning of the Dominion's 1016-17 cheese output by the Imperial Government. It is understood in Xew York that the American Secretary for State is iv possession of information showing that Germany's attitude over the torpedoing of the Sussex has been a series of almost incredible lying. lion. W. G. Russell states that a mora stringent application of the passpoit and permit regulations is to be made, especially in the case of "medically un : fit!' men. who are needed in the Dominion to fill the places of men at the front. Numerous difficulties that have arisen in realising the assets in the insolvent estate of the late William Coleman, solicitor, were detailed at a meeting of credit'vrs yesterrta-y afternoon, when the Official Assignee reported that the deficiency was eertainlv in the neighbourhood of £40,000. Big savings at Tudehope's sale. Leather bags half-price, long kid gloves, black and white. 5/11, now 3/li; fine black cotton hose, 1/ pair.—Usual ao> i dress, top o' Syraonds Street.r—(Ad.)