TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 55, 5 March 1917, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

There were 216 male and 20 female prisoners in Auckland gaol at the end of last week. 101.5. Philomel is due to return to Xew Zealand about tlie end of the present month. A Zeppelin is reported to have exploded during speed trails at Ghent, the crew perishing. An English, American and _xpeditionary Force mail was distributed in the ■City and suburbs to-day. Sir Xeville Chamberlain is calling a further 400,000 volunteers for civilian service, making half a million. Tlie British line has now reached Aehiet-le-Petit, the first of the two remaining trench systems before Bapaume. ] It is suggested that the German retire- ! ment in Fiance is being conducted with, i the object of shortening the line of defence. The "Hospital Saturday" collection has resulted in the raising of just over £500. A canvass is to he made with the object of doubling the amount. The London correspondent of tha "New York Tribune" declares that between February 1 and 13 the British captured 25 German submarines. German newspapers declare that the retreat on the Ancre front is only part of Hindeuburg's gigantic preparations for forcing a decision in the spring. The German air losses in February totalled GO machines, and the Allies' losses 20. Great air activity is reported' from the Balkans and the western front. Three British gunboats on the Tigris have overtaken and passed the retreating Turkish force, inflicting heavy losses, and putting four steamers nut of action. The City Recruiting Station completed a year's work -on Saturday. Sines it has been opened 7719 volunteers have passed through it, 5504 being "passed as fit. A hospital ship with 553 invalid officers

md men aboard arrived at Auckland ast evening, and a formal welcome cerenony was held at the wharf this -mornng. - ' Germany is said to be conducting' a, >ystematic provocation of Holland,' with, .he object of goading her into Tvar-and jf securing'new" stores of food and specie. . About GOO men. of .the 24th .Reinforcements (infantry) belonging to the Auckland province, left on their-return to camp by special train on Saturdaylight. 'Many thousands are digging potatoes in Britain. A large number of businesses are closing on Saturday mornings to enable digging to be carried on over tho week-end. - • The King has congratulated -Sir Douglas Haig on the splendid work of the Army in forcing the enemy back by steady and persistent pressure during recent weeks. The Japanese Ambassador in - London says that Japan regards' the -German, plot in America with scorn and ridicule. Th,e German press is prohibited front commenting on the matter. Active preparations fox the appoint™ —lent of farmers' trustee boards are being made by the Cabinet and the National Efficiency Board. There will be twenty such boards in the Auckland province. .The . motorman of the tramear which! ran away down Khyber Pass, recently -admitted at the inquiry that ihe had been dozing, and that the accident was entirely due to his default. All vessels in the Australian trade are to be requisitioned by the Imperial Government, which will be assisted : by _ ■committee of the owners in determining the best use to* be made of them. Shipowners are expected to make some concessions in the dispute wren the Seamen's Union, with the result that a, settlement is regarded as probable without reference to the Arbitration Court. Mr.. W. Stewart, M.P., for Bay of Islands, has decided to resign his seat, a.s he finds that be cannot give proper attention ,to the needs of the electorate without abandoning his private business. Altogether nearly ' £1200 has been raised aboard the R.M.S. Niagara at various times for the work of the V.M.C.A. at the front, and a hut nameafter the vessel is to be erected in France. The 3rd (Auckland) Regiment broke ea-mp at Motutapu Island on Saturday, and returned to town. The Coast Defence Infantry Detachment, about 250 strong, will go into camp on the same ground to-morrow. The steamer Arahura, which was holed in collision at Gisborne, has settled down in the sand, and her deck is now level with the water. It is believed that there is a large unlocated hole in the vessel's bottom. The chairman of the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping complains that though men in shipyards are drawing enormous wages they are giving less work in return and suggests that the , Government should take action. It is probable that a register of all j women in the Dominion will be prepared at an early date by the National Efficiency Board, with a view to >—10 ' classification of women not already en- ' gaged in some useful occupation. 4 Gabardine, 3/0 yd. (cotton), in fawns, grey, navy, bottle green, saxe, 40in. —At _ Tudehope's, top o' Symonds Street. This is a very special value line, and looks very effective. Selling fast. Get yours j now.— (Ad.) c It is interesting to note that 20,000 1 acres of wheat would just keep By-croft's g Snowdrift Flour Mill supplied for twelve I months. Have you tried Snowdrift? — * (Ad.) c *