TABLE TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 211, 4 September 1917, Page 1

TABLE TALK.

Tiie Russians lave abandoned the Riga) region. —* ' ',_ The Italians are furiously bombarding Monte San Gabrielle, which has been isolated for a week; •It is officially denied that the Imperial Government bas arranged, to requisition New Zealand hemp. The German trawlers destroyed onth'ei Jutland coast were carrying large sup* plies for submarines. Norway is stated to have only o_j month's foodstuffs in hand, and the Gov* crnment is ibeing urged to seize private) stocks. The £12,000,000 war loan las beelt over-subscribed to the extent of £3,800,* 000, and the Auckland contribution _ £2,041,400. It is considered probable that Parlia* ment will sanction a reduction of hotel hours, but not to the extent of closing bars at 6 p.m. Three more' members of the I.W.W, have been sentenced to six months' im* prisonment in Sydney, and 32 other* have been convicted. The Italians have repulsed counter*, attacks on the Isonzo front, and havei made gains, recapturing a position at a, Height of 9000 feet. Mr. C. A. Barton; fop. some years! clerk of the Auckland Magistrates'Court, was drowned whilst fording «, flooded stream near Baetihi on Sunday. I A notice was gazetted'last night, proI riding that Second Division men whoi do not support their families, will bal balloted in Gas .j _ (men with no children). ' .-•■;.- Artillery and air activity and the re* pulso of raids and minor attacks hy the enemy are the only happenings of in* terest on the British, and French, front* at present. An elderly woman named Bessie S. Oldham was sentenced to three months* imprisonment at the Police Court yesterday afternoon for cruelly illtreatinj three children. '"The Paris "Matin" states that the"' enemy's 1919 class of reservists has been! sent to the front, and 'the heavy demands! of the Italian front have made serious! gaps in the East. The Christchurch Ministers' Association has passed a resolution, urging the Gov* eminent to provide work of an lutely non-ra_tary character for consoi* entious objectors. The late Mr. G. P. Donnelly, of Tara* dale, Hawke's Bay, made valuable be« quests, free of-death, duty,-to a num.* her of his friends, but his -will does notj include any public bequests. •■"' Wholesale defections, are taking piaca among the Russian troops on the Rigai and Rumanian fronts, and urgent mea* sures aTe contemplated by the Govern* ment and General Korniloff. ~~* ■"" Although the war loan has closed. de« loyed subscriptions will still- be re* eeived, and the sale of post office bonds and certificates will be continued till the end of the year at least.. -' > Hostile aeroplanes crossed the coast of East Kent at 11.15 on Sunday night, but returned seaward a few minutes later, ■ after fetv.bombs. .The casual* .. ties are 'believed to he light. . , Customs revenue collected 4t New Zea* land ■ ports'- -" during August totalled? £326,865,' and the excise beer- duty £15,208. The figures for August, 1916, were £340,252 ajxd- £13,302. Owing. to the result of the 'Allied! 'Socialist Conference, the. Stockholm Conference has been adjourned indefinitely, though a Socialist • Congress v at. Vienna has demanded that it bo held without delay. -..-_. i It is reported that-steps are being - taken to deprive the Cossacks of their ancient status,- and -to reduce them to. the -level of ordinary soldiers. -. Their!. response to the proposal is awaited with] : interest. Some Austrian troops are making a) stubborn resistance to the Italian ad* vance on the Carso. Three hundred, men ■were isolated in a valley, and fought ■desperately for twelve-days, until aj bayonet charge ousted them. " Information has been received that there are ample regimental, funds in possession of New Zealand" units mi Prance, but money is required by the W<o._ for the entertainment, etc., pfi men'on leave in England. : « .