December 5, 1993

AT the Vietnam peace talks, the first argument was over the shape of the table. If "talks about talks" ever get under way on Northern Ireland, there will probably be fights not just about the shape of the table but about what it's made of, whether it's level, where it should be and of course who should sit at it. In the 25 years of sectarian warfare in the six provinces of Ulster there has not been such a push for peace as now. Everything seems to conspire in favor of it: a new pragmatism on the part of the Irish Republican Army, a vague despair from the Protestant Unionists, and an all-around war weariness from the British soldiers and politicians who do the policing and the governing. What's more, the global winds are propitious for settling long-time conflicts, from the Middle East to South Africa.

IT was almost lunch time at the Monmouth Mall here. In the large Civic Auditorium, the advanced line-dancing class had just concluded, and a group of women dressed in high hats and black jumpsuits began tap dancing to "Singin' in the Rain." In a small brown wooden building just beyond the mall, groups of people were taking computer lessons, studying French, listening to a lecture on hypertension, working with paints, creating a newsletter, exploring the world's religions and learning how to survive in today's economy.

THEY sound more like riled-up cattle ranchers in the Old West than present-day homeowners in Fairfield County -- New Canaan residents worried that the Five Mile River will run dry if another community diverts water for its own use. "Once that water disappears, the life in that river disappears," Harlan Anderson, whose New Canaan property has a large pond fed by the river, said. "We're hoping it's not a fait accompli. There would be litigation for 10 years over it. The people are very upset."

The Belle Harbor section of Queens is providing yet another example of the turn back to traditional housing forms in low-rise residential neighborhoods of New York City. What began as the "Sea Breeze Condominium" in the hands of one developer a few years ago is now on the market as "Ocean View Homes" in the hands of another. The condominiums -- in seven attached and semi-attached two-story houses on Beach 129th Street -- were partially sold but never occupied after they were completed three years ago.

Other than another flare-up in Charles Smith's left knee, normality returned to Madison Square Garden yesterday afternoon. The Knicks (10-3) controlled play. Patrick Ewing (31 points, 10 rebounds) rediscovered the art of making shots. And the home fans left the building delighted instead of disappointed. Taking advantage of a weaker, injury-riddled Sacramento Kings team, New York recovered from Thursday's whipping by the Houston Rockets and rolled to a 123-101 victory. The only troubling aspect for the Knicks was that Smith missed another game because of soreness in his left knee. Smith missed eight games last month because of cartilage damage in the knee, and he had only returned to the lineup two games ago. It was uncertain whether Smith would be able to play Monday in Utah, and there was even a chance that Smith would be placed on the injured list.