THAMES JOTTINGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4306, 19 August 1921, Page 4

THAMES JOTTINGS.

"> (“Gazette” Correspondent.) Considerable improvements to the interior/and exterior of the Thames Club’s buildings are now being effectdd. The' Agricultural Department has placed an inspector in charge vf Thames and Coromandel Counties. Mill. R. Denize has arrived '.to take up ' duty. He is a returned soldier, and has had several years’ experience in the fields division of .the Department. The Peace Memorial Executive are still thinking of calling a public meeting. The Returned Soldiers’ Association has given a lead by offering a donation of £lOO to the fund. I J would suggest “Festina lente” as a suitable motto for the executive. Thames, ‘in common, is affliciel with a shortage of houses. Rents have advanced of late, but even, .it the increased amounts dwellings are s very hard to secure. The builders are all kept busy, but the houses that are being erected are for the owner’.-; use, and not to let. As a matter of fact, house letting is not a remunerative business at the. present timef owing to high cost and arbitrary restrictions. Dancing and cards continue to be a popular form of amusement. On Tuesday night of last week two euchre and dance parties were held,, one in St. George’s Hall and the other in S< George’s Parish Hall, and oy all accounts both were exceptional l / well attended. The Bowling Club is about to hold another gathering of the same order in the near future. It is rumoured that a new theatre is about to be erected in Pollen Street South, -to be devoted to pictures and vaudeville, under the management of a man well known here and .of wile experience. At the present time the pictures hfere are controlled by a monopoly, but it is only fair to say "that the public are fairly treated. However, there should be room for another independent concern. The southern end of the borough is where mo&t of the people live, so that a I theatre at Shortland should prove t> convenient and popular resort. - MASONIC JUBILEE. | Lodge Sir Walter Scpft, No. 15. N.Z., was founded nearly 50 years ago un-1 der the Scotch constitution, and is j not merely venerable, but also lusty i and strong. It has been decided t.> ( fittingly celebrate the Jubilee by hold-! ing a reunion and dance, on the 27th proximo, in the Masonic Hall, Mackay Street, which will be confined tcmembers of the lodge and their lady folk and representatives of the crafr. W., Bro. Coss,grove, W.M., and, his officers are* determined to leave no i stone unturned to make the function | worthy of the great occasion that is to be celebrated. THE SCOUT MOVEMENT. | The Chief Scout Commissioner for New Zealand (Captain D. C. W. Cossgrove) paid a visit to Thames in the early part of, the week, and inspected the locaP’Boy Scouts. There were about fifty lads present, who recited the Scouts’ pledge and the rules and deported themselves most creditably. The Commissioner expressed himself well pleased with them.. The reorganisation of the Boy and Girl Scouts movement was fully explained to a gathering of citizens in the Central Hall on Monday evening. The Provincial Commissioner (Rev. A. Mitchell) presided, and in introducing the Chief Commissioner to the assemblage referred to the movement in Ne.w Zealand having been inaugurated by his late honoured father (Colonel Cossgrdve), and upon his death the Council, hah made a wise choice in selecting Captain Cossgrove ta carry on the work, as he had proved to be ei good organiser and an enthusiast. Captain Cpssgrpve dealt ,

with the Scout movement from its inception, and referred .to -the splendid work performed by Scouts during the late war, to. acts of heroism m New Zealand by individual Scou’s and tp„ the magnificent" service thev rendered during .the influenza epidemic in 1918. Greater interest in the movement was now Ding taken throughout New' Zealand, and the numbers were increasing. It was not a military org; nisation in any sense', but loyalty and service was inculcated, the aim being to make good citizens of. the boys and girls, h Latterly the Government had accorded, recognition to the .novement, as last year a grant of £lOOO was made, certain privileges were conceded, and pro-

tection was given by legislation ’-.o their badges and decorations. / He

hoped that as the movement / gr’bw greater assistance v/ujlrl be forthcoining. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded tc Captain Cossgrove for his excellent address.