THAMES JOTTINGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4308, 24 August 1921, Page 3

THAMES JOTTINGS.

(“Gazette” Correspondent.) The Thames Bowling Club held a successful euchre party and dance .in St. George’s Parish Hall pa Wednesday last. O.wing to countenattractions the attendance was not so large as on the previous occasion, but the function was most enjoyable. The success of the recent Golf Ball has ’whetted the appetite of the young folk for more amusement on the same lines. The bachelors of the town have met and decided to hold a grand ball on the 2nd prox. An energetic committee has been appointed, and matters are well under way. Judging by the energy and enthusiasm that is being put into the project a most successful issue may, be anticipated. The laying of the underground telephone cables having been completed, it is anticipated that the overhead wires will shortly be demolished and the new system put into operation. This will min' miso the contact of wires and .prove a boon to users. The completion of this work should free the staff and enable many who z have been upon the waiting-list for a long time to be linked up, and incidentally materially increase the levenue. Thames wants public slot-telepho ties and the Department states they are likely to prove unprofitable. The latest is that one will be provided if the Chamber of Commerce or Borough f Council will- guarantee to make* jv. the deficiency, estimated at £7 per annum. If Ipcal people are sure the box telephones will prove to be a paying proposition, why hesitate to give the required guarantee. It is a case of backing your opinion. The condition of Pollen Street ibeing improved by a coat of metal being placed thereon, and not before it wanted it. _A fortnight ago the street was a mass of holes, and mary old residents declare that it was worse than it has been for the past forty years. There is no economy in deferring essential works until the eleventh hour and fifty-ninth second. Local bodies generally .would do well to realise the tiuth of the proverb ‘'A stitch in time saves nine.” Parawai Station is odoriferous when the wind bloweth in’ from the sea, the cause being the proximity of the Borough night-soil dump. Residents of the locality are up in arms and are agitating to have another and more suitable blace selected. The present site is in sKalliow, sandy soil, and unsuitable for. the purpose. In any case it is undesirable to have it in proximity to the abbatoirs.

PUBLIC BENEFACTORS. The Women’s Reserve are evidently determined to materially aid the efforts of the Beautifying Society. The latter are making ugly corners beau-tiful-and are planting trees oh barren hillfaces, and the ladies are out to furnish seats so tha.t people—especially women and children—may rest by the waysi.de and appreciate th? spots that have been made. pretty. The Reserve raised more than enough to provide two by holding “an afternoon” some weeks back, and on Saturday a stall in front of the Central Hall resulted in over £2O being raised, and will enable a couplie of seats to be placed on the road to the cemetery, and wilil prove a booh to many who may journey up the hill to visit or ..care for the graves of departed relatives or friends. HOME BUYING ECONOMICAL. Thames has something of a reputation as a shopping centre, and that this is justified is borne out by the observations of a lady who is a keen buyer .and who paid a visit to Auckland during (he sale period, when goods were advertised as though they were being given away. This lady—who is a judge of quality and knows what economical buying really means —avers that apart from a. few drawlines, displayed to draw the unwaiy into the meshes, groceries, household drapery, clothing, boots, and many other lines of domestic requirement can be purchased at Thames more reasonably than in the Queen City of the North. When we consider the high rents and heavy expenses .that the Auckland business men are up against, it is self-evident that 'the tradesmen in smaller towns who are doing a decent turnover and who buy in the right market are easily .able to undersell the city men. THE OLD, OLD STORY. The Thames County Councij has the authority of the ratepayers to borrow £50,000 for reforming and sealing with bitumen the main ‘road from Thames to Hikutaia and for. forming subsidiary roads, and has secured £lO,OOO from the State Advances Office for commencing the actual work, but a loan of another £6OOO for the purchase of necessary plant is urgently required to enable the scheme tq be carried out economically. Application for the latter has been made to the Public Trust Office, and it stands well up on the ..list for consideration, but until'this is /secured the scheme is practically held up. Taking advantage of the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister in charge of the Public Trust Office arid Public Works, being in Auckland, the County chairman (Mr H. Lowe), Major Blackett (councillor for Hastings riding), and Mr T. W. Rhodes (member for the district) journeyed thither and interviewed him relative to the urgent need for the £6OOO to be provided at the earliest possible moment, as until the plant is available the new access road .to the Kauaeranga quarry cannot be proceeded .with, and as this will mean a saving of probably 2s 6J per yard upon 'the cost of metal required for the main road scheme as well as effecting a great saving upon that supplied to the Government, a .special appeal was made to the Minister to provide the riioney.. so urgently required. The Minister was most sympathetic, and promised to go into the matter without de, lay and endeavour to find a way of helping the council out of the difficult}’. ’Advantage was also .taken of bringing matters affecting the Coast Road, from Thames to Tapu, under the Minister’s notice. It was explained that the road is an arterial one, used largely by others than residents, that the County Fund had been taxed to this hxtent\of £3OO over and above , the

rates raised within the riding, and

that while the road and bridges ’urgently required attentipn the coffers were empty. The Minister was asked to provide £3OO for general repairs and to undet.ake the cost of repairing Waikawau bridge—,at the boundary m. Thames and Coromandel counties. Major Blackett forcefully urged the claims put forward by his colleagues in relative to the Hasting riding. Tim Minister asked if there were any grants upon the Estimates that could be utilised, and upon being advised that such was the case he prbmise'l to favourably consider the request and communicate his decision as early as practicable. BENEFIT TOURNEY. Thames has ever been noted fo’’ ready response to an appeal to help the unfortunate, and the 'arge gathering at the High School grounds demonstrated that the good aid spirit is not dead. Mr J.. Coots, an O.lcl Thames Boy and Rugby footballer, has been in bad health for quite a while, so the Old Thames Boys’ Association and Rugby Union officials put their heads together to help sb deserving a cause. A procession and fotball tournament was arranged for Saturday afternoon, and drew lake a mustard plaster. There was a huge crowd, each cheerfully parting up His or her “bob” at the gates. The matches were got off expeditiously and an enjoyable afternoon ersulted.. The 6th Hauraki Regimental .Band, with its usual willingness to assist in a deserving cause, was in attendnace and discoursed sweet music at intervals, thereby adding to the enjoyment of all and sundry and materially assisting in the success of the project. The Fire Brigade also did their full share in bringing abort a successful issue. Everyone concerned in the arrangements did their level best and are deserving of the utmost commendation. Mr Coote Ts remembered as a gobd sport, and everyone is pleased that the result of Saturday afternoon’s effort will mean a substantial cheque to helip him along.