The Thames Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1910. EDITORIAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 10245, 10 December 1910, Page 2

The Thames Star.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1910. EDITORIAL.

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THAMES GOLDFIELD.

' WBSY NOT CiELEIBRAiTE ITS - OPENING?

(k\ r the 7th <>f August of next year the 44th anniveisary of tho opening of the district as, a igoldfield will have. ai rived, and at this oppoitune tuns we suggest that the,piehmjna<rieß fur

tlte propei: .celebration of the day should bo undertaken. In all large "distncts whertptheie is any miaiiifoutatioil of piogiesMon, yearly gathi>r- , jugs or the pioneer^ colonists are held \lxk Dunedin, whftre the early «attli*rs Association hn« giown into an orga'ii-

nation "of^great importance, the annual reunion 'of thoee who ba-arcly ', faced -the" difficulties that preeenW thf meetves in the early days, those ' -who" fought the «tern> battle and cm- ' erged^bonquterorß, is one of the hcciai

twents 1 of .tlie year. In 'other centrei similar organisations have been form , t'd and in Auckland" the early colon- - ista galtJiering, w now jl Kxaal luac*-* tion aa auooewful m it'is unique. At "To Aw>ha the oth^dajru the 30tti 'anniversary of the openingl of the field was I"celebrated by a most suooess^ul gathering in which the pto< - eers'of the field oamo from all pirU of the district to 'meet their old comrades in social intercourse 'and olea-i

aant converse, to< fight ove^ again the

share again in-the yiciwi- >' tudea tiat had to be experienced; <*;ind toicombat tlie difficulties

• ftrose years hack.—event* that doubtan all powerful influence on

the lives, of those -who were present f xit th^nwst stirring J>eriod in the 'district's history. Sine© 1867 when 'the-Thames field T>as openeil, there

hnt- not been a tiuly repieeentaUve gathering of the pioneeiij of the; rWd, ,^those who manfnlly bore the luvit and -liurden of the day. This distiiet' ii rich in historical erents, in "tirring incidents, in sensational diiooTerfds. v AjKo»g ils-piojioers are many, irien -sVlio liaviil fought the gefod fight'j

M&:&ro!n,; and wiio ikhv wxsupy ■positions of honor iii the busy ..centres of tth V Dominion—legislators,liaadß of municipalities, ; Chairmen of eEduoa-,; tion Boax3s^]«w6derß in oommerce mid in many important induitriesi; and in addition a . la'rgje numibierVwho^ : le?s tispirjjng^^ are ootttent^to; ledd; ft life yii peace und quietness, with their families taking their full measure of the responsibilities' of life. These pioneers are 7 gradually being called to a higher sphere and: before the; grim -reaper makes too large a gap, and reduces the pioneers of the Thames goldfield i t^\.a;:mere\^^dful,..;.we/-think'-'the'.!<flih-: tiict should organiae a great reuuion of old.-'reßidißnls of the : field „to Le held during, the coming year. If the exaot date (August Tth) is unsuitable lowing to the^ chill- iof * winter heiug presentj the date could 'be a,t a time when the' weather is moie ,e,quable, say in.-Mlay. But we do. ithink 'some public function should be arran'g'ed';to 'celebrate the l aniiiversury of "the opening-i of. ,the field;: We beliere that such, a gathering would re■ulf. as would do full credit : to; the district, would afford much pleasure to the participants, and would-'do a i much; for. the a'dva ucoment of Thiitnt*s as it,.would Towards affording an opportunity.^© the old settlers to meet again in friendly iconverse. There are. ip'ibneers, of the land' as well, and we are confident that if the project is taken up, in.the proper spirit, such a gathering as we hav|e »uggest<ed cnu]«l bq arra^igfed. It would, prove a iiiinique and stirring epoch in the history of Thames: We commend the matter to the heads-of the local bodies; and to the residents ..for .their ■' careful <:bnsidaration and Wie hope, hearty. t^: pr6Val: We are confident';that such a Ifathering. be i ah unqualified suooeas.i" Our., columns ai;e available for the free .and .full discussion of the mattier and; we earnestly ; hope that the 'result will be such a gatheviug of Thames pioneers and !l;heir descendants as will do credit to the district and to;those who took a promirieni part in its making. -....■