LOCAL & GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15113, 23 December 1921, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A number of incipient gorse fires on the hills at the back of Thames are reported, but fortunately no damage has been done.

The indications are for soutb- - easterly winds moderate to strong and backing by. east *'o north. Changeable weather cloudy to overcast at times. Barometer little movement, but falling after about. 24 hours: Seas nnd tides moderate An. . Auckland stages that the firm of John Court, Limited, charged with having faile'd to close its premises being ivithin the electorate witite shops on the other side of Queen Street, outside the electorate, were entitled Ab do business as usual At the time of going to press there •was a'steady stream of vehicles into Thames from different parts of the Plains and the Thames County. The shops dealing in Christmas cards and other seasonable souvenirs are doing a brisk trade, in one shop the staff having to be increased to five persons from one originally employed, in order to cope with the business. Speaking to a Star reporter tJj7s morning, a resident from the Plains complained of the inadequacy of the launch, service' between the Plains and Thames. He stated that there were many who .were unable to avail themselves of the launch owing to it being crowded people "being compelled to stand on the roof to ensure a .passage Thames. There were many people who waited on the wharves for some considerable time, and who were unable to board the launcTi. He suggested that additional facilities should be provided to cope with the rushi in order to avoid the danger and discomforts of travelling per medium of a launch roof.

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The local Banks will close their premises for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in next week and Monday and Tuesday, in the week following. Breakers many feet in height were seen at Thornton's Bay yesterday. They were caused by the strong north-west wind that waa blowing. There was an exceptionally * low tide this morning, and a number of horsemen could be observed right out over on the flats, many hundreds of yards from shore. The staff acknowledges and reciprocates the season's greetings from the Lyttleton Times, Christchurch, the Morrinsville Star and the Dunlop Rubber Company, Welington. The Railway Department draw 'attention in the advertising columns of this issue to a special advertisement In connection with train arrangements ibr' the Christmas holidays. During the last few evenings there has been a large attendant.© at the Thames swimmings baths, and the popularity of mixed bathing on Thursday evenings is shown by the larg* number who patronise the baths then. The old Maori canoes which have of late years been fitted out with oil engines, havo been still further modernised. A motor canoe came down the Wanganui River with two life-buoys and a load oi amphibious passengers. There is a steady exodus from Thames to this Coast, and care laden with baggage and bedding making their way to the beaches may be seen daily. "In a ■number of places tents iuve be<m erected' and camping pr< pactions art m full swing. The early morning train which arrived in Thames this morning, was ' crowded with visitors irom all parts of Thames Vallye an Orfinemuri. Many Thames residents left by the morning train for Auckland, where they will spend the Christmas holidays. '^* The police state that there is need for care in driving vehicles a-ohg the Coast Road during the Christmas holidays. At this time of the year there will be an invasion of this part of the Thames district, and particular care is needed in negotiating the "numerous comers on the road.A man named Jaek tfolft, residing at Waikawau, Svas admitted to the Thames Hospital yesterday suffering from a metacarpal fracture. He was gathering iruit Vhen he slipped and fe.l to the ground. After treatment at the hospital and a radiograph had been taken,, ln» was- allowed to proceed to ui» home. A Kiwitjahi settler wrote to the' Piako Coimfy Council at its last meeting: "I see by. the papers that Parliament has passed; legislation that /all taxes .in vimc . will.- receive, a ten per cent, rebate. Please look into this matter, and forward my rebate as soon as possible." . -I The Thames Hospital *s assuming a festive ail, and great preparations are being made to provide a suitable Christmas for the in-patients. All. the Wards; ar«, being, decorated ' with greenery and flags, while flowers are being plentifully supplied to each ward. Festoons of small flags and foliage decorate the entrance, while a small kewpie is ensconced in th 6 greenery v '

In the list of purebred cows which received certificates during November, is the name of Mr. W. J. Hall's Orange Da e s Lady. In 365 days the cow gave 5379.41bs of milk yielding 286.93ib5; of butter-fat. Beatrice Chase, owned by the same breeder, gave 5410.9ibs of milk arid 272.991bs of butter-i"at. The former is a junior two-year-old and the latter a senior two-yearo-old. Among the four-year-olds Mr. HaTs Pink Chase gave 7629.31bs of milk and 446.601ns of butter-fat and armature, cow, Rioter's Chase, in 320 days gay* 6593.4u>s of milk and 352.651bs of butter-fat.