NEW YEAR.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15119, 4 January 1922, Page 5

NEW YEAR.

LOCAL CELEBRATIONS

QUITE UNOFFICIAL.

Kerosene tins, tin-cans, • whistles, and every conceivable kind of noise producing appliance was requisitioned by a baud of youths in Thames on Hew Year’s night, to usher in the New Year. Its advent was greeted with wild noises, cheers, yells, more crashing of tin cans, until one hardy spirit, more venturesome than the rest, mounted the firehell at the Shortland end of the town and rang the hell. There was, a wild stampede as the dull clang awoke the slumbering residents, and windows commenced to open; the New Year moon peeped over a deserted street with the sound of hurrying feet. Here and there, a lighted'window', and the sound of music,-,spoke of family festivals in progress. But even they died away, and the New 7 Year entered upon a sleeping town.

KOPU ACTIVITIES

> At about 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon it Avas mooted in Kopu that there was to he a fireworks display on the three-masted barquentine Louis Theirault, vdiieh is berthed at the Kopu wharf. ’ Many of the. residents' of Kopu resolved to usher in the new year in a social way and enjoy the display. One party of men folk, becoming tired of waiting, took themselves to the hall and presented quite an enjoyable concert programme. By 11.30 about 65 men and women had gathered on the Kopu■frharf to witness the much-talked of fireworks display. Quite a number went aboard t'hfgjgessel. Captain Irving, a most poptiH^skipper, invited (several people to inspect the vessel below deck, the time then being nearly 12 o’clock. No sooner had the party (including several ladies) gone below 7 than an explosion pinch like the sound of a 10-inch gun being fired, was heard. There were shrieks and yells, and for a time several of the party did not know just what to think. They were informed that the sound was a distress signal, which was the signal for proceedings to commence. For the next half hour those present were treated to one of the prettiest sights ever n witnessed in the township. Several ship’s rockets were let off, soaring high up into the hea\ T ens, there to separate into hundreds -of phosphorescent stars. In addition, many “blue lights” '■ and distress signals were let off. Several of the men folk formed themselves into a choir,' and lead by Messrs. R, McGregor and V. Williams, rendered at intervals many songs which help to pass away the time pleasantly. AT NGATEA. : Several of those avlio had forgotten'that it Avas New Year’s Eve and had retired early in the evening, Avere awakened from their slumbers by the sound of the steam siren at the lea butter factory at 12 o’clock on NeAV Year’s Eve. . The noise made by this siren is such that it is doubtful if any person Avithin two or three miles could have slept the New Year in. '< A SMOKE CONCERT. To celebrate the closing of an eventful, year the Ngatea branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, on Saturday evening, held a social evening and smoke concert in the Ngatea hall. Mr W.' 0. Hayward, president of the branch,’ made a most efficient chairman. Among those; present was Mr J. Bratlie( now of Thames), who was for many years, president of the branch. - _ ■ The loyal toast was duly honoured. Proposing the toast of the h aimers’’ Union Mr. Brat-lie stated that the .Farmers’ Union had got everything for the Hhuraki Plains. It was not only a local body but was also a Dominion one. The chairman, replying to the previous toast, said that the Farmers’ Union bad got for Ngatea all that it had. The Union had at last succeeded, by . constantly mging its claims, in getting a grant, of £4OO towards the cost of a,new post office for Ngatea. This was only one of the many things that the Union had secured for the di|tiict. Mr. Glare, proposing the tbgsfc< of the Hauraki Plains County Council, remarked that the council--Avas up against a hard proposition regal ding the obtaining of a suitable supply of metal for the Plains. He Avas of the opinion-that the roads would have to he paved with large stones or boulders paved in by an expert. Then metal (say, 6 inches) could be placed on the pavement. Then, and then only, Avould they 7 possess good roads. He had had a lot of experience with county councils, and he thought that the machinery loan Avould have to be carried before the county could proceed with any comprehensive roading schemes. Cr. Hayward, responding, said that the metal question aauis a very tough proposition, as every , yard of road had to be metalled. This was the big question <that the Hauraki Plains County Council had to face. The other toasts honoured during the evening were: “The Visitors,” proposed by Mr. T. G. Davidson, and responded to by Mr. Bratlie; “Local

Industries,” proposed by Mr Qleaver; and replied to by Messrs. Allen and ; ’ , ’ ' -~ 1 W. McDuffii Dougins (growers/, mm j (dairyman); “The Ladies,-’ pfopose&rH by Mr.. H. F. Louch, and responded g to by Mr. S. Phillips; “The School Committee,” proposed by Mr. R. J Burke, and replied to by W. MeDuff (chairman), and Mr. Schultz 7 (secretary); “The Legal Profession,” ; proposed by Mr. A. Cleaver, and re- 7) sponded to by Mr. E. Walton; “The\ Pioneers,” prop6sed by Mr. W, "? Cleaver, and responded by Mr. J. Bratlie; “Sport,” proposed by Mr. A. Cleaver, and replied to by Mr, J. Dawson; “The Press,” proposed by ::i Mr. E. Walton, and responded to by ’ Mr. G. Gavin. , 7 ts Mr. RoAvntree acted as accompanist, and-jduring the evening several vocal items were rendered.