LOCAL NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17319, 6 January 1928, Page 4

LOCAL NEWS.

The N.S.S. Co.'s steamer leaves Thames to-morrow at 7.30 a.m.* An excursion train at cheap fares will be run from Frankton to Waihi and back next Sunday? Motors to the beach connect with the train. The Rangitoto took 53 passengers 'from Thames yesterday afternon. Mr. Donaldson's string of five racehorses were also passengers. Mr. Hugh It. MacDonald, a member of the Auckland Stock Exchange, and Mr. J. Lockington, of Waihi, have been visiting the Alaska Hauraki claim at Neavesville. Both were much impressed with the prospects of this big low-grade proposition. The New Zealand Sporting and Dra-; matic Review begins the New Year well by offering to its readers a wonderful selection of illustrations- from all sources and covering all sports. Racing enthusiasts are well catered for in scenes from the Auckland Racing Club's summer carnival at Ellerslie, the Taranaki Jockey Club's Christmast, meeting at New Plymouth and the Manawatu racing Club's gathering at Awapuni, whilst trotting is represented by scenes, of the Auckland Trotting Club's summer meeting. The opening of the hunting season in England is depicted in a graphic set of photographs and a unique series is that showing the hunting meeting in Senlis Forest and the pictwesque blessing of the hounds: The Review is on sale at all booksellers and stationers. Entertainments for the children have been extremely popular at Puru and Thornton's Bay this week. On Monday and Wednesday- there was good amusement, the adults sparing nothing to give the children a good time. There were sports, singing of pdfpular songs, and a hug© bonfire. To-morrow evening, there. will be another children's evening when prizes will be given to the winners of several competitions. Residents along the Coast have entered into the spirit of the games and . donated liberally. Special mention must be made of Mr. Jones, of Hamilton, whose services have been invaluable in organisation work. . .':.V;"-/..'. .'■.-.:''■"-'.-.'

While cranking a motor-ear, Alex Large, aged 26 and employed at Waitakaruru, suffered a fractured wrist. He was admitted to the Thames Hospital on January 2, and to-day is reporteel to be making favourable progress. • The Thames cricket representatives will be seen in action again on Jauuary 29, when Waihi will pay a visit to the High School grounds. Haymaking has practically concluded in the Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains farming areas. ; The crops in most cases have been rather light, but the quality is good and no losses have occurred through wet weather, conditions having been most favourable for cropping.- A feature o,f the harvesting season has been the 1 more extensive use of machinery, particularly on farms where large herds demand si' plentiful supply of winter fodder. Members oli the Dye family (Waihi) had a field day at the athletic sports gathering at Te Arolia on Monday last. F. Dye (35 yards mark) won the half-mile handicap in lmin. 54sec, and dead-heated for first place in the quar-ter-mile from 35 yards, reaching the tape in the fast time of 49sec. E. Dye, (100 yards mark) filled second place in the one mile handicap, in which he was beaten by Brown (Waikino). Miss Z. Dye anneed the sigle ladies' race (200 yards), and Miss Dora Dye caught the judge's eye in both the girls' 220 yards eent and the schoolgirls' race.

The Hauraki Plains Tennis Association has decided to commence tournament play on February 11, entries to close on January 28. A decision was made to play an elimination round for the Howell 'Williams Memorial Shield at Kerepeehi on January 14. A jate challenge for the shield from the Hikutaia; Club was left to the discretion of the winners of the* tournament. Mr. Vowles advocated sending a teani to Auckland. He had been assured that a team from the Hauraki Plains was capable of winning the outer suburban competition. The proposal met with favour and Messrs. Mahoney and Vowles were empowered to make the necessary arrangement. A resolution prohibiting the payment of travelling expenses to representative players was carried. ','.'•'