LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17678, 31 August 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Many anxious eyes were cast at the sky last evening with a view to prognosticating the weather for the Auckland Sports Excursion to-day and local sports officials have had an anxious time.

Either / the Thames folk are particularly unobservant or else singularly honest. Last evening- a young fellow had his week’s wages in ~-his pocket and passing along Pollen Street pulled his handkerchief out a* ‘five-pound note coming out with it and falling to the ground unnoticed. He visited several business places before he noticed bis loss, fully 20 minutes later. [Remembering where ho had last put his hand in his pocket he rushed back to the spot . . . and there was his fiver still lying on the pavement. He is now inquiring where tickets in a well-known overseas consultation can be obtained.

In our advertisement columns wall be found particulars as to St. James' spring flower show and cake and apron fair. Entries and prizes are announced for classes of spring flowers*. Various stalls are detailed, for which gifts are respectfully solicited. There will be a Christmas tree for the children. The show and fair will he held on. Thursday and Friday, September 12 and 13, and will be opened by the Mayor on the Thursday at 2.30 p.m. Admission is sixpence, and all axe cordially invited to be present.

A Stewart Island fisherman has a novel form of insurance to provide for his retirement in old age. For the past four years he has been systematically gathering and hoarding ambergris. The accumulation lias already become a valuable asset. He intends to add. to it each season and not to sell until he is too old' to follow his calling a s a fisherman. In the small hours, about 2 a.m., seated comfortably in a limousine motor catr of expensive make, a Wanganui bargain-hunter recently commenced an anxious watch, on an Avenue shop door (says the Chronicle). At the sound of footsteps down the deserted street, she woiuld spring nimbly from the car and stand in the doorway, firmly determined to be the first when business commenced the next day, to claim a dinner set for the sum of Is 6d. Many times her alarm was needless, as the newcomer would be jmerely a harmless policeman o<r nightwatchman with thought far from bar-gain-hunting, and the lady of the limousine would then retire to the. comfort of her oar. At 3 n..m. bargain-' No. 2 put in her appearance. She missed.

With the idea of fostering athletics, a meeting is being called on Tuesday evening in the Queen’s Theatre. The aims of the promoters are to inaugurate a gymnasium in the town and to resuscitate the Thames Athletic and Cycling clubp. Both these bodies were in existence in the district in former years and some excellent meetings were held which brought talent in from all over the province as well as encouraging the local athletes. Thames is particularly suited, for instance, for the staging of cycle road races and with the great improvements to the road surfaces in the district some fine runs could be put on. In Taranaki the wellknown Round-tlie-Mountain fixture attracts riders from all over New . Zealand, and there- seems no reason, why a Round-the-Penmsula run should not be staged with the route Thames-Tapu-Coroglen-Tiki and hack along the Coast Road. The idea has possibilities.

The many Thames friends of Mr. Herbert Webb, who is now living in Hawera, will l>e pleased to hear of his success in the musical circles of that town. A contemporary remarks:—“The Hawera Orchestral Society on Tuesday evening gave its second concert of the season, and it s first under the eonductorship of Mr. Herbert Webb. The Opera House* was 'veil filled, and both the orchestral numbers and the songs were warmly applauded, the orchestra having to repeat portions (if two numbers, while the singers also responded to encores. Mr. Webb and the orchestra are to he congratulated on their admirable work, which conveyed the impression that the members are* in sympathy with the conductor and understand bis aims. The orchestra opened the programme with Suppe’s “Jcllv Robber” overture. There, was no hesitation in tho attack, the rhythm was well maintained and the solo work was clean, the clarinet being especially pleasing in a short passage. The stirring final movement found every instrument up to its work.”

Attention is directed to an announcement by L. A. \\ illiams in our auction columns to-day of a sale on behalf of the Official’ Assignee in Bankruptcy on Thursday next, when a large" stock of builders’ lines will be sold at C. W. Potterton’s premises, Pollen Street. In addition to the trade the offering should appeal particularly to farmers and those who have any buildings to erect or repair, and as all lots will be offered in quantities to suit buyers, a unique opportunity will be' presented to secure these requirements at auction prices.