LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18236, 9 July 1931, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

It was a relief worker who, when asked if he had change for a pound, thanked his questioner for the compliment and said the only live he'd seen recently was the No. 5 Scheme, but the same man was later noticed going into a shop in Thames. Yes, you've guessed it. He knew that he'd get best value for his money at Jorgensen's* Mayor's Gift to Borough. With the object of rounding off the corner between Baillie and Mackay Streets, which' is exceedingly sharp, the Mayor (Mr S. Ensor) has given some 30ft of his property to the Borough. At the present time a gang of men are engaged in levelling ami straightening up the land so that a better angle will be made. Cars have had considerable difficulty in making this turn which is most acute. Relief Workers' Efforts. Very good work indeed has been done by the gangs under the No. 5 Scheme at the Booms Hill, and the .■oad is now much improved at tl. point. Band of Hope. The monthly meeting of the Thames United Band of Hope will be he'd in St. James' Hall Pahau Street, on Monday next, July 13, at 7.30 p.m. A good programme has been arranged, and the president, Mr E. C. Brown, will give a short address. Admission is free, but a collection will be taken up to defray expenses. Paying up Well. The payments of the Unemployment Levy are particularly good in this district and so far not a single prosecution has been launched by the Labour Department against defaulters In the Thames area, which, when other districts are compared, is a tribute to the punctuality of the average citizen in meeting his responsibilities. In many cases the levy was paid up in advance. Still Maintains its Level. Thames has probably been less affected than most places by the prevailing depression if the figures of '.he number of te'ephones used is taken into consideration. In many towr.s the number who cut off their phones during the last period has been large, but as far as Thames is concerned there has been practically no variation, the 'phones which were cut off being replacejl by new connections. Telephone Staff's Good Work. A tribute to the eilicient working of the local telephone exchange and to the condition of the lines was paid by a Thame's business man when speaking to a "Thames Star" . reporter this morning. In the course of his business he stated that it had been necessary for him to put cal's through to Greymouth and Christchurch in the South Inland, and he was agreeably surprised at the celerity with which he was put through and also with the excellent reception which he got the speech at each end, being clear and audiblei He has frequent long distance calls to make and often has to do so from other parts of the North Is'and, but states that the local conditions are the best that he knows of.

Postal Staff Reductions. Word has been received in a private letter In Thames that reductions in the staff of the local Post Office are in course of consideration. It is expected that several officers will oe affected by transfer to other branches. Up to this morning no official intimation had been received by the Chief Postmaster, Mr H. T. Dawson, of any changes.

Netherton Women's Institute. Mrs Walker presided over the monthly meeting of the Netherton Women's Institute. Mrs Walker was declared the winner of the recent competition for the most nutritious school lunch. After the roll call, a competition for a quick and easy pudding recipe resulted in a number of useful recipes being added to the recipe box. Mrs W. Morrison, of Hikutaia, gave an interesting lecture on nursing, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The hostesses were Mesdames Sanderson and Andrews.

North Star Mining. A considerable amount of work has recently been done in the North Star mine and some six tons of general dirt have been brought to grass. The ore, which is at present in the process of going through McGregor's' Battery up the Karaka, is promising in appearance and a few dabs and colours are noticeable in> the stone. It is expected that further crushing will be undertaken shortly. Three men are working in the mine and Mr W. J. Joyce, who is in control of the battery, expects to put more men on as times permit.