LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 18 June 1937, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

An Easy Win. The Thames American Basketball

representative team which Avas compel ing in an Auckland tournamont last night, defeated Auckland B by 50 points to 30. St. John Ambulance Postings. FolloAving are the postings for St. John Ambulance men at Rhodes Park to-morroAv: Supt. P. J. Ilosking, Corp, P. Trcbilcock and Pte. M. Lamb. Thames County Rates. At the meeting of tlio Thames County Council held yesterday, the clerk was instructed to issue summonses against ratepayers who are over 12 months in arrears with their rate payments. Young Air Passenger. One of the youngest passengers to be carried by air is at present on a visit to Thames. She is a threc-months-old baby girl avlio, with her mother, flew from Blenheim to Palmerston North. This little passenger will be flying back home shortly. "John Bradburys." "John Bradburys" are seldom seen these days, and many of the younger generation knoAv nothing of them. A visitor to Thames from the South slioaved a "Thames Star" representative tAvo Bradbury notes yesterday. One was an example of the first series printed and the other was of a later date. Old Pioneers. Several people havo intimated their Avillingness to assist in starting an Old Pioneers' Museum, and if descendants or relatives of old pioneers care to leave at the "Star" Office any photographs, letters, documents, etc., they will be taken care of pending the securing of better quarters. Photographs of old identities should have names and dates, etc., accompanying them. Once the movement is started it Avill gather momentum and become of great interest and importance to the toAvn.

A Dusty Meal. The new labour laAvs have had some

unusual repercussions. Dining in a Wellington restaurant the other evening, customers received a surprise Avhcn a Avaitress armed with a broom began sweeping under the tables and raising a cloud of dust. "Must you do that?" asked an annoyed guest. "Yes. We havo to have the place cleaned out before 7 o'clock, otherwise we have to be paid overtime," the Avaitress replied. "Thank you! I shall dine at home in future," said the guest as he left.

A Job for Local Motorists. The local members of the A.A. could emulate the Auckland body in marking wayside objects of interest. For instance, at Bangiriri the A.A. have marked on the roadside the entrance to trenches Avhich Avere in use in tho Waikato War. Annular sign on tho roadside at Totara Pa Avould interest e\ r ery passing motorist from other districts. A plain Avhito board with lettering in black, stating that above stood the cartlrworks of the formidable stronghold of the Ngatimaru, avlio Avere treacherously overwhelmed by Hongi in 1821, would be all that is necessary. Practical Service. Within the past few weeks the "Thames Star" has vigorously advocated the combating of erosion on tho Kauaeranga, and also the pushing through of a road to Tairua. In both instances, public attention has been aroused and indications arc that both Avill be carried out. This serves to slioav the value of a daily neAvspaper imbued Avith a desire to further the interests of a district. The "Thames Star" can justly claim the support of business men and readers, because, in return, it is earnestly endeavouring to sorve the community as a whole.

Big Battery Strength. It may amaze present-day residents of Thames to learn that at one time 093 head of stampers Avere pounding aAvay upon ore from the local mines. Even this does not represent the whole battery strength, for after the date of the register from which the above listis taken there Avere erected the 40-stamp battery at the foot of the Karaka Creek, between Mackay and Baillie Streets, and the Imperial Crown battery, another 40, on Beach Boad opposite the Big Pump, tho Herald (20 head), also on Beach Boad, and the Caledonian (62).

Biblical Names In England. There are at least a dozen Jerichoes in tho world. On large ordnance maps of England, Paradise occurs five times, and Nineveh, Mount Ararat, Mount Zion and Mount Ephraim three times each. In Bedfordshire thcro is a Calvary Wood, and in Dorsetshire a Jordan Hill. In Buckinghamshire there is a Quaker burial place known as Jordans. Hampshire rejoices in a sleepy hollow called Land of Nod; Cambridgeshire has a Noah's Ark, and Worcestershire a Moab's Wash Pot. Hebron, Joppa, Bethlehem, Gideon and Horod are also to be found in England.

Dissipated Fortunes. Digging into old Thames history reveals the fact that Hunt, Cobloy, White and Clarksou, tho original owners of the Shotover, made at least £40,000 oach while on tho field, but seem to have dissipated their wealth. None of them died at all well-to-do, and some were in straitened circumstances. William Hunt, soon after his stroke of luck, figured as a defendant in a breach of promise case brought against him by a young woman to whom ho had been engaged before he left the diggings. The verdict of the jury landed him in £SOO damages.

Nurses' Dance. Tho dance held last evening in tho Majestic Ballroom by the nurses of tho Thames Hospital proved most success ful. There was a good attendance, and music was supplied by Walkers' Oi chestra. Mr. \V. Bongard acted an M.C. During the evening supper was provided.

Novel Eat's Rest. • j To find a rat's nest in his motor-car engine on a cold, frosty morning was tho experience of a "Waharoa farmer last Monday when lie was preparing to go to Matamata. Binder twine and other material in the nest blocked the solf-startcr and gears, and a mechanic had to be secured to remedy the trouble. Old Miners' Eights. Anyone holding old miners' rights of the early days of Thames who would care to donate them for the interest of future generations, are asked to bring them to the "Star" Office, which is u fire-proof building. The idea is to form the nucleus of an Old Pioneers' Museum, and when sufficient photos., documents, old letters, posters of early plays, etc., are collected, an effort will be made to have'tho borough provide a fire-proof room for their permanent housing.