Thames Star MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1937. SEVENTY YEARS—AND AFTER.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 2 August 1937, Page 2

Thames Star

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1937. SEVENTY YEARS—AND AFTER.

"With marict towards none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right."—Lincoln.

Seventy years is a long span in the life of a New Zealand town, and yesterday Thames achieved that distinction. It commences its seventyfirst year with every sign of greatly renewed 'vigour, and indications are that its pathway down the years will be one of greater progress than ever. For Thames is unique among all the towns of the Dominion. It commenced its career in a fever of

gold-winning and its hills poured out gold for many years, making huge fortunes for many men. Like all gold-mining towns, it had its share of booms and slumps, but unlike most gold-mining towns, when the gold-mining ceased to be the principal feature, Thames did not become a deserted village. Its situation and the development of adjacent rich farming lands saved it and

gave it a new and permanent source of industry and enterprise. Thus,

to-day, Thames is recognised throughout the whole Dominion as a solid business town.

Another feature which singles out

Thames amongst the towns and cities of the Dominion is its uniquo romantic history. Its early years had all the glamour which goes with the opening of a rich new goldfield. From every quarter came men drawn by the golden magnet, seeking wealth from the hills. Many failed and many succeeded, a few in a spectacular manner, but in all the scouring of the hills for gold the toAvn of Thames was born and immediately became a lusty member of the boroughs of the Dominion. Emerson once said: "Every great institution is but the lengthened shadow of a single man." If that is so, then Thames owes a debt of gratitude to one man, who more than any other individual had to grapple with the problems of a gold rush. This man was James Maekay, who, seventy years ago yesterday, signed the first miner's right on the Thames. He

was a remarkable gold warden and possessed all the qualities necessary to bring order out of chaos, and hold the scales of Justice between the pakeha and Maori. A man of infinite courage, of great foresight, and wonderful ability, he left his impress upon the town of Thames. Unfortunately, Thames has been so busy growing up and looking after

other interests that it has not had time to honour the name of Maekay as it is deserved. But some day, when the actual worth of Maekay is realised, a new generation will arise who will do justice to this creator 'of Thames by erecting, not something of a ulitarian nature like a hospital, or the granting of a scholarship which is merely a semisellish idea of capitalising a great name for the sake of those living, but by the erection of a fine statue, town clock, or archway at the entrance to the town he created out of a gold rush. Maekay, be it said to the shame of the Dominion, died in poverty in Paeroa, and his very grave was, until recently, forgotten among the brambles of a lonely cemetery. It is impossible to separate the name of Maekav from the earlv

history of Thames. He was, in effect, its governor. Law and order emanated from him, and his word was final. He kept the balance of power between the uneasy Maoris of that period and the equally restive and adventurous pakeha. His was no easv task. A weaker man in

the position he held, and the whole history of Thames would have been altered. He deserved a better fate. But to-day Thames has said "good-bye" to seventy long years. What of the future? That is in the hands of those of us who have been

avoured to live and work in this listoric town. It is ours to see that ts next seventy years are years of

progress, of endeavour and orderly growth. It is oui-s to beautify beyond any town in the Dominion, to make its minescarred hills fairylands of trees and flowers, its streets and homes thjngs of beauty and charm, its foreshores pleasure grounds which will attract the tourist as in the old days the geld attracted the

minex\ It is for us to realise that man does not live by bread alone, and if we do that, we will not spare ourselves in working to build a newer and greater Thames so th'at those who came after us will acknoAvledge that we, in our day and generation, like those before us, have not shirked our duty to a wonderful and historic old town which, in the centuries to come, will be visited by countless thousands with interest akin to awe.