LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20080, 7 August 1937, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

♦ Price of Gold and Silver. Gold is quoted at £O/19/8 per ounce on the. London market this week, and silver is quoted at 20d per ounce. Fruit Shops and Early Closing. Matamata is the first provincial town to adopt early closing hours for fruit ships. It is expected that these hours will apply generally throughout the Waikato very shortly. Borough Electric Extensions. The Borough electric service lines extension to serve consumers in Waikiekie Road have now been completed. Eight poles were erected for this extension. New Tanks at Abattoir. Two 400-gallon tanks have been erected and connected to the water system at the abattoir. Repairs and alterations to the sheep race, which was in a bad state, have also been effected. Fiji Gold Export. Tor the six months ended June 30 the export of gold from Fiji totalled 86090 z., valued at £87,266, compared with 75240 z., valued at £57,972, for the sauie period in 1936.

Under the Footpath. Few people know that under the footpath in Queen Street, Thames, three feet down, is a concrete footpath used by an earlier generation. This gives some idea of the amount of filling in which lias gone on in Thames during the past 60 years. Readers, Note. The "Star" cordially invites seeretaries of church organisations, sports societies and promoters of social evenings, etc., to send in brief accounts of their activities for publication. The resultant publicity naturally helps the particular organisation which avails itself of this opportunity. Dance at Kerepeehi. A successful dance was held in the Kerepeehi Hall on Thursday evening, organised by the Kerepeehi branch of the Labour Party. The grand march was IeTT by Mr. ana Mrs. J'. Thorn, Thames. During the evening Mrs, Thorn was presented with a bouquet by Mr. and Mrs. D. Hill's small daughter. United Services Church Parade. A United Services parade is to be held at St. George's Anglican Church to-morrow evening. Among the local organisations to be represented will be the Fire Brigade, Sixth Hauraki Regimental Band and St. John Ambulance. Magistrate's Warning. "This practice has got to stop. It's dangerous for everybody," said Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., when two men faced charges in the Magistrate's Court, Christehurch, recently of carrying loads of excessive width on motor vehicles. "To-day I will issue a second and final warning. If the offence persists I'll impose a penalty that will stop it." Thames Old Boys' Association. If there is one institution in the town which is deserving of every support and encouragement, it is the Thames Old Boys' Association. This body strives to keep alive the traditions of the pioneers and to keep contact with old Thamesitos who have migrated to other centres. There is plenty of room for new members, and now is the time to join up. Real Reader Interest. The actual reader interest of the "Thames Star" easily exceeds that of any publication in the district or coming into the district. It is stated on sound authority that no less than firo readers to a copy can be attributed to the "Star." Tests made by advertisers will convince any doubters as to the "pulling" power of its advertising columns.

The Pioneer Spirit. Mr. E. Watson, president oi' the Thames Old Boys' Association, recently told a story of the early days, when the pioneers clubbed together for a citizen who had fallen on evil times. They purchased a section and built him a house and made him a present of it. "And lie lived to rear a large family" concluded Mr, Watson, who told the story to illustrate the spirit of flic pioneers of Thames,

Spring in the North. Some amusement was caused in the Auckland Supreme Court when a farmer from near Wliangarei mentioned that on account of tho weather their "spring show" had been hold in January. "So that in the North when tluf season is wet you have a spring show in January?" said Mr. K. Meredith, who was examining. "Or February or March," said the witness, with emphasis. "In the winterless north spring may como in the autumn." commented Mr. A. K. Turner, who was appearing in the case. "It is a movable feast," added Mr. Meredith. A Hindrance to Billiards. If the standard of play in the medical staff's billiards room at the Christchurch Public Hospital sometimes falls below expectations, the players have a satisfying excuse. Although the room is 150 ft. from the hospital's radium department and although flic walls of the deep-ray therap'y rooms aro lined with lead, rays from the new machines installed recently have been detected in the billiards room. This was stated at a demonstration of the new machinery, when visitors were told the playing of billiards was now restricted to times when the machine was not in use.

Maniapoto Rugby Reps. Maniapoto, who are contenders for the Peace Cup this season, and who play an elimination game with Waipa, had only three representatives in the King Country team which played Taranaki to-day. There were E. Gilbert, centre, and Trust and Coffin, forwards.

Loyal Business Men. Many stories could be told of several of the business firms in Thames which are still in existence, and how they stuck to the miners in their struggling days. A number of these firms stood loyally behind these men, and if adversity struck them and they could not meet their commitments, they never sued for a settlement. There was none of the "cursed capitalist" spirit with these fine old firms. May their present inheritors reap where their forefathers I sowed. They were a sterling type.