Thames (NZ): 100 years ago 31st December 1913

Wednesday 31st December 1913

100 Years ago:

•  Yesterday, the 30th December 1913, Frederick Bourdot married Sarah Green of Thames
• A year before, William Martin had died and his wife placed an In Memoriam notice in the newspaper
• Lost - a purse with a pound note had been lost by the Cornwall Arms Hotel. Reward offered
• A number of Thamesites had left on the steamer for Auckland, while others were heading to Te Aroha and onto Rotorua
• A mob of 4000 sheep were due in the town from Waihi in the New Year. They had come from Cape Runaway and were being cared for by six men and several dogs
• Excitement in the town as a large number were expecting to go to Pipiroa in the morning (New Years Day), to the annual picnic and sports day held by the Hauraki Plains Settlers Association
• If you needed a new suit or some good bike tyres for the holidays, large advertisements tempted the potential buyer to shop at businesses such as Connor & Glass in Pollen Street

Thames (NZ): Thames Scottish Battalion

A badge reportedly belonging to the Thames Scottish Battalion is available for sale at an online auction site. Thamesites loved the volunteers groups and there were many throughout the early years of the goldfields. Remembering many of these men were old soldiers, men who had fought around the world throughout Europe before heading to New Zealand. Some came to join the armies engaged in the Maori land wars, others just to search for a better life. Anyway, the chance to belong to an army group still appealed to many.

 

A description of the Battalion is included with the badge, quoted as being from a book by D Corbett:

 

When formed the Battalion proved popular in the town. In October 1878 the first parade inspection of the combined Scottish companies was held in the Academy of Music, the number of women spectators in attendance was also noted.

 

"In the Government Gazette of October 31st, just to hand, the following officers are gazetted to the Thames Scottish Battalion Captain William Fraser (New Zealand Militia) to be honorary Colonel; Major Thomas Leitch Murray (New Zealand Volunteers) to be Major; Edward Benjamin Cameron, to be sub lieutenant; Captain Samuel Charles Schofield (New Zealand Militia) to be Adjutant; William Carpenter to be Quartermaster; honorary Assistant Surgeon, James Kilgour, M.D., to be Surgeon; Francis O'Flaherty, M.D., to be honorary Assistant Surgeon; Reverend Samuel James Neill to be Chaplain. Date of commission in each case, the first of October, 1878." From: Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3040, 12 November 1878, Page 2

 

 Gazette notices appeared in the papers regarding the disbandment of the Battalion in June 1882.

 

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Auckland Volume 2 has a section on the New Zealand Militia for further information and features a section on Captain Schofield, a former member of the Thames Scottish Battalion.

 

Thames (NZ): Sportclubs Xmas parties of past years

Do sports clubs still hold the annual Children's Xmas Party? Thames memories back to the 1960s and clubs such as the United Football Club. Xmas presents from Santa and sports days at Rohrlach's farm up the Kauaeranga. Crossing the ford to the large grass paddocks. Children's races, hammer the nail, tractor rides and of course lots of swimming. Finished with a good old lolly scramble.

 

Thames United Rugby Football Club (Inc) started 1940; clubrooms built in Jellicoe Crescent 1964. The building was destroyed by fire but subsequently rebuilt. Today it is used as a gym.

At the United Club was All Black Jack (J K) McLean, Who would later go to England and play Rugby League for Bradford Northern. Other All Blacks from Thames: Davie Stewart NZ Native Team 1888-1889, R (Dick) McGregor 1901-1904, H (Circus) Hayward 1908, A R (Mick) Lomas 1925-1926,  L S (Lew) Hook 1928-1929, and G W (Red) Delamore 1949.

Further information on Thames Rugby: Thames Rugby History

Background Reading:"Thames 1870-1970 100 Years of Rugby" By Young, F J

Thames Star 24 December 1898

 

Thames (NZ): Thames Library War Books & Collections

It never ceases to amaze me, the quality of books at the local Thames Library. They have an excellent selection of history resources for the genealogist and general researcher. Many of you will be curious about those people in your family tree who served in the different wars. At the Thames Library you will find many books that provide information.

Below is a new book that is a must read, as we near the beginning of the WW100 commemorations:

Title:  New Zealand and the First World War, 1914-1919

Author: Fenton, Damien, author.

ISBN: 9780143569756

This is a unique book, with multiple map, packets of information on each page that you can slide out and view. Postcards, posters, letters...the list goes on. A large book, that is easy to read - personalised by the experience that you have of unfolding each treasure. One feels privileged to unfold each item of memorabilia.

 

Remember while you are at The Thames Library website, click on the KETE Logo. Visit the Kete Hauraki Coromandel website. You will find lots of Thames photos, including those from the B Murch collection.

The photo above: Royal Marine Corp - Drums. Reunion Parade, October 17th, 1993 by B Murch

Just one of the many photos available for viewing online thanks to the contributors and The Thames Library Digitisation team.

Thames (NZ): Armistice & Influenza 1918

For sale at an online auction site is the Armistice Edition of the Thames Star, 12th November 1918. The masthead coloured in red. Although we marvel at the availability and ease of use of newspapers at Papers past, there seems something special about looking at the real thing.  If you get the opportunity, browse the old newspapers by hand and it gives a different appreciation of the news and times they represent.

Thames Star 12/11/1918

Thames was in the grips of the influenza epidemic, the front-page reflecting that the news of Armistice was relegated behind the news of the latest deaths, funerals and instructions for managing the deadly form of influenza.

 

A full account of the influenza epidemic at Thames is available by Kae at The Treasury website.

Thames Star part of page one 12/11/1918

 

Thames (NZ): Thamesites at Home - The Taipari Residence

Above: Looking from Grey Street, the Taipari residence in the centre on the hill

What a grand site it must have been as you entered Shortland in the late 1860s to see the grand houses of two of the most important residents, perched on the hills overlooking the growing town. The Taipari residence was to the south directly opposite the small Clarence Street that ran west off Bowen (now Rolleston) Street. The other house to the north, was James Mackay's.

 

 Above: a 1900s view of the house, of Edwin (Eurine) Hena Taipari, and his family

Below: An early view looking down towards the Shortland landing area and Grey & Pollen Streets

The house existed until the late 1950s-60s, when it was then demolished. The site utilised for Toyota Car Factory housing.

 

Do you have  a photo of your Thames ancestors outside their house?

Send a copy and I'll add it to the collection

Thames (NZ): Treasury Archive update 14th December 2013

Just a photo update, so you can see the on-going progress of the fence construction as at 14th December 2013.

Link for past photos

Thames (NZ): First lady to contest Thames Electoral seat 1919

Today it is considered 'normal' for women to contest the electoral seats, in 1919 the first woman stood for the Thames Electorate. Her name was Mrs Lindsay Cooke and she stood as an independent candidate.

 

At an electoral meeting held at the St James Hall  on 19th November 1919, Cooke's reported comments were: The candidate said she opposed the recent constant appeals of the worker to the Arbitration Court for increases of wages, as such increases only brought about a corresponding increase in the cost of living. She considered that a far better system would be to apply for a reduction in the cost of living. In answer to a question as to how she would vote on a no-confidence motion, she said it would depend on the question before the House. If it was a beneficial measure she would vote for it and against the no-confidence motion, and if it were a measure against the interests of the Dominion she would vote against it and support the no confidence motion. (NZ Herald 20/11/1919)

Over the following weeks Cooke was kept busy with meetings around the area, at halls at townships such as Kopu, Puru, Coromandel and Turua - all remarked large attendances. Some of her comments were questioned in the papers, but the fact that she stood on the soldiers' platform seemed favourable.

 

There were four other candidates for the seat: T F Long, W J McCormick, J Purtell and T W Rhodes (The sitting candidate).

MRS. LINDSAY COOKE, Independent Candidate for Thames
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19191127-37-1

The Voting was carried out in the December 1919 elections and the results were not in Mrs Cooke's favour, despite the excellent reception and hearing around the great Thames area, Mrs Cooke polled 70 votes. MP Rhodes was convincingly returned to parliament.

Hawera & Normanby Star, 19 December 1919

Who was Mrs Cooke? In 1935 her political career saw her stand as a candidate for the Auckland Mayoral race, aged 73 years. This decision was later changed. A full biography appeared in the paper. Many of the facts in this article do not align with a later biography at the Te Ara Encylopedia site. A snippet says: In 1917 Aileen Wrack divorced her second husband and eight days later, on 28 February, at Auckland, married Lindsay Cooke, publican of the Queen's Ferry Hotel. He took over the licence of the Junction Hotel, Thames, in 1919. In the general election of that year Aileen Cooke contested the seat of Thames, gaining 72 votes. She was one of three women to stand in the election, the first in which women were eligible to do so.

 

Born Aileen Anna Maria Douglas (later Garmson, Wrack, Cooke), she died in Auckland on the 30th May 1951. A woman who had a very interesting life, worked hard on social, employment and political issues. An important person in early Women's politics in New Zealand and Australia.

Thames (NZ): Santa on the goldfields

In 2013 Santa came aboard a large truck, with memories of yesteryear in the form of old cars that prepared his way. Childhood memories of grander parades remained and makes one wonder what form will the 2017 Thames 150th Commemorations take?

Over the years, Thames shops were renown for their amazing Christmas window displays. People would walk the town to admire them, especially those that made use of lighting.

Mr Palmers Confectionery shop always rates as having had the best display, in the memories of old Thamesites. Followed closely by Hetheringtons.

 

You can still see items of Palmer's display at The Thames Museum in Cochrane Street.

 

Thames (NZ): WWI Troopship Newsletters

An amazing resource available at The Auckland War Memorial Museum Library - WWI Troopship newsletters/Magazines. The publications contain news from the ships, written contributions from those onboard and reinforcement lists.

You will find your Thames men and women in the writings, but be warned it just takes some organisation. The magazines are in searchable pdfs.
1.Start by finding the embarkation date and ship that your family member departed on. Not sure? Check the Auckland Cenotaph database and you will locate that information.
2. Go to the list of magazines at the Library. Look for the year and ship that matches...if you can't find it easily, try the refine search and enter other details like 'ship name' and click 'words contain'
3. Worse scenario, you may have to open and read the magazines if you can't get results. Use the CTRL+ F function to search within a document.

The news of John Joseph Merrick's death aboard the Aparima was reported in other magazines, and came as a shock to many that a death had already occurred. The notice below appeared in The Maunganuian, Monday June 28 1915.

 

Merrick was the son of Caroline and John Merrick and his address on enlistment was Puriri, Thames.

NZ Herald 28/06/1915

Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph Record

 

DO you have any postcards, letters, diaries or other WWI Memorabilia?

If you are able to share a digital copy please contact The Treasury 

The volunteers will arrange copying for you if required

Thames (NZ): One Hundred Years Ago 4th December 2013

On the 4th December 2013, a list of anniversaries was included, I wonder how many will be recognised by the readers of 2013?

 

Other news of the day included:

• The Hamilton show was being held and Mr W G Hall's imported bull called Lord Nelson, took championship honours.
• Mining News: The Waitangi Mine was being worked. A sample taken from one reef showed an assay value of 41s a ton
• School rolls and average attendances for the month were: Waiokaraka School Roll 497 - average attendance 467.7; Parawai School Roll 449 average attendance 434.1 and Tararu School Roll 78 - average attendance 73.1
• Billiard Saloon - Mr Charles Birch had opened a new parlour next to the Exchange Hotel in Shortland. There were six full size Alcocks Tables. There were two private tables available.

Part of a 1947 V C BROWNE photo of the Richmond to Willoughby Street section of Pollen street
The Brian Boru Hotel far left, Coakley's Store on the far right, with the Exchange Hotel in the centre (flat front - no veranda)

Earlier in the year, in February the Auckland Weekly News published a photo reminding people of what the township looked like in the 1860s. The description read: A harbour side view of Thames in the early days: The old mining town in the mid eighteen sixties, as many of those participating in last week's ceremony remember it.

Source: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19130220-16-1

Thames (NZ): Burke Street Aquarium

Another 'Thames first' is that of the Burke Street Aquarium. The men responsible appear to be Messrs Steedman and Allom. The pair also had ponds at their respective Tararu and Parawai homes that were used in the experimental trout hatching activities. In October 1885, the young trout had grown sufficiently that Mr Steedman placed 1000 fish into his rearing ponds and Mr Allom took 750 to his home ponds.

Thames Star 9th Sept 1885

The trout ova it appears were given from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. When the trout were about six months old they were placed in the various streams around the Thames area. During 1884-85 there are reports of two headed fish being seen in the Aquarium. They are described as an interesting stranger rather than undertaking any further analysis of the phenomena.

Thames Star 29th Sept 1884

 Mr Allom was an interesting figure at The Thames, a member of many committees and holding positions such as Clerk of the Court, JP and Registrar of Electorates. Residence was on Main Road, Parawai.

 

Biography at NZETC:

ALLOM, Albert James 1831–1909

Born in England, son of Thomas Allom who made plates for New Zealand Co. lithographs from Charles Heaphy's watercolours. Came to New Zealand as a survey cadet 1842, worked in Wellington, the Wairarapa district and Otago until 1845, then a partner in a run in the Wairarapa. Returned to England 1848, but came back to New Zealand 1861 as manager and agent of the Great Barrier Land, Harbour and Mining Co. Moved to Thames 1867, and there held various appointments. 1889–97 was in Tasmania but then returned to New Zealand. Watercolours are in the Bett Collection, Nelson.

Source: Auckland City Libraries Collection

 The above house is labelled as Parawai Court house, in the Auckland Libraries image collection, as part of the Allom Collection. The question remains was the house called the Court House because of Allom's occupation.

In 1889 Allom's Parawai residence was sold at auction, along with land near the Parawai recreation ground.



Thames (NZ): The Treasury & Archives 30th Nov 2013

Dramatic changes underway to the outward appearance of the Treasury complex, Queen Street, Thames. The northern part of the concrete base has been poured and the preparations have been made for the southern end section. At present a temporary wooden barrier has been erected, which allows the passer-by to see how impressive the fence will be.

 

Opinion on the style of the new Archives building continues to divide some, the new fence has the opportunity to put this to rest and demonstrate how the the two buildings and time periods can blend together.

For past photos of the development: CLICK HERE

Thames (NZ): Thamesites at home

Ever been on holiday and wondered why all the photos seem of little interest to others? Include family in them and people have a focus and immediate interest. The photos of Thames can sometimes be the same, so people often plead have you any photos of my family or where they lived?

 

So the question today..do you have any family photos that show the house you or you Thamesites lived in. Just as shopkeepers liked to stand outside the shop when a photo was taken, many families stood outside their home for a family photo.

James and Martha Jenkin & family c1900, outside their home in Augustus Street North. (The Una Hill behind)
Photo courtesy of P Rundle

 Above: The Stewart Family on the verandah of their Heale Street home, Parawai
Photo at: Digital NZ

 If you have any photos to share, please let me know

I'll include them here and with permission pass them to The Treasury for their collection.

Thames (NZ): 27th November 1913 (100 years ago)

What was happening in Thames 100 years ago, on the 27th November 1913?

• High Water was at 5.44am and 6.18pm
• E DUNNAGE, opposite the Salvation Army Hall in Pollen Street was advertising a range of Xmas cards and photos
• Children were holding a Demonstration Concert at the Salvation Army Hall at 7.30 pm, admission cost: Adults 6d Children 3d. This was part of the Salvation Army Anniversary Entertainment.
• James Hawkes, carter was at new premises in Brown Street and advertising coal from Huntly, Westport and Waikato
• The Anniversaries for the month included the first vote for women on the 28th November 1893

• New Drill Hall. The Thames High School and the New Zealand Defence Department had reached an agreement over exchange of land, which would mean that a new Drill Hall could be built in Mackay Street. This was just south of the Masonic Hall.
• Weather forecast: Westerly winds strong to gale, rain probable

• KOPU FERRY: the site for the crossing across the Waihou River had finally been decided
• Thames Mining News. The Deep Levels was at 1000 feet, but nothing much was happening and little change in the water coming from the deviation crosscut. The Occidental Consolidated showed some signs of gold in the reef. The New Sylvia reported good volumes of ore with lots of mineralisation. The Moanataiari No 3 level had some good quartz veins.

Kopu Township
Source: Auckland Weekly News 30 th May 1907
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19070530-8-1

Below are photos of the Hon Massey's visit to the Hauraki Plains. He arrived at Thames, went by gig to Kopu, before going by launch to Turua. A full report of his January 1913 visit to the Hauraki Plains is in the Auckland Star 20th January 1913.

Showing two snapshots taken of the Prime Minister while on his visit to the Hauraki Plains, Thames, January 1913
Source: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19130123-4-2
 
The full description of the above 1913 photo was:
From desolate swamp to arable land: snapshots of the Prime Minister's visit to the Hauraki Plains, Thames District, Auckland. The new style and the old: two snapshots taken last week of the Prime Minister while on his visit to the Hauraki Plains.
(The wharf on the left is likely the Thames/Burke Street Wharf and the boat The Wakatere)

Thames (NZ): The Treasury INDEX

Drum roll please....
There are now over 250,000 entries in the Treasury Index!!!!
I've mentioned before the hive of activity at The Treasury on a Tuesday morning, well here are the results. Multiple resources have been indexed, to give an amazing total of indexed records, achieved in just one year.

Sincere thanks must go to the Hauraki Indexers, who for many years met weekly at the School of Mines. Now The Treasury has a group of indexers who have continued on with the task, to help make researching the Thames-Hauraki area even easier.

Give it a try now.
Click Here and enter a surname or topic.
Did you get many results?
If you want to know more...call into the Treasury at Thames or send them an email.


Looking down Pollen Street, from Upper Albert Street
Photo source: F J Causley Collection, courtesy of M Heberley

Thames (NZ): 22nd November 1913 (100 Years Ago)

The 22nd November 1913 was a Saturday, here are some snippets from the Thames Star one hundred years ago.

• Coakley's general grocery store, had moved into a new shop at the corner of Pollen and Willoughby Streets.
• Lane's Emulsion was selling for 2/6 and 4/6 a bottle. (A tonic that many of us were brought up on!)
• Weather forecast: warm and humid weather expected, with increasing haze and cloudiness
• Thames Electrical Committee was due to ask for tenders for the supply of light to seven Thames properties
• A public meeting was due to be held at 7.30 pm on Mary Street Corner - on the industrial struggles in New Zealand by the President of the Auckland Watersiders' Union
• Thamesites were being encouraged to get their Christmas Plum Pudding made, a recipe was supplied by Edmonds  Baking Powder.

Christmas Plum Pudding Recipe:

3/4 lb Flour (1 1/2 cups)

2 heaped teaspoons Edmonds' Baking Powder

2 oz Breadcrumbs

1 1/2 lb Suet

2 lbs Raisins, 1 lb Currants

10 oz Sugar

2 oz Almonds, 1 lb Mixed Candied Peel

Salt and Spice to taste

 

Mix above ingredients together

Add 6 Eggs well beaten

And 3/4 pint of Milk

 

Divide in two and boil 8 hours or

Divide in four and boil 6 hours

 

 

Thames (NZ): Hauraki Plains first cattle sale 1912

Many Thamesites turned to farming after the mining finished, especially as the land on the Hauraki Plains was drained and developed. Some men returning from war were lucky enough to get a land ballot, that would set them up as farmers for generations to come. Places like the libraries around Thames have books that cover many of these stories, as well as The Treasury. Information can be found in book, maps and oral history format. The electoral rolls also give information on early farmers around the district.

 

Books such as "The Hauraki Plains Story" by R E Tye  and history books covering the Hauraki Plains by Ken Clover - have been indexed at The Treasury.

 

The photo below is labelled as the first cattle sale on the Hauraki Plains in 1912. It was labelled as A SURE SIGN OF PROGRESS.  Bert Dunlop conducted the sale on behalf of the Farmers Auctioneering Company. Until the late 1900s there were numerous sale-yards all over the Coromandel Peninsula/Hauraki area. They were busy days. Places like the Kopu Sale-yards full of stock. Times have changed and while some still exist, their role has changed.

' Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19120502-13-1
Auckland Weekly News 2/05/1912



Thames Star 22 April 1912

 

In 1910 large blocks of land had gone on sale at Pipiroa. Click on the link to view the full details of the sales. If you right click and save the image, you can enlarge it and view in detail the farming blocks that were for sale.

A small snippet of the map is below.

Source: 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 4337'

 

 

Thames (NZ): Train derailment 1915

Today the Hauraki Rail trail allows cyclists of all ages to travel the old rail track pathways around the Thames-Hauraki area. In days gone by these tracks were busy routes for the train transport of people and goods.

On the 5th February 1915, cattle caused a train derailment at Tirohia (8 miles from Te Aroha), that luckily caused no serious injuries to the passengers aboard the train. At first it was rumoured that three people had died, but this proved to be false and only the driver suffered minor injuries. The evening express to Thames was still able to use the line, later in the day.

 A full report was in the Thames Star 6/2/1915, luckily the train was travelling very slowly at the time of impact. Residents in the locality had "accommodated the lady passengers."

Source:  Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19150211-47-3

 

For further train memories: VIDEOS available of the train at Shortland Railway Station

Thames (NZ): Armistice Day 2013

The town's fire siren has just given a short blast to mark the 11th hour of the 11th month.  Younger generations may wonder why and not even have heard of ARMISTICE DAY.

After four terrible years, the First World War finally came to a close with the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allied Powers on 11 November 1918. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns famously fell silent. New Zealanders celebrated enthusiastically, despite having recently celebrated the surrenders of the three other Central Powers – Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria-Hungary - and the premature news of an armistice with Germany.
The celebrations for the various armistices had similarities with each other, with those held overseas, and with other celebrations in the past or near future. Bells rang, bunting went up, songs were sung and speeches made. More organised celebrations came later in the day or over the following days. Most people anticipated the armistice with Germany and made plans in advance.
Variations in the celebrations reflected the perceived importance of the various surrenders, the depth and spread of the influenza pandemic, and the forethought given to the preparations. The limited amount of advance warning and the disruption caused by the influenza pandemic contributed to the enthusiasm with which New Zealand’s official peace celebrations in July 1919 were embraced.

Source: History.net

The first commemoration in 1919 must have been a very touching moment for people all around New Zealand and Thames people all stopped and remembered. The people of the wider Hauraki region had lost approximated 550 young men, with hundreds more injured or ill with war related illnesses. It was a period that families would not forget.

Thames Star 11/11/1919



 ' Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19140924-45-2

Above are seven Thames boys who joined the NZEF in 1914, they were members of the 6th Hauraki Company
Back left to right: Sgt Johnson, Troopers Shand, Trotter, Gibson
Front left to right: Troopers Bennett, Wells, Stewart

Thames (NZ): WWI contributions

The volunteers at The Treasury in Thames, are receiving wonderful examples of WWI memorabilia. A wide assortment of photographs, letters, pay-books, diaries and family histories. Family names to date include: Anthony, Brokenshire, Cornes, Danby, Jenkin, McCall, Milne and Paterson.

 

Amongst the photographs provided by the Thames Museum for the WWI photo register, was one showing the mascot of the Auckland Mounted Rifles. The photo is of H CLARK, believed to be Henry John Clark of Hikutaia, Thames.  Trooper Clark was a member of the Auckland Mounted Rifles and embarked from New Zealand on the 14th December 1914. He was discharged on the 5th September 1916 and later died in Auckland on the 12th June 1948. His given age on enlistment was 38 years, and family details included a wife and two children.

Source: Thames Museum

There is a story in the newspaper of how the Auckland Mounted Rifles adopted a Great Dane as one their mascots in 1916. Rona, the dog was allowed to visit a sick comrade in hospital, after starving herself for three days when her handler was hospitalised in London.

Photos and stories about a selection of WWI mascots can be found at History.net (scroll down page). Animals included horses and even cats. Snowy the cat, was the Tunnellers' mascot.

 

Remember to keep looking out for memorabilia related to the WWI soldiers from the Hauraki, or consider a short story about any ancestors you have, that served in WWI from the region. These will be included in the Treasury Collection.

Contact details for further information

Thames (NZ): 6th November 1913 (100 years ago)

One hundred years ago, the paper was full of advertising luring the customer to the delight of summer clothing and shoe requirements. On a sadder note the rumblings of strikes and unrest filled many columns. It was nearly a year since the unrest at Waihi, during the 1912 Miners' Strike.

ANNIVERSARIES of the MONTH:



 

Snippets:

• Health News: The Native Health Nurse reported to the Thames Hospital Board that the all local pahs had been visited and the health of the Maori was good. Pahs visited included: Kerepeehi, Waitoka, Tirihoa, Tui Pa, Parawai, Kopu, Kirikiri, Paeroa and Te Moananui Flat.
• Town Planning: The local Council felt it was time to look at the planning of Thames and sought the help of Mr A M Myers of Auckland. The towns Motto was: FEAR OF NONE, FAVOUR TO NONE, JUSTICE TO ALL.
• Franklin Street Store: Block 27 residents could now obtain the Thames Star from Mrs McLean's shop at the corner of the Terrace and Franklin Street.

Above: View from above the intersection of Sealey and Hill Streets. The Franklin Street Store is marked.