RECREATION GROUND AND

SWIMMING BATH,

(to the Editor.) Sir, —The year 1898 has come and gone, and has certainly left its foot prints in the Thames sands, inasmuch as we have got our railway completed and doing good work, and it promises well, to contradict the prophecy of those chaw-bacons who argued many years ago that, the Thames Valley Railway was not required for the wel fare of the country, but was only meant as a political job. Had those people witnessed the crowds who have patronised the railway since the open ing day, I am sure they would be

only too glad to offer their apologies

and agree with us that the latter end of '98 is a memorable year for the Thames and; its people. We have

also got our-Big Pump open and doing good, steady work, ,and the prpspects generally of this goldfield are much brighter for the year 1899 than they looked at the beginning of last year. But all this is not suffi cient. We must not sit on a rail, but take time by the forelock and keep doing. And the first thing I propose is, now that the, new Mayor is in stalled and has got,all the harness of I his office,on; before he strains thtj traces, let the Borough Council send him and the Mayoress and the chilf dren for a day or two's holiday to Te Aroha. I^t him take a stroll around the Domain, see the beautifujl shade trees, the nice, comfortable seats, and the! swings for the chill dren, and don't let him forget taking a "header" intq the cold water swinji ming bath. Let him also see his brother • Mayor '■ (Mr. Mills) and M|r. ( Thomas Gavm,%ite Chairman of .the Domain Board; have a talk wijth those gentlemen and come back hoi^e with some tangible scheme to lay bel fore the'Thameji people with a s,uiti able recreation ;ground and a sWinji ming bath. It must be humiliaftmg to the Thames local bodies to think that they are the only local bodies of any importance fn New Zealand I who have not at least, provided a consort able place for wq'nen and children to, sit on a Saturdaj night, or in h<|liday time. 