Thursday Is. News.

Brightening Up the Town,

From Our Own Correspondent.

Thursday Is., March 28.

SOME of the business places have quite transformed their appearance lately.

The difference that a little paint makes is remarkable. Possibly the day will yet come when the main business places of the Island will be of a more permanent and solid character, but until then there is no reason, why the best should not be made of what we have.

Visitors do not always get a favour able impression of the main street when they land from a steamer, and often a iittle brightening-up makes a big difference. Just now the gardens and grounds of private houses are looking well; bougainvillaea, and other bright flowering creepers are prominent, and crotons are showing up well, and the whole island is delightfully green with poincianna, frangipanni, mango and banyan trees and the fine widespread ing wild almond.

Rowing Season.

Captain Dimond, of the Torres Strait Pilot Service, who, like his brother pilots, has frequently to fill in time at the Island waiting for a ship, is coach ing the young ladies of the Aquatic Club in physical exercises. Under the guidance of Mr. C. Cleveland, Mr.

Richardson, and other devotees of the paddle, the Aquatic Club ladies have been putting in steady work in sculling practice, and tried out their powers last Saturday afternoon amid, much excite ment. Unfortunately, a couple of the fair rowers had to stand out owing to illness a few days before, but never theless it was a good go, and the next race in a fortnight’s time is looked for ward to eagerly.

Church Ball.

The School of Arts was gay with colour on St. Patrick’s night, when a “Cretonne Ball” was held in aid of the funds of the Roman Catholic Church.

There was a fine attendance, and con siderable originality was displayed in the make-up of some of the costumes.

The prize-winners were: Best lady’s costume, Mrs. C. Sinclair; best gentle man’s costume, Mr. C. White; most original costume worn by lady, Miss E.

Burgess; gentleman, Mr. M. Cellis; bestdressed couple, Miss E. Bartlett and Mr.

E. Latta. The promoters are to be con gratulated on the success of the under taking, as the church benefits by about £14.

Personal.

Miss Ailsa Adams, who is in the Dis trict Registrar’s office, and who recently underwent an operation for appendicitis, has gone south on leave, to recuperate.

Her many friends hope to see her return soon.

Mrs. Stephen Davies, wife of the Bishop of Carpentaria, who has been in Sydney for some time, is still too unwell

to return to Thursday Island. Latest reports are that she is returning to health, and hopes to be back at Bishop’s House by the middle of the year. The Bishop himself has also not been in the best of health, and is under medical treatment. The work of the big diocese, which, takes in about 650,000 square miles of land and sea, is very strenuous, entailing a considerable amount of travelling in three States of the Com monwealth, His Lordship came to the See about twelve years ago.

Mr. W. Clarke arrived recently to fill the vacancy at the Post Office, so the staff is again up to full strength. Mr.

Jones, who has been on holidays, has returned and will shortly resume duty.

Mr. H. Flannery, of the telephone de partment, will then take leave for three months, and intends visiting Melbourne.

Sergeant-Artificer Lambert, who has been at Thursday Island a good many years now, looking after the big guns at the fort, goes to Darwin with the removal of the garrison. He was given a send-off recently by friends. The sergeant’s family will remain here for some time, however.

It was with great regret that local residents heard of the death in Sydney of Mrs. Wm. Carpenter, wife of the well-known pearler and manager of the Port Kennedy Shipbuilding Co. Mr.

Carpenter had just lately gone south, and so was with his wife when the sad event happened.

Mr. C. Sawyer, of the Imperial Hotel, has sold out and is returning to Eng land.

Thursday Is. Jetty.

One result of the removal of the bar racks to Darwin is that a considerable quantity of heavy material has to pass over the Town Jetty for shipment.

Inspection recently by the Harbour- Master showed that the structure needed to be strengthened and repaired before some of the heaviest of the gun mountings, etc., could be allowed to go over it, and recommendations made to the jetty authorities are to be followed shortly by the carrying-out of the necessary work.

Thursday Is. Council.

The civic elections have taken place and a new Town Council installed.

There has been a change in some of the aldermanic seats.

Alderman A. Corran, who has occu pied the position of Mayor for very many years, has again been elected.

Four of the former aldermen have re tired, and the gentlemen nominated to the office this year are Messrs. A.

Broadbent, F. Joyce, D. B. Farquhar, E. Burke, R. Robson, H. G. Vidgen, E.

H. Vowels and A. Filewood. Only the required number were nominated, so there is no polling-day excitement to look forward to.

The Commonwealth and Dominion Line’s motor vessel “Port Dunedin” ar rived at Suva, Fiji, on March 12, from London en route to New Zealand. The vessel carried 1880 tons of general cargo for Suva and three passengers, Mrs. M.

B. Robins, Miss A. B. Robins, and Mas ter R. C. F. Robins.