THAMES  , a seaport and

gold-mining centre in North Island, New Zealand, in the county and at the mouth of the river of its name, on the Firth of Thames, a deep inlet of the Hauraki Gulf of the east coast . Pop . (1906) 3750 . It comprises under one municipality the settlement formerly called Grahamstown, with its suburbs Shortland and Tararu . It lies 42 M . S.E. of Auckland by the steamer-route, a pleasant journey among the islands of the Gulf . There is also railway communication with Auckland (but by a circuitous route of 120 m.), and with the neighbouring districts by branch lines . The harbour is good; the industries include foundries, shipbuilding yards and saw-mills . The sea fisheries are valuable, a large part of the yield being exported to Auckland . The inland district watered by the Thames river is auriferous; Waitekuri (40 m.) and Karangahake (28 m . S. of Thames) are centres of operations . The small town of Te Aroha (32 M. by rail), on the river, besides being the centre of mining and agricultural industries, is a favourite health resort on account of its hot medicinal springs .

The river is navigable for steamers of

light draught . The scenery along its course is pleasant, and at Ohinemuri (20 M. from Thames) it flows through a fine gorge .