ELTHAM NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1916, Page 3

ELTHAM NOTES.

(By our Special Reporter). Some idea of how the cost of rennet lias gone up is gleaned from the statement of a cheese factory secretary, who States that prior to the war a Hl-gallon keg cost £3 fis, and now the price asked is £4O. > v ■ Ihe Lltham School Committee intend holding a concert shortly in aid of the school hinds. A comprehensive programme, including- many itcpis from the operetta "Crystal Queen," wil! be submitted. All Eltham and the best part 0: the country folk are expected to oe present.

The writer tried to get the ear of one of the big- men as to future intentions concerning cheese consignments. The gentleman interested ivas "lying low and saying niiffin'." Fanners are becoming anxious concerning the matter. War in the picture business is probably more pronounced in Eltham than any other town in Taranaki. At the last Borough Council meeting it was staled that there was a slight .profit showing on the working of the municipal pictures. The opposition party made an offer ;n lease the Town Hull and plant, but t'-f terms were not acceptable. The .Mayor (Mr. iDive) remarked that if the Council let the pictures,go out of their control the ratepayers prdbably soon find the j present concessions wiped out. 1

The Church of England Men's Society is flourishing rtronglv. So far, the memebrship totals (!0, and many overnight visitors to Eltham are finding the Society's rooms very acceptable to put in an evening. The meeting-room was first located at >.fv, 00, Buckeridge's. but this was found much too small. The present looms, over the Co-operative Society's premises, are ample In space. One large and two small billiard feibles are on the premises. Much regret, was expressed in Eltham at the death of Mr. S. P. Wake. 'Evidently the end was very sudden, as one of the residents here recently received a letter written by Mr. Wake.

A. CLOSE CALL. One frequently hears of narrow escapes from sv.ilden death at the front. Recently a letter was received from Private "Harold Bates, an Elthamite, who had as close a call as one could possibly receive without crossing the holder. Writing to a relative of the writer, he states that the Germans one nipiit exploded a mine under the >'e\v Zealamlers' trench. Sest day a fatigue party were engaged at excavating. This called for strong nerves, as the task was a gruesome one, many of tile victims beirtgr blown to pieces. Included in the debris were several trench mortars. In handling these one lying on the ground was disturbed, and the movement started the fuse going. A lapse of isec. ensues between fusing and explosion. Bates' mate, a young man named Palmer, promptly did tlie disappearing trick, but Bates was cornered, having,to pass over the remaining Mortars, so he remained stationary, and then the explosion happened. He was t buried up to the shoulders, with one arm free, but the worst was it left him exposed to the German snipers and frenchmen 100 yds away. 'He fully expected to receive a sniper's bullet any I moment, hut the Hermans were alarmed I at the proximity of the disaster and fled I underground to escape the falling timbers, etc. Tiates was wedged In and saw one hii|?e bulk of timber go up and come down just in front of where he was imprisoned. A sheet of iron came down end-on, fortunately just missing him.- A beam of wood also came down and part of this lay on his chest, but the greater weight was taken by the mound. Before the dust had finished falling Miner was hack again, and started digging with his hands. . Handing Bates lumps of earth the latter coolly started to build up an earthwork to protect his head and shoulders from unseen snipers. With his other hand free he soon had a small parapet in front of him. and then Palmer was joined by a second man, Lynch, and in twenty minutes they dug Bates cli?ar. 100 numbed to use his legs they dragged him by the arms to the rear trenches, A few 'bruises, deaf in one ear, and a shell splinter in the bead, formed His quota of the results, but he escaped very luckily. One comrade 100 yds away was rendered unconscious by the shock. The letter states that there are many young chaps in the hospital there suffering from nervous break-down.

MOTOR AMBU'LANCE FUND. ELTHAM DISTRICT CONTRIBUTION'S Mrs. H. J. Barnard wi -lies to acknowledge the following additional contributions to the Ambulance Fund:—Previously acknowledged, £f>3() ltis :)d; Mrs. Benton (Awatuna) ss, S.P.'tt, >"»s, W. Slater (second donation) ,C> (is. M. Kelly £2. Billiards liis, H. Milson 2 ; . "Friend" 2s (id, L. Scott 2s fid, .1 Kennedy s>, Hav/era motorist 2s. F.' Andrews i-0s; total, lis .'ld