ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1917, Page 3

ELTHAM.

(From Our Own Correspondent). Eltham, July 4. It is no secret that the member for Egmont, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, is against the existence of toll-gates. There are others of the same opinion, consequently no surprise is felt at the determination of Egmont's M.P. to have these gates removed. The idea does not strike others in the same light, and the County Council as a 'body finds the gates an excellent method of collecting revenue and building up the roads over which the traffic is most heavy. Opinion is very much divided: business people do not hesitate to say that the gates have been the means of diverting a considerable amount of traffic to other towns that rightly belongs to Eltham. Councillors and ratepayers on the toll-gate roads state that this method of deriving revenue is the most equitalble and shall continue. It is idle to deny that since the toll-gates were in existence the roads have improved considerably. Indeed, round Mangatoki the main thoroughfare was in a deplorable condition through lack of funds, hut since the toll-gates have been instituted, old wooden (bridges have given way to concrete culverts, depressions have ibeen fdled, awkward curves improved, etc. With this at the back of them, and the experience of previous conditions before the advent of the toll-gates, one can quite understand the desire of some that the gates shall continue. It looks as if our member has hard work ahead. During the quarter ended 'Tune 30 the business transacted at the local S.M. Court was as follows:—.Sixty-five summonses were issued, amount sued for HI 154, £i4'l> being recovered. 'Police charges were against 25 offenders. Eleven judgment summonses were issued aiul ten distress warrants. Two old age pension applications were refused and seven renewed. At the Ilawera Show, Mr. W. I'. -Tenkins (Eltham) was successful in the vegetable classes, and Mesdames .Tenkins and A. E. 'Saddler (Eltham) in the home industries.