ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1918, Page 3

ELTHAM.

iFrom Our Own Correspondent). Eltharn, March 20. Wet weather and the gale notwithstanding, there was a large attendance o? the public to welcome home Privates A Kenny and llenrickson (Jiltham) i-.nd J. I'., Finnc-gan (Riverlea). The Saiv.i--tio3 Army mustered in good strength, and played a few selections as the train steamed in. In the absence of the Mavor, the duties of welcoming the men back from the front devolved on Mr. <:. A. Wilkinson, M.P., who expressed the appreciation' of the public at the effort lilt; soldiers were doing at the front, and their pleasure at the safe return of the soldiers that evening, and the hope that they would suon bo restored to their i;;-ual good health. Tli" sounding of the alarm horn at the factory early On Tuesday morning brought the firemen and other residents out. of bed. The alarm was genuine, hut happily it did not have reference to lli'- possible destruction of (he premises. The conflagration was caused by the burnT.g of stumps at U-iwhitiroa, and, t'aw.ed by the gale, appeared to assunut M.l i • serious dimensions. Brigades* n,e;,. howdver, could do nothing. Tl ( Foresters intend holding a social evening next week, when P.DC.R. Bro. Murray (Stratford), and D.B. Bro. J. An.hews (New Plymouth) are expected to attend. 1 he main supply of white pine timber for the Fsmont Box Company comes from the Ohutu bush, in the Main Trunk district, and if the fire encroaches on them'!!, which contains valuable machinery. besides the bush, the loss will be v?:'v severe. Our school has closed down, not fo; repairs or recreation, but on account of ;or > throats, which ✓the .-•ommitteo, or iUk-vs. believe may lead to diphtheria. Whatever the cause, the scholars are not a'-. <v'«iool. but the headmaster, doubtless, \Pi'l have them at their studies again shortly. 'i i'o ladies of the W.O. Temperance Un'on are controlling the tea rooms on Saturday, which will be placed to the cnc'it of the Soldiers' Comforts Fund. The Patriotic Committee are moving in tin arrangements for their "big push." The scheme is rather an ambitious one,J but. guided by the results of the Stratford effort, there is no reason why a rich nisivct like Fltham should not, if thoroughly canvassed, gather in a goodly ;-.ui:i for the patriotic funds.