ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1919, Page 3

ELTHAM.

May 10. At the opening of the golf season on Mr. J. Quran's property the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Tayler) remarked that many years back the locality was the scene of a race gathering. Eltham in those days contained many sports, and the writer remembers a meeting held some years later to get a elub going but the opposition proved too strong and the idea had to be abandoned. Evidently Mr. Tayler's remarks were appreciated in some quarters, as it is now reported that efforts are being made to form a trotting club. The chief difficulty lies in obtaining grounds. Amongst the Taranaki soldiers expected to return home to-night are the Eltham men, Hornblow, McLeod and Mimro. The two former art members of well-known and respected families, who have been represented by all their available sons at the front.

The question of putting the Boylan road in order for traffic was discussed at Saturday's Council meeting. The chairman considered it one of the worst nieces of road in T"vanaki, and it was decided to set up a committee to consider the matter. Eltham, May 12. This afternoon Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for the district, the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Tayler), and councillors, together with the Hon. W. C. Carncross, were busy inspecting an area of land placed under offer to the Borough Council for municipal purposes. The area under consideration is 6B acres, and if a deal is completed it will mean a great deal to the borough From what I can gather, it is intended to utilise the area for a new paTk, sites for cottages, and, last but not least, it is suggested that the new district school should be erected there. For some considerable time past Mr. Wilkinson and others have had their eyes cast on this section, and if the deal is completed Eltham will find it the biggest and best proposition made for many a long day. On Friday, 23rd instant, the Eltham C.E.M.S. will welcome a number of returned soldiers at a social. This society is one of the strongest of its kind in New Zealand, and still continues to prosper. The constitution is broad and liberal enough to remove any suggestion of exjclusiveness, and any good citizen, no matter what his creed, may become a member. Drinking, gambling, and bad language within the rooms are forbidden, and these very reasonable restrictions have helped to preserve a good tone and enlarge the mmbership. The society, notwithstanding the costly buildings that have been erected, is on a sound financial footing, and the profits from the billiard tables alone pay the expenses of the whole institution. Returned soldiers are treated with great consideration, and are given all the privileges of members free of charge for six months after their return. There appears to be no difficulty in preserving interest, and, among other means adopted to this end, is a scries of debating contests during the winter months, the first of which will be held on Monday evening next. The subject will be: "Will the League of Nations Prevent Future Wars?" The debate? will be led on one side by Mr. J. H. Skeet and on the other by Mr. G. D. Gow. Supporting speakers" will be the R»v. Hobday and Mr. D. L. A. Astbutv.