ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1919, Page 3

ELTHAM.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Eltham, Oct. 22.

The Egmont Box Company held a special general meeting in the Foresters' Hall on Monday morning to consider a proposition to increase the capital of the company from £IOO,OOO to £200,000 for the purpose of providing funds to complete the purchase of extensive timber rights from the Tongariro Company. The chairman of directors (Mr. A. Morton) presided. The chairman outlined the proposal, and, after a brief discussion, it was carried unanimously. Mr. Astbury opened his campaign here on Thursday evening in the Town HaE There was a good attendance, and the candidate, who spoke on general politics for an hour and a half, received a very attentive hearing. Only three questions were asked, and satisfactorily answered. A vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.

Another effort is to be made to revive the Eltham Brass Band. To an outsider there seems to be no reason why we should not be able to have a real good brass band. A lot of old players are back from the war, and many of them have been playing in the various military bands, both in England and France. There are a good set of instruments, good uniforms, and a bandroom. I sincerely hope that the movers in the matter will be successful, as the public generally are always ready to give a band support. Mr. W. Death, of Fraser Road, died to-day. He had been ill for some time. A meeting of delegates from the various centres of the Liberal League will be held here on'Triday to select a candidate for the coming election. Oct. 23. A conference of delegates from local bodies was held at Eltham yesterday to discuss the question of opening a quarry for road metal at the moiyitain. Tho local bodies represented included the Patea, Hawera, Egmont, and Eltham County Councils, and the Stratford and Eltham Borough Councils Mr. Belcher presided. Samples of the stone available were exhibited, and all agreed that the quality was good and just what was required for tar macadam road construction. Nothing equal to it lias, ac. cording to Mr. Cameron, the Stratford delegate, yet been available in any quantity in Taranaki. The railway line has been laid half way, and the formation has been completed right up to the quarry. The distance to be laid with ] rails is about a mile, and at one part some stripping ha 3 been done, making a considerable quantity of metal available. A proposal that a deputation be. sent to Wellington to wait upon the Minister was rejected, on the ground that tho session was too far advanced. The probable cost at which the metal could be placed on trucks at Waipuku was considered. Mr. Cameron pointed out that the Government had started working the quarry with the expectation that it -would be able to sell metal to local bodies at 5s per yard. To-day it would probably be necessary to add 50 per cent- to that price. A suggestion that, tho Government should hand over the quarry and plant to local bodies and confine its responsibility to railage of t}ie metal met with no support, tie feeling of the delegates being that the whole responsibility shfuld be upon the Government. There was a strong feeling that the railway and the quarry should be under the control of the Public Works Department, and it was pointed out that the Railway Department, which would have to carry the metal at unprofitable rates, would not be likely to work the railway line in the best interests of local bodies. A resolution was passed by which the Government is to be asked to send up an engineer to report on the quarry, and ascertain the price at which metal can "be supplied to local bodies at Waipuku. It> was also decided to urge upon the Government the necessity for completing the line to the quarry.

It will pay ladies to visit Eltham to see the window display of lovely spring millinery and summer wear now showing at Shipton's Corner. Pretty hats, up-to-date in fashion and designed for immediate wear. To visit Shipton's is a -short cut to economy.—Advt.