ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1919, Page 3

ELTHAM.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) El »iam, Nov. 29. Two shows on one night is something new for us folk; bnt this happened on Friday, when we were visited by a circus and Mr. Frank Amoore's concert party. Both had fair houses. The vagaries of the weather are affecting our friends the "cockies," one of whom was saying that a pasture, consisting mainly of trefoil and clover, which was rpcently laid down, had been ruined, and lie was feeding his cows on hay, and buying bran. At one of the factories, where they had made 40 cheeses in a day, they have dropped to 37, which means that the supply has fallen over 200 gallons daily. The scarcity of metal in the river has driven the contractors out to new ground, and it reminds one of the old days to see a team, of seven horses yoked on to a i!ray. Anyhow, it shows that there are still some good hands with horses left, and it is worth a walk to see them coirio out of the river-bed with a loud of two yards. Time: Saturday night; wet and cold. A little group in a sheltered spot. I joined them. Friend: "Did you see a notice in the News the other day, looking for carpenters, and offering 2s 9d per hour?" '"Yes, and he'll have to come another 3d before he gets |hem. No man is going out of town now for less than 3s an hour. They get it in the AVairarapa, and will have it here." "Well, 2s 9d seems a good wage." "Better than I can get." "Oh, yes; but it's not out of the way. Look what tools cost. A chisel that formerly could be bought for Is 9d is now 4s (id. Clothes are dearer, and there are always loose ends of wire on a concrete job. Your boots only last about three months, and everything is getting dear. Tools are worn out very fast. "Granted, but, tell me, what is the'amount you fellows can make in a week?" "Well, the best week I've had lately was £7 10s." I strolled away, thinking of the wages offered before the war, and the long hours I had to work to earn £7 10s. Our gas manager, Mr Marriot, is leaving Eltham. I believe he is to make a trip to Australia, bnt has not quite decided where he will settle down, The Borough Council had a livoly time at the meeting on Friday, in discussing the Public Library. Well, f: has been shut ap so long that most of us have forgotten all about it. As for the reading room, no ire seems to take any interest in it, as we have two circulating libraries in town just sow.