ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1922, Page 5

ELTHAM.

THE PLUNKET SOCIETY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) June 15. The monthly meeting of the Eltham Plunket Society was held on Tuesday. Present: Mesdames Thorpe, Hawken, Weir Sen., Northover, Wood, Foord, Harrison, Ware, Fountaine, Weir Jun., Palmer, Bridger, O’Hagan, and Drayton. In the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr. G. W. Tayler) Mrs. Weir Senoccupied the chair. The nurse’s report was as follows: Ba'bies on books, 130, new cases 3, babies to rooms 86, mothers to rooms 96, visits to homes 51. It was decided that as the amount of work is steadily increasing, Nurse Dix be asked to give an extra half day a week to Eltham. The picture benefit held recently added the sum of £23 8s to the funds. Two new members, Mr. J. Taylor and Mrs. Peebles, were enrolled. Subscriptions were received from Messrs- J. Taylor, Thorpe, G. W. Tayler and Mesdames Thorpe, Wood, Wanklyn, Carman, Fountaine, Hawker, Phillips, Smalley and Fitzgerald.

SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL. A public meeting to consider the erection of a soldiers' memorial was held in the Town Hall last evening, when there was an exceptionally poor attendance.

Mr. Bridger, chairman of the special sub committee set up to choose designs, recommended that the design of Mr. Amyas Connell be accepted. The design is of cenotaph shape, in white marble. An endeavour has been made by the use of symbolic ornament and inscription to design a memorial rather to immortalise the glorious deeds of our forces than to commemorate the Great War. The bronzed ‘‘Winged Globe” at the top of the cenotaph is an ornament derived from ancient Egyptian architecture symbolising protection and the ‘ Flight, of Time.” This is designed to •• lipport a wreath of laurels, a motif also derived from ancient custom symbolising victory. On the tablet above the altar the following inscription is suggested:— “The Great War, 1914-1918. The Glorious Dead. These laid the world away, poured out the red sweet wine of youth, gave up the years to be of work and joy and that unhoped for serene that men call age” (Rpert Brooke). On the altar the symbolic Latin proverb “Palma non sine pulvere,” meaning victory not without sacrifice, figure. The approximate cost of the cenotaph will be £650. It was recommended that the memorial he erected in the garden between Nodder’s boarding house and the railwa y.

A committee of seven was set up to arrange collections from the public. A resolution was passed that on endeavor be. made to raise £lOOO for the purpose of erecting the memorial. A large sum was donated in the room.