STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD.

(from Our Own Correspondent.)

(Ail communications, letters, etc., left Kith Mr H 3. Hopkins, bookseller, will receive prompt attention.)

At the Parish Hall on Tuesday evening a welcome social waa given to sixteen returned soldiers. Captain-Chaplain Howard presided, and there was an excellent attendance. The soldiers, two of whom were accompanied by their Knglish brides, were warmly welcomed by the chairman. The evening was largely devoted to dancing, which was interspersed with songs and orchestral and other items. Mrs. H. Burmister sang "My Ships" and, as an encore, "My Treasure." Both numbers were very enjoyable, and were loudly applauded. "Mountain Lovers," by Mrs. Hollands, was also well received. As an encore, she sang "Parted." Each of Mrs. Holland's songs was given with a violin obligato by Mr. C. H. Rogers. Mr. Bills sang "Homeland," with "Requiem" as an encore. "Remember Thy Creator" was given by Mr. Newton. Mr. E. Rogers played, as e, violin solo, "Vision," responding to an encore with "Homje, Sweet Home." A recitation by Mr Insull was also encored. Some very fine selections were played by Mr. C. H. Rogers' popular orchestra. The accompanists were Mrs. A. Rogers, Mrs. J. H. Thompson, and Mr. Insull. A dainty supper was served during the evening. The whole entertainment was most enjoyable, and, from every point of view, was a distinct success. The -social was a forerunner of a series to be held during the winter months. On Friday evening the residents of Tuna will hold a social in the schoolroom to welcome home Rfmn. R. Wellington and Trooper H. J. Kirkby, who have lately returned after doing their bit at the front. Adequate preparations have been made by the Patriotic Society for '•he evening, and all attending are assured of a delightful evening. Much is heard concerning the housing problem in the cities, where a great hue and cry has been raised by Labor aspirants for municipal honors about the failure of the civic authorities to meet their obligations to workers in this respect. It appears, however, that the housing trouble is as serious, in proportion to the population, throughout the prosperous towns of Taranaki as it is in the cities. In Stratford there is not a solitary house "to let" and numbers ,of recent arrivals are obliged to be content with board and lodging. Even furnished rooms are unprocurable, and any place where a family could enjoy a small measure of home life is vainlv sought by numbers o'f homeless people. ' The conditions are no better in Hawera and Eltham. No speculative building is in progress and the only houses erected are by people who are in a position to accept the financial responsibility entailed in having a home of their own. The only way to procure a house at present is to buy, and the number of people who can procure homes in this way is restricted by the increasing amount of the deposits owners are asking. It is to be hoped that the building trade will soon begin to move a little more briskly. Chief among the caiiscs for the shortage of houses is, no doubt, the high cost of building materials, and as soon as the prices of iron, etc.. drop to something like the old level investors will probably see the wisdom of putting some of their capital into properties, for which there is an urgent and persistent demand. A prominent business man in Hawera stated yesterday that if fifty houses were erected in the town they would all be taken within a week.

A meeting of the executive of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce was held on Tuesday evening, when there were present: Messrs W. Mac Donald, P. Thomson, C. Martin, D. J. Malono, W. P. Kirkwood, and ,T. B. Richards (chairman). A reply was received from the Railway Department to a request from the chamber, stating that the department did not th|nk it necessary to have refreshment rooms at the Stratford Railway station A letter was received from the Borough Council consenting to a proposal that a table be set in the public library for correspondence received by the chamber of general interest, the idea being to establish ultimatelv a reference library. Messrs Kirkwood'and Thompson were appointed to make all necessary arrangements with the council The sub-committee appointed to canvass for new members and collect subscriptions reported that sixty new members had been secured, and were heartily thanked for their successful efforts. '

Messrs J. McCluggage and Co., land and financial agents, whose offices were destroyed in the recent fire, have opened new offices in Lewer's Buildings, Broad. way, opposite the Post Office, where they will be pleased to meet old and new clients.

Uiere 19 a cold snap approaching. Don't bother about the breezes or the frost, but call at 0. E. James' warehouse and look at the fine parlor games he has for the children, and for dad he has the best brands of cigars and also tobacco, with the best of pipes to smoke his favorite mixture. For mother there is a great variety of reading matter, so why not be cheerful and contented, and all for a little cost; but remember you can get it at C E. James'.—Advt.

DON'T NEGLECT. A Common Case of Piles. It May Lean to Serious Results. When people generally understand that all such fatal diseases as Fistula. Ulcer of. the Rectum, Fissure, etc., almost invariably begin in a simple case of Piles, they will learn the wisdom of taking prompt treatment for the first appearance of this trouble. ' Doan's Ointment is unequalled for every form of PilesItching, Bleeding, Protruding and Blind Piles, and hundreds of lives have been saved by nsing this cheap, but effective remedy right at the start, because at such times a single pot has often effected a cure, while in the old, deepfoated, chronic cases, several pots are sometimes necessary. Here is a case:

Mr. K. Fincham, Gaine street, New Plymouth says: "I suffered from Itching and Protruding Piles for a good while, the pain and irritation being often almost unbearable. I was treated by a doctor and tried all sorts of supposed cures, but nothing seemed able to give me more than passing relief. After so many failures I was beginning to think I should never be free of this trying complaint, but one day I heard that Doan's Ointment was a splendid thing, so I got a pot without delay. After applying it for a few days I was delighted to find that it was doing me good, so I persevered with the treatment and by the time I had used two pots I was cured completely, and I have hart no return of Piles since. I have a very high opinion of Doan's Ointment, and advise its use whenever possible. .Doan's Ointment is sold by all chemists and storekeepers at '£/■ per pot, or will be posted on receipt of price by Foster* 'MeClellan Co., 76 Pitt Street, Sydney. But. )<$ lure you gtt DOAN'S. #