STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1919, Page 3

STRATFORD

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stmt ford, August 14. Some idea of what is to be expected in the building trade as soon as timber in sufficient quantities becomes available, may be gathered from the fact that one builder alone.in Stratford (Mr Jos.' Boon) has on hand at the present time contracts for eleven now buildings. Of these ten are dwelling houses ranging from four-roomed cottages to residences which will cost about ■■£ 1200 to build. According to the plans even the smallest will lack nothing that is essential to convenience and comfort and apparently the huuses that are now going up very cred. cable to the town and are in conformity with sound and advanced ideas on the housing question. There being no general system of sanitation iu the town many of the new houses are to be provided with their own special systems, and this it appears can be done at a very small cost-. Mr ■ Boon employs about eighteen men, and having had large stocks of timber when tne cut in the. train service was made he has been able to keep his men fully occupied right through and expects to keep going for another month, after which unless supplies of timber came to hand work will probably come to a standstill. His actual requirements in new timber at the present time amounts to about SOO trucks. According to Mr Boon the cost of building in Stratford is not nearly so high as in some places. It was stated a short time ago that a w<jf(l finished house could not be built in Wellington at less than £2OO per room- Mr Boon exhibited plans of a modern fourroomed cottage with scullery, bath-room and lavatory all tinder one roof, the price of which was from £GOO to £G30 V At a meeting of the combined Hockey Clubg on Wednesday evening votes ol thanks were passed to Mesdame3 McMillan, Hine, Curtis, Boon and Tyrer, who had acted as chaperones at the recent dance; to Messrs 6. gangster and A. H. Huggett for milk and to Mr P. Aitken for assisting with.the dance. The Stratford County Council's proposal to borrow £20,000 has been generally approved by the Governor-in-Council.

.The train service between Stratford and Hawera is at present most unreliable, and with the exception of Mondays and Thursdays it is impossible to travel from Stratford to Hawera, transact business, and return the same day. The morning train from Stratford, which should arrive at Hawera at about 11 o'clock, did not arrive yesterday till 'bout 11.55, and the train for Stratford was scheduled to leave five minutes later. As a matter of fact, it did not leave till 1220, or later. There are stoppages which appear to be unnecessarily long at nearly every station, and it was 2.30 before tho train from Hawera reached Stratford. . The dance held by the local Fire Brigade in the Town Hall on Thursday evening was largely attended, and, like its predecessors, passed off most satisfactorily. Miss Bianchi's orchestra provided the music, extras being played by Mrs. Mathews and Misses Moon and Riley. Firemen Aitken and Gray carried out {.he duties of M.'sO. The" catering was in the hands of the brigade members, who had the assistance of lady supporters.

The settlers of Flint Road gathered at the residence of Mr. 0. Jans oa Wednesday evening for the purpose of saying farewell to hinv and Mrs. Jans before their departure for .New Plymouth, after a residence of 14 years in the district. Mrs. Jans was presented with a pretty tea set, and Mr. Jans with a smoker's outfit. The-presentations were made on M'olf of the residents by Mr. C. Birkett. Mr. T. Lamason's weekly report is as follows: My usual weekly sale was held at my rooms last Saturday, when an exceptionally largo and varied assortment of furniture, etc., was disposed of I also conducted a private sale on behalf of Mr. H. Masters; 1 Brecon Road, and bidding was exceptionally brisk and prices exceptionally satisfactory. I quote as follows: Hens 3s, 5s 6d, and tip to 26s each; roosters 3s M to 17s; ducks 3s 6d to 4s 6d; potatoes lis cwt; milk can' 60s to 70s; buckets 5s to 7s; farm sundries and furniture at nsual auction rates. Mr. T. Lamason conducts his usual weekly sale at the Mart on Saturday, when a quantity of varied lines from sundry vendors who are leaving the district will be sold.