HORNCHURCH GROWING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 37, 12 February 1917, Page 2

HORNCHURCH GROWING.

MR MASSEY OPENS .nTJW CLUB. (From Our Special Corespondent.}; JjONDOX, December 29. ttrey Towers, Hornchurch, like all the other centres for our troops, has been growing at a rapid rate, and on Friday the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Massey), and the Finance Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) opened a new social hall amid general rejoicing. Although the dub is not yet furnished to the last nail, the Christmastide air of decoration- and jollity was already visible from the Kia Ora over the platform to the bunting on the wall*. The chief members of the N.Z.W.C.A., through whose efforts this fine social hall has been got fo-r the men, were present, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, as president, 'being in the chair. Lord Pluuket, Lord Ranfurly. General Richardson, and Mr T. W. Raymond, representing the committee, were ou the platform, as were Mr, Mrs and Miss Massey, Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, and Sir James Carroll, and Mrs Fraser and Miss Williams as representing the band of strenuous New Zealand workers who have made the New Zealand clifbs so enc- ■ cess fail. Mr Massey said: "I cannot speak with any authority, but 1 would like to see that the President of the United States is to be told firmly that ac we have carried on this war without assistance, so we intend to carry it on to the end, and that we neither want nor will tolerate any interference from him." Sir Joseph Ward said th.at it would be a suicidal mistake to end the war before the time arrived when terms of peace, could be made which would govern the whale world for all time to come. •He added a word of praise for the sgood work done by the V.M.C.A. General Richardson gave very hearty thanks to the residents of Hornchuroh •for the way tbey had welcomed New Zealanders in their midst, and was glad to be able to say that<-Hornch_rch had nothing but a good word for the New Zealanders after their now fairly long time in Grey Towers. He reminded the men who were unfit for further duty in the trenches that there was a lot for them to do at home, and advised them to return to the Dominion to give the help badly needed there. Lord Plunket. who is indefatigable in his work for the N.Z.W.C.A., proposed the vote of thanks to the High Comimissroner. ' There were loud caila for Sir James Carroll. "Good old Jimmy," echoed from all quarters, and Sir James at last jdid speak, and told them he would bear ;_ack to the Dominion to which lie was : returning messages to their sisters and wives—and sweet-hear te. (Loud applause.) After these verbal preliminaries, what one fair maid described as a "topping" tea was served out in the new premises. The club is planned on the now orthodox Jines of stage at one end, recreation room and counter, a/butting kitchen and store room. An annexe to the long 6ide of the hall is formed by the billiard room, which is open all down one side to the recreation and reading room. The kitchen is well equipped with up-to-date sgas stoves, whera already many toothsome cakes and scones—in the making of which I verily believe the New Zedlander now surpasses Scotland—have already been baked and consumed by hefty men from the Dominion. The hail was in course of preparation for Christjnas Day festivities, which were to be attractive - enough to compensate such as were unable to join in the big feast at Westminster.