DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1919, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

CARDIFF. ( From Our Own Correspondent) At the Cardiff schoolroom on Friday evening four returned soldiers —Sergeant Marchant, and Privates Belcher, Brown and O'Sullivan—were entertained by the residents at a welcome social. Sergeant Marchant was accompanied by his English bride. There was a large attendance, and Mr W. Richards, who presided, voiced the feelings of all in an address, in which he extolled the fine spirit shown by soldiers and cordially welcomed the guests. Each of the returned jjen was presented with an illuuinated address on behalf of the residents of Cardiff, and a happy acknowledgment I was made by Sergeant Marchant, who spoke for his comrades as well as himself. Music for the dance was supplied by Mrs Bennett, extras being played by Mrs Middlemiss and Miss Keegan. Mr C. Coldwell carried out the duties of M,C. OAKURA. (From Our Own Correspondent) There was a record crowd at the Oakura Hall recently, the occasion being a welcome home social to Second-Lieut. R. C. Adlam, Sapper J. Samson and Privates H. R. Morris and P. J. Manning. During the evening Captain Mace presented the soldiers with medals, and in doing so complimented the recipients on their safe journey to and from the battlefields and home, and trusted that the future would be one of brightness to all. The gifts were made on behalf of the settlers of Oakura, and would serve as a memento of the great war now happilv concluded. Very acceptable vocal items were contributed by Mrs W. D. Linn and Mr Price. Excellent music was supplied by Mrs R. E. R. Pearson (piano), and Mr F. Morris (violin). Extras were contributed by Mrs Corbett and Mrs W. R. Morris. As M.'sC. Messrs W. Sorrenson and L. Morris kept all busy, the evening proving a most pleasant one. WAREA. (From Out Own Correspondent) At the recent examination held in Warea for life-saving certificates, the following boys were successful in gain:ing Proficiency Certificates: Ernest Pier- | son, Ernest Chapman, Herbert Douald and Clarence Parker. In recognition of the head teacher's work iu instructing the pupils during last summer as well as the season just ended the society have granted her a teacher's certificate. The members of the society congratulate her on her successful work as an instructor, and also on the unselfish work she had accomplished in training the children in life-saving methods. MIDHIRST. | (From Our Own Correspondent) Favored by an exceptionally fine moonlight on the 14th inst., the welcome homo concert and dance in honor of Privates A. M. Fowler, G. R. Shotter and H. .J. Eichsteadt was an unqualified success. The committee were fortunate in obtaining the services of our best local talent for the concert programme, and also several ladies and gentlemen from Stratford, and the audience showed their appreciation in no unstinted manner, encores being the order of the evening. Private Eichsteadt was unavoidably absent. Mr P. H. Harkness (chairman), in presenting Privates Fowler and Shotter with illuminated addresses, extended them, on behalf of Midhirst residents, a very hearty welcome home. Mr Harkness, in eulogising the way in which the New Zealand soldiers had performed their duty in the war, said that he felt sure that when they settled down to civil life they would be equally zealous in the performance of their duty and would prove themselves worthy citizens of the country they had fought so well for. (Applause). Continuing the chairman remarked that if perchance a returned soldier experienced difficulty in settling down at once to civil life—and he had seen several instances of this—the speaker considered it was the duty of everyone not to censure but to do ail in their power to assist him, remembering that most of the returned men had been through very trying times, both physically and mentally. People who expected them to one and all on donning their uniforms to at once become staid and sober citizens were unreasonable. (Applause). Privates Shotter and Fowler, with soldierly brevity, expressed their thanks to Midhirst residents for the addresses and pleasant social evening, and were accorded musical honors and hearty cheers.' The following ladies and gentlemen assisted in the concert programme: Misses Anderson, Knight, Milner and Kivell, Mesdames Hatcher, Burmester (Stratford), Tapp and Bennett, Messrs Riley and Aitken (Stratford). Mr Aitken, who in addition to several good songs, contributed in the second part just a "We Doch and Doris," by special request, was accorded quite an ovation for his feeling rendering of this popular song. The supper arrangements were well earned out under the supervision of Mesdames Keightley, G. Smith, Spray, Neilson and Powman, and though the floor space was somewhat too limited, a very enjoyable dance concluded the evenmg. Miss R. Anderson provided dance music, and Messrs J. Shotter and F. Carter were M.sO