NORTH CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY NEWS

RANGIORA NOTES LOW RAINFALL IN JULY The rainfall in Rangiora in July was well below the average, the total being only 1,98 inches, compared with 6.8 inches in the same month last year. The average for July, on readings taken over a period of 21 years, is 2.51 inches. The total rainfall to date for the year is 15.97 inches, compared with 13.67 inches to the end of July. 1939. Mr ■W, A. Lill, Loburn, recorded 1.97 inches of rain on his property in July. R.S.A. Social Function A good sum was raised for the Rangiora Returned Soldiers’ Association’s benevolent fund at a social arranged by the women’s auxiliary and held in the association’s hall on Wednesday evening. There was a very large attendance. The earlier part of the programme comprised songs and dancing, while the latter part of the evening was spent in dancing. Snooker Championships Matches played this week in the North Canterbury senior and junior amateur snooker championships resulted;— Senior; V. C. Pulley beat G. Pulley, 110 to 80. Junior: J. Pulley beat A. Livingston (Kaiapoi), 71 to 45; R. Pulley beat R. Palmer. 52 to 27; W. Muir beat J. H. Doggett, 58 to 21; W. Stevens beat J. Gillespie. 55 to 40; E. Taylor (Kaiapoi) beat P. Taylor; W. Stevenson (Kaiapoi) beat A. Forward. Vital Statistics A substantial drop in the number of births is shown in the vital statistics for the Rangiora district for July, compared with the figures for July last year. The statistics, with those of July, 1939, in parenthesis, are;— Births 10 (24), deaths 6 (8), marriages 2 (1). Ambulance Division’s Visit The Cust division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade virited the Rangiora - division on Wednesday evening

PERSONAL NOTES rangiora Mr E. J. W. Fry will leave Rangiora to-day to take up a position m the legal branch of the State Advances Corporation, Auckland. Mr Fry was bidden farewell yesterday afternoon by members of the stan of the Social Security Department, Rangiora, and was presented with a thermos flask by Mr H. C. Price, officer in charge. KAIAPOI Judge Shepherd, who has been appointed Deputy-Chief Judge of the Native Land Court during the retiring leave of Judge MacCormick, is at present holding a sitting of the Native Land Court at Kaiapoi. CULVERDEN Mr D. B. Christopher has left Culverden for Greymouth on transfer to the Greymouth branch of the Bank of New South Wales. RED CROSS SOCIAL AT DOYLESTON A social for Red Cross funds drew a good attendance to Doyleston Hall, Prizes for a Monte Carlo went to Miss J; Boyce and Mr R. Young, and most points at cards were gained, by Mesdames T. Pashby and C. Bishop, and Messrs Jackson and Bishop. Lambies band played for dancing, and Mr C. Mitchell was master of ceremonies. and took part In practices and a number of competitions. The visit Was one of a series being made to neighbouring centres this year by divisions in North Canterbury. The visitors were entertained to supper by the Rangiora division.

MAN’S DEATH IN MOTOR ACCIDENT . INQUEST CONCLUDED AT CULVERDEN An adjourned inquest into the death of Hans Andrew Neilson was concluded at Culverden recently by Mr F. F. Reid, Coroner, who returned a verdict that Neilson died at Rotherham on July 7, 1940, from a fracture at the base of the skull with hemorrhage into the brain, suffered when a truck driven by Paul T. Brustad accidentally overturned. ELLESMERE RED CROSS EXECUTIVE A financial statement in connexion with a recent appeal for the Sick, Wounded, and Distress Fund was presented to a meeting of the Ellesmere Red Cross executive, held at Leeston, over which Mrs E. Hanna presided. The statement showed net proceeds to be £867 16s 3d. Mrs T. W. Brooks was elected vice-president. The Dunsandel sub-centre advised that the petrol restrictions would prevent it joining up with the Ellesmere executive at present. Representatives of the Ellesmere sub-centres have made arrangements for a shop day to be held in Christchurch on November 1. MesdameS E. Hanna, A. J. W. Young, J. A. Creagh. M. H. Boyd, and A. G. Barker have been appointed a management committee, and sub-centres will canvass their districts for produce. Sixteen members, 11 with both home-nursing and first-aid certificates, were enrolled at the first meeting of the Ellesmere V.A.D. detachment, of which Mrs E. Hanna is commandant and Mrs W. G. Volckman superintendent -

RUGBY FOOTBALL

HURUNUI SUB-UNION Kaikoura and Culverden were the winners of the 1940 senior and junior competitions respectively in the Hufunui Rugby Sub-Union. In the senior competition the Kaikoura and Cheviot teams tied, but decided to play-off for the championship. The match was played at Cheviot, and was won by Kaikoura. Only three teams entered the senior competition this year, compared with six in other years, the decrease being caused by footballers in the sub-union having enlisted. There were more junior teams in the competition this year, and much interest was centred round the matches. Culverden juniors lost only one match, to Waiau. Cheviot was second, six points behind. The following are the results of recent matches: —Senior: Kaikoura beat Cheviot. 4-3. Junior: Cheviot beat Waiau 9-8; the Culverden-Kai-koura match was abandoned. The following are the points in the competition—Senior: Kaikoura 8, Cheviot ',6, United 0. Junior; Culverden 14 points, Cheviot 8, Waiau 7, Kaikoura 7. DARFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY The annual meeting of the Darfleld Public Library was held on Monday night, Mr L. Fox presiding over a fair attendance. A satisfactory bal-ance-sheet was presented, with the building fund account increased to £lßl 18s during the year. The following officers were elected: —Patron, Mr J. Green; president, Mr L Fox: vice-presidents, Mr C. Evison and Mr D. O’Connell; secretary and treasurer. Mr S. Gaylor; auditor, Mr H. Barrs; trustees. Messrs L. Fox and S. Gaylor: librarian, Mrs S. Oldridge; committee, Mrs F. Cridge. Messrs G. Popple, S. Oldndge, R. Loveridge, and A. Cooney. WANT-ADS. “I sold them through *lll6 Press' want-ads—and bought these hew things."

OBITUARY

MR HENRY BENNETT Mr Henry Bennett, who was well known in the North Canterbury district as a farmer and a contractor, died recently at his residence. King street, Rangiora, in his seventy-seventh year. Mr Bennett was born at St. Albans in 1863 r and went to school at West EyreAfter his school days he worked on his father’s farm and for neighbouring farmers. He later acquired a farm at Loburn and married Miss Jane McKibbin. the third daughter of the late Mr Hugh McKibbin, of Oust. Mr and Mrs Bennett celebrated their golden wedding last year. In addition to farming at Loburn, Mr Bennett did a considerable amount of contracting, forming and shingling many of the Ashley County roads. He was one of the contractors for the Waimakariri water-race system. Mr Bennett also undertoook station ploughing, and'was noted for his fine team of horses. He was keenly interested in the Clydesdale section of the Canterbury agricultural shows. Local affairs claimed Mr Bennett’s active interest. He was a member of the North Lobum School Committee for many years and served several terms on the Ashley County Council. During the Great War he undertook to collect for every patriotic and relief fund and never failed to attend farewell functions to soldiers. Mr Bennett is survived by his widow, five sons. Messrs Hugh Bennett (Timaru), Ernest Bennett and Gordon Bennett (Bennetts). Robert Bennett (West Eyreton). and James Bennett (Loburn). and six daughters. Mesdames H. T. Metherell (Loburn), W. S. Busch (West Eyreton), R. A. Burns (Te Pirita), G. E. Croft (Okuku), and Misses Dorothv Bennett (Cust) and Laura Bennett (Rangiora). There are 27 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mr E. Bennett (Woolston) and Mrs H. Neale and Miss A. Bennett (Christchurch) are a brother and sisters. ' MR H. SHEPHERD Mr Harry Shepherd, who died recently was a well-known farmer in the Rangiora district. Mr Shepherd was born at Avonhead, Riccarton, and at an early age went with his parents to Southbrook. where his father had purchased a farm. After attending the Southbrook School he worked on his father’s farm, and later joined his younger brother at Coldstream, where he lived up to the time of his death. Mr Shepherd was a staunch supporter of the Methodist Church. He was a member of the Northern Agri-. cultural and Pastoral Association, WEATHER AT CULVERDEN IN JULY A total of 1.19 inches of rain was recorded by the postmaster (Mr C. E. Rose) for July at Culverden. It is the lowest total recorded since 1937. The rainfall for July last year was 9.32 inches, and the total for the seven months this year ig 15.28 inches, against a total bf 9.32 inches for the corresponding period last year. Rain fell on eight days during the month, the highest falls being 56 points on July 27, 17 points 'on July 7, and 15 points on July 6. OXFORD RAINFALL The rainfall at Oxford in July was 91 points, falling on six days. There had been no heavy rainfall and the month had been remarkably mild. In July last year the rain recorded was 4.4s,inches, falling on 18 days, on five of which there was snow. The average for Hie month for 80 years is' 3-24 inches. Since the beginning of the year the total fall was 22.99 inches, as against 15 inches for the same period last year. .