First Three Lottery Prizes Come To Christchurch

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28697, 22 September 1958, Page 12

First Three Lottery Prizes Come To Christchurch

The first three prizes, valued at £lO,OOO, £2OOO and £l2OO, in a lottery drawn In Melbourne late last week, came to Christchurch. This is believed to be the first time in New Zealand that the three top prizes in one Australian lottery have gone to the one* town. Up to a late hour last evening the first and third prize-winners had been traced but all that was known about the person who won the second prize was that he may live in Lincoln road. The winner of the first prize was Mr Robert Bryant, of Peterborough street, and be received the good news in a letter at his flat when he returned home about 10 p.m. on Saturday. He picked up the letter, examined it casually and was about to put it down and have a bath when he noticed the bank stamp. "I read the letter once and then I read it again. I just couldn’t believe it,” said Mr Bryant last evening. “1 don’t think I had an hour’s sleep all night, but today I’m taking it quite casually. I’m not even excited now.” Mr Bryant works as a paper rewinder for New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd. He is a painter by trade, but he gave up the occupation because of trouble with his leg. Although he admits he is not very far away from the retiring age he has no intention of giving up his Job Immediately. He will start work as usual at 8 am. today. “Of course, that doesn’t mean I might not take a day off later on.” he added'. A widower for a number of years. Mr Bryant has one son. Mr Reginald Thomas Bryant, aged 23, who is working as a cable- . joiner at the new cement works at Westnort. He did not know of his father’s win last evening. The son is a member'of the Papanui Cycling Cllib and has represented Canterbury as a junior cyclist and was a member of the team which won the event for three consecutive years.

Mr Bry&nt has been taking lottery tickets regularly for a number of years; but, apart from one win of £5, this is the only prize he has won. He buys one ticket a week and goes half shares with a friend in another. “No Definite Plans*’ Asked what he intended to do with the money, Mr Bryant said he had no definite plans, but it was not going to be squandered. “There is a person who did me' a good turn about 20 years ago when I was down and out, and he’ll be the first to get a piece of it,” he said. '‘The son will probably get more benefit out of the money than I will and when he marries I will probably build him a house,’’ said Mr Bryant. Born in Dunedin, Mr Bryant has lived in Christchurch for the last 22 years. As a young man he played Rugby in Dunedin and was later a referee. His hobbies? "Backing horses.” He has had considerable luck backing horses and the previous week-end won about £lOO. The week-end John Gilpin and Golden Tan won the double at Wellington he made £3OO. He has no plans to travel and does not intend to replace his 1951 car. Among the first to congratulate Mr Bryant was the agent who sold him the ticket, Mr Cyril Edmonds. The third prize of £l2OO went to a syndicate called “Pink Rose” and which comprises of MeSSsers A. Riach, C. Belcher and T. Avery, three men emnloyed bv an insurance company. The was chosen from a horse which ran at the Oamaru races. This syndicate has won a prize with all the tickets it has bought. The first ticket purchased by the “Pink Rose” syndicate won a prize of £5 and instead of taking the money they took 20 tickets in the next draw. The same thing happened with the ■ next two draws and with the fourth they won the third prize.