CAVE (South Canterbury).

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 23

CAVE (South Canterbury).

April 5. —The rainfall for the first three months of the jejtr has been: —January, 5.18 in; February " (14 days' rain), .66in; March, .65in, and rain fell en four days. At Zambrook, Fairlie, rain fell on six days during March, registering .77in. Until this year only once in the lost 25 years has the rainfall been less than an inch. Returned Soldiers' Entertainments.—The welcome home social held at Cave on- last Wednesday night in honour of a number of returned solders was a great success. Every part of the surrounding countryside was represented, and it was estimated that 200 were present. Mr C. E. Kerr presided. The soldiers upon mounting the- platform were heartily cheered. The chairman expressed pleasure at the large attendance, which he took as a compliment to the- returned men, who were worthy of all the honour that could be bestowed upon them. They had faced the toughest and most fiendish fighting in the annals of warfare, but they had played the game and returned victors. He then called upon Mr T. D. Burnett to present the medals. In the course of a most interesting speech Mr Burnett referred to the event that evening as marking a red letter day in the history of the Gave district. Other red letter days were the capture of James M'Kenzie on March 4, 1855, when Mr Sidebottom (manager of Cave Station) and the station hands took a prominent part. Secondly, the sale of the Levels and Cave Stations by Mr Geo. Rhodes to the New Zealand and Australian Land Company on March 14, 1565, when 80,000 sheep were delivered. Thirdly, the railway opened to Cave in 1876. Fourthly, the ballot and disposal sale of the Levels Estate in March, 1904. In honouring their returned men they could not forget those who would' never return, and he asked the audience to rise and pass a silent vote in memory of those who had given their lives. This was done with military honours, an accomplished bugler present sounding.. " The Last Post." Mr Burnett mentioned the fallen men who belonged to the district—namely, Tom Nelson, Alex. M'lnnes, Fred Aymes, Geo. Alexander, Laurie Hughan, AlLan Murphy, Ernest Murphy, and Dave Martin. The following soldiers were then presented with medals: —Corporal R. Hyndham, Gunner J. Newson, Driver E. Auld, Privates C. Walker, W. Wingham, and G. Hughan. Sapper J. Walker, M.M., was also presented with an engraved cigarette case. He belonged to tho district when he enlisted, but received a medal at Pleasant Point, where his mother resided, when he roUirncd. A medal was to bo presented to Gunner H. Winter, but he was unable to be present, and will receive it on another occasion. The recipient of each medal was heartily applauded, and the presentation terminated with more cheering.—On . March 28 a welcome home social was tendered the returned soldiers at- Cannington. The school was packed with people from far and near, who had assembled to do honour to the boys. Mr D, Pricat was chair-

man, and welcomed the soldiers and presented them with a gold medal inscribed. The following were the recipients:—Fred Stumbles, John Timmins, Wm. Dougherty, Richard Whitaker, H. Esler. J. Timmins replied on behalf of the soldiers. Tho ladies provided a splendid supper, and dancing was kept going till the small hours of the morning.