A NOTABLE RECORD

Southland Times, Issue 17866, 17 January 1918, Page 5

A NOTABLE RECORD

BUSINESS AND ATHLETIC. MR R. C. TENNENT TO RETIRE. Mr R. C. Tennent, who has been for the past few years manager of the Bank o£ New South Wales in Invercargill, is to retire next month, after just on 53 years’ service. Mr Tcnnent joined the bank at ■ Nelson, in April, 1865, and has his eye on j that town, or Timaru, where also he was for some time stationed, as the home of his retirement. lie will, however, make a tour round before settling anywhere. Just at present, his choice leans in favour of Nelson. The new manager is to arrive in Invercargill early in February, and Mr Tennent hopes to be finally relieved before the end of that month. His successor is to be Mr Hodgkins, latterly of Tamworth, New South Wales, but who was accountant in the Invercargill branch some IS years ago and whose wife was an Invercargill girl—Miss Ualgleish. Apart from the long period of honourable* service with his bank, Mr Tennent has behind him an unusual record in his athletic connections. In 1860, when the first Rugby football dull in Now Zealand was established in Nelson, he was made secretary, and was also an enthusiastic, active participant in the ' game. In the following year, the colony's first intcrprovincial Rugby match was yilayod at the Hutt, when Nelson defeated Wellington by three goals to nil. In the Rugby of those days goals alone were counted. For three years after tliat Mr Tennent was the Nelson provincial captain. Then, on removing to Taranaki, he captained first the Palea and later the South Taranaki fifteen. From 187!), Mr Tennent laid Ids boots and jersey aside. For long years after that though—into this century, in fact—he continued an active cricketer, having, during his residence iu the hop province, been one of her representatives at the king of summer games. Distinction on the running track, too, was his in Nelson, lor lie was for three years in succession provincial mile and half-mile champion. Since giving up cricket. Mr Tennent has devoted his attention to golf. An ardent patriot, he has, ever since the storm hurst, in August, 1014, been a hard worker in connection with all local war activities. As a speaker, ho rendered invaluable aid from the recruiting platform in the earlier part of the war. In addition, his family can show a worthy record of personal service. One son, who served throughout the Boer War. is now Captain. Superintending Paymaster of the Imperial Army in South Africa. Two others, Licut.s. Harold D. and Hugh C. Tennent. have la?en invalided borne from the Western front, the one with his right arm and the other with his left ami shattered. These two voting men were in South Africa when war broke out and went at once to assist in the German West African campaign. By the lime the Union .Jack was triumphant there, there, was no immediate prospect of South Africa sending a force to Europe, so the two Tennent boys came across to New Zealand to enlist. They both won their commissions and went forward. Now both have returned. Mr Tennent’s fourth soldier son is Sergt. K. B. Tennent, now in Syria with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. He left as a trooper with the Sixth Reinforcements, was for seven weeks on Gallipoli, and came o5 ia the now historic evacuation.