RICCARTON WHISPERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 3

RICCARTON WHISPERS.

[FROM On? GORMSVOJCDINT.] Secoud-Lieutenant Cameron Gordon. Johnston, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, killer! in action at Messines on June, 7, was the second son of Mr and Mrs 0.. W. JohnMon, iiO, Picton Avenue, llicrarton. Ho was in tho Railway Locomotive Drawing Office, Wellington, at the outbreak of the war, and was ono of the first to volunteer for active service, going with tho Expeditionary Force to Samoa. After eight months service ho returned to Wellington and joined the Tenth Reinforcements, being promoted to quartermaster-sergeant. He then sat for a commission, and left with the Fifteenth Reinforcements a3 pecond-h'eutenant. He was well known in Christchurch, having done his practical work as a mechanical engineering cadet at the Addington Workshops, and was also a student at Canterbury College. He was in his twenty-fifth year at the time of his death. The late Lioutenant .Johnston's elder brother, Captain Donald Gordon Johnston, New Zealand Field Artillery, endeavoured to get away with the Main Body, but was unsuccessful. He left with the Ninth Reinforcements as lieutenant, and after a short time in was transferred to Fiance, where ho has been an active service since his arrival, having been thnAi.cih the So in mo and Measines battles.

A younger brother, Allan Gordon Johnston, who is not yet nineteen, left as a private with the Seventeenth Reinforcement?. lie was "gassed" at Messines on June 3. and is now at a convalescent camp in France. The three brother 1 : were Iwrn and educated B-t Petone, each afterwards finishing his education at the Wellington College.

Items of interest for this column ihould be left, at Mi' Dickenson's store, Riccarion Ko.'.d, riot later th;in Thursday eveninj.

A benefit da my to raise funds in aid 3f Brorher Murie. one of their members. v* ho has been ill for a considerable time, was held bv the Loyal Ricenrton Lodge. 1.00. F., M.U., in the Oddfellow.'-' H;iH. Upper Riocarion, last Thursday evening. The members of the lodrre met all the expenses, and the 'z&ietion was n distinct. realists S a sum of over £l2.

It is aboui time tho residents of Upper K' r 'c;irton woke up and did something in the. mmv of giving a send-off to the Tor*:!I boys who leave for tho front. Although Upper Riceartoii has font many soldiers, in not a single easo hav-r the re-uk-nts of the district given unyth't in the nature of a send-foffl, with lb./, exemption of the presentations made by the TJicearton Oddfellows to members of the lodge who have iccepted for active service.

The local W.E.A. class resumed its ,rtudv of economies on Monday .evening inst. when the tutor, Mr J. Poison, M.A.. delivered a lecture on " Yahie." The matter of a debate was held over to next- meeting, when members will subjects for debate. The tutor £ave the average attendance of tho class for last term, the return showing that the majority of members were availing ihern selves of the opportunities afforded them. The Labour Theory, the Cost of Production Theory, and the Marginal Utility Theory -wer 0 carefully tx'ptaine,-] by the tutor, and consider*ble di.-eu?-ion took plnco as to what really constituted value." The subject next week will be "Wages." and as this i> a very important rjne.sfcion pow that ihc- cost of living-is steadily increasing, there should be a largo attendance of members and visitors.

The action of the School Committee in prohibiting the local League club from continuing club fixtures on the Wharcnui Recreation Ground is receiving somo severe criticism by local residents. The crass on the playing ureal is gradually drying off. mid to attach the reason to football is too ridiculous to believe. There being no other ground available near r:i band, the Inds have now to find grounds outside tho district. This is a serious matter, as every encourage<lsent should bo extended to secure sport of all kind within the. borough. Tho action of the committee is somewhat amazing. a? the Inst householders' meeting decided that the club should have the use. of the grounds.

After n fast rind interesting game, the Ladie>' Hockey Club drew with "Waiinmri A. and now lead by half a point for the championship. Tho annual dance, which will take place next week, promises to be a great success.

The congregation of St James's Church nil! make Thursdav next (St James's. Day) a festival, ancl will hold a large parish fathering in the evening. The lIe V E. H. Shore will preach at the service which will be. held before the social gathering. On the following Sunday Canon "Wilford has promised to preach in the morning.

The engagement is announced of Miss Gladvs Lillian Hack, eldest daughter of sl r and Mrs L. T.' Hack, Halkett, to Mr Thomas "Wright, eldest son of Mrs J. Kelly, Halswell.

Mr and Mr? Kingdon and friends entertained Private P. "Westaway. who was on final leave, on Friday evening, fit their residence. Epsom Road, Sockburn. The function included progressive euchre, the first prizes being won by Mr and Mrs Grav, while the "boobv frizes went to Mrs Fuller and Mr Holibon. Mr Gray took advantage*of tho occasion to present Private Westaway with a writing outfit as a token of esteem from his friends, and wished the guest of the evening a safe return. Private "Westaway in a few words suitably acknowledged the gitr,. Mr Gray also thanked Mr and Mrs Kingdon for tho rerv pleasant, evening they had enjoyed. Hearty cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Kingdon and Private Westaway, find the gathering dispersed after singing the National Anthem.

By defeating 'Federal, the local League club's Junior team has secured the banner. This team won every match, and ha? given fine exhibitions of how the cxle should be played.

There was a large at tend a nee gathered nt the Bush Inn Hotel Inst Saturday evening, the occasion being to discuss the advisability or otherwise of holding n "Sam Wcller"' soiree. It was decided to adjourn the meeting until this evening.

The many friends of the late Mr Charles Clark, of Waiinairi Road, wit! be sorry to learn of his death, which took place at the Christchurch Hospital on Wednesday evening: .Mr Clark was a very old resident, of Upper Riccarton, when* ho had made numerous friends. He always took a keen interest in the public affairs of the district, and was up to the time of his death a member of the Riccarton Schoool Committee, the Horticultural Society and thy 10 0.F..M.U. Much sympathy is felt for' Mrs Clark and family.

At the social gathering on July 6 of members of the Riccarton and' Aldington Burgesses' Associations a motion of sympathy was passed to Mr Jackson, president of the Addington Association, on the loss of his wife. The motion was carried" in silence, and all present standing.

Members of the Addington Burgesses' Association and the Riccarton Bur cases' Association spent a very pleasant, .social evening at the Riccarton To" n . Hall on July 6. Mr Brigbt!i;i::. president of the Riccarton Association. presided. Card matches were dayed till 9.45 p.m., Addington win-

ning 70 to Riccai ton's 56. At the conclusion of the matches Mr Steero projjoscd the toast of the visitors. Mr Sheldon, honorary secretary of the Burgesses' Association, who responded, subsequently proposed the health of the hosts, the chairman responding. Other toasts were "The Army and Navy" and "Our Boys at the Front," the company singing " Keep the _ Homo Fires Burning " in connection with the latter. Rongn wero [liven by Messrs M'Gill, Brown and Dickinson, and a ptep-dnncb by Mr Frazor. Mr A. Jones presided at tho piano. During the evening Mr Brightling, on behalf of tho members of the Riccarton Burgesses' Association, presented Mr F. J. Bradnock, honorary secretary and treasurer of tho Asociation. with a fountain pen suitably inscribed, in recognition'of his services to the association.