Riccarton Records

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)

Riccarton Records

By Special Correspondent of the “Star.” -

MASONIC SOCIAL. Invitations have been issued by the local Masonic Lodge for the first of this season’s series of dances in the fine new hall on Saturday next. OBITUARY. An old and respected resident of Riccarton passed to his rest during the week, in the person of Mr James Henry nepburn, after a lengthy illness. The name Hepburn has been associated vrith Riccarton for a great number of years, the late Mr Hepburn's parents having been old and respected settlers. Mr Hepburn, who had. reached the age of 62 years, was Christchurch-born, and was a pupil of the East Christchurch and the Richmond schools in the early seventies Leaving school, he entered the foundry conducted by Mr John Anderson, and gained further experiense in Australia. With his father and brother he founded the well-known firm of H. Hepburn and Sons, founders, and the business has remained in the family to this day. Mr Hepburn leaves a widow and two children, Miss D. Hepburn and Mr Gordon 11. Hepburn, the present manager of the business. The funeral on Wednesday at the Riccarton cemetery was attended by representatives of many business firms, and friends and the Rev 11. T. Yorke read the burial service, the Masonic rites being performed by the Worshipful Master of Civic Lodge, No. 157, W. Brother St G. Atkinson, and the lodge chaplain, Worshipful Brother C. T. Aschman. ROAD WORK. The wintry weather has had the effect of practically stopping the contractor in his task of sealing Riccarton Road. The work so far completed is appreciated, and gives a foretaste of the benefits to be derived some day from an up-to-date highway. PROPOSED RICCARTON PARK. Now that the Metropolitan Trotting Club has made a definite offer to the

Borough Council the citizens’ committee will be called together to consider the situation.

UPPER RICCARTON POLITICS. Mr P. G. Clements, president of the Upper Riccarton Burgesses’ Association, was interviewed yesterday concerning Mr T. O. Newnham’s reference at Wednesday's Waimairi County Council meeting to the association. “ Come in, come in,” called out Mr Clements “ You’re the very man I want to I was just going to write a letter for the 4 Records ’ column, but you’ll save me the trouble. Along with other members of the association I was astounded at the attitude adopted by Mr Newnham, who is one of the leading members of the association. When he likens the association to the tailors of Tooley Street he is calling himself names. He’s one of our foremost members, and one of those ‘small ratepayers ’ to whom he referred. There are members of the association paying twice as much in rates as Mr Newnham, and the membership is about twenty, not half a dozen, as he says. We fully expected to have a big roll-up at next meeting, and now Mr Newnham has made a certainty of it. 1 hope he’ll come along. He seems to forget that only a month or two ago he was very glad of our backing when he stood for the Drainage Board election, and we feel sure that if there were a county election pending now he wouldn’t have tried to be so funny at our expense; or, if he had, there would have been no * councillor ’ in front of his name as the result of the election. We, as an association, have made no attempt to 4 run exerything,’ but because we felt we were neglected we have banded ourselves together in order to bring before the various local bodies some of the matters which can be improved. And we can point to the improved tram service to Church Corner as one of our real achievements. Our trouble is that the County Council seems to forget all about us until someone writes to the paper. Now. however, we have an association going, and the County Council will prob ably get another little list of requirements for its next meeting. Yes, our next general meeting promises to be pretty lively, I’d like to add that we are out to work with the council, not against it, for the improvement of thi c part of the county.” RICCARTON LIBRARY SOCIAL.

Remembering the great success ol last year’s library social, Riccarton people turned out in large numbers to the function in the Town Hall on Thursday evening. Whilst the young folks predominated, there was quite a good sprinkling of citizens of maturer years, and the evening passed off most enjoyably. The hall was decorated tastefully, orange and blue predominating. The ladies’ committee, with the assistance of friends, provided supper and looked after the arrangements them selves. Mr R. G. Malcolmson was the active spirit in the general organisation and the members of the committee co operating with him were Mesdames Odell, Ormandy, Malcolmson, Clay worth, Thompson, Ford and Manhire. Messrs H. Odell, L. W. Ormandy, G. Rankin, G. Eaton, 11. K. Milne and O. Fraser. Mr Milne was M.C., and the Carson Orchestra supplied the music. Two Monte Carlo events were decided, the winners being Miss E. Millard and Mr D. Millard, and Miss E. Collister and Mr V. Ormandy. The Misses Dorothy and Ivis Manhire were loudly applauded for their 44 patter ” dance. The president (Mr Odell) announced that the committee had decided to hold another dance in about a month’s time