MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18422, 1 July 1925, Page 4

MID-CANTERBURY

ASHBURTON. PERSONAL. Dr. W. E. Byburn, of the Ashburton County Hospital staff, is on leave, and Dr. W. J. Edington, of Christchurch, is taking his place. The Weather. Miserable weather conditions .prevailed yesterday. Snow fell intermittently throughout Monday night, but yesterday it gave place to rain, which fell continuously until about 2 p.m., when tho sky cleared a little. The rain was mingled with a little snow, but the latter did not lie. Up to 9 a.m. yesterday SO points of rain were registered at tho Ashburton Domain weather station. Last evening the prospects of more settled conditions were far from bright. General News. A meeting of the East Ashburton School Committeo was held on Monday evening, the chairman (Mr W. S. Kerr) presiding. The headmaster, reported that the roll number was 457 and that the average daily attendance was 417. Miss M. Vesty was - appointed pupil teaclier in the place of Misl M. Oakley, who had resigned. Messrs W. H. Bobinson and H. Money wero appointed a visiting, committee. The chairman reported that the two new class-rooms wero nearing completion, and would be ready for occupation within a month. B, Jennings suffered a fracture of tho skull and the collarbone yesterday through slipping from a pile of timber in the yard of Tucker's, Ltd. Ho was admitted to the County Hospital. Obituary. Mr Benjamin Ede died at his lato residence, Hampstead, yesterday morning; aged 92 years. Ho was born at Beigato, Surrey, England, and was brought up to farming. Ho was married to Miss Amy Brewer in 1853. In 1856 he embarked for Goelong, Victoria, by the ship Arabian, and after five years left for Canterbury, New Zealand. Mr Ede made the first brick which was used to construct the Lyttelton Tunnel. In 1562 he proceeded to Mount Peel, where he made bricks for the Hon. J. B. A. Acland. After this he was engaged in brickmaking at Orari for Mr Tripp, and in the following year ho returned to Ashburton. His next venture was to take up in the vicinity of Digby's Bridge 40 acres of laud, and this was'the first farm worked in tho Ashburton district. When three years had elapsed he procured 440 acres closo to where tho Willowby School now stands, and after draining this property ho sold out in 1876 to Mr Stoddart and took up 32 acres in Allenton. In 1878 he went in for 240 acres of land at 4.1 ford Forest, where he contracted and farmed until about 1897, when he procured a few acres in Allenton. A few years later he built a house in Wellington street, Hampstead, where he lived in retirement until his death. He loaves a widow and a family of three sons and five daughters—Mr A. (Hampstead), Mr B. -Ede (Allenton), Mr S. Ede (Wellington); Mrs W. Skilhng (Tinwald), Mrs A. Aldridge (TrnwaM)* Mrs W Young (Hinds), Mrs W. Hillyor (Troverton), and Mrs, A. Yaxley (Christchurch); also a large number of grandchildren, oyer 20 great-grand-children, and four great-groat-grand-ehildren.

Mail Hotices. Mail* close at Asliburton to-day for norbliern porta at 5 p.m.; late fee, 5.25 p.m.; niiairt's van, 5.43 p.m. Mails for Australian States, South Africa, .arid thaEast, per Mooraki, from Auckland, close at Ashburton to-day. METHVEN. * A progressive euchre tournament was held in the Highbank' schoolroom, in, aid of the Anglican Sunday school prize fund. Although there were several counter-attractions, the attendance was good. The gentlemen's prize was won by Mr Fred Thomson. Mrs Thos. Cleeve and Miss I. Simpson tied for the ladies' prize; and Airs Cleeve erously waived her right to the prize in favour of Miss Simpson.' Consolation prizes were awarded to Miss Stockdaile and Mr It. Brawley The etationniaster reports that in future consignors of goods ex Christchurch in -small lots can now rest assured that their consignments will' reach Methven the same day as load-/ ed. The Department has taken this forward step to compete with lorry traffic, thus eliminating tranship waggons at Rakaia, which have in the past been a source of annoyance to consignees. The matter of securing additional traffic is being strenuously canvassed for by the officials, while at the same time the lorry contractors are also endeavouring to hold their business, and in some cases extend it to other districts.

PENDARVES. Since Sunday morning until 3 p.m. yesterday 3.47 inches of rain lias fallen. The rainfall for Juno was 5.58 inches, and for tho same month last year 2.11 inches. The rainfall to date for 192-5 is 19.64 inches, compared with 14.(W inches for tho corresponding period last year.