MID-CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 27 November 1930, Page 8

MID-CANTERBURY

ashburton. AN OPEN VERDICT. An open verdict, that, death was duo to a bullet wound, there being insufficient evidence to show whether it was accidental or intentional, was returned vesterday by tho District Coroner (Mr B. Clark) at the inquest on Albert James Blee, aged 20 years, son of Mr j. p. Blee, of Ashton, -who was found shot, on his father's farm on Tuesday morning. John Pomeroy Blee said that when he last saw his son alive, shortly after breakfast on Tuesday, ho was in his usual state. Witness did not see his son take out the rifle, but found him lying on his back in the paddock with the rifle lying across his left leg, at 11 a. i?. His son had no financial worries, and neither drank nor smoked. He knew of no reason why he should take his life. His son had previously taken out the rifle to shoot magpies. Witness did not think that his son understood the safety catch on the rifle. 110 had never had any dispute with his son, who was lively, and took a keon interest in all sports. To the Coroner: The barrel of the rifle had fallen across the log, away from the body. The bullet had entered tho head. The boy's health was good. Stanley Eichard Blee said his brother was in a good state of health. Ho would bo returning from putting tho cows and horses in the paddock when the accident occurred. The rifle was owned by witness. His brother knew how to manipulate it. He had not had a difference with his brother. Evidence was also given by Winifred Blee. Constable T. W. Bound said that he found the body with tho rifle between the legs. The barrel was sloping away from tbe head. Ko sign of the empty shell could be found. The bullet penetrated the forehead and went out the back of tho head. Ho would say that tho rifle would be close to tho head when discharged. Excursion from Oxford. About 240 residents of Oxford arrived in Ashburton yesterday, to take part in the Oxford Oddfellows' Lodge annual picnic in the Domain. Tho visitors spent a pleasant morning, but heavy rain in tho afternoon spoilt the remainder of tho day. Heavy Rain. The change in tho weather, which threatened yesterday morning, took place in the afternoon, when heavy rain fell, continuing well into tho evening. There was little sign of a clearance last night. Acclimatisation Society.

The Council of tho Ashburton Acclimatisation Society met on Tuesday evening, when the chairman (Mr W. H. Robinson) presided. A letter -was received from Messrs von Sierakowski and A. W. Sparrow regarding fines recently imposed upon tbem for taking native game without a license. It was resolved to reply that tho Society had no say in the matter of the amount of the fines. Tho Department of Internal Affairs advised that a bonus of 2s per tail ■would be paid for at) defcr . destroyed in all parts of the South" Island, and that they -would appoint officers in each district to receive tails and pay the bonus. Permission was granted to Mr W. J. Robertson, of Anama, to take a party to shoot the shags at the Maori Lakes. Regulation No. i> of the Local Pishing Regulations was discussed, and it was resolved that regulation numbered 5 on the back of the fishing licenses be cancelled, and the following local regulation inserted: "It shall be unlawful to uso any wire, either plain or twisted, or gimp trace of a greater gauge than 21 standard wire gauge, or a rod consisting of only one pieco of a greater length than lift." It was resolved to write to the North Canterbury and South Canterbury Acclimatisation Societies asking them whether they had any regulation in force with regard to the length of onepiece rods.

It was resolved to -appoint Mr. .P. Ryan, of the Rangitata fishing settle- I ment, to collect accommodation fees from users of the Society's hut at Rangitata. Bowling. A bowling match in the Bullock Pennant competition will be played between tho Ashburtou and Allenton Bowling Clubs on Wednesday next, on the latter's green. Ashburton will be re- I presented by the following:—Baker, Sawle, McEachen, Easterbrook (s); j Amos, Laing, Bonnington, A. Lane (s); Round, Moore, Dunn, Clarkson (s); MeBean, Bain, Doherty, Acton (s). Three rinks will represent the Ashburton Bowling Club in the annual Town v. Country match at Christchurch on December 6th. The rinkß are as follows:—Featherston, Dunn, Easterbrook, Acton (g); Amos, Madden, McSherry, Higgins (s); Woods, McEachen, W. R. Lane, Milsom (s). Technical School Examinations. The following students have passed the November term examinations of the Ashburton Technical School's evening classes:— English: V. Ashbolt, C. Anderson, C. Attwood, P. Bolton, D. Burgess, M. Carter, N. Collins, D. Henderson, W. McGee, N. Milner, M. Osman, K. Oliver, M. Oliver, A. Scott, M. Sutherland, M. Whiting, and C. Wakeham. Arithmetic: C. Anderson, C. Attwood, P. Bolton, D. Burgess, T. Brosnahan, D. Gowans, D. Henderson, H. Lithgow, A. Scott, and M. Sutherland. Physics: C. Attwood, D. Curran, H. Doherty, B. Hampton, M. Mahoney, E. Moylan, and L. Wilson. Mathematics: 11. Doherty, B. Hampton, J. Loudon, and E. Moylan. Plumbing: T. Cates, C. Dorrans, . A. Glendinning, K. Hulme, C. Jones, L. McNally, and H. Montgomery. Carpentry: L. Broom, E. Church, H. Collins, M. Digby, F. Jordan, G. Loudon, R. McTigue, L. Moore, N. Mooro, R. Moylan, W. Pritchard, S. Roulston, and E. Thompson. Carpentry—advanced: R. Crum, J. Dunn, D. Digby, R. Griffen, O. Gass, A. Jones, E. Jones, R. Lynn, L. Moses, J. Moody, W. McGee, H. Paterson, D. Porter, J. Patton, E. Stigley, G. Tait, C. Wakeham, and L. Wilson. Building construction—Junior: O. Gass, H. Jones, R. Lynn, L. Moses, D. Porter, E. Stigley, and L. Wilson. Senior: R. Griffen. and H. Paterson. Bookkeeping: C. Anderson, E. Johnston, J. Moody, K. Moore, C. Pilbrow. G. Silcock, G. Warriner, B. Yeoman, ci Attwood, and A. Scott. Shorthand: W. Attwood, H. Hickey, I. Hillier, N. Rickard, G. Shierlaw, M. Sutherland, and B. Yeoman. Typing: P. Bolton, H. Hickey, N. Rickard, M. Sutherland, B. Wallis and B. Yeoman. Junior: W. Attwood. Dressmaking: W. Attwood, M. Bell, D. Breeze, R. Bell, D. Burgess, V. Burgess, M. Carter, N. Collins, D. Gale, F. Gudsell, C. Hansen, G. Holloway, H. Lithgow, M. McNally, G. Mcllraith, M. Oliver, M. Osman, B. Smith, L. Shepherd, M. Sutherland, M. Stribling, G. Shierlaw, M. Whiting, M. Watt, B.

Wallis, H. Hickey, o. Forbeg, anrl M Fleming. ' ancl M - Needlework: Ij. Shepherd, and \< Sutherland. • ■ ' and MMT-. SOMERS. One of the biggest industrial undertakings in tbe history 0 f the Mount Somers district is about to be commenced by the Blackburn Coal Company, and it is anticipated that Mt. Somers is destined already to become an important coal mining centre. For mauv months past the company "havo employed a largo number of workmen putting down a line, building bridges and making cuttings between the Mt vSomcrs railway and their large coal deposits up Woolshed Creek (a distance of about eight miles), and as the work is now nearing completion, arrangements have been mad© to hold the official openiiiK on Thursday, December 4th, to which representatives of prominent business concerns and tho Minister for Railways, the District Traffic Manager, and other prominent railway officials, members of Parliament, and representatives of local bodies, are being invited. The line, besides tapping large coal deposits, links-up with vast deposits of silica sand and limestone, and as the line will provide cheaper and better facilities for the handling of the latter product, it is anticipated that the limo kiln, which has been closed for some time, will be reopened. Messrs It. Young and W. McClimont have been appointed to fill the vacancies on the Mt. Somers School Committee. caused by the death of Mr W. T. Goodrich, and the resignation of Mr W. J. S. Hood, who has left the district. , The Revs. J. B. de Galwey, and A. ,7. Petrie, and Mr Stenning, of the Standing Committee, have been appointed to meet the Mt. Somers vestry to discuss important matters regarding future developments in the parochial district.

DOMETT. The Domett Tennis Club played a game against the Scargill Tennis Club, the former winning. Scores (Domett names first): — Men's singles—F. Childs 9, G. Naismith 3; £>. Denton 9, W. Fleming 1; C. Jackman 9, A. Stewart 7 : A. Meikle 6, A. Johnson 3; B. Wilkinson 4, E. Gibb G; H. Geeson 6, C. Whitehead 2. Women's singles —Mrs 3, Miss Mitchell G; Miss McAdam o, Mrs Shadrack 6; Mrs Denton 6, Mrs" Johnson 1; Mrs Meikle 6, Miss Gibb 3; Miss Jackman G. Miss Kerr 4; Miss O'Boylo 6, Miss Scott 4. Men's doubles —F. Childs and Denton 6, G. Naismith and W. Fleming 1 ; C. Jackman and A. Meikle G, A. Stewart and R. Johnson 5; B. Wilkinson and H. Geeson 6, E. Gibb and C. Whitehead 2. . Women's doubles—Mrs Childs ana Miss McAdam 6, Miss Mitchell and Mrs Shadrack 5; Mrs Denton and Mrs Meikle 6, Mrs Johnson and Miss Gibb 4; Miss Jackman and Miss O'Bovle 6. Miss Kerr and Miss Scott 4. . Mixed doubles —Mrs Childs Childs 6, Miss Mitchell and G. Naismith 4; Miss McAdam and S. Denton 6. Mrs Shadrack and W. Fleming 2; Mrs Denton and C. Jackman o, Mrs Johnson and R. Johnson 6; Mrs Meikle and A. Meikle 6, Mies Gibb and A Stewart 1; Miss Jackman and «• Wilkinson 6. Miss Kerr and E. Gibb 5; Miss O'Bovle and H. Geeson b, Miss Scott and C. Whitehead 0. Totals: —Domett 146 games, Scargill 85 games.