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Ruth Mary Benbow & Archie Leach
Ruth Mary Benbow was born: 20 Jun 1885 at Temuka to parents James Benbow and mother Alice Harriet nee Bishop. She was enrolled at the Rangitira Valley School 27 Oct 1890 and after completion of her education worked at home on the farm. She was a very skilled dressmaker, evidenced in the photo above by the intricacy and detail on her wedding dress. Ruth became engaged in 1904 to Robert John Edgar, a young farm worker of Seadown - he broke off the engagement in October 1908, only to renew it again a fortnight later then finally refused to marry Ruth giving the reason "she was too quiet". Spirited Ruth took him to court and claimed £500 for damages for breach of promise of marriage. The case was widely reported and at the District Court in Timaru in March 1909 the jury hearing the case, awarded her damages of £200. Edgar paid £50 into court, and offered £100 in full settlement stating he was unable to pay any more - his offer was refused so he filed for bankruptcy. At a meeting of his creditors in May, the solicitor represented Ruth to satisfy her claim. Edgar's assets - horses, gig, harness, etc., were consequently sold by public auction.
Marriage of Ruth and Archie Leach at "Ladymoor", Waitohi. Briidesmaids: Left Ida and on right, Eva Ruth mar: 25 Apr 1911 in Temuka to Archibald (Archie) Leach, the second son of David and Margaret Leach nee McCallum. Archie was b: 27 Aug 1881 in Temuka where he attended the Temuka school - his last day there on 17 Dec 1895 when his family moved to the North Island. In 1910described as a contractor of Horotiu and at the time of his marriage he was a gold miner of Waihi; In 1911 Archie was a bush contractor at Ngaruawahia. Sept. 1913 financial difficulties sawmilling at Glen Murray, saw him filing as bankrupt and WW1 came -Archie was in Category 2nd Reserves; his address Parawai Thames; Occ: Sawmill foreman; In 1921 now living at Waihi, occ: contractor, he purchased Sect. 337A at Waihi from Caroline Stubbs. In April 1925 he is serving on the Waihi School Committee and over the years made several land purchases On 20 August 1928 he put his name forward to contest the seat for the Waihi Borough Council - a low turnout and was not successful . 1930 Archibald Leach of Waihi Miner purchased Residence Site Section 308 Waihi from Frank Lawrence Groshinski of Waihi Trucker 1933 Archibald Leach of Waihi Miner and Ruth Mary Leach his wife purchased Sections 487 and 488 Waihi from Lucy Lavery of Waihi Married Woman 1946 Archibald Leach of Waihi Farmer sold Residence Site Section 337A Waihi to James Edward Clarke of Waihi Labourer 1958 Frank Lawrence Groshinski of Waihi Trucker sold Residence Site Section 308 at Waihi to Archibald Leach Ruth Leach was a very much loved person who cared much about her family, church and friends and was missed by all when she d: 28 Dec 1966 at Waihi Beach aged 81Y, She was bur: 30 Dec 1966 at Waihi Public Cem. Sect: Block: G Lot: 334 A keen conservationist Archie retired and lived with daughter Eva at Waihi Beach - he d: aged 92Y on 3 Jun 1972 in Waihi Beach and he was bur: 05 Jun 1972 Waihi Cemetery.Ruth and Archie had 6 children i: Eva Clematis Leach b: 28 Jun
1912 in Hamilton, Waikato; She participated in her oral history and
described coming to Waihi. Recalls Flu epidemic and explained why Maori
were badly affected, talks about Kauaeranga and describes people being
taken in dray loads to be buried. She talks about the company, Leach &
Party, formed by father, which ran loaded with quartz down to
Waikino. Her recollections include: involvement with Anglican Church;
Girls' Friendly Society; social life in the early days with reference to
the Oddfellows Ball; involvement with Manchester Unity Lodge; work
experience with J Cullen & Son for four years and later with J P
Gamble. Her nursing experience included 12 years in Australia
(1958 lived Randwick, Banks, NSW) 4 years Papua New Guinea and time
in Canada and England before returning to New Zealand in 1964. She
remembered Kingsford Smith who landed out on the flats at Athenree;
discusses miners' disease and how it affected township
statistically as there was no Social Welfare in those days.
Mentions Mr Tetley who assisted people and recalls the opening of the
railway to Tauranga in 1928. in she retiredfrom her position as Matron of
the Paeroa Hospital to Waihi, and d: at Matua Life Care, Tauranga 23 Jan 2003
Age 90Y, Bur: 18/02/2003 at Waihi Public Cem.
Section: Block: G Lot: 333
... Percy's partner was Cecily Smith iii Gladys May Leach (b: 31 Mar 1916 in Waikato; d: 03 Jun 2014 in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty) mar: 1937 to James Frederick Robertson (b: 30 Jul 1896 at Stewart Island to parents Charles Robertson and mother Catherine Bruce; he d: 08 Oct 2009 in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty; Last Residence Ranfurly War Veterans Home, Three Kings, Auckland; Crem. 29 Jan 1979) Their childen: iv: Rona Alice Leach (b: 26 Jan 1918 in Waikato; d: 10 Aug 2011 in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty) mar: 1941 in Waihi, Coromandel to John Alan Nichol (b: 25 Dec 1909 in Waitekauri, Waikato to parents John Smith Nicol and mother: Eva May;) d: 12 Jul 1988 in Tauranga) Their children:
v: Ida Margaret Leach (b: Abt. 16 Nov 1921; d: 06 Dec 1921 in Waihi; Bur: 07 Dec 1921 Waihi Public Cem.) vi Maureen Claire* Leach mar:to Raymond Reeve Their family;
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