The late Mr A. W. F. Halcombe.

Manawatu Herald, 8 March 1900, Page 3

The late Mr A. W. F. Halcombe.

On Monday Mr A. W. F. Halcombe died at New Plymouth at the age of 66. A very courteous gentleman was the deceased, and one who in his day filled many parts, but was liked and appreciated in all. At one time in the year 1869 Mr Halcombe was Provincial Secretary of Wellington, and the township on the railway line was called after him. He came to the Manawatu on the purchase of the Feilding Block as agent for the Corporation, and by his care and skill assisted by good men that very valuable block was opened up and settled. During the early days of the Counties Mr Halcombe became one of the members of the first Manawatu County Council, and was a candidate for the Chairmanship which, however, fell to Mr Thynne's lot to fill. We have pleasing remembrances of those early meetings, where at the Council table good debating and at times, warm, was heard, but the close of the meeting was the signal for the finish of the battle for the ratepayers,, and the rest

ol the evening used to be parsed in pleasant converse, where perhaps more was done to save friction in the future than all the debating put to* gether. After the deceased gave up the agency of the Fei!ding Corporation he took a farm near Hawera, but of late he has lived a retired life. At one time- Mv Halcombe was the New ZeaJand correspondent for the London Times, and we be! love at one time he used to wrile leaders for the Wellington paper. The colony loces a good trae genoleman in the death of Arthur Folleti Falcombe.