HALCOMBE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5294, 14 March 1878, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

(from our own correspondent.) Halcombe, March 7. Since my last letter, Messrs. Nathan and Wilkie, the contractors for the FeildingMarton line, have secured the contract for the erection of the new, station at Halcombe, which is to be completed in fourteen weeks from the date of the contract. Quite a small army of carpenters are employed about the job ; and judging from the progress already made, it is I think safe to say that it will be finished before contract time. I hear that Dr. Boor, a medical gentleman from Nelson, is about to settle on the outskirts of Halcombe, where he intends to practise his profession. Judging from the present Healthy condition of the people of this district, doubtless the worthy doctor will combine bucolic labors with his professional work. It has transpired that Mr. Bell, owner of that fine property known as “ Bell’s”, has disposed of it to the Messrs. Douglas, but upon what terms your correspondent has not been able to ascertain. On the 22nd ultimo the Fellding Choral Society gave the Feildiug and Halcombe public a musical treat. The oratorio selected for the occasion was “The Messiah,” and the performers, by the able rendering of their parts, proved that the society’s ambition had not oerleaped itself. The ;bass singing; of Mr. Dowling was deservedly admired, and the other performers largely contributed to the success of the concert. The proceeds of this entertainment, which amounted to £l4, go towards paying for the society’s piano. During the last month the magistrates had before them a person charged with sheep stealing from a Maori. One native who was under examination stated that he had been offered £IOO to suppress his evidence, but this offer he very properly refused. This Maori must be a rara avis. .., I quite sympathise with the Herculean labors of the solitary policeman of Feilding. He surely' must be übiquitous, for he has to preserve the peace, serve summonses, collect census papers, and perform sundry other duties both here and at Feilding (the latter place being his head-quarters.) Truly the Queen’s subjects must be a. law-abiding

people ; but it wiU T not,, fee. surprising to. me .if another .mofe iof/hpraes/be /gathered foi, ex-, .poftatiou to- the South. That; this: feeen done quite recently is verified by the/report which appeared in, your, paper,of the seizure of a lot of horses tbat;had been;collected in thfe Manawatu District, and were at .the moment the detective appeared on-the wharf just ready for exportation.',': - ; .i.-w: ,i; t v-,a i,‘ j; On the 19th ult. the Halcombe- school - ppmmitteo met for the purpose . of' electing nin'e gentlemen to represent the, Manawatu-Kaugi-tikei Counties on the new; Education Board for the Wanganui District.,/ The following are the names of the gentlemen f elected Eevs. D'oull, Stewart, Toogood, and Ross, Messrs.Bryce, M.H.R., ‘Dalrymple, Fox, M/11.p.,, Jackson, and Sanaon. /- J ,