HALCOMBE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5357, 29 May 1878, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

{kkoju odb own cobhespondent.) ■ , May 25.

It baring transpired that the Government, while providing the Kailfvay Department with the highly indispensable telegraphic communication from Feilding to Marton, had determined that the conveniences of the wire were were not to be for the " public. A meeting, Influentially , and numerously attended, was held on the 20th inst., 1 to petition the Government to open the new telegraph office for the use of the public. The petition sets forth very pertinently that the population of Halcombe 'is a rapidly increasing one ; that with / the opening of the new line a large trade in timber is being developed; that there is ; already erected an office intended for telegraphy; and that, which will he sure to recommend itself to * the favorable notice of a Government wedded to retrenchment, the petitioners assure the "Hen/the Commissioner of Telegraphs such office would immediately pay working expenses." The granting of the foregoing requisition will afford the Government an excellent chance to redeem the reiterated promises that “ the Government would encourage by all -legitimate means the industry of the people,” &c.‘, &c. . , 1 notice in your advertising columns Mr, Halcombe; the agent of the Emigrants and Colonists Aid Corporation, invites bushmen and laborers to come up here and settle on this part of the Manchester Block. It will not be out of place to endeavor to give a few and perhaps useful items of information to those; whoso minds are probably wavering about this new venture.- Bndh falling, road making, fencing, and other kinds of skilled and un--skilled labor—for these there exists a steady demand, while the cost of living, taken all through, is lower than in Wellington or other cities. "Most of the necessaries of life are not much higher than in Wellington. Meat Is cheaper, as also is rent; fuel, of course, is easily procurable. A steady family man, with a wife who is a good working member of the family, might do well up here ; and if there bo daughters tit for domestic service, wages varying from lus. to 20s. per week might bo obtained. The wife could also contribute to the saving fund by washing or sewing. Attached to each cottage is an acre of laud, and where the tenants are industrious people, sufficient and to spare of potatoes and vegetables gener- . ally can be grown ; in fact, the cottages without the adjunct of a garden have not a very inviting aspect, looking sombre and cheerless.

At a meeting of the school committee held here on the 21st instant,—present, Messrs. Sherwil), Xaab, London, Scott, Silby, and Qoarrie, —it was resolved that the boundaries of the school district bo the same as the boundaries of Nos. 2 and 3 wards, Manchester Corporation. The chairman was instructed to communicate the foregoing resolution, iiccornnamed by. a plan, to (he Education Board, Wanganui. It was also resolved that tenders be invited for the execution of sundry necessary Improvements to, sclioolhouse and playground, &c., &c, - It was farther resolved that the parents of those children still absent from school bo communicated with, and Informed that in the event of their' continued noncompliance with the terms of the new Education Act, other and more stringent measures would be adopted. Itwos also further resolved that the correspondence relative to the absence of a lad whose parents, affirm is under proper instruction at his own home; he referred to the Inspector of Schools, Wanganui, The Chair- ; man read the schoolmaster's; report for April; which showed tfyi) attendances were 2DD9, and ■ the average was 83, The visit of ' Mr. Toulis, thoTjppoctor of Schools, was reported to the meeting. The Inspector had

suggested .some. necessary . additions for the, accommodation', of - the children,; these ,the Schoolmaster was authorised-to-see to.- Ihe report was considered a satisfactory one. The meeting then separated in the nsual manner. Our district is about to sustain a great loss in the departure of Mr. Robert Linton, who lists iu .so 'many ways contributed,to the ad-, vancemout of this place. Mr, Linton has bougbt.aa estate at Karere. : The residents ot that place may be congratulated on securing so estimable a neighbor, The banquet to celebrate the opening of the line, which was mentioned in my last, is definitely fixed for Monday, 3rd Junenoxt. It promises to be a very successful affair.