HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8772, 26 March 1907, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Sincere was tho regret felt and expressed here when we received the. sad and unexpected news of the death of Mr S. Gibbons, who was known to many of ns for very many years and it will, I hope, help to assnago Hie grief of the bereaved ones to be assured that our respect and esteem for fiim increased with those years that have gone. Tho aged mother of tho well-known and highly respected Kobersteiu brothers —three of whom are now on a holiday trip to their dear Fatherland—died here on Thursday last. Her boys, when visiting tho scene of their youth, will bo sadly reminded of the loved one they have lost. Mr and Mrs Fraser, who recently retired from their Halcombe business will leave next week on an extended visit to Australia aud I join with many others in wishing them an enjoyable tour and a safe return to this more favoured laud. Wo were-pleased to learn of the continued and marked ininroTemont ju the health of Mr Cecil Bruce aud sincerely hope that he will return to us permanently “setup.” To aid the Foreign Mission Fund a garden party aud sale of work will be hold at Mr E. Carr’s Stamyay residence on Wednesday, April 3rd. Mr aud Mrs Carr are too well-known to make it‘necessary for me to add |hat they will cordially welcome all sympathisers in the good work. _ Though not particularly prominent iu the prize list Halcombe marksmen were well represented at the Association meeting on Wednesday last. Tho management besides the ordinary initial troubles, had unforseen faculties to contend with aud credit is due to tho hard grafters who removed them in time for the big shoot to proceed. A further division of labour would have relieved the overworked secretary of unnecessary worry. The next big meeting of marksmen takes place at Maugaweka on Good Friday iind Easter Saturday, when £OO iu prize money and trophies will be handed to tho top scorers. Knowing that tho Pouwhakarua range is both practical and pictorial, that the general arrangements are up to date, that the up-country '‘sports” are as good as are gathered ,_ that their welcome to visitors is of tho warmest we feel that for us there is a good time coming. Tho team selected to compote with tho Himataugi representatives at Baudon on the 30th hist, for the Newman Cup is O. Pleasants, F. Pleasants, L. Pleasants C. Sayweli D. Quarrie O. McElroy R- Thompson, S. White, S. Straohan and A. O. Burcham; reserves, E. Brabant am T. Green. Those who cannot roll up aro requested to notify the secretary at once. Reading that Reece recently made a billiard break of 1835, which in eluded 899 anchor cannons, I con elude that most- of my scoring shoti are also of tho auchor brand, for nr* opponents emphatically declare then to be “ 'flukes.” 1. Guy Scholcfield, in his “Beginu iugs-of N.Z. Nationality”—the be ginning of which has appeared iuth Wellington Times—pays tribute b the Scandinavians who weroinducei to settle in this country and it is in Wresting to read the opinion held o the it work by the late A. P. Hal combe, after whom our settlement j named, and who at the time wa emigrant agent for the North Island That gentleman reported: “Out!) first arrival of the Scandinavian there was great popular _ prejudice almost amounting to indignatio against them, but this feeling lit bien changed by the example of thei persevering industry into one c entire approbation of their introduc tion. into this country. , , , .

!I rlo not. think that our own countrymen could bo placed iu the same position with equal chances of success.” A friend of mine who, with his wife, recently visited the Exhibition, requested her to aid him in selecting some suitable mementos out of the hundreds of beautiful things there exhibited for sale. After much independent inspection they compared notes and found, as sometimes happen with husband and wife, that thir tastgs agreed and that both had been attracted by tho chaste and charming beauty of a vase, and though throe or four pounds had been the prescribed limit of expenditure holi-day-hubby was prepared to “spring” a pound or two to gratify their mutual desire to possess that artistic gem. The man in charge was asked the price of their selection and they were told that this particular vase, which was no larger than an ordinary water Jug, was priced at £l3O and that it was “sold.” Needless to add that my friends felt that, they had been placed in the same list. This incident reminds me of another welliutoutioned husband, possessed of good taste and whose means to gratify it were also limited. He wished to present his wife with a winter coat. In vain he looked iu windows and inspected the contents of shops. He was fastidious. At length he saw a lady friend wearing Just the very thing. It was rich, rare, cosey and stylish. He went home deliy tod and told his wife to ascertain wuere Mrs bought that coat ! nd to get one for herself as near like it as possible. Tho good woman did not act upon instruction hut ruefully informed her astonished spouse that

the cost of tho coat ho so much admired was—£s7 10s. Neither of

hose couples possessed fairy godnothers.