HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8777, 3 April 1907, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

I (From Out Own Correspondent.) I The death of Mr David Scott takes i one mote' name from the ever-short-lening list of “auld acquaintances. ” |To many his going was unexpected but when I learned the sad. news I recalled what he said t'O' me two 1 years ago when I complimented him' upon his appearance and remarked ;that Time' was evidently dealing kindly with him, With a friendly grip he replied in Ii?» Case appearances Were deceptive and that a weak

;heart was allied to an apparently ’robust exterior. It is nearly thirty 1 years-. since I. first met the ever genial “Davie” and though during the latter part pf that time our meetings were few* -anil long- between, there was alway s a confirmation of the old song’s sentiments onthose occasions. One of H l6 ' u j r ceased’s sous is a resident of Halcombo and to him, his mother and the other members of the family I tender ray sincere condolences. j Mr Recce Williams, an old Halcomhe hoy, who for the past ten j years has hcou employed at tho iretone Workshops, is revisiting the scones of his youth and “putting in” Ins faster holidays with his brother and old Comrades here. One of the said scones so visited is still au uuromantic railway crossing ‘ r fourteen or more years ago an uuauuodneed locomotive ran into him and besides- smashing one of his legs inflicted othef injuries which combined to keep young Reese long hovering near another crossing. As seven out of the ten marksmen sokioted to compote on Saturday last wiffi a Saudou team for the Newman

Cup notified the Secretary that they I were’ too busy to keep the promise ho had made' oU their behalf that official iif . once' informed Capt. Penny of tilef collapse, of the contract. As the sarifev Halcontbo shots are engaged to meet the’ Simataugi representatives at Saudou dh fhd 30th inst. the Secretary requests thettf to let him know if they can meet their sporting opponents on that date. Mr S. White was o«r only representative at Mangaweka’s monster meeting of marksmen on Friday and Saturday last. .His comments upon the weather the first day’ Wre not flattering, but lus euloginnis iipOfi tM range, the arrangements and the Sporting spirit that animates the executive and iu-

duced members to subscribe £‘2s in money iii as many minutes to extend the' Hue of targeV and , thus reduce the time required to .'lioot through their 'annual programme unreservedly so.

1 Maijy .stories have been told of canine camaraderie, of the dog’s devotion to ids master, idH.perception, affection and fidelity, all of which afford mo much speculative pleasure to hear or peruse. Believing there at& many other of your readers built tho same way I append two illustrations of the above that recently attracted my attention. When passing a cottage in the quiet suburbs of a neighbouring town I saw :i little child whose fal- ; testing steps and persistent efforts to 1 Walk were being assisted by a collie dog. They wore the sole occupants of tho front garden,- the gate' of which was t open. Inf .spite, of his patient help and (much to the dog’s apparent distress tire little toddler several times collapsed, [[but pro--seutly the pair reached the gate and there the dog blocked the opening and barred the way 'to the public road and with a grave responsible, resolute look that dog “said” to his infant charge—“ Tims far art them permitted to go, hut uo further. ” Tho other illustration I sketch with a shaky hand and eyes that—lioui — tobacco smoko dims. Sfoster and dog grew old together, ili life they were almost inseparable, your' succeeded year and the old man’s slow and feeble stops wore everywhere followed by the liinpv steps of “Kell” and it was pathetic to see the I-am-with-you-always look iu that dog’s liquid eyes, as she rested beside her tired aud woru out master When death recently removed him it really seemed to US that Nell’s heart was broken. She waudered through the house from room to room, inspecting the beds, chairs, lounges and outside seats the loved one had occu-

pied. Though weary with her wanderiugs to arid fro she could not rest, hut with a sad inquiring look iu her now tearful eyes the Search was over renewed. At length exhausted, she laid down despairingly by the old armchair, her search was ended. But hands and sympathetic hearts tried iu vain to induce her to eat, the daintiest morsels were unheeded.

Poor patient loving “Nell’s” grave is iu the orchard and I venture to say it will not be forgotten so long as human hearts respond, to this true story of a dog’s devotion. Judging from the contents of Johannesburg newspapers to hand of the 15th aud 22ud February tire eleco; tious which took place on the 20th of that month have inaugurated a peaceful revolution the oilfconio of which, it is hoped, will rehabilitate’ tha_t internally torn aud most distressfully mixed up country. No louger wiLtlie Rand lords he the lords of the land. The people, as a whole, assorted their rights to ho considered — 2200 unemployed iu that golden city whore migratory millionaires sprung up and disappear like mushrooms, asked for “work not charity” and asked iu vain while tho mine owners stormed for cheap Chinese labour “Briton aud Boer are now united,” says the Critic; “it is our duty now as citizens of the same groat colony to let the merciful veil of forgetfulness drop over the past, shake hands all round aud be friends once again. There’s work for ns to do ... It will he the duty incumbent upon tho new Government to provide room for strangers on the laud by throwing open some portion at least of the immense area now locked up by speculators—the laud is the property of the people. It is immoral to close it against the settler and the prospector aud wait for the unearned increment. . . . We arc on tho thres-

hold of the now ago in South Africa. The Transvaal has ended its troubles and there should—there must —bo peace between the opponents. The man who has settled hero for good and for all, and the other man who, hr his own slang, “is not here for his health ” both long for a revival of prosperity. We shall get it in brimming measure if wo put the extinguisher on the last sparks of racial and political ill-will and combine to further our common Botha’s, Joubert’s, Do Wet’s, Do La Ray’s and other leading Boer speeches breathe the same and satisfying spirit.