HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8782, 9 April 1907, Page 4

HALCOMBE.

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.)

I have received some uitiiure'potatoes grown by Mr Hartley, of Onepuhi. They aro of the variety known as Up-to-date, and certainly this sample fnlly deserves the distinctive title. The "best return of tubers in this district that I have heard, of is that obtained by Mr L. Hogg, of Burnside, who planted one [sack of Northern Star and bagged four tons. ?I did not make haste to publish the act that burglars were about,-{[as I thought the less said the sooner the sinners would be surrounded. A number of "forcible entries" have been effected during my residence in Halcombe (that's- suggestive, eh?) and only ono such offender has been brought to book, and he was hooked by amateur fishers. Our police, so far as this place is concerned, are heavily handicapped by not being there or thcroabouts when the brave burglar goes a-burglarisiug, and therefore they have always appeared with the '' also started.' ' If only for our nerves' sake, it is to be hoped they will meet with better luck this time, and soon have the fellow who stole the watch anticipating time in the watch-house. Several of our residents who have not yet visited the Exhibition purpose taking advantage of the exceptionally cheap fares on Wednesday next. Jf, therefore, any inquiries should be made for £tho writer you may slate that he is with "Alice in Wonderland."

Reserving space in fclio Advocate for weekly recording matches and other matters of interest to rifle shots is, I think, a capital idea, and should have the effect of increasing the interest in this clean, healthy and nationally useful art. As the highest authority declares our most effective line of defence is composed of expert marksmen, it should ho the aim of all men to become first class shots, and be aye ready to defend "home and country" against possible enemies. At the same time I think it is the imperative duty of all to do their utmost to cultivate universal brotherhood, and rendor war between nations impossible, and thus remove the barbarian brand that now disfigures our body politic, and which is a disgrace to our boasted civilisation. In the last number of "Life" there is a picture of the contents of a game bag obtained by four sports during a three hours' hunt in Yeleina Forest, Victoria. Looking at the long line of limp tilings hanging across the top rail of'a fence, I expected to see rods and ''bobs"iu the hands of eel fishers, instead'of which they held guns, aud I read that the unique exhibit was composed of 110 tigcv snakes—one ?of the most venomous \ variety in Australia. Touching snakes (I don't if I can avoid it), t had a boy chum in Australia for whom this kind of sport had a special fascination. It was not at all "au uncommon thing for him to kill a score of these reptiles in an aftenoon. When out with him ostensibly after other game, he often deserted me to follow up a snake and root him and his family out from among rocks and roots. It is said that since tho serpent tempted Eve and sowed the seeds of discord in the garden, and which have since borne such a prolific crop, there has been onmity between tho reptilian and human families. Certainly this feeling was abnormally developed in my chum, who "hated g'em like pisen,'' especially after one of the tribe had killed his favourite dog, who was a "bully" snake killer, but who, like all the dogs I know that took to the work and excelled in it, became careless and paid the penalty. During the past week I have received parcels of stamps for the Halcombe invalid from Mr Alex. McMinu, of the Wairarapa Daily T'mes, the Raugitikoi Advocate staff, and Mr J. B. Pybus, of Rata, and on his behalf I sincerely thank the kind and thoughtful donors.