HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8806, 7 May 1907, Page 4

HALCOMBE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Alter being closed for a week our .school was re-opened on the 29th when it was found that there was little improvement in the condition of children before afflicted ' with measles and rash, and that more serious developments had _ taken place in others, so it was decided to further postpone our all-important educational work, rather than risk the spreading of infections diseases. ?Tlie capable secretary of the local ranch of the Farmers’ Union informs me that the meeting held in Air Puxkiss’ office on Saturday afternoon was well attended, and that satisfactory progress was made with the amiugements for the social, auxl I venture to predict that the gratifying success that lias rewarded their former efforts to make tho_ gathering one of the most attractive of onr annual functions will he repeated when the mild May moon has become , ‘-as round as my shield,”

The opening of the shooting season in the year 1907 will he long remembered by those who, like myself, and companions, left sweethearts and wives to capture other ducks. Furnished with what we be- ) lieveci'to bo a camp outfit, exclusive of invitations, permits, plans, and a passports, living descendants of the , prince of ‘lndia rubber” decoy ducks, together with guns and “ton?” of ammunition, we sought the water ot promise, and after , many miles had been traversed and the shades of'evening had fallen and broken into blackness, we found to our disgust that we were still miles away from our proposed destination. Heavy rain descended and added, weight to the argument in favour of camping on the spot. When we unloaded the carryall we found that all things were there that bushmou want —save five or six, and the lack of those just put us campers in a fix We had a tent and fly, but none of as had been “fly” enough to provide and other poles, and as there was nothing in the vicinity taller than a stunted ti-tree we had. to throw the calico over the vehicle, creep under, and make the best of It. Soon pools of water formed in the calico depressions, and drip, drip, dripped upon face and form. Then it was we found that if we were not satisfied with our lodging the mosquitoes wore. They showed their appreciation of such shelter by coming in millions. Oh, what a time we had ! Such, indeed, as made us wonder, why'wo left our “’appy ’omes” laud the comforts. It is, however, under'such calico, circumstances, ' and conditions that the philosopher scores and the dead tired intermittently snores. As _ tho grey day broke the wet, tangled', and mosquito blistered sports heard the first shot fired. Tho outlook was not encouraging. There appeared to bo thousands of acres of water and not a duck within as many yards of ns, nor could tho few that fiew_ so high overhead he induced to join their captive cousins. It did not take ns long to realise that the longer we stayed in such a locality the more time wc should waste, so after a sumptuous breakfast wc packed up and moved on to quarters where we had arrauged“to meet a guide who I would take us where game was plentiful; but, alas, for human hopes and promises, none were fulfilled, and as tho rain came down again in sheets wo sought tho blankets, which this time were spread beneath a hospitable and water-tight roof; but those mosquitoes must have followed us up with whetted appetites, and announced our arrival to myriads of others eu route, for never in my life do I remember them being so numerous and bloodthirsty. Their fine stilletos must be made oh the best case hardened spring steel, for they penetrated sox and all flannel goods with ease, even .the eyelet hooks in our hoots wore seized upon as pumping stations by companies and regiments. Tho effect of this puncturing upon two of the party was worse and more mountainous than the measles. However, what could not ho cured had to be endured. All that night it rained in torrents, and wo suffered tho torments of tho jammed, nor conld| wo leave till a frieudfi-eturued with; the horse power and” dragged us out of our misery. In travelling along the borders of a large lake, sometimes axle-deep, wo passed over scores of eels that flopped and squirmed and scooted as we progressed. It was this sight that induced me to believe the tallest eel story I have heard. Not long siuce 9000 eels were taken from these: lakes, a third of which were carted to their captors’ homes—the rest were left in heaps to bo removed at a more convenient time (which failed to arrive), and the birds of the air, and tho air, itself, became iYull of them. Our load was not a light one, and the road was such as needed a threehorse team to drag out a stranded motor car. It will therefore he understood that wc and our strong and plucky horse sighed with relief when wo once more struck the metalled road, and were on our way to friendly and comfortable quarters, from which on the following morning we sought tho infesting furs instead of a futile search for feathers. Briefly summed up, the game is not worth the candle wo forgot to take with us. As an experience, the outing is invaluable ; as a reminder of old times and a renewal of old friendships and associations, it is memorable; as a field for “copy” it needs telling by a more experienced hand than that of—Yours.