HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8823, 27 May 1907, Page 2

HALCOMBE.

(Prom Our Owu Oorrespoudout.)

It was with sincere regret I learnt of the - accident which bofol Mrs Macdonald, of Glencoe, and which, I am told, resulted in a broken leg. The unfortunate lady was, upon medical advice, removed to Palmerston, where her many friends hope tho host skill and attention obtainable will be able to repair tho damage, which her 'three score and ten years makes them regard as serious.

I have to thank Mr J. L. Macdonald, secretary to the Halcombo branch of the Farmers’ Union, for an invitation to bo present at its annual social to bo hold iu the town hall on Wednesday uoxt, 20th hist. Mr H. Bowater, secretary of tho Saudon Old Boys’ Association, also requests tho “pleasure” of my company at a social and dance to bo held iu the Saudon public ball on Wednesday, the 21st of uoxt month, and I wish to assure those gentlemen that I shall endeavour to be present at both functions, knowing as I do that tho pleasures derivable, from such truly social gatherings are mutual and infectious.

The dressmaking class that has been established hero by Mr Amos in connection with our invaluable system of technical education is under the 'export direction of Miss Gilbertson," who now has fifteen interested and interesting students to instruct in the flue art of fashioning and the fascinating feminine furbelows. As one who is deeply interested and who has advocated the higher education of women,. I was gratified to find that Miss Gilbertson possesses the true artistic of what constitutes nature’s liuoVof beauty, and with many other useful lessons will teach her pupils that tho—fashion plate figures are an abomination, and fit subjects if found iu the flesh for a freak exhibition. That last word reminds me of your paragraph re exhibition seals. Those' “queer fish” occupied more than a fair proportion of the little time I had to devote to the other thousand and one objects of interest. Their movements in the water were particularly easy and graceful, showing that to be their element. Their meauderiugs on laud were exceedingly floppy and funny, and they rolled over and about in sucii an abandoned, boneless, don’t-care-a-scrap manner that they made me feel that they considered that life was instituted in order that it might ho filled with fun and frolic. This, together with tho serene expression in their large liquid eyes, sealed the unwritten incomprehensible compact, and numbered them with my many pots. Thus it is that I sympathise with these semi-civilised outcasts, and wish;! could provide a suitable seaside resort for tho wanderers, who, it appears, have lost tho way to tlio happy hunting grounds from whence they were taken to add to the instructive pleasures of our notable holiday. A writer in the Mauawatn Daily Times (on the subject of newspaper correspondence and the interest readers take ■iu tho contents of the column, at the head of which the editor is careful to state that he is not responsible for tho opinions expressed therein) says that the editorial note that is sometimes attached to those letters should be discouraged and discontinued. ■ Unless the editor himself is the subject of attack, lie should reserve suciCcomraents as he wishes to make for his leader or leaderette rather than club the writer of a letter iu an editorial footnote. Although I feel mysellf specially privileged, as editors iiave aways been very considerate of my vanity. I am ucverthless quite in sympathy with those wiio have been less fortunate, and especially is this the case when I recall the fact that wellintentioned fellow scribblers Ihave been victims of this “two for his nob’’ game played with such stunning effect with tho aid of the editorial clnh.

As an indication of the value of Halcombe land, and in order that I may wish vendor and purchaser continued good luck, I mention the fact that Mr O. Orabb has disposed of his 100 acre farm to Mr Paul Eichler at £3C> per aero. On behalf of tho Halcombe invalid I have to Acknowledge with sincere thanks tho receipt of largo parcels of stamps from, P. Fielding, Masterton, and Mr Alex. McMinu, of the Wairarapa Daily Times.