HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8830, 5 June 1907, Page 4

HALCOMBE.

From Our Own correspondent

As predicted our Farmers Social proved most successful. Apart from the popularity of this animal gathering, the managing committee of ladies aud gentlemen, aided by the efforts of their enthusiastic secretary, Mr J. L, MacDonald, left nothing to he desired by their numerous friends and guests. The concert and dance programme from the opening to the closing item was more than usually attractive. The former was rendered especially so by the contribution of the Feilding contingent. To these ladies aud gentlemen our thanks are due for a large share of ■ our evening’s enjoyment. As is usual at our socials the Stauway Baud added much to the harmonious proceedings and their dulcet strains were much appreciated. Mr Morrison, as chairman, made a breezy president, aud by his manner and method, infused his spirit of sociability into the large assemblage. Conscious that speech-making was not the order of the night Mr O. 0. Pleasants briefly referred to the advantage farmers derived ’from their association aud urged all interested ) in agricultural pursuits to join the Farmers’ Union, Other contributors to an excellent programme were : —Miss 0. Morrison, song, Mr L. Pleasants recitation, Mr McCarty 1 song, Miss Pyke song, Mrs T>. I Quarrie song, Highland Fling in costume and- with bagpipe accompaniment’ by Mr Gleuday, clever imitations and laughter producing vcutiloqual impersonations by Mr Sawtell, Miss Jessie McLennan song, Miss McLennan piano solo. A number of first class-graphophoue selections introduced by Mr Purkiss, besides the above contributors who appeared and were cordially welcomed and vociferously applauded. In the second part of the programme the following contributed Song Mr F. Pleasants, duet Mrs D. Quarrie and Mr Mathews, recitation Mr L. A. McDonald. An unusually long aud interesting programme was fittingly finished by Miss Pyke with a spirited aud artistically played piano solo. The accompanists wore Mrs James, Miss Pyke, Miss Pleasants, Miss Hcappey and Miss McLennan. A sumptuous supper having been served the hall was cleared and dancing enjoyed: till all were ready for home, by the light of the moon—there to sleep aud dream perchance of the next happy union of the farmers aud their friends. I am sorry to write that the doctors declare Mr Strachan not yet _ fit to resume his duties. Wisely acting upon this advice our head teacher has applied for an extension of leave. Mr Astbury, of Kimbolton, who has acted as relieving teacher here for the past two weeks, has left us to reopen his own establishment, which has been closed during that term, and as Miss Kelly has been called to Turakina the whole teaching work of our school has again to be performed by Miss Lynch aud Mr Robertson. Mr Amos, director of our technical education, while expressing his satisfaction with the success of our dressmaking class, 1 asks if it is possible to establish an ' agricultural science class hero. Judging from the number of young farmers aud farmers’ sous there are in this district, I think there should be no difficulty. If I were young aud inclined to adopt a farmer’s life I should regard such

an opportunity as these classes offer as “golden,” the information to be thus cheaply obtained would, with the necessary practical training, not only make me an up-to-date tiller of the soil, but it would, I think, greatly enhance my interest in the work, ’ besides changing a possible debit to a credit balance in the cash accounts. The successful man of the future will ho he who is scieuticfially trained for his work, and he who works by the rule of thumb will be as drift wood, leaving no thumb prints on the sands of time. I am obtaining particulars from Mr Amos of the number required to form this class and ol the cost to students, and shall ho pleased ,'to supply this and any other information I possess to those desirous of becoming members of an agricultural science class or any other of the technical classes that would give promise of the necessary support. Several have asked me if Hector

Macdonald is dead. Well, the evidence is conflicting. It’s hard to believe that a bogus suicide was arranged at a strange hotel in Franco and mock funeral in Scotland.

Still, my experience of Jtho mysterious, together with the statements of a Johannesburg gentleman, and member of Maf.cdould’s staff loads me to the conclusion that with the aid of friends and money such a pass out from human ken was possible. What appeals to my curiosity more directly are the questions Why was this unquestionably bravo soldier and popular officer unable to obey orders, and face the music of the Ceylon band? And I had reason to feel flattered when Sir Hector, the

hero of many fights, cordially grasped an admirer’s hand in Halcombo.