HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8923, 17 September 1907, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Our Foresters mot on Saturday night aud mado final arrangements for their 23rd anniversary ball, which is advertised to take place on the 20th inst. and as. this gathering for all those years has been regarded as the great annual social event, marked success has followed the praiseworthy efforts of the members of Court Loyal Halcombo fittingly to entertain visiting " brothers, sisters gud guests and the general public. It is therefore not surprising that this 23rd assembly is looked forward to by all with pleasurable anticipations, which, by experience, we know will be fully realised. Our school committee met the same evening and accepted the only tender for the erection of a school fence, the Hoard to be requested to pay half cost of same. Chief Inspector Hraik’s report upon our school was read aud deemed very satisfactory, considering tho changes in the teaolmig staff, since Mr Strachau’s illness compelled him to retire from tho position of headmaster. Mr Robson’s report directed attention to that of the Inspector and congratulated the committee upon tho good results in Standard YI. The Kiib-committco appointed at previous meeting to consider complaint of excessive punishment, reported that the matter iiad been amicably arranged aud that further complaints of that nature were not anticipated. •gtijl another meeting, the last but jiy no 'means tho least important, [vas held tho same night at Mr JJarstou’s, over which Mr O. O. Pleasants presided. That gentleman explained the object of tho meeting, which waste araruge for the public farewell social to be tendered Miami Mrs Stracban on a date to be ascertained that will bo convenient to them. The chairman and others gpoko with warm appreciation of the services rendered to this commuutiy hy Mr aud Mrs Strachau aud these sentiments were cordially endorsed by all present aud a committee was appointed to carry out tho unanimous wish of this community'which is to make this demonstration worthy of Halcombs and those to whom wo regret to have to say ; farewell.

A meeting of the members of our sports club is to bo held ou Saturday next, when uo doubt the question of how best to spend tlis balance in baud will bo discussed and the report of sub-committee appointed at last mooting to inspect; ground :onco Slid give estimate of cost to renew pune will be received and considered. '.Phis question of securely fencing our recreation ground is one that needs immediate attention The present quo has more than it can do to bold Jtself up, without beiug called upon to resist pressure from within or without. Au inviting gap in the road Hue had for months been regarded as a good line by roving and hungry bovinos, and they have left their footprints in the running hack and feiiuls court'’a full foot ji'cep.' ‘‘Of course what is everybody’s business is no one’s work and so that opening remained to accommo. date cattle till Mr 0. O. Pleasants’ attention was directed to tile loss of "money, energy and the “shame of it” and lie straightway sent to mend it. As tills is one of the b thunk you jobs” that a publicspirited man takes to himself, I, “as a cbiol wha takes notes o’ they things,” take this opportunity of thanking Mr Pleasants on behalf of all interested. While ou the fenc» ami lest wo forget, I would remind our public that over £(> is stilt owing to Mr Pred ' Thompson wiio, when funds (that ho was instrumental in raising by means of entertainments) were"exhausted, completed the front fence aiid entrance at his own cost and this is a debt which lias been owing over two years and one I hope soon to see paid with interest. ■ Mv attention lias been directed to the '24tli instant, the date of the Stauwav social and dance, in order that our programme for the month may not clash with that of our neighbours and I have to assure them (hat wo will avoid doing so as wo (losire the pleasure of their company at all our social functions. Several residents of this distriert have expressed their surprise and indignation at tho comparatively \ight sentence passed upon tho perpetrator of tho Kakariki outrage. One of those, a young man, requested me to write the “hottest” condemnatory letter I could and that you would publish aud lie would appending name to it. Kow Ido not as a - * rule servo up “hot stuff” to order nor do I consider myself competent to criticise the judgment of a Supremo Court Judge. Ido uot forget that evidence may have heeu placed before him that was not reported and of which tho public knows nothing and that His Honor’s sentence of “two years hard” was dictated bv information so received. If, however, we know all the circumstances connected with tins case, then I am with those who think tho Kcuteuco is quite inadequate to the offence which appears as represented by newspaper reports as being ouo or the most brutal and terrifying in its effects that could be inflicted upon a woman . Theft, forgery, trade and bank frauds, in fact all offences against property, are not to bo com. pared with such au assault committed by u barbarian (of any colour) upon a defenceless girl and many a scoundrel has been lynched for less. Of course, I do not advocate such extreme measures but I do think when wo punish tho puuisumout should bo of such a nature that will strike (terror into tho hearts of those boasts who contemplate committing such cowardly crimes and make them pause I • have been pleased and proud' to'thiuk'that a woman could travel anywhere in this country Without fear of being molested, but this thought has been banished by What has recently happened within a few miles of my home, aud nearly pvery day since I have hoard of some girl or woman who now fears to travel without an escort, but who a month ago felt quite safe to wonder unattended whither pleasure or duty directed. This, I recognise, is uot a pleasant feeling or a desirable position for our women folk to hold aud lam disposed to ;try to restore tne confidence of mine by training thorn ifl the use of a “barker” that will bite when occasion demands. ' Owing to short notice and unpropitious weather the match between the Manchester Eiflos aud our riflemen was postponed from Saturday last to Saturday next when the homo team is requested (o bo ou flic range ||J !>•«?;