HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 2035, 24 December 1907, Page 8

HALCOMBE.

From Our Own Correspondent. Mr J. Flemming left us as a bachelor and returned on Tuesday a benedict, and ho and his bride were warmly welcomed by all and sundry—the sun-dry and e ver-dry were much in evidence during tbe evening. The welcome accorded the happy couple by the boys’ rattling battling baud, if uuharmonious from a musical point of view, was most cordial and sincere, and their leader struck tbe key note when he declared they produced an unwritten “uproar,” and scored every time, because its theme was “best wishes and good fellowship,” which never failed to strike a responsive chord. Mr Flemming having -warmly thanked the bandsmen for their musical honours conferred upon his bride and himself, this old time reception committee retired to pleasant pastures and the discussion of tea in tin kettles. The exhibition of work by the pupils of our technical school dressmaking class was highly creditable to them and their instructress, Miss Gilbertson. Of course, a mere man is not supposed to know anything about the construction of things feminine, Yet, strange to say, man is still the master designer of those wonderful “creations” that clothe the lilies of the valley, plain, and hill, and generally men are the critics of the tout ensemble who are most critical. Having a kink in that corner it has afforded me pleasure to note the progress made by our girls in their knowledge of dressmaking. They are being taught the work in a systematic manner; the rule-of-thumb is ruled out of date, and the result is that things fib and do not give a fellow fits when lie gazes upon amateur efforts in that direction. This, however, is only the beginning of that which must follow. When my lingers have failed to note events women will have become artistes in the matter of dress, and not blind slaves to fearsome fashion. But this is a digression. If the pupils of our sewing class are not yet expert dressmakers, I am making no mistake when I declare that they are pastmistresses in the confectioner’s art, and this fact was amply demoutrated by the wonderful collection of cookies which they had provided for afternoon tea These good things having been dispensed, the chairman of our School Committee, acting as spokesman for Miss Gilbertson’s pupils, presented that lady with a silver serviette ring as a slight indication of their appreciation of her patient, kindly, and valuable services. In response Miss Gilbertson thanked her Halcombe pupils for the kind thoughts svhich prompted them thus to recognise her efforts. Though it was her duty to teacli them, such kindly recognition of her work was most encouraging, and would pleasantly lighten her labours. Since my last this portion of tlio world’s surface has been favoured with refreshing wettings, but the long, satisfy ing drink has yet to come; the ' oat is being cut, and though the body is short it appears to carry a fairly weighty head. England’s Premier, when addressing his constituents recently, was asked if the “Limerick” came within tbe Lotteries Act, and what he proposed to do to stop this method of gambling. In reply Sir Henry C-B. said lie had seen a good deal in the papers in reference to Limericks,' but did not kxow what on earth it meant, and as some Advocate readers may be in the same position I will try to enlighten them. Tbe Limerick craze in the Old Country has succeeded the missing word mania. The competitor who forwards his coin sends in what he or she considers an appropriate fifth and concluding line. Eight London publications distributed £12,297 7s as prizes in one week. Pearson’s Weekly gave ten successful competitors £355 each for a single line of rhyme, and 855 others are consoled with a sovereign a-piece. Pearson’s profound production was:— “There was a young lade of Ryde, Who was carried away by tbe tide; But a courtly old shark With a bow did remark,” and here came the competitors with—“On this ‘tube’ fares are lowered inside. ’ ’ “Miss, the visitors’ book is inside.” “Well, of hair-piu-de-citis she died,” and, at £355 a line. A real good line no doubt for anyone gifted that way, and who lias no fear of becoming an inmate of a raeut.il hospital. I have such a “crony,’ who, believing this craze will soon have dominion over us, proposes that we shall start a compauy of limited liability “loonies” to manufacture Limericks, and to prove that he was competent to fill the position ox managing director he submitted tbe following as specimen products, generously supplying, as you will note, the possible last lino ‘ 1 There was a young farmer named Leu, Who married a missie aged ten She spent all his beans Ere quitting her teens. (He now has to live by bis pen.)” There is a young lady in Perth, Who, winsome and wise from her birth, Brinks round roller tea And now you can see (She’s the prize tea rose of the earth.) There is a young man of the sea, W 7 ho went for a howling old spree, He cut off his thumb When full up with rum, (And now ho is strictly G,T.) My cordial congratulations upon enlargement and general improvement of the Advocate. Though not of the same political colour, long association with its columns, com-, radesliip with its proprietor and staff, together with the knowledge that we all unite in advocating what we believe is best, has made me somewhat colour blind. Particularly is this the case when I reflect that things and people are not always what they seem. To one and all I say “Here’s to you ; may Xmas find you happy, and may all your years be prosperous. ’ ’ The Halcombe invalid, who, by the way, has spent 18 Xmases in bad, wishes me to heartily thank all those who have thought of and kindly helped him during the year. The last lot of stamps I received were from Jean Sellars and Trix and Joyce Penny, of Rouogtea. You need not suffer with pains in the chest after eating; Pearson’s Peptc-chlor cures indigestion, is, 2s 6d and 4s.