HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9064, 3 February 1908, Page 8

HALCOMBE.

From Our Own Correspondent. The year’s educational work was nrefaced by the usual school picnic, and on Monday last our recreation ground presented an picture. of which the fore and background, as wsll as the middle distance, was composed of healthy children happily anticipating a good time, and thanks to the generous sunniy of provisions by the ladies, contributions of toys and lollies by our business firms, together with the financial and other help of sympathisers, those anticipations were fully realised. The ladies who dispensed the good things provided had a busy time of it, and their services deserve more than a passing word of recognition. The conduct of the snorts portion of the day s programme was in the capable hands-ot the head teacher, Mr Robson, who, with the assistance of Miss Thompson and Mr Robertson, introduced some novel and highly diverting competitions. The chairman ot the School Committee, the children, expressed a hope that they would return to work after much pleasant play, with renewed vigour and a determination to obtain all knowledge possible, and thus become a credit to themselves and their teachers. „ . The annual meeting of our Defence Rifle Club was held in Mr Purkiss’ office on Saturday. Mr O. C. Pleasants in the absence ot the president Mr J. Morrison, occupied the • a iair. The balance-sheet showed a J4dit of £4 16s 3d. Mr O. McElroy ■ As the Club’s delegate, reported what had been done at Rangitikei Rifle Association meeting, and that the : l7th of next month was the date r : selected for the next big shooting ■contest. Members present then , elected the following officers President, Mr O. O, Pleasants ; vicepresident, Mr D. Qnarrie; Captain,

Mr S. Stracban; Vice-Captain. Mr O. McElroy; handicapper, Mr O. C. Pleasants; armourer, Mr Purkiss; assistant armourers, Messrs McElroy. O. O. Pleasants, and Bnrcham; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. C. Bnrcham ; assistant secretary, Mr L. Pleasants;- general committee, Messrs T Green, S. White, F. Pleasants, and Wv McLennan; shooting committee, L. Pleasants, McElroy, and O. O. Pleasants. Cordial votes of thanks were accorded to Mr Morrison for his services as president; Mr and Mrs Bfeappey, the former for the free use of the rifle range, and to the latter for kindness to members and visiting shots'; to Mr McElroy for his services as delegate. Three new members were enrolled —viz., Messrs Paul Eiohler, A. McElroy, and McGhee. The president hoped to revive the old interest, and enthusiasm in shooting, and called upon all to assist him in his efforts to the best of their ability. The Rangitikei Association meeting would afford all a good day’s sport and practice. The several promises of rain that we have received since my last are still unfulfilled, and the position is appearing serious to those depending upon the supply of rape, turnips, and grass. My best girl has been mountaineering, and writes me that everything in the elevated garden is lovely, and that elegant Egraont last month received 1050 visitors • The Genesis of the Sydney Bulletin is being told by one of its parents and late editor (J. F. Archibald), and I gather from the*follqwing extract an idea of the fighting force that has controlled and stiL animates its chief director: “Threats of horsewhipping were rather common in the Bulletin office. I have been called on in that way several times. Bnt,, I was never horsewhipped. It was fortunate tor me—and for the other fellow. What has always struck me about the flogging of a prisoner, is that a man, traced up and flogged, if he had a spark of manhood in him, must feel afterwards that he must kill those responsible for such utter degradation of his humanity. Once some ruffians, because their politics disagreed with mine, threatened to seize me, tie me up and flog me. If they had succeeded I would have devoted the rest of my life to killing them. ” ~ “'Tis a most distressful country.’’ John Redmond says there are 54,195 inmates of Ireland’s workhouses. They cost the country £1,248,496 per year, bnt only one half of this vast sum is spent upon these paupers, the other half is absorbed by the officials, the under and over-seers. It is time such official sponges were squeezed.