HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9091, 10 March 1908, Page 2

HALCOMBE.

From Our Own Correspondent. . During the past week we have been favoured with splendid warm rains and as a result the country is now quite another colour and the fear of further water famine has been banished... Tnose who did not become panic stricken at the outlook, and were able to hold on to their stock will have cause for selfcongratulation. I heard of one line of sheep that was sold a few weeks ago, being again sold at over one hundred per cent advance. As a further indication of restored confidence in the future I may mention that there were two couples united in the “holy bonds” during the past week, and I cordially wish the contracting parties every happiness and success. Mr and Mrs Peters, parents of one of the brides, entertained a large number of friends in the hall on Wednesday night and all had a most enjoyable time. I am pleased to note that once again S cricket club has been formed in Halcombe and that much enthusiasm animates; members and management May it and the club continue and prove permanent and may I again see Halcombe to the front at this grand old game. I learn on good authority (Hoard’s Dairyman) that cows are ladies and should be treated as such and was gratified to be thus assured that among the many kinks in my composition one at least was in the right direction and as a result ail my cows are pets. They are also an interesting study differing as they do in. character, temperament and disposition as much as dairymaids and women generally. The other morning “Rube” who is cue of those gems that bestow and expect a lot of attention and affection and who like many of her sex will more quickly forgive a liberty than a slight, greeted me with the softest or “moo’s” and gaze and received the usual caress. There was that liquid lazy loving look in her large brown eyes that is so pronounced at ’ * cud and milking time. As she put her head in the bail X noticed that it was not one of those specially prepared grass balls that she was chewing and concluded that it was probably a bone. Well, I thought, you have too much sense to make a choke bore of your air tube, and with twice four fingers and a thumb proceeded to produce the liquid music, when bang! went something at the other end of the instrument. Then I beheld a wild and frantic cow with eyes dreadfully staring. Good heavens, I thought was it a cartridge she had iu her mouth and had it exploded. Whoa, my beauty, its all right; we are not hurt I think; but, oh. phew, that awful smell, get outside and let us wait till the air clears aud the atmosphere is less deadly. What could it have been? Inspection revealed the fact that a very ancient egg had burst close to Rube’s nose. No wonder she received a double shock aud that it required all my influence and persuasive power to induce her to return, and believe that the “fowl” insult would not be repeated. This reminds me that cows are very restless in “fly time” and they have been very persistent in their attentions during the hot weather. To prevent annoyance from them I hang a branch broken from a gum tree over her shoulders and front legs and all is peace aud comfort. In cutting the tail off my last week’s contribution there it the acknowledgement of receipt of stamps from Mrs W T alter Gray, of Turakina, and Wairarapa Daily Times for the Halcombe invalid. I have to add thanks for a further parcel from Wairarapa Daily Times during the past week. As I am assured that some parcels have been sent me before aud not noted I hope you will help me to do my duty to the kindly donors. Sir Robert Ball endeavours to give some idea of the distance of the stars by stating that while an electric signal would go seven times round the world in a second it would take four years to telegraph to the nearest , star “Alpha Centauri.” He adds that if the glad tidings of the first Xmas at Bethlehem, 1907 years ago, had been disseminated through the universe by the swiftest electric current, yet some stars are so inconceivably remote that all the seconds which have elapsed in 1907 years of our present era would not have been sufficed for the journey. The more I try to grasp such facts the more I can’t and the smaller all things terrestrial become.