HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9166, 9 June 1908, Page 7

HALCOMBE.

From Oar Own Correspondent,

A meeting of oar school committee- was. held in Purkiss office on Saturday ween there were present; Messrs Burcham, (chairman), Adam, Mislcuowski, Eichler and Thomas. The headmaster, Mr Robson, was also in attendance. Sympathy was expressed for Mr McElroy. who was absent through illness. Correspondence and, ordinary formed business was dealt ■with. The inspector’s late reports were considered and as they were favourable to the present master, it ‘was resolved to request the Eoucatiou ' Board to appoint him permanently to the position he has satisfactorily filled as relieving headmaster of Kalcomhe scnool. _ Those who have been ravoured with invitations from Mr and Mrs J. Morrison of Tokorangi to attend their_gardeu party on the. 9'jh inst., may feel assured that with such a hospitable host and hostess, aided ay the members of their family, alljthat is possible will be done by. them to make this Farmers’ XJuion harmonious and happy, and that it will be the fault of the guests if they do not enjoy it. An old resident of Halcombe received a sad shock when he read that a man named Rees Williams had thrown himself in front of a fast moving train with the inevitable result. A . question wired to Ins brother’s wife was satisfactorily answered and the dreadful suspense removed. When a placid fuend remarked “I told y°a so, your brother would never be guilty of such a mad act, the victim of the scare replied “You never know I was pleased to learn that our Foresters have during the past twelve mouths largely increased their numbers and financial strength and that they contemplate building a hall that will have ample floor and stage space comfortably to accommodate the “Merrymen” and their guests who assemble in large numbers at the Court’s popular tunctions. Most heartily do I wish “more power to them/’ for ,1 Know that it is used only for good. It is said that bad news travels fast but it was only the other day I heard .that 50 sacks of osta had mysteriously disappeared seme two weeks ago from a farmer’s granary almost within a coo-ee of Halcombe and that up to the present no trace of them had been discovered. It appears that the thief or thieves must be possessed of more than the ordinary ‘‘front’ ’ with .which that undesirable class is credited for they came by the front gate and passed close to the residence of the owner and I am further informed that such a valuable and weighty parcel could not have been removed m ordinary P T k have just read “The Rose of The Elkhorn.” by Mr Thomas Watson, of Feilding, and I have to congratulate that gentleman upon having written a very interesting book and one that I can recommend for perusal by those who enjoy clean wholesome stories of life and adventure in the great lone land Ihe author evidently describes a country and people of whom he has had experience and his descriptive passages of ranch, mountain, canyon and prairie, are not the least attractive portions of this work, while .the adventures met with while on the “long trail” are sufficiently exciting to satisfy the tastes of those who enjoy the sensational in literature. The heroine and her girl friend belong to the class of women who are endowed with healthy minds as well as attractive forms, and who, while fearless as the cow hoys, are womanly and refined. It is no wonder that such women receive homage from all the male visitors to their ideal, though isolated, homes, or that Cupid introduces complications. The masculine characters less the necessary villainous exceptions, are of a type, whicn is mos u frequently met with when tar from the madding crown. ihe Scout with his picturesque language represents the dashing daredevil cowboy class whose training has made him cool and resourceful in any emergency. The hermit trapper from the lone mountain who accompanied oy his pet bear, presents himself at the trail campfire, is also the product ot the Wild West, neither being over drawn or enlarged. The love passages are well managed, so much so indeed that as I read I envied the male participants. The rescue of the “Rose” from the ’lndian Brave” who has transferred her from her horse to his pony, savours somewhat of Fenimoxe Cooper s melodrama. I have often in my ..palmy —I was going to write “balmy”—days essayed this feat with a non resisting nine stone rose as thepvictim, and I know what it rnfeans, and I also found that 20stone was more than a. fair handicap for my good horse in a race for possession. However, fapart such little tricks of the novelists, Mr Watson has produced an admirable addition to our local literary products, and I sincerely hope that the reception of the “Rose ot Elkhorn. will be such as to encourage bun to farther effort. The book, I am pleased to note, was printed and published in Palmerston North, and a glance at the work is sufficient to show that it compares most favourably with that of firms .with a world-wide reputation Advance local literary talent and industry.