HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9367, 9 February 1909, Page 2

HALCOMBE.

From Onr Own Corespondent. Since my last we have enjoyed perfect harvesting weather and onr farmers have been busy gathering in their crops, while those otherwise j employed also appreciate the coming of the “summer season.” The Austral Unisoope Company, Which appeared here on the Ist inst., presented by far the best of that class of entertainment that has been witnessed here and they may expect another full house to welcome them on their return visit. The pictures were wonderfully clear and free from flicker and each series told a pathetic, heroic or humorous story. Some of the latter illustrations were marvels of photographic art, a 0" -puzzled our knowing ones to determine how they were l Levarto with his amazing balancing and joggling feats and Miss Maud Fenton with her charming vocal contributions, complete a show that won unstinted applause from all preOar annual school piopio was f.a great success, the youngsters being entertained with a variety of athletic iind other sports and were well supplied with those other good th ngs which fill their cup pf happiness to the brim. The Chairman of the School Committee when addressing cnose thanked . all who had contributed to the pleasure of the day, making special mention of the ladies who provided Kiid dispensed the refreshments, Jhe secretary who had put in a hard day’s work, and the teaching staff • who had admirably controlled and directed the movements of their young army. _ Victor Beck—Professor Wragge a agent—-informs me that he will shortly advertise the dates of the noted lecturer’s visit to these districts. The lecture selected to be delivered here is “A Voyage Through the Universe,” the most fascinating and instructive in my opinion of the dozen that form Mr Wragge’s splendid repertoire, embracing as.it does much that is treated iu detail in the other lectures. The photographs are the latest and the projecting lantern is of the newest design, _ , Old West Coasters are, I think, justly charged with clannishness, if this were not so I should be at a loss to account for my reception by all nf them that I have recently met. Their faces lit up with unmistakeable pleasure as they gripped my hand with a warmth that induced palpita-

tions of the heart and dimmed my ■vision. Then followed' those personal and pertinent questions which indicate undying interest in old mates and the lingering love for old times with their rollicking ways and the rapid passing of unheeded days. Many of whom l remember as single, supple, vigorous and pleasurdloving men are now old, bald, stiff limbed grandfathers whose dissipations, like their liquors, are exceedingly mild and limited. Some of them are church members and all are now highly respected citizens, and the most expert character reader would fail to discover in them the one time leaders of the “larks” and “owls”. Life in those old days was chpckfnl of incidents, accident and indomitable energy. No Mrs Grundy to lift up her hands and eyes in holy horror. It was a reckless rush and go-as-you-please race for wealth and wickedness. None but those who have shared in aa early digging life can conceive what its irresponsible environment meant nor how the would-be staid and moral were drawn into the vortex of dissipation. Today it seems a marvel to me, not that so many went hopelessly under, but that so many came ont of the maelstrom with head, heart and health unimpaired. There must have been a saving something that held them in check when waltzing on the brink of that abyss, in which manhood and self-respect wither and die. That restraining force was I believe education, what the mother and school had taught and these dandy dancing diggers remembered those lessons which told of things a man can’t do. As a class they were above the average in intelligence and many were “ Varsity vags. ” From the latter emanated an influence which culminated in the establishment of libraries, dramatic and literary societies. There was an iall but total absence of the small and mean in though t]aud speech and it was “Lord help the individual who had been found guilty of a dirty deed or who had refused help to the needy. ” Rough in dreses, picturesque in speech they were, liberal minded and generous to a fault, and those qualities supplied a portion of the- material out of which in after life a passable Christain could be carved. There were

women too on the West Coast who were “beantifnlexceedingly,” many moralists might write harshly of them; I cannot, fond and frail though some were, all possessed hearts that warmed to. tales of distress and those who have not been sorely tempted, or who would cast reproaches on them, may be found at the finish unworthy of a lodging in the same street with them. Some as I write are in high positions and such sisters of mercy and tenderness command a continuance of my admiration, That many of my West Coast comrades should have developed money making talents is somewhat surprising. One is reputed to command more cash than any other man in the city. Another is erecting the biggest factory in Australasia, one is an M.P., another an M.L.0., and one took what we all considered a “thick head” to the centre of civilisation and there his slow working brain invented and developed things which return him £30,000 a year. /There is another, who is gone, the ' “boss of the lot” to whom the world paid homage when he had departed. I could prolong the list, hut what interests me more are the questions “Are my old mates really -as good now as they were when I knew them on the Coast?” Are they as happy as when we boiled'the billy and smoking afterwards wandered along the track to town? Knowing of some skeletons that have since found a resting place In their domestic cupboards I have my doubts, but here’s to yon all, dear boys—“ God bless you I” On behalf of Mrs Haase, I with many thanks, acknowledge parcels of stamps from the Criterion Hotel, C-Japier, J. W. Cook, Gisborne, Mr - Kilgonr, sen., “Scotty,” Awahuri, and from the Secretary of the De--1 parfcment of Labour.