HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9384, 2 March 1909, Page 2

HALCOMBE.

|p|- Prom Our Own Correspondent. ijv The director of technical eduoa;'ition, Mr Foasey, met those interested iv/Vin the continuance of the classes in on Tuesday night, and I was sorry to find that, judging by fv' the attendance, their number is distappointinsly 1 The, only' vi’’ persons present, besides the director, li/.' were"the head teacher, Mr Robson, /'T- hia ; assistant, Mr Henderson, the *. chairman of school committee, and Master Jlvo McLennan, the latter heing the sole representative of the ; / youth whom these technical classes ■ were specially designed to benefit. H I have written and spoken so much upon the advantages afforded the youth of our Dominion by this i technical teaching that I now feel it. is useless further to urge them to grasp their splendid opportunities and fit themselves for the present v intensified industrial and brainy ' battle, hut Ido most sincerely hope that some method will be devised by , which our boys and girls will be in- ; spired with a love of knowledge and ' fired with the ambition to be and ' to do [something worthy of themselves, to the credit of their ,P r 9’ ' genitors and to the honour of their country. Financially we are in a ■ good position, the balance-sheet showing a credit of over £5 upon receipts .and expenditure in connection with the working of the classes last season. Mr Robson will be pleased to receive the names of chose who wish to continue and extend their studies. The ladies de- ‘ siring to perfect themselves in the ‘ fashioning of garments and to paint 1 the lily, eto., are also requested to send in their names to Mr Robson. , 1 Considering thejnature of Professor Wargge’s entertainments and our limited population his lecture delivered here on Thursday [night was largely attended, and -I venture to think that this voyage through the , universe with such an guide will long remain numbered with the few things we have heard and seen, which have enabled us faintly to .jA. realise where we are, what we are i*/' and the immensity of the boundless beyond- As an antidote for fswelled head. I know of nothing so effective as such excursions. Whether It was the ozone, ether, or the elixir of life we breathe I cannot say, but all privileged tourists felt rejuvenated and like unto little children, wish- ■ ing for more information as thus expressed. “Open your lips ye wonderful and fair The masteries of those living worlds unfold.” The first line in the first page of the “Romance of Radium” was revealed to us and we failed to imagine how man and his tree of ' knowledge will be affected when that work is complete. To hold and gaze tipon that substance whose light or spirit ray passes through twelve inches of solid iron, made us feel full. Mr Purkiss’many friends will be pleased to learn that he was present throughout this . exceptionally instructive exhibition, and that he was also in a condition to thoroughly appreciate its manifold marvels. Our popular stationmaster, Mr W. Morton, is now relieving at Feilding, and there are rumours to the effect that we shall soon be permanently deprived of his services, and while congratulating him upon • this probable promotion, I voice the regret that all will feel at the removal of this careful and courteous officer and - thorough good fellow from Halcombe. Another of the staff, Mr McQuilkan, is about to he transferred to Marton, and his alert attention to business and the requirements of the residents and travelling public during the past has been snch that he has won our best wishes for his future success and happiness. I notice that Mr Boucher (Government Pomologiat) when asked ghis opinion upon the relative merits of poplar and macrooarpa as shelter ; trees replied that ‘‘it was a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other.” With all deference to such expert* opinion my 30 years experience induces me to favour the latter, which is of qniok growth, selfcontained, ever green, and stands close catting, whereas the poplar, though also of rapid growth, sheds : its leaves which “blow all over the shop” and its suckers will establish root colonies chains away from the parent tree. One of the new 70-ton engines partly struck work at Kakariki on Saturday, but her driver induced her to have to haul her mail train to Halcombe, where she, 1 was relieved of duty aujd side tracked preparatory to disconnecting one of the'oylinders and running her “light” to the doctor’s shop in Wanganui. A lady correspondent writes to me in such glowing terms of the grandeur of Mount Egmont, the beauties of Falls, the lovely moss wreathed and ;fern strewn dells, that I regret that I am not fairy fashioned, and cannot go and there dwell with her for ever, but, a visit to those enchanting scenes in her company is a pleasure anticipated. To those who are fond of bird and animal pets, and I’m pleased _to know there are many, the following may prove of interest: A puppy dog when being removed from the family and placed in a box for transportation, protested puppy fashion and cried piteously. The bird “cooky” who had been watching the operation and imitating the puppy, at last said sympathetically: “Poor Jack 1 Want yonr breakfast Jack?” -and this, though most a propos to the occasion is not by any means that bird’s “only stock and store.”