HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9435, 4 May 1909, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

From Our Own^Oorrespondent. On Thursday 'ast at 9.57 a.m. we were again reminded by a slight shake of mother earth’s internal troubles.; Since gray last . we have bean favoured with seven perfect days. The sun at midday has bee a cf summer heat and the grass in consequence has developed wonderfully. One dairyman tel is" me that he does noc /emember his place showing ouch an abundance of feed at this time of the year. , The card contest between the Town and Foresters was continued on Thursday when representatives of the former were again victorious, the ‘scores being 23 v. 15 games. This interesting, though somewhat one-sided tournament, will be renewed on the 19th ins*., when our merry men hope to get ont of the wood and vanquish the victors. An excellent programme has been arranged for the Presbyterian Concert which takes place on Wednesday next, when I hope the promoters unselfish efforts will be rewarded with the presence of a large congregation: Those who part with the modest shilling will have the satisfaction of knowing that it has gone to augment the church fund and help along the good work. The Cricket Olub’B' social and dance which is arranged for the 7th inst., is, lam told, an assured success, as apart from the popularity of the institution, the first dance of the season for which the Stanway Band will furnish the music, is sure to prove magnetic in its attraction. The shooting season opened silently here, a contrast with the years ago, when gnns were heard in all direo* tions, and when it was possible for a decent shot with good dogs to bag as many hares as he oared to carry. Now one may tramp miles without seeing a puss within range, and pheasants becoming lonely have left the district to seek companionship in the back blocks. I gather a country girl’s opinion of Melba from this extract from her last to " Mum. ’ * “We did not go to the moat expensive part of the house, as we thought we’d expect too much for our money. We managed to get decent seats and, I think, we deserved them, as we were at the hall at a quarter to six. People were packed from steps to door, and when the door opened at 7 p.m. we were carried in by the crush. There is no donbt Melba has a marvellous voice, and the people made her give them their money’s worth., {Sometimes double encores. After her last programme number the audience cheered and cheered Jagain, and she came back and sang to her own accompaniment. The rest of the Company were also splendid. was especially “gone” on the pianists, though she’s nothing to look at, but she played one of Chopin’s waltza in a manner that I have never before heard, and which made it an altogether different thing to me. I was awfully disappointed with Melba’s dress. It suited her first song only, and I quite expected her to change it. It was such a dingy thing, although with it she wore hundreds of diamonds. The Review of Reviews, points out that a curious feature in connection with the new Victorian Minister is that Mr Billson, the Minister of Education, is a brewer, while in every Victorian State school placards are hung up urging scholars to abstain from the use of alcoholic drinks. Visits to the schools of his department may educate the Minister of Education.

Some years ago I advocated the introduction of the phonograph into our schools as a teacher of education—a lamentably neglected art—and now I notice that our Education Department is experimenting with the machine as a teacher of French pronunciation—a capital idea, I think, for I know that no books and bat few who are not .French, can teach it. Doctor Maokay’s condition in the Far South when without tobacco was little less than deplorable, and one that appeals to the sympathies of all devotees to the wondrous weed. At the same time wa must recognise that it is humiliating to know that we have become slaves to any habit. Discussing this matter with a privileged member of the opposite sex, I declared that 1 could knock ont in one round of the clock any habit I had acquired, when she scored heavily by. asserting that I could not possibly stop writing such stuff to the Advocate or remain silent in the company of jolly good fellows. And yet I have for months lived a hermit’s life, having no other companion than my dog, who quite understood and often talked back. I note that Abdul Hamid, the dethroned, departed from the palace escorted by two armoured motor oars, and that he took with him two sons and eleven wives, and I should like to know what has become of the rest of the family, or if these 7 and 17-year-old boys represent the product of Abdul’s much-married life, and if so, how would a Solomon adjust the claim and individualise the little. But hold, I’m getting as much mixed as Turkish politics I have to acknowledge with many thanks parcels of stamps sent for Mrs Haase, by an .unknown donor, and from Wairarapa Daily Times.