HALCOMBE.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 874, 10 May 1909, Page 3

HALCOMBE.

fcOUft OWN COEEKBPONDENT.I As the 12.35 p.m. mail train rushed through the lower part of the Halcombe cutting on Friday last, Gangei Heavey met with a very serious accident. It is alleged that a piece oi shale from the train Struck the victim on the side of the head, verj close to the te'niple. Such was tlu force of the blow that it cut through the cap and severely gashed the scalp. He was taken up to th€ Railway Station in an unconscious state. Dr. Willis attended the victim, and .removed particles of coaJ froni the wound. . So serious did the condition of the wounded man Decome that ho was removed to the Palmerston Hospital in Saturday night's train, Mr Machonachie, M.A., master of the Stanway school, was presented with a handsome silver-mounted pipe on Friday last by the children. Miss Vida Cowdrey made the presentation on behalf of the children, and wished Mr Maconachie prosperity in his new sphere oi work at Mangaonoho, to which school he has recently been promoted. Both Mr and Mrs Maconachie will be much missed from Stanway, where they have lived for some years. The Cricket Club social and dance was a great success. The hall was comfortably filled, and the floor Being in excellent order» dancing was carried on to an early hour. Messrs W. McLennan and L. Heasants acted as M.'sC. The Committee desire to thank the ladies who assisted for their indispensable services, and to particularly thank Miss F. Cuff, whose efforts greatly conduced to the general success of the function. Mr Bell, ..the treasurer, reports a credit balanco of £2 17s. The music was supplied by the Stanway Band. During the evening Mr L. Burehani, in a neat speech, presented the bat given by Mr W. Bobson for the highest batting average to Mr L. Pleasants, and a ball donated by Mr Kew to Mr J. Quarrie""for the best bowling average. The usual monthly meeting of the School Committee was held last week in Mr Purkiss's office. There were present Messrs Burcham (Chairman), Adam. Bell, Eiehler, Thomas, ami McDonald. Several accounts were passed for payment. A letter from the Education Board was read granting £2 towards shelving for the liT)rary, and on the motion of Mr Thomas, the Committee made a further grant of £1 towards the same object. Mr Bell then moved that a grant of £1 bo made towards the school garden work, which was agreed to._ Surprise, not unmixed witli indignation, is expressed in many quarters at tho anonymous letter ot a writer signing "himself " Pained " in Friday's Stab. Certainly it is regrettable that even one member of the audience at tho recent concert should have been offended hy the item to which ■" Pained " takes "such strong excep-' tion. However, the attack on the performer is agreed to have been most unkind and unwarranted, and the introdiiction of denominationalism, of which the letter strongly savours, shows exceedingly bad taste on tho writer's part. It may possibly pain " Pained " a little less to know that those responsible for the programme were unaware of the nature of the item until it was given, j Though the mock sermon may be thought by some to be unsuitable for the occasion, it may be safely conceded that the performer had no intention to "tread on any one's corns," and came forward* with a genuine desire to assist in the evening's amusements.