Halcombe

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 120, 22 May 1940, Page 5

Halcombe

(From Our Own Corresponaent.) Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Reay have returned to their home in Invercargill, where they have been staying with the latter’s aunt, Mrs. L. W. A. Miller. Miss O. M. Kerr has returned from her vacation which she spent, with her parents at Paraparamu Beach. Mrs. S. I, Duffin has commenced her duties as junior assistant on the school staff. Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Cowdrey have returned from Tauranga where they have been visiting relatives. Duck shooting enthusiasts regret the closing of the season which all agree 'has been too short. On the whole it has been a disappointing season characterised by rainy vigils rewarded by meagre bags of game. In more than oue quarter expression has been given to the opinion that there is a lamentable tendency in seasons which open later the first day of May for pseudo-sportsmen to indulge in anticipatory shooting and consequently when the legal opening day arrives tlio birds are already on the qui vive and indeed have in some entirely evacutcd the feeding grounds where they have been observed for weeks prior to the opening of the season. Ccr lain followers of the sport report that they had been carting out wheat for ' some time to a particularly favourite haunt of the ducks prior to the official opening date and feeding the birds in anticipation of well-tilled bags. The only returns they received for their efforts were 12 birds altogether, aud these all fell to their guns on the first day. Efforts have failed entirely to convince the members of the party who reports this experience that the only reason for the disappearance of the birds from that particular spot was the premonition of irament danger which all wild creatures instinctively feel when armed men go a hunting, i During the week-end a Stableford Bogey match was played. J. G. Owen returned the winning card 27—14 41, a creditable performance in view of the heavy state of the going. Other good -rores were returned by K. Fergusson •37, and B. J. Managh 37. The wiinner ’s