HALCOMBE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XL, Issue 11223, 27 April 1915, Page 6

HALCOMBE.

Fiob» On* Own Correspondent,

At tbe last meeting of the existing school opmmiltee there were present: Messrs Burcbnm (chair), Couch, Eiohter, Franklin, W, McLennan and Thomas. Communications were reafLand dealt- with from Education Board and the secretary of the Bulls Belgian Gala Day Committee. The former contained instructions re howßMffilers meeting on the 26th iubt.., .and tne'latter requested entries for school competitions and a holiday for the children competing. Which were granted. The local master’s report upon fche attendance and school work was considered satisfactory, and the -outgoing committee acknowledged the compliment paid (hem by Mr Stanselil, who thanked tne members far their courtesy and assistance during their term of. office, and 'added ‘‘This has made enr work much lighter, and I trust the same feeling will exist with the new committee.”' The Chairman referred to the rcgretable fact ...that Mr Couch was, about to leave Halonmne, and voiced the committee’s appreciation of that gentleman’s services as secretary to the committee during the past twelve months. The Chairman also thanked the committee for their, help and Consideration in times of trouble. With such assistance his work had been . made a pleasure. Two small accounts were passed for-payment and the meeting terminated.

On Friday next a Social,"Concert, Dance and various novel games and’ contests will take place in tne Stanway Hall in-aid of-the-Belgian Relief Fund. Among tne outside contrihaters to the concert programme will he Mr Jacob?, of Palmerston Noftb, who is reputed to be “a Whole team in himself.” The object in vie .v should alone attract a large attendance, besides which all who look ±..r “value” will receive it in full on Friday night. The sth of May. ti e Bulls Belgian Gala Day, is the day that many of us are looking forward to and hoping that the day will be line, when Halcombs will add its quota to swell the record crowd that will respond to Belgians and our neighbours call for help. • Tins is what the Plunmar-Hall Patriotic Dramatic “Dandies,” who appear in Feildingon the 27tn inst. in aid of the same good cause, have to say about Belgium and the Belgians“ Belgium • has rendered to civilisation services that® cannot be measured. She has laid upon the altar of freedom a sacrifice so costly that we dare not assess it. Guardian for a ser.son of the world’s freedom, she fulfilled her trust with a devotion that mere words can only desecrate. Her achievements can never be forgotten, and the name of Belgium, like a star, will blaze for centuries in the forehead of history. _ y In the years to come the Belgians will say we suffered agonies in the Great War. bat Britain and ber children beyond the seas stood by us, bound up our wounds,, fed our hungry, and cared for our widows and orphans. Of a truth Britain was the good Samaritan,” And alro of a troth the Bulls, Sandon and Parewanui people are Britons. On the 7th May the Peildmg Orchestra will favour Haloombe with another visit in order to help ns with enr efforts to relieve the Belgians of some of their sufferings. The last time-this talented organisation of inusicians and vocalists appeared in Halcombe they met with a most cordial reception and proved themselves to be a ‘‘surprise packet.” From the Free Lance I learn that Captain L. B. Stansell has joined the “6th Reinforcements.” The Railway Engineers Company of Timaru gave their comrade many useful things and a warm “send off.” Captain Stansell saw active service in South Africa, where.the Boers shot two horses from under him and stripped the brave and blushing officer of his* clothes. Oapt. Stansell is a brother of whom the headmaster of our State School has reason to feel proud. ' Mr Goldup, after several weeks treatment of an injured leg in the Wanganui Hospital, has resumed his duties at our railway station. Mr Goldup speaks in glowing terms of the unwearied attention and material nursing he received from the staff of that up-to-date institution. Those reasoning people who have studied “The Liquor Question” will not he surprised at the action taken by Lloyd George and Ou.-, though many will feel humiliated when they realise that the stamina, the producing power, and the fighting force ot nations are imperilled by the present unrestricted use'of intoxicants. The realisation of these facts by many nations and their determination to “put the peg in,” though the peg may be three cornered, should give us pause and at the same time strengthen the arguments of prohibitionists, who, with the best intentions are' not always wise in their methods or utterances; at least so 1 thought when I heard a leading advocate of prohibition declare that a prominent and popular politician whom the people Dart placed in the highest position within their power was “whisky sodden.” My reply was similar to that of. President Lincoln’s. When America was in the throes and agonies of her Civil War the temperance people tnld him that his greatest general was a drunkard, to which Lincoln replied by inquiring the variety of whisky Grant used with a view of securing a supply tor his other generals.