HALCOMBE NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11400, 20 November 1917, Page 5

HALCOMBE NOTES.

From Our Own Correspondent. Some disappointment was expressed that we did not have a contest for tli e Rangitawu seat on the Oroua Council on Wednesday L.st (election day). This township is not altogether i s lively as a city, and the mild excitement produced by an election is looked forward to in the general interest. However, no one came forward to oppose Mr W. McLennan, and that gentleman was duly elected. Neither was there any opposition -for any of the other six seats on the Council, the retiring members all being returned. Either the Oroua Councillors administer the affairs of the County with so much wisdom that ratepayers desire no change, or else wo are content to lot things slide, which latter circumstance is not a very wholesome factor in local politics. Let us hope that the former cause is the true one. The Cotincil is now composed of the following;—Messrs W. G. Pearce, Hugh Burrell, J. H. Vincent, J. Morrison, O. McElroy, Greenhow and W. McLennan. Some excitement was caused on Wednesday on the road between Halcombe and Kakariki, when a horse attached to a gig,botlibelonging to Mr James Flemming, storekeeper, bolted. Tiie horse was tied up near the railway line at the. new works, and while the driver was absent got frightened by a, passing train, broke loose, and left for home “at top.’’ Luckily it did the throe miles to Halcombe without hurting anyone, though several vehicles had narrow escapes, one missing the runaway by inches only. Arrived in Halcombe, the animal galloped round several blocks, one of the wheels of the gig eventually striking a post. Mr Flemming now has a gig (or part of one) which he will sell cheap. The secretary of the School Committee tells me that arrangements for the social (the official notice of 1 which can be seen in this issue of the Advocate), to be held next Friday, to provide funds for the erection of a roll of honour board, are well in hand. Local and outside vocal talent bss beeinsecured. The Halcombe Band will play a fine selection, “In Memory of the Brave,” a typical piece for the occasion. Ladies are asked to bring a basket (well filled, of course), and if there are any men in this district who won’t give a shilling, well they are either very poor or are very parsimonious, which is the polite way of saying something else. The secretary saj-s lie will be glad of a ham, if anyone has such a thing on hand, which can be spared. So if any-reader of these notes wishes to earn a name for being generous, and also getjhis or her names in this column now is the time. This latter fact should be worth at least two hams.

Mr George Franklin, who used to live here, now of Tnr«kina, was in Halcombo on Sunday. The genial George looked particularly happy and important as he drove his own motor car up our main thoroughfare. Another gentleman to pass through our village last week was the Rev. H. Hogg, one time Presbyterian minister hero, hut who left us to look after our own spiritual needs, the while he wont to Bolivia to teach heathens — Sunday was a beautiful day from a weather point of-view, and there was quite an exodus from our parts. Some of the residents who are lucky enough to possess motors went to Foxton; other's, who either through necessity or inclination, are still content with the humble gig, went to the Rangitikoi River, which is a sort of “Halcombs by the Sea” in summer; while the remainder of the populace who possess neither cor nor gig, spent their leisure walking round the houses.