HALCOMBE NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11629, 31 August 1918, Page 2

HALCOMBE NOTES.

_From Our Own Correspondent. Some rain fell in Halccmbe on Tuesday—about a thousand inches, more or less—and the local weather prophets were all talking of the probability of a big flood, bigger than the one whereon the late lamented Noah launched his ark. However, it was only a rumour; the prophets were wrong—they always are, whether it is ,the end of the war or the end of the world. The chances are they wouldn’t know a “mark” if they saw one. But the prospect of having to wade home through flood waters dia not deter the usual ardent spirits turning up at the euchre ‘party and dance. Mrs Budding won the first prize for the ladies, and Miss Harris the second. W. Turley was the top of the men’s class, and Jack Saywell at the bottom. After a nice little “feed” dancing went on merrily until the clouds rolled : by,"which was some time after the j solemn hour of midnight. On Monday evnieng the _ adjourned | meeting in regard to raising funds for school prizes and the annual 1 picnic to the scholars was held in j the hall, Mr Thomas in the chair, i The lady canvassers reported the i result of their efforts, the magni- [ tude of their success indicating that j their qualities as “beggars” have j been developed to a fine art. Fat , sheep, lambs, and other farm proj duce have been promised. One of I the collectors had a particularly good “win” where least expected, j a tine goose which has not laid an egg, golden or otherwise, being | part of the booty. In connection with the social it was decided to } hold a home industries section, and I ladies adepts in the turning ' out of sponge sacdwiches, date | scones, sausage rolls, and other j delicacies of a like nature, are invited to bring along the goods, and 1 allow the public the pleasure of ! sampling them, though there is to Ihe no “trying before buying.” | Mrs Saywell, with Miss Hausen and i Miss M. Anderson as assistants, is Ito have charge of the lolly stall; ! Mrs . Jonski will have a bran tub; ; and Mrs O. Naizke is very generous ly going to provide fruit salads, which she intends dispensing to all and sundry—for a consideration, of course. The show is to he held on October 23rd,, during now and which time further developmnts are expected. One of the biggest and best farms round this district has just changed ownership, Mr Owen Mcßlroy having sold his fine place to Mr Donald McLean, a gentleman who It is understood comes from the Marton district Though the farm is some three or four miles from our village, the McElroy family have always heeu looked ou as belonging to Halcombs They have been to the fore in most functions held in our town, and if the isale of the farm means that the family will be leaving tbe l district their departure will ba much regretted. Mr McElroy has often spoke from the stage of the local hall, and though not a great platform orator, his quiet and earnest manner, has always wou for him the respect and admiration which is due to a grave and sincere man who knows what he wants and says so in as few words as possible. Three of Mr McElroy’s hoys went to help try to rid the world from the menace of military autocracy—Arthur, George and Dave.. George got wounded, returned, and is still suffering recovery. In future it will be a misnomer to term our hall, the “Foresters’ Hall.” It £is the Foresters’ Hall no longer. time ago tenders were invited for its purchase and as Mr Joseph Heappy, a highly respected citizen of this district, offered the largest sum, the property now becomes his. We are all very glad that it should have come into the possession of a gentleman who intends to still allow it to be devoted to the purposes for which it has been used hitherto. Fears were expressed that it might get into the possession of some one who would either pull it down for the sake of the roofing iron or remove it bodily and use it as a store room or barn. However, all our tears of having to hold future political and social meetings under the “blue dome of Heaven” have vanished. Mr Heappy intends ..making some radical a Iterations to the building in the near future, and wa are looking forward to the time when we will be able to go and hear local celebrities perform without having either to sit on the floor or stand for hours, looking enviously at those lucky ones who came early and grabbed the few seats that tbe place possessed. Rumour, which is some times wrong ,has it that once upon a time there were enough seats to fill the hall; but as firewood became scarce, so tbe forms began to disappear. The dressing rooms at the back of the stage are a joke of everyone but those who want to use them for the purpose for which they are intended, and sometimes give rise to much mirth from visitors. Mr Heappy will alter all these drawbacks, and if he carries our town, and all we want hom is a capable saddler to start business; also a good watchmaker and jeweller, a trustworhy chemist, an expert tinsmith, and an up-to-date tailor. Ail these will come in time, and then we 'will push along to the Millennium; that is, of course, if we win the war. jf the enemy wins we will lose all our fine shops, the whole of our identity, and perhaps ‘hree-parts of our gwages, which will be quite in order—tiun order.