HALCOMBE NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12017, 6 March 1920, Page 4

HALCOMBE NOTES.

From Oar Own Correspondent. By a tire which destroyed a house at Koputaroa, qear Shannon, on Saturday morning last a Maori girl, known as Ruta Corbett* was burned to death. The little girl, who was about six years of age, was a daughter of Mr Hiwiro Paurini, known locally aa Corbett, one of Tokorangi’s moat popular natives. She had been adopted by a Maori named Heta, a native living at Koputaroa, The fire occurred about 1 o’clock in the morning. Heta. rescued his wife, but was unable to reach the little girl. The house with every tiling it contained was totally destroyed. The body of the unfortunate child was brought to Tokorangi on Tuesday, and a tang! was; held.

A slight shock of earthquake was felt in Halcombe on Tuesday at about 10 o’clock in the morning. After about a fortnight of more or less wet weather, the sun reappeared on Thursday and the outlook at time of writing appears promising for a line spell. One result, of the wet is the beautiful appearance of the country, for whereas usually in February and March our paddocks present an and and poverty-stricken appearance, this year there is wonderful growth everywhere, the abundance of grass making the heart rejoice, especially the hearts of the cow people. Never before have cows “kept up” as they are doing this season. For evidence of fodder growth the sight of the few lucerne patches in this district is amazing. One farmer with a 15 acre paddock of this wonderful plant says it has carried over 300 sheep constantly since December, and for a fortnight lately he had over 500 on the stuff. Mr J Robbie has a small paddock of lucerne, which he has cut three times this season, and there is now a growth np to one’s knees. Part of the paddock was heavily limed previous to sowing, the difference in that and the umimed portion being most marked. An enthusiastic welcome home on Wednesday night to returned soldiers at Cplyton, at which Hon 13 H Gnihrie, Minister of Lands, and Lieut - Colonel Burgess, O M.G., DS.O., were present, reminds me that some day soon when our local committee wakes up from its deathlike sleep we are to do honour to our final baton of returned men. There are about 23 soldiers waiting for the [medals we promised them, but It looks as if they will bo grey headed veterans oefora they receive the tokens.