COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6758, 16 July 1883, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

ARATAPU. • Very heavy rain fell in this district daring the latter part of last week and a few logswere brought down to the mills. The judges in the late dancing competition here have been rewarded by a gratuitous supply of anti-dancing leaflets. From the impression wrought by these tracts I have comet to the conclnsion that five tons more of the same material will not be sufficient to complete the reformation of all three judges. The Blue Ribbon outposts have arrived here. Sixteen recruits joined the army at Te Kopuru. Messrs. Monro and Hogg explain the working of the army in the Aratapu Hall to-night, under the wing of their allies the local Band of Hope. Mr. T. S. Webb who for many years has acted in the capacity of registrar of births, deaths, and marriages in this locality has perforce retired from his position. The Government, I believe, have determined to combine the offices of postmaster and registrar in country districts. Mr. Webb has always been most civil and obliging, and did not object to register after office hours. We hope the new regie'.tar will be as obliging, as it is unreasonable to expect persons who labour from daylight to dark, and who have to travel almost impassable roads (sometimes a distauce of sixty miles), to register within post-office hours. Mr. S tacpoole has at considerable expense made a great improvement in the road leading down to bis store and the hotel, and I feel sure he will find an increase of trade from the improved condition of the road. A son of Mr. Thompson of this place, lost a finger last week at the mills. The Reohabites met last Saturday. The balance shctt and officers' reports were laid before the meeting. They have a balance of £7S odd in the sick fund and £4 in the management fund. They number 59 benefit and teven honorary members, and eight new members were proposed on Saturday. The average attendance at the tent meetings during the past quarter was 28 8. Considering the state of the roads and the weather, this is very good. Can Auckland tents beat it? A juvenile tent is to be opened next Thursday, and a tent at Dargaville or Maugawhare is spoken of.—[Own Correspondent, July 9. J