COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6669, 3 April 1883, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

BOMBAY. The monthly meeting of tbe Bombay Band of Hope was held ou Tuesday evening, the 20th iust., in tho Wesleyan Church. Instead of the usual speeches and recitations, &c., tho temperance service of song, "Buy Your Own Cherries," was rendered by 'he l'ukekohe JJasfc choir, under the leadership of Mr. Morgan. Rev. P. S. Smallfiuld kindly presided at the organ. Mr. Lindsay occupied the chair, in the unavoidable absence of the Rev. Mr. Salter, the President. The meeting opened with the opening hymn of the piece, and prayer. The nadiug portion of the sei vice was well and ably performed by Mr. Comrie. The solos wr ro be mti ully rendered by Mrs. Miss Lilly Sharpe, and Mr. S. Hall; the duet portion was spli ndidly pe formed by the Misses Morgan. . At the close of the service a hwuty vote of thanks was accorded to Wr. Morgan and his choir for their kindness in coming over aud rendering that beautiful scrvicc of song. Mr. Allison, in seconding a vote of thanks, said I e could not do so wi flout thanking them personally for the great gratification it had e iven him. He was not much of a musical man himself, hut he could appreciate good music when he heard it, an i in seeing so many of his Pulcekohe East friends, it recalled to his mind when first th*y visited Bombay to establish a Bind of Hope and emperauce Society. The roads then were in a very different state to what they are now ; but somo of them never failed to put in an appearance rnonlh after month until the temperance cause was thoroughly ests.b- | I lished at Bombay, and he hoped they would I soon have the pleasure of hearing them again | at Bombay. Kev. Mr. Sm&lltield britfly

: -- addressed the meeting, and earnestly | urged upon all . those - that had not i ill ready signed the pledge, to do so that nighr. tie also gave tobacco smokers a little good advice. Mr. Morgan, in returning thanks for the compliment paid him and his ch ir, said the greatest thanks they could give them was, for all who had not signed the pledge, to do so now. Six came forward and signed, making, X tbink the ijecrcfcaiy said, about 140 members. The meeting was brought to a close by singing the doxology. 1 he crops in this locality have been pretty good this season, with the exception of potatoes. Cocksfoot 6eed, iu some instance?, has reached as high as 20 bushels to the acre! . r * J- Perritt is now busy in the settlement with his four horse-power threshing machine, threshing out the grain, which I understand « ig turning out very well. Mr. Donohue was the successful tenderer t'or the road metal to be laid on the Bombayroad, and if he makes hay while-the sua Bhines, he may finish hia contract before the oad weather sets in. By the-by X wonder if the Government over intend to do any more repairs to the South-road ? It is wretchedly bad in some places from Baird's Hill to over Razorback. There are plenty of heaps of metal lying by the road side for necessary repairs. 1 believe our member, Mr. Qamlin, got a promise.' from the Government last session that the road should be put in good repair, but nothing has been done on this side of Baird's Hill.— [A Correspondent, March 26.] XAIPARA FLATS. The annual soiree in connection with the Kaipara Flats public library waa held in the large building belonging to Messrs. J. and J. Hood, on Tuesday, 20th March. There was an unusually large attendance. Tea waa served at 6.30 p.m., and ablv attended toby the young ladiea of the district, while the bachelors (young and old) vied with each other iu rendering them their assistance. The tables, which were well supplied with all the good things necessary for the occasion, was done ample justice to, after which the tables were soon cleared, and the amusements of the evening commenced. The Rev. R. McKinney occupied the chair. An excellent programme, varied and amusiDg, was gene through. Supper was served at 11.30 p.m., when our neighbours, after enjoying a very pleasant evening, dispersed about two a.m. The library is increasing yearly, and additionalroom will soon be required for the boots. Last year the Bum of £19 19s 8d was raised in the district for the purchase of books, &c. There is now the Government grant of £11 Bs, the proceeds of this soiree, and the annual, subscriptions to start upon this year.—[Own Correspondent.] ; TE KOPURU. At a Court held at the police station here on Saturday, March 24, before Messrs. Thoe. S. Webb and F. Norton, J.P.'s, .JVilliam. Nicholls (mate of the brigantine Peerless), and Murdoch McLeod (boatswain/ of the same), were charged with violently assaulting Peter Petersen, Joseph Sinclair, aDd William Stenatrom (A.B.'s of the same vessel). The men bore considerable marks of ill-usage on their faces, and deposed that they had been assaulted by the two defendants with- an iron bar and a billet of wood, and knocked down, kicked, and trampled upon. The defendants admitted the assaults, and pleaded provocation. Fined 40s and coats, 14s each, or one month's impisonment each. The three plaintiffs in above case were then charged by A. P. Yates, master, with disobedience to lawful commands in refusing to go back to the ship. In answer to the Bench and to their rcasonß for refusing, they stated that they were afraid of a repetition of similar usage, and said if they went back there would bs murder done. The master requested the Bench to have the three men locked np, and put on boa ad the ship when she sailed on Tuesday next. The Bench declined the responsibility of such a step, believing that the men had a reasonable cause for objecting to return on board.—[Own Correspondent, March 26.]

ARATAPU. ~ The anniversary picnic of the Aratapn Band of Hope, was held in Mr. J. Morgan's paddock, March, 17. The day, bein? also St. Patrick's Day, was kept as a general holiday. A procession was formed in front of the Public Hall, consisting of the children, and the friends of the society, carrying a gre at number of banners, and the members o£ the Northern Star Tent, 1.0.JR-, in reregalia, and headed by their banner, and the whole headed by the Aratapa dram and fife banc!. Abundance of fruit, and refreshments of all sorts were provided. The number of flags floating in the breeze gave quite a gay appearance to the scene. The beauty of the day also conduced not a little to the ment of all present, as a fine breeze pered the heat. Games of all sorts were indulged in by young and old alike, arid it seemed as if all had come determined to make the most of the time while they wereoff the sawdust. The place selected for the picnic, a gently sloping, grass covered hill, was a very good one. ,

On the next day, Sunday, at the morning and evening services, special temperance sermons were preached, that in the morning by the Rev. A. J. Hitehcocb (Church of England) and that in the evening by the Rev. C. H. Garland (Wesleyan). Both were excellent, both, by a coincidence, takiDg the same text, "Aml my brother's keeper ?" It is no reflection on . the Rev. Mr. Hitchock to say that the sermon in the evening is considered by' many to be one of the most powerful temperance addresses ever heard on the Wairo, aDd will, no doubt, leave a lasting impression behind it. It was also the farewell sermon of the rev. gentl:man at Aratapa. Very great regret is felt by all classes, and beliefs on the Wairoa at the early -departure of . Mr. Garland from the district, where during hjs short residence he has rendered himself universally popnlar and respected, as well by his great abilities as a preacher, as by his general personal qualities. It is considered a most unwise step on the part of the Wesleyan body to remove him after so short a et3y, and cannot fail to have a prejudicial effect on the Wesleyan Chuich in this district. Petitions, largely signed, have been sent in to' the Conference, but they have prodaced no effect, and people hero can only hope that Mr. Garland will mret with as much respect in his new district as on the Northern'Wairoa. On ' Monday, March 19, the anniversary meeting of the Band of Hope was held in the Public Hall, which was crowded' on "the occasion. The proceedings were commenced by thn choir, under the direction of Air. Ludlow, tinging ".God Bless the Prince ol Wales." The chair was taken by tho President of the society, Mr. J3. C. Carr, who in his opening remarks gave a resume of the work done by -the society during the pist season, and which showed very encouraging result?, a considerable number of names having been added to the pledge book, and the finances beiny in an. excellent condition. A long and varied programme was then gone through, consisting of two original dialogues, one, called "The Tippler's Home," having thirteen characters in it, and which was in many way 3 a true picture of life, the other, haviug two characters in it, called 4< Love," aud whioh caused uproarious laughter. Aho a number of recitations by the children and adult friends .of the society, selections of music by the choir, &c. An interesting; event was the distribution to the children of the prizes won on the previous Saturday. Altogether the Aratapu Band of Hope bas need to feel proud of itself. Under its able and enthusiastic leaders it has become a great power in the district. Men l living long distances off testify to its influence by coming to join it. Strangers, who have' been over many parts of New Zealand, invariably express fjreat surprise at finding such a settlement in a plac-; where they expected to find the reverse. Were it not for the hotels in its vicinity, Aratapu would never need a policeman, and could, wi'.liout doubt, claim to be oue of the most orderly and respectable settlements in New Zealand. as it certainly is on the Wairoa. Unfortunately the public houses afibid every faci ity to gumdiggers aud sailors to indulge in riot, and Saturday nights and Sundays thu3 become merely opportunities for disorder, which the police are powerless to prevent. An undertaking of a most novi-1 kind has recently been crowned with entire success in this district, viz., the removing of a large house on to a raft, floating it a distance of more than a tntie then 'anding it 3nd placing it at a distance of 2S chains from the water. The origina'or of this scheme is Mr. Erik Thompson, who has directed all the arrangements humelf. The house i 3 the property of Mr. X. Basset, a ge. tleinan residing near Aratapu. It has arrived at its destination iu perfect condition, not even a pane of glass be.ug cracked. Mr. Thompson, we believe, has nover before been engaged in such an undertaking, wnioh renders bis met it so much,1 greater.—[Own Correspondent, March 26.]