BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9933, 1 August 1908, Page 7

BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

MR EASTHOPE'S APPOINTMENT. A RETROSPECT. From to-day tlio business of the Registrar of Births, Deaths aud Marriages will be conducted by Mr W. M. Easthope, at his offices, Templo Chambers, Queen-street. The increased volume of work due to the growth of Mastertou aud district has reudered tlio removal of this important; branch of the public service from the premises of the Post Office, the duties encroaching too much on the time of the Postmaster, to the detriment of the legitimate conduct of his own department's business and supervision. We have been ablo to gather a few particulars pertaining to the oarlior history of registration matters in the district, which it may bo opportune at the present time to furnish. In 1857 the marriage district of Wairarapa was constituted embracing practically all tho Wairarapa Valley, with headquarters at Mastertou. Mr W. M. Smith was the Deputy Registrar. In 1858 Mr. Holmes Crayue was appointed to tho position, the district being still called Wairarapa. It was uot until 1872 that it was changed to that of Mastertou, a wide area still being embraced under this name, although not as extonsive as under tho broader term '' Wairarapa,'' In 1879 tho reins of office wore assumed by Mr Daniel Walton, acted as Deputy Registrar, uutil 1882, when the duties were takeu over by the late Mr J. Haggo, Postmaster. Since the latter date until tho preseut time, tho work has boeudono by successive postmasters. It was uot until 187(5 that Masterton was appointed a place for tho registration of births and deaths as well as that of issuing of marriage certificates. Tho records show that tho lirst birth was registered on the 3rd of January of that year, aud the first death on the 13th of the same mouth.