WHATAWHATA.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 226, 23 December 1897, Page 2

WHATAWHATA.

Crops.—The long spell of dry weather, which shows no sign of breaking, is practically ruining the crops, b,th of roots and grain. Coming after a wet spring, with crops, in the majority of caso3, sown late, tho drought has been disas'rous, and it would seem, judging by the expedience of the past two seasons, as if we are never to have a decent spring growth at all. The few grain crop? that were sown early leok well, and the owners are 1 kely to leap a fair return for their labour, as everything points to a dear season for potatoes and grain. Milk Sop-fly.—As might be expected, the milk supply at the creamery U lessening considerably after reaching SOO gallons daily, which ia the record supply for our little establishment. Demand for Land.—ln spite of adverse season's gocd land appears to be in demand. Within the past few cbys Mr V. Story has purchased, through Mr W. J. Hunter, the farm near the township tor some yean past ler.sed l.y Mr McCutchcon, the latter having taken over Mr S. McKnight's Whatawhuta farm. In fact, any good land near a creamery is enquired for, and in many cases it would be hard to say how much or how little some farms would be worth but for these valuable institutions. Typhoid. Your remarks re the latest ca c of typhoid in this district are very much to tho point, and reflect the opinion if our residents. While no notice continues to be taken of disease occurring among natives, who suffer and diu from i<-, without any enquiry being made, though the children from the Maori settlements are attending the public school, there is nlwoys the danger of an outbreak among the European chil drcn who attend, and this was thought by many to be theongin cf the late sickness in Mr Ferguson's family. However, the school has been closed m the meantime, and at a meetiig of the School Committee, held on Friday eveirn>:, it was decided to clean out the school tanks, sp nt'lig, etc , which has not been done for a considerable fine past. It is a pity that in analysis of the water ■n the school tank could not have been made, as some light may have been thrown on the typhoid mystery, as it would, mr?st probab'y, have illustrated to Mr Pla.dictt (our respected school committee chairman) that there is at times danger iu water as well as in whisky. The New Hotel.—Referring to the latter beveiagc as poison, as we may choose to regard it, no start has yet been made to erect the new hotel, though three mouths have el-»p*ed since the fire took place. The position of this mattet stems to bo most conipliotted. The owner of the land is either unwilling or unable to erect a new buildmg, but wishes to dispone of the si'e at a greatly enhanced value owing to thexistence of the license, asking a price that no one seems inclined to give. Meanwhile, the six months for which the temporary license was granted, is slippng by ; half of it has already gone, and unless very energetic steps arc taken, no hotel can be erected by the expiration of the time, and the license will lapse. Mr Geaeh, the licensee, is willing to erect suitab'e premises upon another allotment, if the Licensing Committee will support him in the mat'er, and he is now bringing it before them. Iu any case, these has been a total disregard for the paliiic convenience. It may be, as Mr Blacked says, " That it would bo as well for the rising generation if the hotel was never re-erected," but accommodation for travellers is certainly needed, especially dining the summer months, and, under the present oh cumstances, we have the evils of the liquor traffic, without the hem fit of proper accommodation.—(Own Correspondent),